College Programs

The focus of the College Program is “Access and Success.” AISES administers and is involved in many programs and events for American Indian and Alaska Native college students to increase access to, and boost success in, STEM.

The College Program supports undergraduate and graduate education and students in STEM studies through college chapters, regional and national conferences, leadership development, mentorship, scholarships, internships and career resources. 

College Programs

Scholarships  

AISES offers a universe of opportunities to students! Our students choose to move fiercely forward in their educational journeys by learning and acquiring new skills that will help them in meeting the ever-changing STEM needs of our communities.

At AISES, we invest more than just scholarship support into our students; we invest confidence, trust and a large community of support and encouragement for our students. Year after year, our AISES scholars bring potential and limitless possibilities for the future of STEM, each working towards advancing his or her opportunities in STEM career fields.

Among our current and past scholarship programs, sponsors have included Chevron, Boeing, Intel, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, Navy Civilian Careers and many others. 

View Our Current Scholarships.

Internships 

The AISES Internship Program provides students with applied work experience and an opportunity to explore career options. Placing students in 10-week summer positions with partner agencies, the program also promotes advanced study to the graduate level and assists students in developing professional networks. Interns are provided with round-trip airfare or mileage to the internship site, a weekly stipend, dormitory lodging, and a local transportation allowance.

View Our Current Internships.

The “Lighting the Pathway to Faculty Careers for Natives in STEM” (LTP) program supports the Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands who are pursuing careers in academia.  LTP is one of AISES’s cornerstone programs, with over 160 participants since the grant was originally awarded in 2014 and supported through the award of a second grant in 2019. LTP has served as the premiere program engaging in our holistic support model, as detailed below. 

The holistic support model includes:

  • Mentorship
  • Travel Support to AISES events
  • Professional development
  • Personal development
  • Academic development
  • Access to research, fellowship & internship opportunities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full-Circle Mentorship

AISES, with support from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, is excited to announce the 2023-2024 Full-Circle Mentorship program. This year-long program will match and support participants in one-on-one academic and career mentorship. Mentorship matches are only available to college and professional members. Take advantage of this program and receive the benefits of mentorship to help you achieve your career goals!

Qualifications

  • College students and early career professionals are eligible to be mentees (early career is less than ten year's experience)
  • Early career and later professionals are eligible to be mentors
  • Must be an AISES member to apply for the mentorship program.

Benefits of being a Mentee

  • Gain practical advice, encouragement, and support
  • Learn from the experiences of others
  • Increase your social and academic confidence
  • Develop skills and strategies for academic and career issues
  • Identify goals and establish a sense of direction
  • Gain valuable insight into the next stage of your education and career

Benefits of being a Mentor

  • Improve communication and interpersonal skills
  • Develop leadership and management qualities
  • Increase your confidence and motivation
  • Engage in a volunteering opportunity, valued by employers
  • Enhance your resume/CV
  • Reinforce and gain recognition for your skills and experience

Learn More

Participants will co-create a mentorship commitment plan, check-in monthly, and are encouraged to participate in webinars to enhance their mentorship relationship. Applications open on December 1, 2023.  Applications will be reviewed and accepted until January 5, 2024. Email studentsuccess@aises.org if you have any questions.

 

Career Opportunities

Through AISES, members are connected with employers seeking to hire in STEM fields. AISES members have access to AISES Career Hub. Additionally, by signing up for AISES Paths to Opportunities newsletters, you will receive information about job postings, scholarships, internships and other STEM opportunities.


AISES Career Hub

Posting jobs on the AISES website enables employers to advertise opportunities within their organizations to AISES’ top-talent membership of professionals, students, educators, and others in the STEM fields.

Access the Career Hub

Annual AISES Leadership Summit 

Save the date April 30 - May 2, 2023 at River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma!

Establishing a leadership pipeline is fundamental to developing today’s best science, technology, engineering, and math talent. Students from high school through postdoctoral studies, as well as emerging and mature professionals, value the AISES Leadership Summit as an opportunity to acquire the skills they need to be confident leaders. Through workshops and sessions — along with built-in time to relax, socialize, and have fun — the AISES Leadership Summit delivers on strategies that enable Indigenous STEM professionals, students, and leaders to learn from each other, network, and find support.

