The colleges and universities in this section are just a small sample of schools. Choosing an institution of higher learning is a big decision, but once you weigh factors such as finances, field of study, and location, that hard choice becomes easier. So read all the information you can, discuss with counselors, teachers, family, and friends, and visit as many schools as possible — because sometimes, a place just feels right.
For three consecutive years the University of Florida has risen in the rankings of U.S. News and World Report — it now stands as No. 7 among public universities. The Gainesville campus of this land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant university is home to more than 37,500 undergraduates and 15,700 graduate students, with another 3,500 students online. One of the country’s largest research universities, UF offers 123 master’s programs and 76 doctoral programs across 87 schools and departments. The school is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion.
Innovation thrives at UF, with its entrepreneurial heart at UF Innovate|The Hub, a 100,000-square-foot facility that has helped propel the school to its spot among the top 10 in licensing. UF Innovate|Tech Licensing has issued 450 licenses just since 2015. Appropriately for a school whose mascot is the Gators, the sports drink Gatorade is among the products UF brought to market that are now supplying royalty and licensing income.
In addition to Tech Licensing and the Hub, UF Innovate includes the Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator — another example of UF’s tradition of translational “lab to market” research driven by a mission to improve lives. The UF Innovate|Office of Research takes a global perspective on solving problems and is working hard to become the internationally recognized leader in creating and advancing new knowledge and technology. Together, the components of UF Innovate provide the entrepreneurial catalyst for growing ideas into innovative products and services.
Sponsored research at the wider university, not surprisingly, includes projects funded by the NSF and NASA. For one, the NASA University Research, Engineering, and Technology Institute (URETI) has named UF the lead institution on the Future Space Transport project to develop the newest space shuttle.
The campus itself covers some 2,000 acres and offers multiple cultural celebrations and 1,000 student organizations, including a thriving Greek scene, so students can find their own place at UF. There are several venues for performing arts and museums and galleries for visual arts. For athletes and fans, the Gators compete in NCAA Division I and the Southeastern Conference.
Located on a 230-acre campus in suburban Bismarck, N.D., UTTC is an accredited tribal land-grant college chartered by the five North Dakota tribes. One notable campus resource, the school’s Intertribal Research and Resource Center, serves tribes across the Northern Plains region by conducting community-based research and providing education and training in promoting the sustainability of food, energy, and water resources.
The college offers its nearly 500 students a variety of programs leading to associate of science, associate of applied science, and bachelor of science degrees. Students can earn a BS in environmental science and research, elementary education, criminal justice, and business administration. Several technical majors lead to the associate’s degrees, including paths for online students. While most students are from North Dakota, 21 other states and nearly 50 tribes are represented in the student body, and UTTC welcomes students and faculty of all backgrounds.
The college is committed to helping students succeed, with a range of counseling and wellness services and resources for financial aid, veterans, and disabled students. In academics, the school has created a culture in which all the instructors offer tutoring, and not only to their own students. In addition, students have access to a comprehensive online tutoring service, available to both on-campus and online learners. UTTC men’s and women’s basketball teams — the Thunderbirds — play exciting games against junior college and university teams across the region.
There are housing options for single students, single parents, and families. Parents who are enrolled at UTTC can send their children to childcare at the Child Development Center, where extended care is available, and their children who are ready to attend kindergarten through grade 7 have preference enrolling at the fully accredited campus elementary school.
College Chapter Profile:
McGill University
Members of the College Chapter at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, have been living the AISES mission since the chapter was launched in 2013. In the bigger picture, they are excited to be part of the growing AISES presence in Canada. Last March, they hosted the second Canadian Indigenous Science and Engineering Society (.caISES) conference, and they are looking forward to attending the 2020 gathering in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, as well as the AISES National Conference in Spokane, Wash.
The eight student members, five professional members, and their advisor, Professor Nathalie Tufenkji, don’t wait for annual nationwide gatherings — they hold regular meetings and stay engaged in activities on campus and beyond. Chapter president Joel Grant explains that the group is involved in the community in several ways, from supporting an initiative that helps homeless people to reaching out to students, including serving as counselors in the Eagle Spirit Science Futures Camp that encourages Indigenous youth to explore STEM professions. “We collaborate with the Faculty of Medicine to provide e-tutoring and mentorship for Indigenous youth in K–12 and Quebec CEGEP [pre-university] colleges,” says Grant. “Beginning in October, we will be working on a mentorship and tutoring program with K–12 schools in Kahnawake [Mohawk reservation] with the Indigenous Health Professions Program at McGill.”
Cultural activities are another big part of the life of this chapter. Members play with a drum group, the Medicine Bear Singers, often performing at campus events. The chapter offers workshops in skills like moccasin making, beading, dancing, and drumming at the university’s First Peoples’ House, and members volunteer to help at powwows and other Indigenous gatherings. “We often invite elders to our events and meetings to ensure ceremonial acknowledgements to the land,” says Grant. “McGill is located on land that served as a meeting place for many Indigenous peoples.”
Last year Grant and other members participated in protests that resulted in the school retiring the “Redmen” name for the men’s sports teams. “It was an empowering experience,” says Grant, “and it really displayed how strong we stood together as Indigenous students at McGill.”
The chapter is building on that foundation. “By integrating ourselves (as an AISES chapter) into the already well-established First Peoples’ House, we have successfully created an environment of positivity and inclusiveness,” Grant explains. “Through this network, we work closely with other Indigenous student groups at McGill.” For Grant, the mission is personal. “I was inspired by our past president, Alex Allard, as he illustrated that giving back to Indigenous youth is very important,” says Grant. “I wanted to make a difference in the recruitment, development, and retention of Indigenous youth pursuing careers in STEM, where there is a major shortage of Indigenous engineers, scientists, and doctors.”