http://crystal.ncc.cc.nm.us/~vino/NN/ and http://www.atiin.com/navajoland/
The Navajo Nation extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico covering over 27,000 square miles of unparalleled beauty. The Navajo Reservation is peppered with twelve lakes and ponds and is home to more than a dozen national monuments, tribal parks, and historical sites. Lake Powell alone boasts of some 186 miles of waterfront and 2,000 miles of shoreline.
You can step back in time and see how the ancient ones - the Anasazi people - who lived here thousands of years ago. The Navajo Nation has an array of ancient ruins including the world renown Navajo National Monument and the tranquil Chaco Culture National Historical Park. From the towering cliffs of Monument Valley to the sparkling glints of Wheatfields Lake in the Lukachukai Mountains, this is a land of great contrasts.
Embracing this diversity, Navajos relate to the land as their mother. The Navajo or Diné, believe they're an extension of Mother Earth, and thus are also a part of her beauty. Because of this belief, the Diné treat the land with utmost respect.
Today, the Navajo Nation is striving to sustain a viable economy for an ever -increasing population of about 200,000 while nurturing its cultural heritage. Accordingly, the Navajo Nation offers a spectrum of cultural events throughout the year, including traditional song and dance contests and intertribal pow wows.
The Navajo Nation is moving ahead and maintaining a strong economy while still holding onto its cultural heritage. The key to creating this delicate balance involves the paramount use of the Navajo language, which is still cited exclusively in Navajo prayers, songs and religious ceremonies.
Many worldwide visitors are intrigued and mystified with the Navajo language as were the enemy during World War II. Unknown to many, the Navajo language was used to create a secret code to baffle the Japanese. Navajo men were selected to learn secret codes and serve on the front line to overcome and decipher the enemy. Today, these men are recognized as the fame Navajo Code Talkers, which exemplifies the unsurpassed Navajo bravery and unequaled patriotism of the Navajo people.
Agency Network Program
Since the first year in which the Office of the Speaker was established through Navajo Nation Council Resolution CD-68-89 in 1991, the Office of the Speaker developed a two year strategic plan for program development and budgeting. In this strategic plan, the goals of "decentralization" through the use of technology were proposed. The two year strategic plan specifically called for the...."Promotion, facilitation and to make specific legislative and organizational changes and recommendations to allow for the establishment of the "Agency Chapter Computer Network" to support the agency "decentralization" process and to provide for the "sharing of government data and information" with the Agency, chapters and government levels"....
In addition, through Budget and Finance Committee directives in 1991, a task force was established which also supported the effort of "decentralization" through the use of technology.
....To examine and develop plans for implementation of a central agency computerized network to allow for decentralization of financial control to agencies and to allow for interagency communications....
Through initiatives by both the Office of the Speaker and the Budget and Finance Committee the Agency Network Program was established as a "Special Project". The Agency Network Program is in its fifth fiscal year, under the administrative authority of the Office of the Speaker. The enabling legislation for the Agency Network Program is contained in Navajo Nation Council Resolution CJY-34-92 which specifically mandated the creation of an "Open Information Environment" among the governmental entities of the Navajo Nation, and assigned responsible parties to coordinate the use and development of computer technology to achieve an open information sharing environment. Through the enactment of CJY-34 92 the Council endorsed a public policy recognizing the need that an Information Technology Coordinator serve as both the "Data Guardian" to implement the Open Information Environment and as chairperson of a "Standards Group" for the Navajo Nation. The Agency Network Program thus grew out of a basic programmatic need not only to fulfill the mandate of CJY-34 92 but to develop and share information relating to computer technology. The Agency Network Program's Plan of Operation was approved by the Intergovernmental Relations Committee, Resolution IGRJY-149-95.
The Agency Network Program has taken the lead in the advancement of computer technology which both directly and indirectly supports efforts towards decentralization.
The following are current communication links that have been established.
The Agency Network Program's mission is two-fold.
To continue the work that the Agency Network Program has begun, it is crucial that we continue to advocate for cooperation and collaboration from the three branches and entities on the Navajo Nation.
