Northland Pioneer College


Northland Pioneer College is a public community college serving an area in Show Low, Arizona. Campuses are located in four of the largest Navajo County communities: Holbrook, Show Low, Snowflake, and Winslow. Five centers are located in Hopi/Polacca, Kayenta, Springerville, St. Johns, and Whiteriver. NPC also partners with community members in Apache County, Arizona. NPC is governed by the Navajo County Community College District, the nation’s second-largest community college service area –. The Navajo, Hopi, and White Mountain Apache Indian Reservations occupy more than forty percent of the total land in the college's service area. NPC has an open admissions policy.

History

In the late 1950s, citizens in Northeastern Arizona were concerned about the lack of access to higher education and began advocating for the establishment of a regional community college. In fall 1972, the Navajo County Community College District was formed to serve the higher education needs of residents in a region covering 21,158 square miles. The district oversees Northland Pioneer College, which began offering college classes in fall 1974. More than 2,000 students enrolled that first year, double the anticipated number. Classes were held in an abandoned school, an abandoned hospital and a variety of public school classrooms and community buildings. The first graduating class, in spring 1975, included nine students.

Presidents

NPC is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The most recent HLC evaluation of the college took place in 2010, with unqualified approval of every area of college operations. HLC continuously monitors operational and educational standards, ensuring NPC students of an up-to-date, nationally recognized and accredited educational experience. The next accreditation visit is scheduled to take place November 18–19, 2019. The college also is accredited by agencies on a program specific basis.