• USDA-NIFA
• Tribal Outreach
• Hispanic Serving Institutions

The NPM Regional Water Program plans to develop partnerships with Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) that are actively working on water related research and teaching and will actively seek funding opportunities which are mutually beneficial to the HSIs and state coordinators in the NPM Region and beyond. Current HSI's in the NPM Region include:

• Adams State College
• Colorado State University–Pueblo
• Community College of Denver
• Otero Junior College
• Pueblo Community College
• Trinidad State Junior College

Tribal, Hispanic Serving Institution, and 2-year College WQ Curriculum Capacity Building

No less than 23 uniquely identified Native American populations, five Hispanic serving higher education institutions, 17 Native American higher education institutions, and 40 two-year and vocational education/technology colleges presently address educational needs of underserved populations of the region. Many underserved communities face water quality impairment issues, including access to safe drinking water. While there is often significant desire within and from outside these underserved communities to address water quality needs, in many cases there is lack of knowledge among community members about how to characterize and address these issues. Additionally, although 1994 institutions, Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) institutions and locally-attended 2-year and vocational education/technology institutions provide the venue for improving the knowledge base of underserved community members, a critical mass of faculty and instructors with water quality expertise and experience is often lacking. Partnerships facilitated between faculty of Tribal, HSI, and 2-year colleges and Land Grant Universities through the USDA-NIFA National Water Program can help bridge the gap between science and community implementation adapted to specific community needs.

Montana State University Extension’s Water Quality Program worked with Salish Kootenai College and the NPM Regional Water Program to develop a water quality teaching package. The package provides materials to support a college level water quality course to enhance water science education capacity at tribal colleges.