In conclusion, the judicial Branch has been commended for taking the lead in providing the strategic direction and recognizing the need for the coordination of a successful Navajo Nation information infrastructure that will benefit all Navajo people in a technological society. It is apparent that there is a need for an entity to provide leadership, direction, coordination and on-going assessment for recommended revisions and improvements to the Navajo Nation information infrastructure as it is implemented.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is the principal bureau, within the federal government, responsible for the administration of federal programs for federally recognized Indian tribes, and for promoting Indian self-determination. In addition, the Bureau has a trust responsibility emanating from treaties and other agreements with Native groups. The mission of the Bureau is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. The BIA provides the kinds of services one expects from a local, city, county, State or the Federal Government. This includes, but is not limited to, law enforcement, social services, education, housing improvements, loan opportunities for Indian businesses, and leasing of land. The Indian Health Service, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, provides health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The BIA currently provides federal services to approximately 1.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who are members of more than 557 federally recognized Indian tribes in the 48 contiguous United States and in Alaska. The Bureau administers 43,450,266.97 acres of tribally-owned land, 10,183,530.13 acres of individually-owned land, and 417,224.98 acres of federally- owned land which is held in trust status.
The BIA is headed by an Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs, who is responsible for BIA policy, but operationally the BIA is a bifurcated organization directed by (1) a Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who has line authority over 12 Area Offices, 83 Agency Offices, three sub-agencies, six field stations, and two irrigation project offices and (2) the Director of the Office of Indian Education, who has direct authority over 26 education line officers.
The BIA funds 187 elementary, secondary and post-secondary Indian schools, many of them operated by tribal governments or organizations under contract with the Bureau. Other programs provide assistance for Indian college students, for vocational training, and for adult education.
The Navajo Area Office of the BIA will continue to provide timely, quality services, manage for excellence, fostering cooperation and coordination in consultation with Indian Tribes while supporting self-determination and tribal sovereignty.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is charged with providing services directly or through contract, grant and compact agreements with Tribes. The general goals are as follows:
The BIA is connecting all 187 of their schools to the Internet by way of the Dept. of Interiors' National Network - DOINET. The Campus Wide Network will be a fiber-based backbone with 3Com Switches to connect all of the following classrooms and the Computer Center. According to the Presidents' Goals 2000 Plan, "All classrooms will be connected by the year 2000." Thus, the "Access Native America" plan will allow 2 Internet drops per classroom and 1 Internet drop per administration desk.
Graphic map available at: http://www.doi.gov/ien/icons/doinet/net-map.gif
DOINET is the integrated data network backbone of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). DOINET is managed by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Bureau of Reclamation on behalf of all other bureaus under the Department of the Interior. As the single network architecture, DOINET ensures network compatibility within the Department. Also, DOINET supports the telecommunications requirements of the scientific and administrative applications of the department and its bureaus. The network developed out of a need to share resources among the bureaus, which leads to reduced overall costs and increased efficiency.
The backbone of DOINET consists of various nodes located at key DOI bureau locations around the country. These nodes are connected together by high speed circuits from FTS2000. Each backbone switching node consists of a Stratacom IPX cell switch and one or more Cisco routers. Router connections utilize Cisco-compatible OSPF (open shortest path first) routing protocol. Other protocols such as PPP (point-to-point protocol) can also be used. To provide redundancy, each cell switch is connected to at least two other node locations by a T1 circuit. Cell relay technology is used by Stratacom to transfer data between the switches. Cisco routers are connected to the switches using Frame Relay to provide the data connection. Frame relay was chosen because it is efficient at handling highspeed, bursty data over wide area networks. Also, it is well suited for LAN-to-LAN connectivity which is prevalent within the Department of Interior. Remote locations can connect to DOINET by dial-up procedures or dedicated circuits. From there they can connect to any location on the network.
Besides data, DOINET supports voice and compressed video. The cell relay switches integrate the data, voice and video information onto the shared T1 circuits. The network also supports connections to and from the Internet.
Future Expansion
In the future, we plan to migrate to Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), incorporate T3 trunking and add other nodes to the network: Billings, MT; Salt Lake City, UT; and Boston, MA. Also, the network will be scalable so that multimedia services can be accommodated by adding bandwidth, minor equipment and software upgrades.
