Institutes & Programs
Institutes
Diné Policy Institute
Through Sa’ah Naaghai Bik’eh Hozhoon, Diné Policy Institute provides quality research to facilitate and analyze issues and educate all people, enhances and ensures that well-reasoned policies are developed to protect thesovereignty and cultural integrity of the Ni’hooka’ Dine’e’, in order to renew the principles and values of Sa’a Naghai Bik’e Hozhoon. The Diné Policy Institute is established under Diné College as a research institute to “mesh” Western research practices with traditional Navajo values, Natural, Traditional, Customary, and Common laws (as found in the CN-69-02) and principles to advise (by recommendation) the Navajo Nation law and policy-makers.
Diné Environmental Institute
General Information
DEI conducts environmental studies through field and laboratory research and analysis, culturally relevant curriculum development, educational instruction, data collection and data management, including repository archiving and sharing, policy formation, community outreach and training, and environmental project management.
Uranium Education Program
Diné College's Uranium Education Program is partnership project designed to examine health issues arising from
the environmental impacts of uranium mining on the Navajo Nation. Partners include Diné College, IHS physicians,
the Navajo Division of Health, Saccomanno Research Institute of Grand Junction, the University of New Mexico
Center for Health Promotion for Rural American Indians, Northern Arizona University's Environmental Outreach
Program, the EPA, the US Army Corp of Engineers, and researchers with expertise in radiation and environmental
health issues. The program's purpose is to assess local information need, plan mitigation actions, evaluate
educational efforts, and empower local community members. For more information, call 505.368.3515.
Land Grant Office
LGO develops and implements education, research, student orientated hands-on activities and community
participation, to promote and provides a learning environment in agriculture and food science, and environmental
science. LGO also provide services in extension services, community education, professional development,
curriculum development and rural community and economic development.
Currently, LGO has the Navajo Textile Project, Animal Care and Management, the Native Landscaping Project,
Nutrition for Young Children, Tsaile Watershed Research Project and the Sheep is Life Project. LGO will be
extending its educational services into GIS, youth development, small farms and the invasive plants field to expose
students and community members into these various areas. LGO office is located on the second floor of the Hatathli
Center. For more information, call 928.724.6941.
Programs
Adult Education and High School Equivalency Credential
The Adult Education Program provides instruction to students, who want to prepare for the High School Equivalency tests(either GED® or HiSET®) then continue onto college or enter employment. For more information, call 505-368-3563.
Summer Institute
The Summer Institute is a two week program to help incoming college freshmen students improve their Accuplacer placement test scores in math, reading & writing. This program also prepares incoming Diné College students to be ready.
Summer Research Enhancement Program (SREP)
This program prepares American Indian students for careers in public health research, including diabetes and cancer prevention. It is also designed to strengthen the research capabilities of Tribal Colleges and Universities. The 10 week summer program is available to sophomore level and above college students who are interested in developing research skills and participating in community-based health improvement projects within the Navajo Nation or other American Indian communities. For more information, call Linda Garcia 505.368.3592, Mark Bauer at 505.368.3589 or Nesbah Kahn at 928.724.6936.
Initiatives
Diné Language Planning Committee
The purpose of the Diné Language Planning Committee is to promote Diné language learning at the College and in community and family settings. With members from the Center for Diné Studies, Center for Diné Teacher Education, and the Diné Policy Institute, the Committee organizes immersion camps and other cultural events to accomplish this goal. For more information, call 928.724.6658.