Survey Manual Sec. 4.1, Policy on Employee Responsibility Towards American Indians and Alaska Natives;

Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of the Interior and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.

 

IV.            OBJECTIVES

 

The objectives are to target USGS resources to strengthen SGU educational capabilities in the earth sciences, as well as to develop and enhance USGS programs and activities and to increase access, through eliciting new initiatives for SGU and its student.  This MOU is expected to guide the parties in pursuit of the following objectives: 

 

(1)            Ensure SGU participation in USGS grant and excess property opportunities;

(2)            Increase the number of SGU student interns and visiting faculty opportunities with USGS;

(3)            Promote technical assistance, mutual program opportunities, development of SGU faculty and infrastructure, and loan of USGS personnel for teaching and research opportunities;

(4)            Ensure greater participation of SGU in the USGS program activities in all disciplines;

(5)            Assist SGU in their efforts to help Tribal Governments and American Indian people become better stewards of their land and natural resources.

 

V.            USGS/SGU LEADERSHIP GROUP

 

The USGS and SGU will establish a USGS/SGU Leadership Group to serve as a governing body for all MOU initiatives.  The Leadership Group will implement this MOU by providing guidance, direction, and coordination to ensure that mutual benefits and interests are served.  This body will consist of an equal number of members from USGS and SGU/Rosebud Reservation.  The USGS members will be selected by the Director and the SGU members will be selected by the President of SGU. 

 

The Leadership Group meets on a scheduled basis as determined by the members but no less than two times a year.

 

VI.            RESPONSIBILITIES

 

In fulfilling the objectives of the program, the parties agree to applicable legal limitations, to participate in and be responsible for activities as follows:

 

The USGS:

 

Subject to the availability of resources, the USGS will:

 

(1)            Provide SGU with information on employment and participate in program opportunities within the USGS at annual conferences sponsored by SGU, career fairs, and on campus orientation and recruitment activities, assist in outreach efforts, and explore opportunities for the provision of student career counseling and mentoring;

(2)            Explore scholarship, internship, fellowship, and cooperative education opportunities at USGS and coordinate planning for pre-collegiate and collegiate programs for students enrolling at SGU;

(3)            Encourage its disciplines/programs to enter into contractual agreements with SGU to promote special initiatives of mutual interest including, but not limited to, programs to advance extension, research, and data collection activities at SGU and programs to assist SGU in their effort to encourage greater stewardship of their lands and natural resources;

(4)            Provide opportunities for USGS employees to serve at SGU as executives on loan or technical advisors or as faculty members of SGU and for SGU executives/faculty to serve temporarily in positions at USGS;

(5)            Provide assistance to SGU.  Such assistance may include, but not limited to the following, satellite hookup support, instructional services, development of curricula, technical infrastructure, and research and facility support, access to Federal surplus and excess property, loaned executives and teaching and research faculty, assignment of USGS liaison officer, educational workshops for instructors, and technology transfers to SGU;

(6)            Encourage cooperative program activities between SGU and other institutions of higher learning that have working relationships with USGS;

(7)            Provide opportunities for representation of SGU on relevant USGS advisory boards and commissions; and

(8)            In cooperation with SGU, participate in a conference on an annual basis, which will provide a cost-effective opportunity to dialogue with one another, promote stronger and more effective partnerships and programs, and exchange information on new and existing programs.

           

            SGU:

 

Subject to the availability of resources, SGU will:

 

(1)            Provide member Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU) with information on employment, training, grant, and excess-property opportunities with the USGS to maximize the equitable representation of American Indians in USGS funded programs;

(2)            Assist TCU in the development and implementation of programs to prepare students for careers identified as important by the USGS through degree programs at SGU and through cooperative agreements with other institutions offering broader and more advanced training opportunities.  Provide outreach and recruitment into secondary and lower-grade levels to accomplish similar goals;

(3)            Assist in establishing partnerships with State and private 4-year institutions to facilitate transfer of students into baccalaureate and advanced degree programs, if not offered at SGU;

(4)            Provide facilities and services for hosting special educational and training programs;

(5)            Assist in the execution of projects such as forums and workshops directed toward increasing employment and training opportunities in the USGS for students and educators of SGU;

(6)                 Seek opportunities to cooperate with USGS programs on discipline relevant opportunities.

 

VII.            COSTS

 

Nothing herein will be construed as requiring the USGS or SGU to expend funds on behalf of the purposes, objectives, and responsibilities set forth in the MOU, except as agreed to by the parties to this MOU in separate written agreements to the extent permitted by law.

 

VIII.            EFFECTIVE DATE

 

This MOU becomes effective when both parties have signed the agreement.  The MOU will remain in effect until amended by mutual written agreement or terminated by either party  The MOU may be terminated at any time by either party upon 60 days written notice to the other party.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Memorandum of Understanding to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the dates herein written:

 

 

United States Department of the Interior             Sinte Gleska University

United States Geological Survey                                    Rosebud, South Dakota