Goals of the Summit

  • Enhance the skills and knowledge of AISES members as they pursue various career development paths and career ladders
  • Provide AISES members with support and build their confidence to transition into the STEM workforce
  • Develop AISES professional members as role models for high school, college, graduate, and postdoctoral students.
  • Provide an environment that allows AISES members to “linger and learn” from each other.

For more information visit the AISES Leadership Summit website at 

summit.aises.org

Annual AISES National Conference 

The AISES National Conference has been held annually since 1978 and is an unparalleled opportunity to connect companies with over 2,500 Indigenous high school juniors and seniors, college and graduate students, educators, workforce professionals and our corporate, government, private foundation, nonprofit, and tribal partners for professional development, networking opportunities, research presentations, workshops, awards, and traditional Indigenous cultural events. The National Conference hosts the largest college and career fair in Indian Country with many companies also hosting hiring events by conducting onsite interviews. Job seekers are provided interview coaching, and resume development, as well as career planning and other skills necessary to be successful in today’s job market. For students considering college or graduate school, resources are provided to assist in financial planning, applying to college or graduate school, as well as information on the many STEM majors and careers available. AISES members and attendees from the U.S. and Canada, and as far away as Alaska and Hawai’i make connections and they find the resources and services to advise and advance their academic studies and careers.

For 43 years, the AISES National Conference has provided:

  • STEM career pathway awareness and exploration
  • Professional development skill-building workshops
  • Career and community leadership development sessions
  • Research education, training, exchange, and dissemination
  • Networking
  • Mentorship
  • Career, internship, and academic opportunities
  • Pathways for integrating STEM research and careers with indigenous culture and identity
  • Interactions with Native elders and cultural ceremonies to motivate and empower Indigenous students and professionals to persist and excel in their STEM studies and careers

For more information visit the AISES National Conference website at: 

https://conference.aises.org.

AISES Regional Conferences 

AISES’ Regional Conferences take place every spring and provide an opportunity for AISES College and Professional Chapters to gather and share information, form partnerships, and to network with each other and with selected presenters and partners.

Each regional conference has a number of informative sessions and activities for both college and high school students. Among the activities provided are mini career fairs, poster presentations, and engineering competitions. AISES’ student representatives and the host chapters for the following year are selected at the regional conferences.

Local and national professionals within a variety of fields provide workshops, seminars, and discussion groups about a wide variety of topics. Generally, each Regional Conference host develops a theme or focus area for the Regional Conference (environmental, bridging native cultures with science, etc.).

The host chapter for the following spring’s regional conference is determined during the Regional Conference held each spring.

Chapters interested in hosting the regional conference indicate their interest in hosting and make a verbal presentation regarding their resources, planning, and ability to host the conference. Each college chapter in "Good Standing" is allowed one vote; the majority of votes determines the location of the regional conference.  

View Upcoming Regional Conferences

ASSIST: Collaborative to Illuminate Engineering Faculty Pathways

The ASSIST program engages early-career faculty, post-doctoral professionals, and graduate students in Engineering toward increasing diversity of the Engineering professorate. This program provides registration and travel to attend the Faculty Career Development Workshop as pre- events to the AISES National Conference and Leadership Summit for the purpose of collaboration and networkin

Through the generous support of the National Science Foundation, AISES collaborates with leading national diversity-serving professional organizations supporting engineering:

Applications open in March for Leadership Summit and in July for National Conference!

Learn More & Apply

 

AISES Energy Workforce Development Cohort Program

 

AISES Energy Cohort Program

The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Energy Workforce Development (AEWD) Cohort Program was created with support from United States Department of Energy (DOE). It is designed to support Native 2-year college students at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) majoring in energy, energy conservation, business, or environmental fields to transition into 4-year degree programs in STEM.

Twenty-four cohort members will be selected to be paired with mentors in their respective fields and receive educational support services. The cohort members will receive support to prepare for a career in energy or related fields workforce, financial support to ensure retention, educational support to facilitate transfer from 2-year to 4-year institutions, and professional development to ensure the students are prepared to enter the workforce. 

