History - Dine College -
Source: https://www.dinecollege.edu/about-us/history
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:10
History - Dine College -
Skip to content
About DC
About Diné College
Educational Philosophy
History
Locations
Research
Research Innovation and Practice
Convoy
NARCH
NSF-TCUP
Summer Research Enhancement Program (SREP)
Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program (ISEP)
Undergraduate Student Internship Program
Institutes
Diné Policy Institute (DPI)
Institutes and Grant Programs
Institutional Planning and Reporting
Navajo Language Immersion Institute
Accreditation
Board of Regents
Office of the President
Athletics
Go Warriors
About Athletics
Join Athletics
Fitness Center
Archery
Cross Country
Rodeo
Land Grant Office (LGO)
Land Grant Office (LGO)
Agriculture
Youth Development
Pasture to Plate Expo
Marketing and Communications
Marketing & Communications
Alumni
Meet the Marketing Team
The Higher Education Opportunity Act
Student Consumer Information
Commencement
Academics
Academic Calendar
Our Schools
School of Arts and Humanities
School of Business and Social Science
School of Diné Studies and Education
School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
School of Transformation
T’áá hó ‘ájí t’éego
Innovation Hub
Dual Credit Program
Student & Family
New Students
Continuing Students
Instructors & Administrators
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Contact
General Education Core
Academic Affairs
Academic Assessment and Accreditation
Academic Assessment and Accreditation
Academic Accreditation
Academic Assessment
Academic Policies
Diné College Placement Rate Methodology
Adult Education Program
Student Consumer Information
Library
Admissions
Admission Information
Admissions FAQs
International Students
Transfer Students
Course Catalog
Course Schedule
Fees
Fees
Tuition
Refund Schedule
Fall and Spring Semesters
Summer Sessions
Financial Aid
Financial Aid and Scholarship
Aid and Scholarship
SAP Policy
Financial Aid Contact
Residence Life
Registration Information
Student Right to Know Act
Placement Assessments
Summer Institute Program
Current Students
ASDC
Student Mental Health Support
Advisement
Student Code of Conduct [pdf]
Student Complaint Process
Student Activites
Campus Safety
Campus Safety
Campus Safety Statistics
Learning Center
Academic Recognition
Transcript Requests
Career Education Program
IT Services
IT-Help
Information Technology
Office 365
MyDC Portal
Security Awareness Portal
Contact us
IT-Help
Support DC
Locations
Career
MyDC Portal
Diné College
History
In 1998, Diné College bestowed its first baccalaureate degrees under the Diné Teacher Education Program, accredited under a partnership with Arizona State University.
Learn More
Diné College History
Diné College was established in 1968 as the first tribally-controlled community college in the United States. In creating an institution of higher education, the Navajo Nation sought to encourage Navajo youth to become contributing members of the Navajo Nation and the world society. Under the direction of an eight-member Board of Regents confirmed by the Government Services Committee of the Navajo Nation Council, the College serves residents of the 26,000 square mile Navajo Nation, which spans the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. As a postsecondary educational institution, Diné College awards associate degrees and certificates in areas important to the economic and social development of the Navajo Nation.
The Navajos have a long history of dedication to education for their people. A few days before his death in 1893, the great chief, Hastinn Ch’il Haajiin (Manuelito) said:
“My grandchild, education is the ladder. Tell our people to take it.”
For the past five decades, the Navajos have allocated a relatively large proportion of their efforts and resources to improving educational opportunities for their tribal members.
The Navajo Tribe took a momentous step toward educational self-determination of Indians by establishing Navajo Community College (now Diné College) in 1968. This landmark institution was an innovative means to meet the long unmet postsecondary educational needs of Native Americans.
Diné College was the first college established by Native Americans for Native Americans. It set a precedent for later tribally controlled community colleges on or near reservations. Diné College remains the oldest and largest. In the following decades, 33 similar colleges have been founded by other Indian tribes.
A major milestone in the development of Diné College was its attainment of accreditation by the North Central Association (NCA) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education in 1976. It became the first tribally controlled institution to be accredited as a two-year college. In 1995 NCA renewed the accreditation of the College for an additional six years. The 2002 comprehensive visit garnered a recommended 8 year re-accreditation.
Under the direction of an eight-member Board of Regents confirmed by the Government Services Committee of the Navajo Nation Council, Diné College has the responsibility to serve residents of the 26,000 square mile Navajo Nation which spans the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
As a postsecondary educational institution, Diné College awards Associate degrees and Certificates in areas important to the economic and social development of the Navajo Nation. To comply with the College mission, personalized instruction is guaranteed to each student because of the low student-faculty ratio.
In 1998, Diné College bestowed its first baccalaureate degrees under the Diné Teacher Education Program, accredited under a partnership with Arizona State University.
Sign in
Sign up
Sign in
Don’t have an account?
