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 “Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.”- Marian Wright Edelman, education advocate
I appreciate the message found in that quotation as it captures the aspirations we have for higher education. The quotation also recognizes the importance of community. Each of us belong to many communities, including your home community (where you live), and groups you belong to whether they be social, cultural, religious or another group that functions as a kind of community, where you feel accepted.
I want to welcome you to our community at Northland Pioneer College (NPC). In 2024 we celebrated our 50th anniversary as a community college. NPC offers educational services in both Navajo and Apache counties with nine dedicated locations throughout our district. We are particularly honored to be able to offer services to students who live on the lands of the Navajo Tribal Nation, the Hopi Tribal Nation, and the White Mountain Apache Tribal Nation, respectively.
It is my fervent hope that NPC becomes another community where you feel welcome and have a sense of belonging. We want you to feel connected not only to the subjects you study, but also to the people you meet-our faculty, staff, administration, and your fellow students. All of us at NPC are here to help you achieve your dreams by reaching your academic and career goals.
To that end, at NPC we desire to create a relationship with all of our students. For those new to NPC, your journey should start by meeting with an academic advisor who will discuss your goals and provide you with a program map, outlining your academic journey from the first semester to your graduation. Once you have your program map, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with the professor(s) who oversee your program area and, as you take classes, with your fellow students.
One innovative way to make connections with professors and peers is starting up for the first time this year: Learning Communities. Students who choose to enroll in a Learning Community will enroll simultaneously in two classes that are offered in conjunction with each other and are team-taught by two professors. It will be a unique way to not only earn college credits in a 6-credit block while creating meaningful connections with your Learning Community faculty and classmates. We hope you find new friends and a source of support as you complete your academic work together. If you want to learn more about Learning Communities, please speak to your academic advisor.
Thank you for considering joining the NPC community. I also want to encourage you to be an advocate for yourself. Speak up if you think you may need extra help or have particular challenges. Don’t hesitate to share your needs with an advisor, a professor, or anyone at the college. We want you to succeed! Finally, please check our Virtual Student Center which is an online resource with helpful information: https://www.npc.edu/virtual-student-success-center.
Wishing you every success on your educational journey,
Dr. Mike Solomonson
Interim President, Northland Pioneer College
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