Funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the Sloan Indigenous Graduate Partnership is a program dedicated to the recruitment, retention, and graduation of Indigenous graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This partnership includes nine institutions which house the Sloan Scholars Program and offer participating students supplemental financial support, professional development opportunities, and community/networking support. One SIGP program of note is Montana State University’s Indigenous Mentoring Program, a collaborative initiative between researchers at Montana State University, the University of Montana, and Salish Kootenai College, resulting from a research study funded by the National Science Foundation’s Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate-Transformation program (NSF-AGEP-T). The study examined factors that provide effective mentoring of Indigenous graduate students in STEM fields and led to the program’s specialized support and training model for STEM faculty. The model involves sequenced modules focused on providing STEM faculty the skills to offer mentorship, provide academic and social support, and develop culturally responsive practices to benefit American Indian and Alaskan Native graduate students. Students participating in the program are enrolled in STEM master’s and doctoral degree programs across the university and receive supplemental financial support, a community of Indigenous scholars, and access to leading faculty in their field.
