A series of upcoming meetings will discuss and provide information about proposed federal legislation that would give oversight of Haskell Indian Nations University to the board of regents rather than the Bureau of Indian Education.
Two legislators representing Kansas at the national level, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and Rep. Tracey Mann, announced the draft legislation last month. (Read more about that at this link.)
“The bureau has failed to protect students, respond to my congressional inquiries or meet the basic infrastructure needs of the school,” Moran said in the announcement. “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 fettered to the Bureau of Indian Education.”
Brittany Hall, Shawnee, president of the Haskell National Board of Regents, said in a news release Wednesday that three upcoming virtual meetings will provide an opportunity for people to provide comments on how Haskell can best serve the next generation of Native students.

“Ongoing challenges at Haskell have limited the University’s full potential. We want to ensure that any proposed changes are thoroughly reviewed so that the University remains an effective institution for future generations,” she said in the release.
First up is an in-person discussion set for 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 in the Flory Building at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. A flyer for that meeting includes a link to a feedback form to provide feedback about the draft legislation. That meeting is not organized by the Board of Regents, Hall said, though she will be in attendance.
There will also be three upcoming informational webinars hosted by Haskell’s board of regents:
• Noon Friday, Jan. 31 — intended for Tribal leaders
• Noon Friday, Feb. 7 — intended for Haskell alumni
• Noon Friday, Feb. 14 — intended for all interested parties
Those who wish to attend a webinar can email Hall at bhall@haskellalumni.com for the link.
“Staff members from Senator Jerry Moran and Representative Tracy Mann will attend the webinars to gather insights from the HINU community and other stakeholders,” according to the release.
Moran and Mann would like feedback from the “Native American, Lawrence and higher education communities” on the draft to ensure it addresses key issues at Haskell. Those who are interested can email feedback@moran.senate.gov for a feedback form.
Here’s the full draft bill, the “Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act”:
20241223-Haskell-bill-draftHere’s a section-by-section summary of the bill:
20241223-Haskell-bill-summaryIf our local journalism matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
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