Diné College Sets Groundbreaking for $7.4 Million Math and Science Building at Shiprock Campus
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22, 2021
TSAILE, Ariz. — Diné College will hold a groundbreaking for a $7.4 million math and science building at the Shiprock (NM) campus on Monday June 28, 2021, at 10 am MDT.
Construction of the new Math and Science building will begin immediately July 2021 and the project is expected to be completed in March 2022. The funding for the Shiprock Math and Science Building (MSB) comes from a General Obligation Bonds that was passed by the New Mexico voters in November 2018 in the amount of $5 million and the New Mexico Capital Outlay funds in the amount of $2,407,615 million. Diné College works with the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) when soliciting funds for NM Capital Projects. Planning for the building began in 2014.
“Diné College would like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to New Mexico voters for allowing this project to come to fruition,” said Diné College President Charles “Monty” Roessel. “The new Math Science Building will be a state-of-the-art learning facility to train the next group of Navajo STEM leaders so that they may protect and better their communities, reservation and all native peoples. It will be the catalyst for students to seek educational advancement and success in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) fields.”
The Math and Science Building will be constructed on the south side of the Shiprock campus on the vacant lot. The MSB will house the College’s math and science departments, instructional classrooms for mathematics, science and science laboratories, support spaces such as student commons, hallways, electrical/mechanical rooms, restrooms, and other rooms which are necessary to fulfill Diné College’s mission. Additionally, the new MSB will have four faculty offices and three meeting rooms.
James Tutt, Dean of the School of STEM said each school year, the school represents about 43% of overall graduates. “Current Census data shows that the primary focus of jobs on the Navajo Nation are in the field of STEM,” said Dean Tutt. “With the anticipation of this trend continuing, Diné College’s position is to ensure our students are able to meet the workforce needs of the Navajo Nation.”
There is also a recent study more than 80% of Diné College graduates remain within their community.
The event will be live casted on the Diné College Facebook page. “To ensure the health and safety of attendees and special guests, the event will be limited to invitation only and will be closed to the public,” said Vice President of External Affairs, Marie R. Nez.
Diné College is a four-year tribal college located on the Navajo reservation with six campuses around Arizona and New Mexico and primarily serves Navajo students. The school offers 13 bachelor’s degrees, 20 associate’s, and 9 certificate programs. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The college, established in 1968, is the first tribally-controlled institution and was formerly named Navajo Community College.
