The center of Excellence is a partnership between: Fond Du Lac Tribal & Community College(FDLTCC) and United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) Fond Du Lac Tribal & Community College is the first American Indian land grant institution selected to establish a Center of Excellence. The college received land grant status in 1994. The federal Center of Excellence program supports partnerships and improved working relationships between USDA agencies and tribes. The development of the center signifies the commitment between the NRCS, an agency of the federal government, and FDLTCC, a tribal-based land grant institution, to enhance educational and employment opportunities for students. In general, the mission of the center is two-fold: First, we want students: to be introduced to a scientific career to understand basic soil survey and soil science concepts to be introduced to aerial photo interpretation and remote    sensing fundamentals to understand application of soil survey information in    Geographic Information Systems Second, we will transfer soil survey information onto planimetric (distortion-free) overlays as part of the USDA-NRCS soil survey digitization initiative. The center will also serve as a facility to enhance the FDLTCC Environmental Studies Institute and will provide a location for USDA-NRCS Tribal College Liaison/student interaction. NRCS has the federal responsibility for the National Cooperative Soil Survey, and federal leadership for collecting, storing, maintaining, and distributing soil information on privately owned lands in the United States. These activities include preparing compilation bases for map finishing and digitizing, performing the quality assurance of soil survey maps, and preparing map material for publication. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's Target Center at 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, Dc 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal employment provider and employer.