S 2140119th CongressIn Committee

Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act

Introduced: Jun 23, 2025

Education

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act would transform Haskell from a legacy Bureau of Indian Education institution into a federally chartered, independent nonprofit corporation called the Haskell Indian Nations University. Governed by a new 15-member Board of Trustees (plus tthe student body president as a nonvoting member), the University would operate with tuition-free education for Native students and possess the authority to raise private donations, manage its own programs, and enter into contracts. The bill transfers the University’s functions, facilities, and many personnel from the legacy institution to the new federal chartered entity, with the Secretary of the Interior continuing to provide Federal funding and related oversight. The Act also establishes a framework for governance, employee policies, health and retirement benefits, hiring preferences for Native individuals, and tax and liability status, while preserving certain protections and requiring annual audits. In short, the bill creates a self-governing, federally chartered university that can operate with greater independence from the Bureau of Indian Education, while preserving the Federal Government’s treaty and trust responsibilities to Indians and continuing Federal funding and oversight.

Key Points

1Establishment and independence: Creates a federally chartered corporation named Haskell Indian Nations University, governed by a newly established Board of Trustees with broad tribal representation; the University gains independence from direct BIE management while still receiving federal grants.
2Board structure and governance: A 15-member voting Board plus one nonvoting student bodyPresident; detailed appointment, nomination, background-check, term, and continuity provisions; Board has fiduciary duties and the authority to adopt bylaws, set policies, and oversee all University operations.
3Transfer of functions and facilities: Transfers the functions, personnel, liabilities, contracts, property, and records of the legacy Haskell institution to the University; Secretary conveys legacy facilities to the University, with possible use by the Indian Health Service and restrictions on sale.
4Tuition-free education and tribal preference: Primary mission includes tuition-free study for Indians and degree/certificate programs; allows a policy to give hiring and admissions preference to members of Indian Tribes (including certain descendants or those with a CDIB).
5Funding, benefits, and compliance: The University receives grants from the Secretary of the Interior; must contribute to employee health and retirement benefits (with potential alternative benefits); imposes background checks, annual audits by the Interior Inspector General, and compliance requirements; the University is tax-exempt and bears tort liability as a Federal agency for certain purposes.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Native American students (tuition-free access), tribes (especially those in Kansas and nationally), and the Haskell community (students, alumni, faculty, and staff) who gain a new governance structure and potential growth in programs and fundraising.Secondary group/area affected: University employees transitioning from civil service to private/government-insulated employment under a nonprofit framework; potential changes in compensation, benefits, and grievance procedures; potential impact on current legacy employees and hiring processes.Additional impacts: Federal fiscal oversight and accountability through annual IG audits; potential private fundraising and expanded financial autonomy; real estate and facilities changes, including conveyance of campus property and possible use by the Indian Health Service; institutional stability and governance reforms intended to address past management concerns and ensure a treaty-and-trust-based approach to Indian education.Federally chartered corporation: A government-chartered nonprofit that runs like a private college but is created by Congress and operates with its own board and governance, while still receiving federal support.Legacy institution: The prior Haskell operation under the Bureau of Indian Education before enactment of this act.ISDEAA terms: References to definitions used in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, governing terms like “Indian” and “Tribal organization” for context in governance and contracting.CDIB: Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood, a documentation method used to establish tribal affiliation for certain eligibility or preferences.Tax-exempt and tort liability: The University would be tax-exempt and treated similarly to a federal agency for certain liability purposes, which shapes how it handles legal and financial risk.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 7, 2025