A California Indian Nations College flag inside the college’s classroom at College of the Desert’s Palm Springs campus.
Michael Burke/EdSource
After operating for the last six years as an affiliate of a nearby community college, California Indian Nations College (CINC) appears likely to become the state’s only standalone, fully accredited tribal college. It’s something education experts say would be a boon for Native American students who now start and complete college at lower rates than other ethnic groups.
But first, money has to be found to ensure the college can survive, let alone expand and build its own campus.
A two-year and mostly online institution based in the Coachella Valley in Riverside County, the college achieved a big step forward toward its goals recently. It got preliminary approval for accreditation, allowing it to independently offer classes and transferable credits and distribute…
