Project Title:
Connect Navajo
Funding Program:
Connecting Minority Communities Program
Project Purpose/Type:
Dine College’s CONNECT NAVAJO project aims to improve educational and economic opportunity on the Navajo Nation by improving internet access, providing more hardware, and investing in IT staff. This project will ensure that the Diné people can continue to reside in their homes on Navajo Nation and benefit from access to technology that helps them earn academic credentials and enter economically rewarding and personally fulfilling careers.
City/Town/Service Area:
State(s):
-
$2,925,627.00Funding Amount$2,925,627.00Total Project Cost0.00Non-Federal Cost Share
The CONNECT NAVAJO project activities include: (1) increase student access to the internet on campus and at home by paying for broadband services and providing mobile hotspots in the area where Dine College campuses are located to ensure connectivity; (2) increase student access to computers and printing services by providing loaner laptops to ensure students are able to participate in classes and complete their work and provide printing kiosks to support the need of printing services for both students and members of the Navajo Nation; and (3) enhance staff capacity and excellence in the Dine College IT Department by hiring additional personnel to provide on and off-site professional development training to increase technical skills.
As a result of implementing the project, Dine College will expand and improve internet access for students and for the Navajo Nation and provide technology equipment to ensure students are able to participate in classes and complete their work resulting in retention rate improvement. Diné College students will receive end-to-end customer service from online advising, class attendance, office hours, and coursework completion. Improved internet access, hardware provision, and IT service will support holistic education for students that can be accessed across the Navajo Nation. Members of the Navajo Nation will have increased access to education and job opportunities through the increase of marketable skills encouraged by the improved internet access. Key staff members who received development training will increase their technical skills, leadership ability, and customer service skills.
The project will benefit students, faculty, staff, and members of the Navajo Nation across Dine College's six campuses located in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. New laptops and new mobile hotspots will be provided to students to ensure online participation. The overall improvement of internet access will decrease the digital divide among university stakeholders and members of the Navajo Nation through technology services offered by this project and training to increase technical skills.
The recipient does not intend to subaward funds.
The applicant does not fund a consortium. The applicant’s activities do not occur in the surrounding anchor communities.