Community Colleges & Technical Schools

The project maintains strong, collaborative relationships with nearby Tribal Colleges and Universities, particularly Oglala Lakota College (OLC). A significant objective of the BNERC is to substantially expand OLC's research capacity, with a specific focus on microbiology, molecular biology, and data science. The project will provide essential support for graduate students enrolled in OLC's new Environmental Science degree program and will help fund a new research faculty position at the college. To further enhance the curriculum, a new Environmental Microbiology course will be developed and offered at OLC, providing students with advanced, specialized knowledge.