The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to members of federally-recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. This relationship, established in 1787, is based on Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, and has been given form and substance by numerous treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS currently provides health services to approximately 1.4 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 545 federally recognized tribes in 34 states.
The Navajo Area IHS Office, located in Window Rock, Arizona, administers numerous clinics, health centers, and hospitals, providing health care to 201,583 members of the Navajo Nation. The Navajo Nation is the largest Indian tribe in the United States and has the largest reservation, which encompasses more than 25,516 square miles in northern Arizona, western New Mexico, and southern Utah, with three satellite communities in central New Mexico. (The Navajo Area coordinates with both the Phoenix and Albuquerque IHS Area Offices for the delivery of health services to the Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni Reservations because these reservations are close to each other.)
Comprehensive health care is provided to the Navajo people through inpatient, outpatient, contract, and community health programs centered around 6 hospitals, 7 health centers, and 12 health stations. School clinics and Navajo tribal health programs also serve the community. The six hospitals range in size from 39 beds in Crownpoint, New Mexico, to 112 beds at the Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, New Mexico. Health centers operate full-time clinics, some of which provide emergency services. Some smaller communities have health stations that operate only part-time.
A major portion of the Navajo Nation health care delivery system is sponsored by the Navajo Tribe itself, which operates the Navajo Division of Health (NDOH) in Window Rock, Arizona. The NDOH, created in 1977, has the mission of ensuring that quality and culturally acceptable health care is available and accessible to the Navajo people through coordination, regulation, and where necessary, direct service delivery. The NDOH also provides a variety of health-related services in the areas of nutrition, aging, substance abuse, community health representatives (e.g., outreach), and emergency medical services (e.g., ambulance).
The IHS provides a comprehensive health services delivery system for American Indians and Alaska Natives with opportunity for maximum tribal involvement in developing and managing programs to meet their health needs. To carry out its mission and to attain its goal, the IHS:
The Indian Health Service is charged with providing services directly or through contract, grant and compact agreements with Tribes. Their general goal is as follows:
...to raise the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives
to the highest possible level.
The IHS Chinle Hospital Network has four internal networks; three Windows NT Servers and a Banyan Vines Server via thin-net. It supports approximately 150 workstations throughout the hospital. The Internet connection is a Frame-Relay Cloud propagated from Tucson, Az.
Recognizing the need to develop regional, local, and school plans and strategies for bringing high technology to the Navajo Nation, the consortium was established by a number of the area's school superintendents, the Navajo Nation Division of Education, and Diné College. While the NETC is being firmly established, Diné College will act as its fiscal agent.
The NETC is a voluntary membership organization dedicated to the enhancement of Navajo education at all levels through the intelligent and practical application of educational technologies. Through the efforts of this organization, we hope to extend the benefits of telecommunications technologies to all residents of the Navajo Nation.
To improve the quality of education for all Navajos by:
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Diné College (formerly Navajo Community College) was established to meet the educational needs of the Navajo people. As the only academic postsecondary institution chartered by the Navajo Nation Council, the College offers two-year programs according to the needs of the Navajo Nation.
"together we can develop Diné College into a nationally
recognized and respected institution that is the pride of the Navajo Nation. Our
Curriculum and services will integrate the traditional values of the Diné language and
culture with contemporary educational mandates. Our graduates will be prepared to approach
any situation with competence and confidence, grounded in
the philosophy of Sa'ah Naagháí Bik'eh Hózhóón."
Diné College is a multi-campus institution. All campuses focus on the offering of educational programs which prepare the student for transfer to four year colleges/universities and for entry into employment. Developmental studies are offered at all sites for students who need further preparation for college-level studies. Courses in Navajo language, history and culture are also available at all DC campuses.
The distinctiveness of each campus program derives from the needs of the community it serves together with the special characteristics of its faculty. Tsaile Campus is unique within the DC system in serving a large residential student population, as well as commuting students, and is the administrative center for the institution. Shiprock Campus has developed strengths in scientific research programs involving faculty and students. The Community Campus provides professional academic advising and educational opportunities including career counseling, assisting with financial aid process, and preparing students for further studies.
