DQU University - Kumeyaay Community College
Mission Statement
An accredited two-year institution dedicated to creating a program of superior education and academic training through Native people's own culture as a frame reference with emphasis on the Kumeyaay perspective.
What is D-Q University?
D-Q University is a non-profit, private, accredited two-year post-secondary institution of learning, dedicated to the progress of indigenous peoples through education. It is designated as a tribally-controlled community college under the Tribally Controlled Community Colleges Assistance Act. D-Q University is a founding member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. Governed by an Indian Board of Trustees, D-Q University offer quality instruction and a culturally supportive environment for those wishing to learn and has also been approved for the training of veterans and for the education of foreign students.
The official name of the institution is D-Q University. The college derives its name from two important figures from Native history. The "D" stands for the name of the Great Peacemaker who inspired the founding of the Iroquois Condederacy. The full name symbolized by the "D" is used only in a religious context. The "Q" represents Quetzalcoatl, an Aztec prophet, who symbolizes the principles of wisdom and self-discipline.
Statement of Philosophy
D-Q University was established as an institution of higher learning governed by Native people for the purpose of providing indigenous people with a learning environment that would combine their cultural heritage with the understanding and mastery of the contemporary needs of Indigenous peoples.
D-Q University is dedicated to the progress of Indigenous peoples and their educational endeavors. The university supports the development of education within a context that affirms the values and depth of those cultures. The institution seeks the preservation of Indigenous peoples' knowledge and views of the world. The university supports individuals who contribute their professional and technological expertise to the improvement and quality of Native American communities. The university acknowledges that these communities may consist of reservations, racherias, rural and urban areas.
Inherent in the activities of the University is a fundamental concern for the self determination of Native peoples. A trilateral approach is established to support the individual's presence in a rapidly changing society: discovery of self-identity via an awareness of cultural heritage, bridging the gap between cultures and preparing the individual for service to their community.
Five (5) institutional core objectives have been developed over the 28 years of D-Q University's history. They are to:
- Create programs of quality education and learning that Native peoples can apply to their own cultural frame of reference
- Create opportunities for Native students to gain actual experience in technical and academic skills development
- Preserve and build Native American cultural heritage as a valid area of scholarship and academic inquiry
- Serve as a learning center for Native American communities by development of localized instruction that will enhance the capability of tribal governments and their programs of service to their people
- Create programs of teaching and learning that will allow for the improvement of self-image and self-worth of Native Americans
For more information about D-Q University and course schedules, please contact us at 619-445-6914.
|
