Native America Calling

Today, April 3 – First Native doctoral program

There are three dozen tribal colleges and universities around the country. None of them have a doctoral program. But that’s all set to change this fall when Navajo Technical University starts up an accredited advanced degree track in Diné culture and language sustainability. Administrators say it will bolster language preservation, but also lead to research aimed at tackling specific issues on the Navajo Nation. The new program also represents a major leap forward for Native higher education and could be a model for other tribal colleges that are looking to both increase their educational attainment and provide culturally-specific academic insights to help tribal citizens. We hear from Dr. Wafa Hozien, Navajo Technical University Administrator, and Dr. Colleen Bowman (Navajo), provost for Navajo Technical University.