The main campus of Diné Colleges located in Tsaile, Arizona, translated as the "place where the stream flows into the canyon." Four community campus locations in Window Rock, Chinle, Ganado, and Tuba City serve Arizona residents, while a campus in Shiprock and a community campus in Crownpoint provide educational services to New Mexico residents.
The Tsaile, "Tsééhílí," Campus, designed in the circular, wholistic tradition of the Navajo hogan, reflects the strength and dignity of the rich Navajo culture. Administrative, instructional, housing, recreational, cafeteria and library facilities are accurately placed in reverence to traditional Navajo beliefs; thus creating an environment for traditional growth and academic success.
The Tsaile Campus provides ten (10) residential halls to students.
The Shiprock, "Naat'áanii Nééz," Campus, located 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Tsaile, is a commuter campus that serves the largest community in the Navajo Nation and the surrounding Four Corners region. Educational, athletic, administrative, and research facilities are located on highway 666 north of town, on a mesa overlooking the San Juan Basin, outlying mountain ranges, and the majestic Tsé Bit'ÿí (Ship Rock Pinnacle) to the southwest. Shiprock Campus is also responsible for the operation of the nearby NCC Farm.
The DC Community Campuses was established in 1979 with the sites in Chinle, Crownpoint, Ganado, Tuba City, and Window Rock.
The Community Campus plays an active role in addressing the unique higher educational needs of the various communities they serve. The commitment of the Community Campus is to provide essential educational, personal and career opportunities that have resulted in an increased student enrollment. The number of students enrolled at Community Campus accounts for half of the total student population. A significant number of students at the Community Campuses are adults with established values; therefore, the Community Campuses strive to enhance personal growth and academic success.
The foundation of the Community Campus is to provide a positive learning environment for staff, faculty and students. In addition, by focusing on specific academic areas, the quality of instructional services is enhanced.
Assistance provided by NASA Life Sciences Division and AFOSR in conjunction with two grants from the National Science Foundation has enabled Diné College to build a state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure linking its seven campus centers to the Information Superhighway. These grants have enabled the college to assume a leadership role in extending Internet access to the schools of the Navajo Nation. This infrastructure development will increase Navajo students' access to the sciences and provide many of the resources needed to improve math, science, engineering and technology education in the region.
When completed, the college enterprise network will integrate and streamline virtually all college administrative functions. A new college management software package will replace the old, patchwork VMS system. Additionally, the new network will improve a variety of student services. Registration, financial aid, academic advisement, career planning, and other student support functions will be augmented at all campus locations. Academic enhancements, such as online information access and a fully automated library system (including a "virtual" Navajo Nation library), will also be enabled. Distance learning opportunities will be possible as bandwidth increases, thereby increasing learning opportunities across the college system
The NASA/AFOSR project consisted of three Phases. The first phase brought Internet access to NCC's Shiprock and Tsaile campuses (and to Shiprock High School), providing a T-1 circuit to New Mexico Technet and all the appropriate routers and CSU/DSUs. Phase I also provided the initial funding necessary to begin building the college-wide information infrastructure. The most logical implementation strategy was to begin at the main campuses, building on the existing infrastructure, then moving distally to the community campuses and the schools.
NASA/AFOSR Phase II continued the process of wiring and upgrading the main campuses (Tsaile and Shiprock), while allowing us to extend services further out to the Community Campuses (Crownpoint, Chinle, Window Rock, Ganado, and Tuba City).
Phase III funding (pending approval) will enable the college library system to automate, providing all students, regardless of location, with access to library services. It will also provide additional enhancements which will promote the development of a virtual library system.
Phase III funding will also assist in the construction of the microwave system, and provide additional equipment and software needed to complete the physical construction of the network system. Needs at this point include additional computers and software, some network wiring upgrades, and remote access capabilities at the Community Campus Centers, but most of the funding will go toward the library upgrade.