Call for Applications
Accepting applications on a rolling basis
Final Deadline: Friday, February 26, 2021 or when all slots are filled

 

Learn More

AISES Gifts of Knowledge Study

 

AISES invites you to engage in a research study aimed at understanding how participation in AISES contributes to educational and career journeys. AISES is looking for undergraduate students, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows who are interested in enriching AISES’ understanding of its impact on Native scholars and their career trajectories in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Participation involves completing one survey every six months for two years. By becoming involved, you will receive (i) a $25 gift card per survey, (ii) AISES membership, and (iii) access to online AISES resources. Your participation will help AISES to provide programs best suited to support current and future Native scholars along varied chosen career paths.

To submit your interest, please complete this very short (3 minute) online form.

Apply Now

The Tatsinupi (Star) Program

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Navigational Tools for Student Success in STEM

Navigation

Stars were used as navigational tools for travelers by Native Hawaiians; this guidebook is to be used as a navigational tool for students.

Connection

Stars are included in many of our Indigenous origin stories; we are connected to the stars and are made up of the same material.

Empowerment

Indigenous ancestors have been studying the stars since time immemorial; we were always scientists.

The AISES  College and Career Guide was handcrafted just for Native students like you to prepare for, and successfully navigate the pathways to various STEM college and career journeys. This guidebook includes wonderful insight from Native graduates, professionals, and other Indigenous STEM students to provide you with helpful tips and pertinent college advice so your paths will be made easier as you transition into your college and careers. Because your family, your tribal nation, and our communities need you, we hope this College and Career Readiness Guide provides you with insightful information that is a familiar and accessible way to navigate you in this stage of your life.
View the guide

Tatsinupi (Star) of the Month Program

The AISES Student Success Team is proud to introduce the Tatsinupi (Star) of the Month Program. Each month, the Tatsinupi Program will recognize and honor an undergraduate or graduate AISES student member who exemplifies leadership, academic excellence, scientific achievement, and the AISES Core Values. The Tatsinupi of the Month is a student with great potential to be successful, respected, influential, and a contributing member of our vast and ever-changing global community. The Tatsinupi of the Month will be selected by the AISES Student Success Team from an ongoing application pool of student applicants. Students may be self-nominated or nominated by someone who thinks the students would make a good Tatsinupi Candidate.

Eligibility
The student must:
  • Be currently enrolled as a full-time graduate or undergraduate student at an accredited two-year or four-year college/university.
  • Be an enrolled citizen or a descendant of an enrolled citizen of a federal or state-recognized American Indian Tribe or Alaska Native Village; or Native Hawaiian or descendant from a Native Hawaiian; or Pacific Islander or descendant from Pacific Islander; or an Indigenous person of Canada. Enrollment documents, Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood or Certificate of Degree of Alaska Native Blood (CDIB) cards, and/or a copy of a birth certificate(s) showing descendency from an enrolled citizen, Indigenous group of Canada, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander are acceptable.
  • Be a current AISES Member.
  • Complete the Tatsinupi of the Month Application if self-nominating OR have the application completed by the person who nominates them.
  • Be enrolled in a STEM Degree program.

Tatsinupi of the Month Honors:
  • Each Tatsinupi will be recognized on all AISES Social Media Platforms for their respective month.
  • Each Tatsinupi will be featured on our Tatsinupi Wall of Honor on the Tatsinupi website page.
  • Each Tatsinupi will have their photo and a brief article shared with their local hometown and/or tribal newspaper.
  • Each Tatsinupi will receive a certificate to celebrate their honor.
  • Each Tatsinupi (for that academic year) will be recognized at the annual Student Award Luncheon at the National Conference.

For More Information: Contact AISES Student Success at scholarships@aises.org

Application

AISES Student Speaker Webinar with Audra Benally

 
AISES Full Circle Mentorship Orientation

 
AISES Career Readiness: Computer Game Design

 
AISES College Readiness: IHS Scholarships

 
AISES Career Readiness: Health Field Exploration


2023 Native Scholarship Forum

 
AISES Career Readiness: 
Indigenous Food/Farmers Careers

AISES 2021-2022 Scholarship Webinar

 
AISES Mentorship Meeting 2021

 
AISES Career Readiness: 
BPA Internship

 
AISES College Readiness: 
Summer Internships

 
AISES College Readiness: 
Mid-Term Study/Test Exam Prep

 
AISES College Readiness: 
Scholarship Application Walk Through