Post updated at 5:43 p.m. Thursday, March 6:
Some of the nearly three dozen Haskell Indian Nations University employees who were terminated without cause due to sweeping federal budget cuts will be returning next week as adjunct professors, according to the Student Government Association.
Employees, including several faculty members, were terminated based solely on their status as probationary employees, meaning they did not yet have civil protections. The sudden firings have caused havoc for those who lost their jobs, the students they had to leave behind and more.
“Haskell President Dr. Francis (Frank) Arpan confirmed the reinstatement stating that the university has arranged for affected instructors to finish the semester under adjunct contracts,” Haskell’s SGA said in a statement Thursday.
This only applies to instructors, however, and other employees who were terminated are not included in the decision.
“The university acknowledges the difficult circumstances faced by all affected staff and is continuing to explore solutions where possible,” SGA’s statement continued.
Instructors who are returning are working under adjunct contracts through the Haskell Foundation, according to the statement.
The nonprofit started an emergency fundraiser last week to help support those affected by the Trump-ordered baseless terminations. As of Thursday afternoon, it had raised almost half of its $350,000 goal.
“Haskell recognizes the challenges that come with these changes and remains committed to supporting students, faculty, and staff during this transition,” SGA’s statement continued. “We appreciate the patience and resilience of the Haskell community as they navigate these adjustments together.”
Haskell’s Board of Regents, students and others have written letters and placed calls to federal employees and representatives to push for all probationary staff and faculty members to be reinstated since the Feb. 14 firings. Key among their arguments is that the federal government has legal treaty and trust obligations to provide education to American Indian and Alaska Native people.
“Haskell is not discretionary; it is a legal obligation,” board President Dalton Henry said in the days following the firings. “These workforce cuts are undermining treaty and trust obligations, and we urge immediate action to restore critical staffing levels.”
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Indian Education, asked about other personnel issues at Haskell, said via email earlier this week, “The Bureau of Indian Education reaffirms its unwavering commitment to strengthening government-to-government relationships with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes while prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people.
“We do not have a comment on personnel matters; however, the Bureau and the Department of the Interior will continue to uphold federal responsibilities to tribal communities,” the statement continued.
The spokesperson did not respond when asked to expand on their statement about “prioritizing fiscal responsibility for the American people.”
A community meeting to support Haskell drew more than 200 people on Feb. 21.
A second meeting is coming up, set for 5:30 p.m. Friday, March 7 at the Haskell Auditorium. The organizer said the Haskell Foundation, students and others will provide information about how people can give their support.
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