By September of 1996, NCC was host to 25,000 Internet visitors each month, and had deployed 60 new computers for student, staff and faculty use. By June, of 1997, nearly 200 new and upgraded computers had been networked throughout the system. Nearly all faculty, students and staff have e-mail accounts and utilize the college's Internet connection.
Diné College will complete, by September 1, 1997, an enterprise network which will initially link all campus centers with the main campus via 56kb/s leased lines. This network will be paid for by the college's existing telecommunications budget, and will combine voice and data on a system provided by Lucent Technologies. It is also upgradeable to T-1.
The college will be purchasing a new higher education software package by summer's end. This package will provide the most modern client/server database and management package available, and will greatly enhance all business, enrollment, financial aid and other computer-intensive operations. The infrastructure is in place to allow for a smooth migration away from the VAX-based system to the new management system.
The TIIAP-funded microwave system linking Shiprock with Tsaile will also be completed this summer. It will provide one T-1 for telephone transmission, one T-1 for video and television transmission, and a 10Mb/s ethernet bridge. This system may become a link in a much wider microwave network that could include Northern Arizona University and eventually span the entire Navajo Nation. It will be utilized on a trial basis in 1997-1998 for inter-campus staff and faculty meetings, and for teaching at a distance.
The DirecPC satellite delivery capabilities provided by NSF with some assistance from NASA/AFOSR remains the fastest Internet delivery available on the Navajo Nation, and has been successfully piloted in Crownpoint (serving 15 simultaneous clients), St. Michaels High School (15 clients), Window Rock Community Campus (five clients), Jeddito (20 clients) and Tsaile (serving as a test server, this will be re-located in Chinle). The cost effectiveness of this method of Internet delivery will demonstrated as the enterprise network, off-premises extensions, and other back-channel alternatives are developed.
This enormous project was carried by the NLN staff with significant assistance from Computer Services and the Math/Science Division of NCC Shiprock. Essentially, about $830,000 of network machines, software and services were deployed by our staff in eighteen months.
Perhaps the most important consequence of the NASA/AFOSR and NSF projects in the past 20 months are the partnerships Diné College has developed. As our network capabilities have increased, so also has our reputation as a leader in the field. The foremost accomplishment has been the establishment of NETC, briefly discussed above. On February 15, 1997 the superintendents of nearly all of the reservation's public schools and the president of Diné College agreed to establish the consortium. Its purpose is to promote the use of technology in reservation schools, collaborate on and coordinate grant writing activities, and generally work to improve the educational opportunities of the 72,000 Navajo students in the region. Work continues with the partnerships developed over the course of the project (St. Michaels, Greyhills Academy, Chinle School District, Cedar, Pinon, Ganado, Central Consolidated, and others).
Another partnership has been formed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Indian Education, which administers some 57 boarding and day schools, dormitories, and contract schools on the Navajo Nation. Forty percent of the BIA's schools lie on the Navajo Nation. Diné College has been tapped by the Deputy Director of OIEP to be the lead agency to coordinate the imminent networking of the Bureau's schools. Diné College and the NLN has already begun working with a number of these schools.
We do not anticipate significant changes in the NASA/AFOSR Phase III project as it was presented in January. Library improvement remains the central focus of Phase III (primarily through automation and improving access).
Recent developments hold the promise that Diné College's network circuit costs may be assumed by the BIA and the Department of Interior. If this occurs, some funds could be applied to improvements in the network or to more computers and software for student and faculty use.
Establishing faculty development centers and creating student writing/publishing labs were among the goals of our Phase II proposal. Unfortunately, other, more fundamental network improvements took precedence. Any funds made available within the Phase III grant will be applied toward these goals.
The vast majority of previous expenditures have gone toward hardware. The purchase of software has been kept to a minimum. Phase III funds will also be used to purchase software needed by faculty for their instructional use.
