UTTC has a regional service area and plays a prominent role in professional development for ND and the BIA. UT-PASS proposes to create a STEM student support system starting with a Summer Pathways Institute (SPI) a month-long intensive STEM student skill-building program, a Tribal Environmental Science AAS, Action Research throughout the STEM courses, and improvement in UTTC.s STEM faculty.s content knowledge and teaching practices. This grant integrates the Peer Led Team Learning process into STEM instruction. Integration is achieved by professional development and assistance from the PLTL Facilitator. Andragogical practices encompass state-of-the-art math, science, and technology instruction and adult learning concepts. UT-PASS faculty work hand in hand with STEM students and general education instructors to provide enhanced STEM courses at UTTC. Peer teaching and mentoring are fundamental to this application. Teachers will be trained and then train other teachers.in pyramidal manner. UT-PASS employs the expertise of regional research institution faculty to support and mentor STEM faculty. Classroom resources including probeware, software, computers and printers will be purchased by the grant.
UT-PASS proposes to educate the whole person employing intensive year-round student support for STEM students beginning with the SPI. Additionally, the emphasis on research affords the UT-PASS students ample opportunity to actively research issues important to them or their home reservations. Intensive and long-term staff development assures UTTC STEM faculty has access to adult learning principles, content knowledge and teaching methodologies. This staff development and student support system ensures that UT-PASS students successfully complete the Tribal Environmental Science or other STEM degree, and either matriculates into a four-year degree program or are hired in the field of environmental studies.
