With the largest enrollment Haskell Indian Nations University has seen in more than a decade, on-campus housing is at capacity the week before classes begin, and some students have been told to defer to spring.
Marina TurningRobe, Spokane Tribe/Paquachin Band, said her daughter was admitted to take classes and play volleyball at Haskell for the 2024-25 year. Her family packed her daughter’s small car and geared up for a three-day road trip, beginning on Aug. 2, to make it in time for athlete move-in day on Aug. 4.
They were en route to Lawrence from their home state of Washington when they received a call from the athletic coach on Aug. 3 that housing for her daughter was now unavailable.
“The president single-handedly broke promise to our family and denied her dorm housing for the year. It was crazy! Literally stopped our trek mid-stride, sitting roadside in Sheridan, WY,” TurningRobe said via email. “So our family literally pulled over to the side of the road, made it a difficult learning opportunity, turned our rig-around and beat-feet to a powwow in northern Montana.”
TurningRobe said her daughter was enrolled in courses and was assigned a dorm along with a roommate. Those plans were in place five or six weeks before she was set to move in, she said.
“Haskell University has done to its students what the federal government has done to us sqelixu,” TurningRobe said via email, sharing Spokane Salish dialect that she said roughly translated in English to “the people.” “Make promises and then break promises, with zero care or accountability.”
A post on the university’s official Facebook page at close to 7 p.m. Wednesday told new students who have been admitted to Haskell but have not yet registered for 12 credit hours to contact the registrar’s office before making travel arrangements. The original version of the post, before it was edited around two hours later, said Haskell is “currently at capacity for Dorm spaces.”
New students began checking into dorms on Wednesday, and orientation took place Thursday.
When Frank Arpan was inaugurated as Haskell’s eighth president in September 2023, he said 880 students were enrolled at that time. Arpan sent a letter to the school community on Monday announcing three new administrative hires. At that time, Haskell had 952 students registered, according to the letter.
The letter also provided an update that the housing department and registrar’s office “have worked diligently to ensure our bed capacity is managed as accurately as possible” and said they’d consider opening the waitlist after courses and housing capacities were evaluated.
According to a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) spokesperson who asked not to be named, that number has since risen to more than 970 — a monumental achievement for Haskell that has presented some challenges.
“This historic increase of more than 30% enrollment in the last two years has created new challenges and opportunities, and Haskell is working diligently to assist students and respond to their questions,” the BIE spokesperson said.
Haskell is a federal institution, governed by the BIE, that represents students of more than 140 tribal nations around the country. It’s one of only two tribal colleges or universities, out of 35 accredited TCUs, that’s funded and operated by the federal government.
The BIE spokesperson said usually 70% to 80% of Haskell students reside on campus and the remainder find off-campus options. All registered students who have confirmed their on-campus housing status for the 2024-25 year will be provided on-campus housing, and the university has contingency plans in place if necessary to support the increased enrollment, they said.
“Historically, at Haskell, it was typical for incoming students to finalize their registration and obtain dorm assignments just before the beginning of classes,” the BIE spokesperson said via email. “However, due to the increased enrollment, the administration determined that practice would not be feasible for the Fall 2024 Semester. Registration was paused in early August, allowing Haskell to assess available classroom and housing resources to support its growing student population.”
Asked about her daughter’s plans, given that housing would be unavailable, TurningRobe said that “She will be working this year, to save money. Will start seeking other higher education institutions to attend, which has time-tested commitment to student and integrity in leadership.”
Another person from out-of-state who asked not to be named said they enrolled in the fall semester as a nontraditional student and had requested to live on campus. They rented their home to a tenant and left their job in preparation for school.
A few days before they were set to head to Haskell, they learned that unless they could secure off-campus housing, they would have to defer until the spring 2025 semester.
The person said they’re an elder who’s now scrambling to find a new job and must live with family until January, as they hope to be admitted for the spring.
“In what world would I have chosen a college where I would just show up and hope I have a residence?” they said.
The first day of fall 2024 classes is set for Monday, Aug. 26.
Students with questions regarding their housing status are being directed to call the Haskell registrar’s office at 785-749-8440.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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