The NASA/AFOSR funding provided since 1985 has helped bring Diné College's infrastructure up to a par with other colleges. However, this funding (and that provided by NSF and others) has enabled only the most basic parity with neighboring institutions. All of the labs installed since 1985 need more computers, and new labs need to be installed. As the equipment goes off warranty, it will need to be repaired and eventually replaced.
| Campus or School | Fall, 1995 | Spring, 1997 | Projected, Fall, 1997 |
| Tsaile | 30 computers, no LAN; aging VAX; no Internet |
50 new computers, LAN 90% completed, active Internet site; Internet assisted by satellite | Enterprize network connecting all campus centers at 56kb/s to T-1; LAN 100% complete (general funds) |
| Shiprock | 30 computers, limited LAN; aging VAX, no Internet | 10 computers rebuilt, 25 student computers, 20 faculty & staff computers; LAN 90% completed | Tsaile-Shiprock 2-way video capability; LAN 100% complete |
| Crownpoint | no facilities; 3 aging computers, remote VAX terminal | 15 student machines, 2 staff computers; LAN 100% completed; Internet provided via satellite | integrate NM State Library branch; provide dial-up access; secure 6 additional computers |
| Window Rock/ St. Michaels |
no LAN, 3 aging computers, remote VAX terminal | 3 new office computers; LAN 80% completed; 15 new student computers installed at St.Michaels High School for joint utilization. Internet provided via satellite. | complete LAN; integrate Navajo Nation Computer Services and Dine Division of Education; provide dial-up access; add 6 additional computers; provide library access |
| Chinle | no LAN; three aging computers, remote VAX terminal | 17 new computers provided for staff, faculty and student use; dial-up Internet access; LAN 90% complete | complete LAN; provide local dial-up access; add additional 6 computers; provide library access |
| Tuba City | no LAN, 2 aging computers, remote VAX terminal | 15 new computers installed at Greyhills Academy for joint use; 3 new computers provided for office; dial-up Internet access; LAN 5% completed |
upgrade current computers, add additional 6 computers, complete LAN; provide local dial-up access; provide library access |
| Ganado | no LAN, no computer: remote VAX terminal | 3 new computers provided; dial-up Internet access; LAN 5% complete | develop school-college partnership to provide for student access; complete LAN, provide library and local dial-up access |
| Jeddito | established LAN; no Internet access | Internet access provided via satellite | support curriculum development efforts |
| NCC Library System | 3 student computers; no automation; no LAN or Internet access | CD-ROM server; 8 new computers (5 through Tribal supplement); Internet Access available | Complete automated library system, including remote access from all campuses |
| College Administration | severely cumbersome and limited VAX administrative system |
90% of business units have new computers and network access | Advanced client/server college administrative database system installed (general funds) |
Note: printers, scanners, network wiring, network interface cards, computer upgrades, installation of software, setup, troubleshooting, personal and group training, have accompanied the installations summarized above.
NAU's main campus is located in Flagstaff, northern Arizona's largest city, with a population of about 51,000. The city is surrounded by pines and aspens and is dominated by the majestic San Francisco Peaks.
Because of our location on the Colorado Plateau, NAU has ready access to Grand Canyon National Park and many national monuments, as well as forests, deserts, mountains, lakes, unique and varied geological features, ruins of early Indian cultures, sites of significant historical interest, and the homes of several Native American peoples. Flagstaff's economic base is tourism; ranching and the timber industry are also important here.
Flagstaff is situated in Coconino National Forest, the largest continuous stand of ponderosa pines in the country, at an elevation of 7,000 feet (2,135 meters). Our elevation, the clean air, Arizona's sunshine, and the protection of the surrounding forest give us an unsurpassed climate year round.
In the summer, Flagstaff is cool and comfortable, with an average daytime high temperature of 81° Fahrenheit (27° Celsius) and a low of 50° F (10° C). The winter offers sunny days and beautiful snow scenes. We have an average of 288 days of sunshine each year. With our mild, four season climate, FIagstaff offers excellent conditions for study and recreation.
Flagstaff has a friendly, small-town atmosphere combined with outstanding cultural, scientific, and recreational opportunities. Our variety of cultural resources include the Flagstaff Symphony, the Flagstaff Festival of the Arts, the Coconino Center for the Arts, and the Festival of Native American Arts. Our areas natural and cultural history is presented by such institutions as the Museum of Northern Arizona, the Pioneer Historical Museum, and Riordan State Historical Park.
