This grant supports an emerging partnership between New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT; a Hispanic Serving Institution) and Navajo Technical University (NTU; a Tribal University). The two institutions recently signed a memorandum of understanding to pursue a collaborative effort to bring safe, clean drinking water to Navajo households; demonstrating how these institutions go beyond serving students but serve their communities as well. Building on their research collaborations, the institutions now seek to develop a bridge into graduate programs for NTU students, with an emphasis on environmental science.  Grant funds allow the institutions to identify and establish a relationship with a mentor university; host a focus group at the American Indian Science and Engineering Society with other institutional leaders; facilitate surveys, interviews, and focus groups with students, alumni, and faculty to gain insights into systemic barriers that impede pathways to graduate education; facilitate interviews and focus groups with administrators to understand institutional priorities, plans, and goals; and formulate an action plan to implement change at each institution, including recommendations that will be presented to senior administrators.