Native American education issues, articulation agreements among discussion topics
Acting President David Harris, Regent Sandra Begay-Campbell, American Indian Student Services Director Pamela Agoyo, and other university administrators will meet with UNM-Gallup and Diné College officials this week to follow up on Native American initiatives that arose from last year’s Tribal Summit as well as to develop articulation agreements between Diné College and UNM.
Photo: Acting President David Harris
On Wednesday, April 12, at 2:30 p.m., the group will tour the UNM-Gallup campus and get an update on branch activities from Executive Branch Director Beth Miller. Capital projects including Phase II of the Health Careers Building and construction of a north campus building to house Adult Basic Education are among the updates to be discussed.
At 5 p.m., a reception at El Rancho Hotel is scheduled with the UNM group and the Gallup staff. Legislators, alumni, City of Gallup and McKinley County officials as well as Chamber of Commerce representatives and the hospital board are among the VIP invitees.
On Thursday, April 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Miller will join the UNM group in a joint initiatives meeting at Diné College is Tsaile, Ariz.
“Diné College is looking to expand its initiatives and we are looking at how we can accommodate their request to accept credits in Navajo culture, humanities and history, as well as looking at the Navajo Language Proficiency Test,” Agoyo said.
The purpose of the test is to assess a minimum standard of Navajo oral and written literacy for those who will teach in Navajo, whether as Navajo Language teacher or Navajo/English bilingual teachers. Both the Arizona and New Mexico Departments of Education recognize the results.
Agoyo also plans a discussion about using UNM graduate students to teach at Diné College. Other topics include transfer students, advisement, distance and continuing education.
Media Contact: Carolyn Gonzales, (505) 277-5920; e-mail: cgonzal@unm.edu