San Carlos Apache College pursues independence

As San Carlos Apache College prepares for the fall semester, the institution is celebrating more than open enrollment. It is also moving toward one of the most significant milestones in its history: independent accreditation.

Last week, the college submitted its initial accreditation packet, marking a major step toward operating as a fully independent institution. 

"We're really looking forward to that process," President Dr. Linda Sue Warner said. "We've spent almost a year making sure we've crossed all our T’s and dotted all our I's, not only to tell a good story, but because what we're doing is a good story."

Founded by the San Carlos Apache Tribe in 2014 and opening its doors in 2017, San Carlos Apache College was created to provide higher education rooted in Nnee bi'at'e, Apache ways of knowing, while preparing students for careers, leadership and lifelong learning. The college's vision, "Upholding the Power of Apache Wisdom," is reflected throughout its curriculum and campus culture.

Warner, who will celebrate her second anniversary as president on August 1, said one of her first priorities was ensuring every aspect of the college aligned with its mission. That effort became the ARROW Framework, which represents the college's core values of Accountability, Respect, Resilience, Openness and Wisdom. 

"I started with the mission statement," Warner said. "Everything that we do is connected. If you're doing something that you can't connect to one of those core values, then why are you doing it?"

The framework guides everything from employee evaluations to classroom instruction, and Warner said everyone on campus, from faculty members to maintenance staff, understands what ARROW represents.

The college also established the Apache Institute, ensuring Apache language, history and culture are woven throughout every academic discipline rather than isolated within a single department. 

"I don't believe there should be a Native Studies department inside a tribal college," Warner said. "Everything you do should be about the culture."

While its mission is centered on preserving Apache culture, San Carlos Apache College welcomes students from all backgrounds. 

"Anyone can enroll," Warner said. "In fact, enrollment is open right now."

Many courses are offered online, making the college accessible not only to students throughout Gila County, but across Arizona and beyond. Currently, San Carlos Apache College offers associate degrees in computer information systems, liberal arts, business administration, business management, management and supervision, and social work, along with certificates in management and supervision, social services, and substance abuse and addiction studies. Social work remains one of the college's most sought-after programs, Warner said, with roughly one-third of this spring's graduates earning credentials in that field.

Students also benefit from a unique financial advantage. While the college pursues independent accreditation, it operates under Tohono O'odham Community College, allowing students to attend without paying tuition. Credits are transferable through Arizona's statewide transfer system, making it easy to continue toward a bachelor's degree at Arizona colleges and universities.

Beyond academics, the college provides individualized support, including academic advising, tutoring, mental health resources, computer labs, and loaned laptops with internet hotspots to help students succeed in online courses. 

Warner believes the people who choose to work at tribal colleges are driven by something deeper than a paycheck. 

"People who come to work at a tribal college are mission-driven, not financially driven," she said. "They're trying to change lives."

For adults considering returning to school, Warner understands the challenge firsthand. She earned advanced degrees while raising a family and working, an experience she said shaped her perspective on higher education. 

"It is selfish in a way, but on the other hand it's a gift you give your family," she said. "If you don't make that commitment, then your family's stuck where you are."

Looking ahead, Warner hopes to raise the college's profile nationally. In August, she and Durena Thompson, the school's board chair, will travel to the University of Cambridge in England, where Warner will deliver a keynote address at the World Congress of Education on Indigenous education. The college is also preparing to join a national higher education consortium with several prominent universities. 

"My goal," Warner said, "is to put San Carlos Apache College on the map."