This program is aimed at improving undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) at Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Alaskan Native-serving institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.  The emphasis is on the leveraged use of information technologies to improve access to, retention in, and graduation from STEM disciplines, particularly in engineering and technology.  NSF wants to assist the institutions in helping students to bridge the “digital divide” and prepare students for careers in information technology and STEM fields. 

TCUP awardee institutions pursue the development and enhancement of courses and curricula.  They recruit talented students and provide them with financial support, academic enrichment activities, internships, and job placement opportunities.  They establish collaborations with four-year colleges as well as business and industry.  And while the focus is at the associate and bachelor’s degree levels, they also address the entire pipeline from high school through college to the workplace.