Federal push underway to give Haskell Indian Nations University control of future

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The future of Haskell Indian Nations University is in the hands of a group of federal lawmakers.

Sens. Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall, from Kansas, and Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, joined Reps. Tracey Mann and Derek Schmidt to introduce legislation to transfer power for the university to the Haskell Board of Regents.

Currently the university is governed by the Bureau of Indian Education.

“Haskell University once provided Native American students the opportunity to receive a high-quality, tuition-free education in an environment that understood and prioritized indigenous heritage and culture,” Sen. Moran said.

He went on to explain that after allegations of employees mistreating students at the university were raised in 2022, something needed to change.

“Over the last few years, the university has been neglected and mismanaged by the Bureau of Indian Education. The bureau has failed to protect students, respond to my congressional inquiries or meet the basic infrastructure needs of the university. It is clear that the best path forward is for the university to be led by an independent Board of Regents nominated by the Tribal community and no longer obstructed by the BIE,” Sen. Moran said.

The lawmakers claim oversight led to misconduct and harm to the students who attend school at Haskell. They also claim the Board of Indian Education failed to comply with federal oversight.

“Our legislation offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect Haskell’s rich heritage and culture by transferring its governance to a Board of Regents nominated by Tribal communities and removing BIE from its governing structure,” Rep. Mann said.

Haskell has provided an education option for Native American students for more than 140 years.

“For decades, Haskell Indian Nations University has served as a unique institution dedicated to advancing Native students and strengthening Tribal nations. Yet, persistent challenges under federal oversight have limited its potential," Dalton Henry, President of the National Haskell Board of Regents, said

The Bureau of Indian Education released the following statement about the legislation.

“The Bureau of Indian Education remains committed to supporting student success at Haskell Indian Nations University. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on pending legislation,” a spokesperson for the BIE said.

The full legislation can be found on Sen. Moran’s website.