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The Office of Postsecondary’s (OPE’s), Higher Education Programs (HEP) Division is now accepting applications from those who were granted eligible to apply for its Native American-Serving Non Tribal Institutions Program (NASNTI) grant competition!
Program Purpose
The NASNTI Program provides grants to eligible institutions of higher education (IHEs) to allow such institutions to plan, develop, undertake, and carry out activities to improve and expand such institutions capacity to serve Native American and low-income individuals. The program supports projects designed to improve academic outcomes and/or learning environments.
Types of projects may include:
Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes;
- Renovation and improvement in classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities;
- Support of faculty exchanges, and faculty development and faculty fellowships to assist in attaining advanced degrees in the faculty’s field of instruction;
- Curriculum development and academic instruction;
- Purchase of library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials;
- Funds and administrative management, and acquisition of equipment for use in strengthening funds management;
- Joint use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries;
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services; and
- Purchase, rental, or lease of scientific or laboratory equipment for educational purposes, including instructional and research purposes.
Eligibility:
You must be designated an eligible institution before applying for funding under this program. The deadline to apply for eligibility for the 2016 grant cycle was January 8, 2016. At the time of application, IHEs applying for funds under the NASNTI Program must have an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 10 percent Native American.
For more information please visit OPE’s Eligibility Designations and Applications for Waiver of Eligibility Requirements page.
Learn more about the program from a grantee!
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Native American students at the University of North Carolina, Pembroke at the "Transfer Transition Office" funded by the NASNTI Part A grant.
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The vast majority of Native American transfer students enrolled at the University of North Carolina Pembroke campus are commuters and are frequently nontraditional in age. Thus, the majority of time students spent their time between classes in their cars rather than engaging in campus life or accessing academic support services.
Research shows that having relationships with people on campus can be one of the biggest factors contributing to retention. Research also shows that that Native American students in particular need to engage in more culturally aware relationships.
With a goal to increase community engagement and therefore retention rates, the NASNTI Part A grant provided the University of North Carolina, Pembroke funding to support the creation of a "Transfer Transition Office", a non campus space for Native American transfer and commuter students to use as a home base in between classes. The Transfer Transition Office currently offers Native American students on campus a variety of services and the chance to participate in a number of activities including:
- A lounge, small computer lab, and group study area. Providing a comfortable space reduced the “car-class-car” syndrome, and caused students to bond with each other outside of class.
- Support from staff and peer mentors during especially stressful times, such as orientation, advising on course selection, mid-term exams, finals, etc.
- Information on how to get more involved in staff-sponsored Native American cultural events on campus.
- Opportunities to hear nationally-known speakers such as Bryan Brayboy and Anton Treuer speak on Native American cultural issues in higher education.
To learn more about this program and to apply visit the NASNTI page on OPE's website.
For additional information on OPE's 2016 grant competitions please visit OPE's Funding Opportunity page.
Additional Opportunities
OPE Seeks Peer Reviewers! Looking for professional development experience in 2016 or interested in learning more about the Department of Education’s OPE and its programs? OPE seeks to create a pool of specialists to serve as “peer reviewers” to read and evaluate its grant competitions, including NASNTI! Participation requires up to two weeks with modest compensation. To learn more and/or apply please visit Peer Reviewers Information page on OPE’s website.
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The Office of Postsecondary Education works to promote reform, innovation and improvement in postsecondary education, promote and expand access to postsecondary education and increase college completion rates for America's students, and broaden global competencies that drive the economic success and competitiveness of our Nation.
To learn more about our divisions, grant programs and policy development visit our website and follow us at Twitter @EDpostsecondary.
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