Diné College facts for kids
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Former name
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Navajo Community College (1968–1997) |
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| Motto | The Higher Education Institution of the Navajo |
| Type | Public tribal land-grant college |
| Established | 1968 (opened January 20, 1969) |
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Academic affiliations
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Space-grant |
| Students | 2,000 |
| Location |
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United States
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| Colors | blue and gold |
| Mascot | Warriors |
Diné College is a special kind of college. It is a public college for Native Americans, located in Tsaile, Arizona. It serves the large Navajo Nation area. This college offers different types of degrees, like associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and even one master's degree. It also offers academic certificates.
Contents
History of Diné College
How the College Started
Diné College first opened in 1968. Back then, it was called Navajo Community College. It was the very first college created by Native Americans, for Native Americans. The Navajo Nation officially started the college in 1968. A group of leaders, called the Board of Regents, was chosen to guide the college. Robert Roessel was the first president.
Choosing a Home for the College
At first, the college was in a temporary spot in Rough Rock, Arizona. The Board of Regents looked for a permanent place to build the campus. They chose the Tsaile–Wheatfields area because it had lots of water, beautiful forests, and lakes. The Board was promised 1,000 acres of land for the campus. In October 1968, they officially picked Tsaile. They even held a contest for the college's official seal, and they chose a design of an arrowhead inside a rainbow god.
Opening Day and Growth
On January 20, 1969, the college officially opened its doors. It had 40 teachers and 340 students. This was the most students they could fit! Many more students wanted to join, but there wasn't enough space. The college even added evening classes because so many people wanted to learn.
By 1973, over 3,400 students had attended the college. However, only 46 students had earned their associate degrees by then.
A New Campus and New Programs
In October 1973, students started taking classes at the new, permanent campus in Tsaile. The campus was officially opened on May 14, 1974. Many of the buildings were built in an octagon shape, just like the traditional Navajo hogan homes. The campus cost $12 million to build. Some classes were also taught in other towns like Shiprock and Fort Defiance.
In 1992, Tommy Lewis became the college president. During his time, the college received more funding. The Navajo Language and Culture Curriculum became very popular. Because of this, the college decided to offer this program across the whole institution. In 1994, Diné College became a "land-grant college." This means it gets special support from the government to help with education and research.
A New Name and New Achievements
In the summer of 1997, the college changed its name from Navajo Community College to Diné College. This new name better shows that the school is for the Diné, or Navajo, people. "Diné" means "the people" in the Navajo language.
In 1998, Diné College started offering its first bachelor's degrees. These were in the Diné Teacher Education Program. Also in 1998, the college library was renamed the Kinyaa'áanii Charlie Benally Memorial Library.
A very exciting moment happened on May 21, 2011. The women's archery team from Diné College won the United States college national championship! They won in the compound bow category. This was a huge achievement, as it's believed to be the first time a tribal college team won a top national championship in any sport.
In 2019, a group called the Higher Learning Commission approved Diné College to be a four-year institution. This meant they could offer more bachelor's degrees. They also added new options for their Fine Arts degree, like silversmithing and weaving.
Academics
Diné College offers many different ways to learn. You can earn bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, and academic certificates. They also offer one master's degree.
Center for Diné Studies
The college has a special place called the Center for Diné Studies. This center helps students learn about the Navajo language, history, and culture. It uses Navajo principles like Nitsáhákees (Thinking), Nahatʼá (Planning), Iiná (Living), and Siihasin (Assurance) to help students learn and prepare for their future.
Uranium Education Program
Diné College also has a Uranium Education Program at its Shiprock campus. This program helps the Navajo people learn about radiation and environmental health. It focuses on issues that came from uranium mining in the Navajo Nation.
Campuses
The main campus of Diné College is in Tsaile, Arizona. But the college also has five other branches. Two are in Arizona: Chinle and Window Rock. One is in Tuba City, Arizona. Two more are in New Mexico: Crownpoint and Shiprock. Diné College also has two smaller learning sites in Aneth, Utah, and Newcomb, New Mexico.
The main campus in Tsaile has eight dormitories for students. Each dormitory has fifteen rooms and can house about 150 students. These buildings are shaped like octagons, similar to traditional Navajo hogans. The college calls them "hooghan away from hogan," meaning a home away from home.
There is also housing for teachers and their families on campus. Students living in these areas attend schools in the Chinle Unified School District.
Governance
Diné College is led by a group of eight people called the Board of Regents. The Navajo Nation Council chooses these leaders. The name "Diné" is the traditional name for the Navajo people, and it means "the people."
Student Life
Most of the students at Diné College are American Indian or Alaska Native. About 99% of the students are from these groups.
Alumni
Many interesting people have graduated from Diné College. Some famous alumni include:
- Carmelita Little Turtle, a photographer.
- Nicco Montaño, a professional Mixed Martial Artist and the first UFC Women's Flyweight Champion of Navajo descent.
- Moli Yeski Yusef, an Olympic runner from Chad.
See also