Flagstaff is also an important center for scientific research. The city is home to Lowell Observatory and the Naval Observatory's Arizona Station. The U.S. Geological Survey has its astrogeological branch in Flagstaff, and the U.S. Forest Service's Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station is located here.
Flagstaff is served by an airline and a transcontinental bus line. We are also on the main route of AmTrak and the Santa Fe Railway. Several highways pass through Flagstaff, including U. S. Interstate Highways 40 and 17 and U.S. Highways 66 and 89. Flagstaff is a little more than two hours north of Phoenix and less than two hours south of Grand Canyon National Park.
NAU has seen much growth and many changes in the ninety-six years since it was established.
It began in September 1899 as the Northern Arizona Normal School, with an enrollment of thirty-three students. Four young women from this group made up the first graduating class in 1901, receiving diplomas that warranted them life certificates to teach in the schools of Arizona Territory.
In 1925, the Arizona legislature changed the status of the institution from a normal school to a four-year college that could grant the bachelor of education degree; at that time, the school's name was changed to Northern Arizona State Teachers College.
Graduate work began in 1937, when permission was granted to offer a program leading to the master of arts in education degree. By 1945, the school had augmented its teacher education programs by adding majors leading to bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees. As a result, the name was changed again, this time to Arizona State College at Flagstaff.
In 1958, the school began its development as a multipurpose institution by adding a program in forestry. As the number of students and programs continued to grow, the Arizona Legislature granted university status to the school in 1966, and the name was changed to Northern Arizona University. In 1973, the first doctoral students were graduated.
Today, as NAU approaches its centennial celebration, it has about 18,500 students (with more than 15,000 in Flagstaff) and offers comprehensive academic programs leading to approximately eighty baccalaureate, forty master's, and eight doctoral degrees. In addition to the range of programs offered in Flagstaff, NAU provides off-campus instruction through continuing education classes, our academic center in Yuma, and nine regional offices throughout rural Arizona.
As NAU looks to the future, we continue developing innovative ways to provide Arizona's citizens with greater access to educational services. In addition, we continue to emphasize research as well as creative, scholarly, and professional activities that support and enhance our academic programs. Finally, we continue to strengthen our teaching, research, and service partnerships to meet the needs of a changing Arizona.
"together we can develop Diné College into a nationally
recognized and respected institution that is the pride of the Navajo Nation. Our
Curriculum and services will integrate the traditional values of the Diné language and
culture with contemporary educational mandates. Our graduates will be prepared to approach
any situation with competence and confidence, grounded in
the philosophy of Sa'ah Naagháí Bik'eh Hózhóón."
Northern Arizona University is charged by the Arizona Board of Regents to deliver quality upper-division courses and undergraduate programs to all rural and, where specifically authorized, metropolitan counties, and to provide graduate education programs throughout the state. NAUnet is a tool to help carry out this statewide charge. NAUnet is a cost-effective way to deliver quality instruction from the residential campus in Flagstaff to sites throughout the state. At some sites, NAUnet supplements instruction delivered by on-site faculty. At other sites, NAUnet is the primary means by which instruction is delivered.
In addition, NAUnet is the backbone of the NAU-Community College Arizona Partnership Plan. NAU is working in partnership with Arizona community colleges to deliver fully-articulated degree programs using on-site faculty and the interactive instructional television made possible by NAUnet.
NAUnet is a distance-learning network. It uses highly efficient telecommunications to connect specially equipped classrooms at great distances apart.
NAUnet classrooms are on the campuses of Northern Arizona University, ten community colleges, and five rural school districts at strategic locations across Arizona. The network also extends to special rooms at NAU's sister universities, the University of Arizona College of Medicine, an urban school district, and two state agencies.
NAUnet uses two-way television - on large screens and very clear - for "face-to-face" teaching and learning in several places at the same time. Besides live and interactive television, several learning media are used - films, compact discs, computer software, CD-ROMS, document cameras, laser discs - to supplement and enhance instruction.
More than fifty undergraduate and graduate courses are taught on NAUnet each semester, the vast majority originated by NAU faculty at the Flagstaff campus. NAU's statewide sites serve approximately 5,700 (headcount) students per year.
