- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Navajo Technical University (NTU) has officially launched its new Microcredentials–Construction Trades program through its Construction Technology department. This accelerated course condenses 16 weeks of hands-on construction training into just 9 weeks, providing students with a fast-tracked path to industry-ready skills.
The program currently enrolls six full-time students, including Bryce Martinez from Dalton Pass and Rodney Walthall from Mariano Lake. Classes run Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Within the first two weeks, all participants successfully passed certification exams through the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER).
Instruction is led by Tom Bebo, with assistance from Kirby Chapo and faculty member Christopher Storer. A recent unit on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) emphasized safety protocols, with students learning and demonstrating proper use of gear such as goggles, hard hats, gloves, and steel-toe boots.
“When I teach, I’m glad to use NCCER’s Core curriculum,” said Bebo. “It helps students build real-world skills in math, communication, and employability that they’ll use on the job.”
The program is supported by a cross-campus team, including Dr. Delores Becenti, Shawna Begay, Kami Morgan, DeeAnna James, Jerlynn Henry, Lucille Barbone, and Dr. Bowman. Funding was made possible through a Navajo Nation workforce development grant, championed by Navajo Nation Council Delegate Carl Slater, who has been a strong advocate for tribal college-led training initiatives.
NTU is planning additional microcredential offerings in cybersecurity, plumbing, production assistance, heavy equipment operation, and welding. These new programs are being developed in partnership with the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) to ensure alignment with Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and NCCER standards.
To assist students with career placement, NTU is collaborating with Aspire Ability on an online job board that connects graduates with employment opportunities throughout the Navajo Nation, nearby towns, and urban areas with large Native populations. This initiative complements NTU’s Career Center, which plays a key role in transitioning students from training to the workforce.
This program is part of NTU’s broader mission to equip Navajo students with the practical skills and credentials needed to thrive in today’s job market and support economic growth within their communities.
More Stories Like This
Native Forward Scholars Fund Announces 2025 Students of the Year at Empowering Scholars SummitNavajo Nation Speaker Curley and Council Delegate Dr. Nez Join Education Leaders to Address Federal Budget Cuts
Mackie Moore (Cherokee) Named Interim President of Haskell Indian Nations University
Mohawk Students File Legal Suit Over Changes Impacting Access to Federal Financial Aid
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
