USU Awarded $500,000 in USDA Grants to Aid Native American Students Across Utah, Four Corners Region

LOGAN, Utah — Faculty at Utah State University’s Statewide and Logan campuses have been awarded $500,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for programs to increase retention and graduation rates among Native American students.

The grants will help provide mentorship, financial aid and experiential learning opportunities for students across multiple campuses (USU Blanding, USU Uintah Basin, USU Eastern, USU Moab and USU Logan) in collaboration with the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences and S.J. and Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources.

“As Utah’s land-grant institution we serve the entire state and bring resources and expertise to the problem-solving table in a way that accelerates and supports socio-environmental solutions to today’s complex problems,” said Vice President of Statewide Campuses James Y. Taylor. “It is exciting and encouraging to see that together with our resource and granting partners we are helping communities in an interdisciplinary and sustainable way.”

USU Blanding's New Beginnings for Tribal Students program is led by Director of Student Services Priscilla Arungwa, in collaboration with Kristian Olsen, senior associate vice president at USU Blanding. The program will receive $250,000 to enhance educational outcomes for Native American students, focusing on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and health-related fields in collaboration with the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. This initiative builds on USU Blanding's successful Faculty-to-Student Mentoring model, which has increased student persistence by 17.21%.

Key components of the program include:

• Comprehensive Support: Financial aid covering tuition, housing, textbooks, transportation and health care, ensuring students can focus on their studies without economic burdens.
• Mentorship and Advising: Personalized guidance from culturally aware faculty and staff, fostering a supportive academic environment.
• Experiential Learning: Opportunities for students to engage in community-based problem-solving initiatives in collaboration with local organizations.
• Regional Partnerships: Collaboration with the Navajo Nation and local government agencies to provide robust support networks and real-world experiences for students.

"The New Beginnings for Tribal Students program is a testament to our commitment to improving educational accessibility and success for Native American students," Arungwa said. "This grant will enable us to continue building a diverse and skilled STEM and health workforce that can address the unique challenges facing their communities."

A second grant for $250,000 was awarded to the S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, led by Peter Howe, Claudia Radel, Juan Villalba, Sunshine Brosi, Mark Chynoweth and Gustavo Ovando-Montejo. Their proposal outlines the development of the Visionary Indigenous Training and Leadership for Natural Resources (VITAL4NR). The program aims to prepare Native American students for successful careers in natural resources and environmental sciences through paid internships and cohort-building activities.

Program highlights include:

• Paid Internships: Competitive pay for hands-on internships in natural resources, environmental and geospatial programs, enhancing students’ resumes and professional readiness.
• Cohort-Building Activities: Culturally relevant programs that foster community and support among participants.
• Institutional Support: Partnerships with leading universities and tribal groups, providing a network of resources and opportunities for students.

"VITAL4NR is designed to not only provide professional skills and experience but also to integrate Indigenous knowledge and cultural competence into natural resources education," Howe said. “This approach will empower our students to make significant contributions to their communities and the field of natural resources."

Additional information can be found at qcnr.usu.edu/undergraduate/vital4nr.

These grants reflect Utah State University's dedication to serving Native American students across Utah and in the Four Corners region as a land-grant institution. This commitment demonstrates the dedication to USU's mission to provide accessible education and resources that foster success and leadership among all students.