Each semester, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday and nine hours on Saturday. Currently each NAUnet site averages seventeen courses per semester - a fifty-one-hour week.
To help NAU meet its statewide mission to serve time-bound and place-bound citizens throughout Arizona with high-quality, first-rate university instruction.
Kayenta is located in the northeastern part of Arizona, Navajo County on the Colorado Plateau in the northern part of the Navajo Nation and is considered a remote area. Paved highways connect to Farmington, New Mexico (130 miles East); Cortez, Colorado (114 miles Northeast); Flagstaff, Arizona (150 miles Southwest); and Page, Arizona (100 miles Northwest). The altitude is 5600 feet. Winters are short and cold with some snow. Summers are moderate with average highs near 100 degrees. The climate is very dry.
In the 1930's, Kayenta had a one-room Public Day School, which was disbanded at a later date. The present elementary portion of Kayenta School District 27 was formed in June 1958 under the laws of the Arizona State and Monument Valley High School District 50 was formed in October 1959. The first graduating class (seven seniors) was June 1962. The schools were unified in July 1975 and became Kayenta School District 27, although the two schools have always operated under one Governing Board. The District comprises 2,131 square miles, and has four schools: Primary School (Kindergarten through grade 2); Intermediate School (grades 3,4,5); Middle School (grade 6,7,8); and, High School (grades 9 through 12). Monument Valley High School has been a continuous member of good standing in the North Central Association of the Colleges and Secondary Schools since April 1966. The School District is located in the northern section of Navajo County: its boundaries border the State of Utah to the north; Navajo County to the south; Coconino County to the west and Apache County to the east. The School District serves the students on the northwestern portion of the Navajo Reservation, which is the largest Indian Reservation in the United States.
(Evans Craig will be needing this information sent to him immediately.)
(Evans Craig will be needing this information sent to him immediately.)
Central Consolidated School District covers approximately 3,100 square miles in the northwest corner of the State of New Mexico. The District is in the western half of the San Juan County and approximately 96% of the area is included within the northeastern section of the Navajo Indian Reservation. There are nine elementary schools, three junior/midschools, one alternative school, and three senior high schools in the District. The student enrollment of the elementary schools (K-5) total approximately 3,333. The junior high/mid schools (6-8) enrollment tools approximately 1,883 and the senior high schools (9-12) have an approximate enrollment of 2,106. The entire district enrollment is 7,222, K-12.
The district has three geographical areas. The Fruitland/Kirtland area is served by four elementary schools, one mid school, and one senior high school. The Shiprock area has three elementary schools, one mid-school, and one senior high school. The Newcomb/Naschitti area is served by two elementary schools and one junior/senior high combination school.
A map is provided showing the locations of the various schools within the Central Consolidated School District, as well as the geographical areas.
The Central Consolidated School District employees thirty nine administrators, directors and coordinators, approximately four hundred thirty-four certified staff and four hundred ninety-nine non-certified personnel.
(Evans Craig will be needing this information sent to him immediately.)
Central Consolidated School District is in the process of networking 17 school sites and two administration offices. LAN have been completed at all sites for data using a combination of cat. 5 and fiber. Each classroom is also networked for voice and two way video.
A new digital phone system has been purchased for the entire district once in place all schools will be able to communicated over extensions. Every school has a portable TV studio that can be used in any classroom to broadcast to the entire school.
WAN is underway at this time, the schools in Kirtland will be networked by fiber. Shiprock area schools will be networked in clusters by fiber and then by T1 to the district. Newcomb and Naschitti schools will be networked to the district by T1.
Elementary classrooms will have 5 computers, the mid schools and high schools will have three labs of 25 stations. The district has recently purchased 825 computers.
Internet activity is in place in the Kirtland Area at the present time using a 56 line. The other areas dial in access is the only way out. We are hoping to have all internet activity on T1 in the near future. We are at the mercy of US West and Citizens Communication for their services.
Two way distance learning labs are proposed for the coming year.
The following recommendations are being presented to create a "Tribal TeleCommunity Network" available to Tribal members, community members, and the general public.
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