Board Gives Up on Saving State’s Only Tribal College

A board of American Indians has ended its efforts to restore accreditation and funding to DQ University -- California’s only tribal college -- citing the school’s serious financial problems and “insurmountable resistance” from a rival group.

“We realize that the school has reached its lowest point and concede it cannot be salvaged by us,” the members said in a statement. “As individuals who care about our community we can walk away with the knowledge that we tried. Our support and prayers continue for the students who have been so adversely affected.”

Cindy La Marr, who was chairwoman of the board, said some trustees cried as the decision was reached during a meeting Saturday afternoon on the Davis campus.

The school’s accreditation was revoked last month by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Assn. of Schools and Colleges after DQ officials failed to improve the school’s finances, train new board members and hire qualified staff.

After the school lost its accreditation, students were sent home and faculty and staff were released. But a small group of students defied the administration and remained on campus in the dorms.

In an effort to restore the school’s standing, new board members were elected, including La Marr. But the board eventually dissolved into two bodies, a 14-member board and a four-member group that included a founder of the school.

Each panel claimed to be the legitimate board of trustees.

Resolving the dispute would require lengthy court proceedings -- time that would take away from their efforts to restore accreditation, trustees said.

“By then the accreditation’s lost,” said La Marr, who is executive director of Capitol Area Indian Resources Inc. in Sacramento and former president of the National Indian Education Assn. “It is very discouraging.”

DQ University was founded by a group of Native Americans and Chicano activists, who in 1970 occupied a former Army communications center for months and left after the government agreed to allow the 643-acre site to be turned into a tribal college.

The nonprofit, private institution opened its doors in 1971 and won accreditation in 1977. The “D” in the school’s name stands for Deganawidah, the “Great Peacemaker” who helped found the Iroquois Confederacy. The “Q” represents Quetzalcoatl, an Aztec prophet.

Erik Mattila, who taught at DQ from 1988 to 1996, called the events a tragedy. “I see this as a real loss,” he said.