Haskell Indian Nations University Improvement Act
H.R. 4085 would upgrade the Haskell Indian Nations University from its current status as a legacy, federally funded institution operated under the Bureau of Indian Education into a federally chartered corporation—the Haskell Indian Nations University. Governed by an independent Board of Trustees, the University would receive federal grants but also be allowed to raise private funds. Its stated purposes are to provide tuition-free higher education to Native students and to strengthen the federal government’s treaty and trust responsibilities to Indians. The law would transfer functions, assets, and personnel from the legacy institution to the new University, establish a dedicated governance and accountability framework, and set ongoing duties around funding, benefits, hiring preferences for Indian Tribes, and compliance with federal laws. In short, the bill creates a self-governing, chartered university with a regional, tribally representative board, dedicated to educating Indians, while continuing to rely on federal support and federal oversight to ensure fiduciary and programmatic responsibilities are met.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and chartering of a federally chartered university: Creates the Haskell Indian Nations University as a federally chartered corporation run by a Board of Trustees, with succession until Congress dissolves it and capability for Congress to amend the charter.
- 2Independent governance and board structure: A 15-member voting Board (plus 1 nonvoting student body president) appointed by the President with Senate advice and consent, drawn from enrolled tribal members and other experts; regional representation from 12 BIA regions plus Kansas Tribes and alumni, with detailed nomination processes and background checks.
- 3Transfer of functions and headquarters: Transitions the legacy Haskell functions from the Bureau of Indian Education to the new University, transferring personnel, property, and records to Lawrence, Kansas, where the campus is located; the Secretary conveys the legacy facilities to the University on enactment.
- 4Funding, benefits, and employee management: The University must contribute to employee health and retirement benefits, provide federal-style benefits for staff, and implement policies on compensation, leave, and employment disputes; it also adopts mechanisms for background checks and annual certifications.
- 5Admissions, hiring, and tax status: The University may adopt policies giving preference to Indian Tribes for admissions, employment, contracts, and grants; it enjoys tax-exempt status and non-profit, non-political status; tort liability and compliance with federal criminal laws are clarified.