Navajo Tech Chinle held spring enrollment and orientation for local students

Navajo Technical University's Chinle Instructional Site held a spring 2026 Enrollment Day on Monday, January 12, and a New Student Orientation on Wednesday, January 14. Enrollment Day ran from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and orientation took place from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The events were intended to register students for the spring term and formally introduce new students to campus services and schedules.

Local students and families in Apache County gained direct access to registration services at the Chinle site without traveling to the main campus. For residents balancing long commutes, child care, or seasonal employment, local enrollment events reduce time and travel costs and can lower barriers to postsecondary participation. Those seeking details or follow-up assistance were directed to contact Jarvis Draper, Chinle recruiter, at j.draper@navajotech.edu or by phone at 928.882.3155.

Events like these matter beyond individual class schedules. Community-based access to technical and vocational courses acts as a feeder into regional labor markets, supplying trained workers for construction, health care support, information technology, and public services—sectors that local employers and tribal government routinely rely on. By concentrating registration and orientation locally, the Chinle site helps align training capacity with immediate employer needs and can shorten the time between enrollment and employment for students seeking career-focused credentials.

From a public-policy perspective, maintaining and promoting instructional sites in towns such as Chinle supports broader workforce-development goals for Apache County and the Navajo Nation. Local enrollment opportunities can raise educational attainment levels over time, which research typically links to higher household earnings and greater economic stability for rural communities. For county and tribal leaders weighing budget and transportation investments, the cost-benefit calculus often favors decentralized instructional access that reduces student attrition and supports local hiring pipelines.

Practical impacts also include modest short-term spending in the community when students enroll and prepare for classes, and longer-term gains if more residents complete certificates or degrees and enter higher-paying jobs. For residents who missed the January sessions, the Chinle recruiter remains the point of contact for registration questions and next steps.

Our two cents? If you want to pursue classes this spring or help a family member get started, call Jarvis Draper at 928.882.3155 or email j.draper@navajotech.edu—local enrollment days like these make the path to training a lot more doable.