National Nuclear Security Administration awards $2.5M in minority and Tribal-focused grants for community colleges

Through its National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) last week awarded five grants totaling $2.5 million to minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) across the country.

These community colleges benefited from the Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program (MSIPP) and Tribal Education Partnership Program (TEPP), meant to bolster workforce capacity. In this case, the awards will benefit Augusta Technical College, Turtle Mountain Community College, Las Positas College, the College of Southern Nevada and Queensborough Community College.

“MSIPP is setting the stage for an inclusive future, where we invest in students and communities across the nation,” Jill Hruby, Undersecretary for Nuclear Security and NNSA Administrator, said. “We have an unwavering dedication to creating a strong future American workforce. Through MSIPP, we are preparing people to contribute to critical and emerging technologies, ensuring America’s security, growth, and prosperity.”

Each recipient is leading their own curricula and programs focused on different areas. At Augusta, it’s the Enhancing the National Security Enterprise Workforce Pipeline, meant to build the college’s classes on radiation control and protection, and to create an apprenticeship program. At Turtle Mountain, the community college is pursuing a Native Education Excellence in Trade program to build options for the construction and electrical trades.

Other efforts include the Rapid Education and Placement program pitched by Las Positas, which will create teams to develop and implement curricula in partnership with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. NNSS FastStart, at the College of Southern Nevada, will increase how many community college students can earn industry-recognized credentials and more. Finally, the Developing Next Generation Radiation Safety Professionals program, by Queensborough, will focus on next generation workforce development in nuclear safety, radiation safety and health physics, complete with a certificate program in radiation protection and a new bachelor’s degree path.

MSIPP provides grants like these with three-to-five-year periods of performance, working to develop trade and skilled labor at community colleges.