The evolution of mission of Navajo Community College/Diné College: A historical perspective

In the 21st century, academic research on the evolution of the mission of tribal colleges has not been published. Such research would be a valuable contribution to the general body of scholarly literature and the study of the mission of colleges and universities, tribal colleges, and American Indian Higher Education in particular. This qualitative case study focuses on the evolution of the mission and purpose of the first tribal college in the United States. Established in 1968, Navajo Community College, since renamed Diné College, is located on the largest Federal Indian reservation in the United States. The college received its first accreditation in 1972, followed by eight successive re-accreditations. This research is guided by a primary research question: How did the mission of Diné College evolve throughout its forty-year history between 1968 and 2008, and what role did the College\u27s leadership play in shaping and attempting to realize this mission? The findings of this study are presented in a rich descriptive narrative for readers to experience through the lens of the researcher the challenges and triumphs of the evolution of the tribal college as told by its founders and leaders of the tribal college. Their stories reveal the challenges and crises the college leaders overcame in shaping and attempting to realize its mission and purpose. The College is based on a unique tribal philosophy and worldview coupled with Western education, seeking to stay true to its mission while continuing to meet the growing need to expand its educational programs and services to build a skilled and professional workforce for a developing tribal nation. This study is the first that focuses on the evolution of the mission of a single tribal college as it seeks to become an accredited and eminent higher learning institution for its tribal nation for future generations