Sign up
Sign up
Already have an account?
Sign in
Skip to content
About DC
About Diné College
Educational Philosophy
History
Locations
Research
Research Innovation and Practice
Convoy
NARCH
NSF-TCUP
Summer Research Enhancement Program (SREP)
Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program (ISEP)
Undergraduate Student Internship Program
Institutes
Diné Policy Institute (DPI)
Institutes and Grant Programs
Institutional Planning and Reporting
Navajo Language Immersion Institute
Accreditation
Board of Regents
Office of the President
Athletics
Go Warriors
About Athletics
Join Athletics
Fitness Center
Archery
Cross Country
Rodeo
Land Grant Office (LGO)
Land Grant Office (LGO)
Agriculture
Youth Development
Pasture to Plate Expo
Marketing and Communications
Marketing & Communications
Alumni
Meet the Marketing Team
The Higher Education Opportunity Act
Student Consumer Information
Commencement
Academics
Academic Calendar
Our Schools
School of Arts and Humanities
School of Business and Social Science
School of Diné Studies and Education
School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
School of Transformation
T’áá hó ‘ájí t’éego
Innovation Hub
Dual Credit Program
Student & Family
New Students
Continuing Students
Instructors & Administrators
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Contact
General Education Core
Academic Affairs
Academic Assessment and Accreditation
Academic Assessment and Accreditation
Academic Accreditation
Academic Assessment
Academic Policies
Diné College Placement Rate Methodology
Adult Education Program
Student Consumer Information
Library
Admissions
Admission Information
Admissions FAQs
International Students
Transfer Students
Course Catalog
Course Schedule
Fees
Fees
Tuition
Refund Schedule
Fall and Spring Semesters
Summer Sessions
Financial Aid
Financial Aid and Scholarship
Aid and Scholarship
SAP Policy
Financial Aid Contact
Residence Life
Registration Information
Student Right to Know Act
Placement Assessments
Summer Institute Program
Current Students
ASDC
Student Mental Health Support
Advisement
Student Code of Conduct [pdf]
Student Complaint Process
Student Activites
Campus Safety
Campus Safety
Campus Safety Statistics
Learning Center
Academic Recognition
Transcript Requests
Career Education Program
IT Services
IT-Help
Information Technology
Office 365
MyDC Portal
Security Awareness Portal
Contact us
IT-Help
Support DC
Locations
Career
MyDC Portal
Diné College
History
In 1998, Diné College bestowed its first baccalaureate degrees under the Diné Teacher Education Program, accredited under a partnership with Arizona State University.
Learn More
Diné College History
Diné College was established in 1968 as the first tribally-controlled community college in the United States. In creating an institution of higher education, the Navajo Nation sought to encourage Navajo youth to become contributing members of the Navajo Nation and the world society. Under the direction of an eight-member Board of Regents confirmed by the Government Services Committee of the Navajo Nation Council, the College serves residents of the 26,000 square mile Navajo Nation, which spans the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. As a postsecondary educational institution, Diné College awards associate degrees and certificates in areas important to the economic and social development of the Navajo Nation.
The Navajos have a long history of dedication to education for their people. A few days before his death in 1893, the great chief, Hastinn Ch’il Haajiin (Manuelito) said:
“My grandchild, education is the ladder. Tell our people to take it.”
For the past five decades, the Navajos have allocated a relatively large proportion of their efforts and resources to improving educational opportunities for their tribal members.
The Navajo Tribe took a momentous step toward educational self-determination of Indians by establishing Navajo Community College (now Diné College) in 1968. This landmark institution was an innovative means to meet the long unmet postsecondary educational needs of Native Americans.
Diné College was the first college established by Native Americans for Native Americans. It set a precedent for later tribally controlled community colleges on or near reservations. Diné College remains the oldest and largest. In the following decades, 33 similar colleges have been founded by other Indian tribes.
A major milestone in the development of Diné College was its attainment of accreditation by the North Central Association (NCA) Commission on Institutions of Higher Education in 1976. It became the first tribally controlled institution to be accredited as a two-year college. In 1995 NCA renewed the accreditation of the College for an additional six years. The 2002 comprehensive visit garnered a recommended 8 year re-accreditation.
Under the direction of an eight-member Board of Regents confirmed by the Government Services Committee of the Navajo Nation Council, Diné College has the responsibility to serve residents of the 26,000 square mile Navajo Nation which spans the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
As a postsecondary educational institution, Diné College awards Associate degrees and Certificates in areas important to the economic and social development of the Navajo Nation. To comply with the College mission, personalized instruction is guaranteed to each student because of the low student-faculty ratio.
In 1998, Diné College bestowed its first baccalaureate degrees under the Diné Teacher Education Program, accredited under a partnership with Arizona State University.
Sign in
Sign up
Sign in
Don’t have an account?
Sign up
Sign up
Already have an account?
Sign in