Source: UNITED TRIBES TECHNICAL COLLEGE submitted to NRP
TRIBAL COLLEGE SURVEY OF NEEDS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1010208
Grant No.
2016-38424-25557
Cumulative Award Amt.
$70,000.00
Proposal No.
2016-03928
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2016
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2019
Grant Year
2016
Program Code
[ZY]- Tribal Colleges Research Grants Program
Recipient Organization
UNITED TRIBES TECHNICAL COLLEGE
Doing Business As: UTTC
BISMARCK,ND 58504-7565
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The Health Status Survey of North Dakota Tribal College Students is designed to gather data related to health status, lifestyle choices, and food consumption. United Tribes Technical College used a similar survey in 1999 to establish program strategic plans for the development of the 1994 Land Grant programs, including the AAS degree in Nutrition and Foodservice. Replicating the survey will provide data to determine if culturally relevant education programs and resources continue to be a priority for Indian Country. Current academic classes and Extension programs focus on dismantled food systems, evidence-based public health nutrition messaging, diabetes/chronic disease prevention, food safety, family and consumer science, gardening, and native plant gathering.Research project partners include USDA ARS Human Nutrition Research Center in Grant Forks, ND and Tribal Colleges in North Dakota. UTTC Extension expects the research to show that health perception, lifestyle choices, and food consumption patterns have changed with increased knowledge. It is also expected that participants will indicate a continued need for culturally relevant curricula and resources to be shared across Indian Country. The outcomeenhances research capacity at UTTC. An un-measured assumption is that the Land Grant Department's faculty and staff willl have increased confidence in research methodology and strategic program development.Research data supporting the development of culturally relevant nutrition and public health resources supports health equity for indigenous families living in Sovereign Nations. This project fits the UTTC Land Grant Department'sstrategic capacity building efforts as well as USDA NIFA's goal to develop research capacity at TCUs.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
70360993020100%
Knowledge Area
703 - Nutrition Education and Behavior;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The Health Status Survey of Tribal College Students in North Dakota is designed to answer the research question, "Based on sel-reported responses to health perception, lifestyle choices and food consumption questions, will college students enrolled at tribal colleges have an increased or decreased need for education in those areas in comparison to students responding to a similar survey completed previously?" The previous survey was conducted in 1999 to guide the development of educational programs.The replicated survey is expected to provide guidance for future education programs and resource materials. The goal is to determine if ND Tribal College students have an increased or decreased need for health perception, lifestyle choices, and food consumption education compared to results from survey administered in 1999.Collaborationwith the USDA ARS Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, ND will develop the research expertise of the UTTC Land Grant Extension Educator and the student research team. Poster presentations at local and national research conferences is expected. The ARS scientist collaborator will guide the team in the development of research abstracts that will be submitted for inclusion in research journals.
Project Methods
The survey instrument will be reviewed and approved by the tribal college's institution review boards prior to administering the survey.The anonymous online survey tool will be administered and facilitated by research personnel/assistants.

Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:In this final year of the research project we were able to engage in a number of capacity-building activities. A new focus on public health research has been instituted and efforts towards developing our capacity have commenced. Both academic training and building a network of competant researchers to support our efforts are among the strategies that we have employed. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Attandance for our Nutrtion Educator at that Johns-Hopkins School of Public Health to develop skills in conducting public health research with our Native American population. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Ongoing programming and attendance at conferences and events where we promote our activities and findings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Analysis of our survey results support the hypothesis that the need for continued education in the areas of nutrtion and agriculture exists for our population of tribal college students.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/19

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Tribal communities throughout North Dakota, with a focus on tribal college students. Changes/Problems:The greatest challnege faced in carrying out this research project were associated with staff and student turn-over. Each change of personnel required a new learning curve in order to bring the project along at a reasonable pace. However, in the end, we are pleased with the usefulness of the data and how it has shaped our projected path into the future. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We are continuing to analyze the data and incorporate the findings into our instituional planning, including in how to best address students needs in terms of co-curriular learning. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? Preliminary analysis of the data supports the need for continued programming in the areas of nutrtion and food sovereignty for our tribal college students. This data has informed the creation of our ongoing programming and our design of a follow up research project to ascertain the impacts of our programming on our community at large.

    Publications


      Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18

      Outputs
      Target Audience:Triabl college students in North Dakota. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two student research assistants continued their training in conducting the research. Further professional development is planned in the remainder of 2018 and into 2019. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Research is still ongoing, however results will be analyzed over the next months and disseminated a various conferences in 2018 and 2019. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period (extension), we will analyze the data collected, and utilize that data to inform our strategic planning and to continue to strengthen our research capacity.

      Impacts
      What was accomplished under these goals? The survey was taken by students in tribal colleges in North Dakota. Student research assistants continued to support the project and one of the students graduated with a degree in nutrition this spring.

      Publications


        Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

        Outputs
        Target Audience:North Dakota tribal college students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two student resaerch assistants were engaged in training in conducting this research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The research is still ongoing. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue the collection of additional survey results.

        Impacts
        What was accomplished under these goals? Tribal college students throughout North Dakota completed the survey. Two student research assistants were recruited and trained as to carry out the project.

        Publications