Recently, the Institutional Actions Council (IAC) of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) approved Navajo Technical University’s (NTU’s) request to offer three new programs. NTU provided additional detail and information about grants from the American Indian College Fund and the Bureau of Indian Education. This response helped the IAC approve the programs. The new programs are: a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science, and an Associate of Applied Science degree in nursing.

The chemistry program will be funded by the National Science Foundation, the computer science program will be funded by the American Indian College Fund, and the nursing program will be funded by Carl Perkins and the New Mexico Nursing Expansion grant. “There is a high demand for graduates with STEM and medical degrees, so offering chemistry, computer science, and nursing programs will open a wide range of career opportunities for NTU students,” said Dr. Casmir Agbaraji, dean of undergraduate studies at NTU.

“As a member of the Navajo Nation community, I’m so pleased to share this news with you as we’ve achieved two levels of approval to begin course offerings for the Associate of Applied Science Registered Nurse Program at Navajo Technical University from the New Mexico Board of Nursing Approval and the New Mexico Higher Learning Commission,” stated Michelle Kahn-John. “We are working hard to maintain our current registered nurse faculty, finalize all course offerings and begin the process for recruiting interested students.”

Dr. Thiagarjan Soundappan, an associate professor of chemistry, gave an appraisal on the new Bachelor of Science program, stating, “Navajo Technical University is the first Native American university to offer the BS in chemistry program in the fall, 2022. The chemistry curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students of the Navajo Nation who plan to complete their formal education with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and those who wish to pursue an advanced degree such as the PREMED program, and graduate studies, respectively.”