Haskell Indian Industrial Training School

Haskell Indian Nations University is a public tribal[2] land-grant university in Lawrence, Kansas, United States. Founded in 1884 as a residential boarding school for American Indian children,[3] the school has developed into a university operated by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs[4] that offers both associate and baccalaureate degrees.[5] The college was founded to serve members of federally recognized Native American tribes in the United States. It is the oldest continually operating federal school for American Indians.[6]

Enrollment at the campus is nearly 1,000 students per semester, representing approximately 140 Tribal nations and Alaska Native communities.[7] Haskell is funded directly by the Bureau of Indian Education as a U.S. Trust Responsibility[8] to American Indian Tribes. While the school does not charge tuition, students are responsible for paying yearly fees.[9]

Twelve campus buildings have been designated as U.S. National Historic Landmarks. Haskell is home to the Haskell Cultural Center and Museum,[10] the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame,[11] the Indian Leader, the oldest American Indian student newspaper in the country;[12] and numerous student clubs and organizations.[13] Faculty and students built the Haskell Medicine Wheel Earthwork in 1992, and the Haskell-Baker Wetlands are important for migrating birds. The renowned Rinehart Collection is housed in the Haskell Cultural Center. Numerous sculptures and murals are located throughout the campus. Haskell also is a member of the American Council on Education, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the Higher Learning Commission, and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.[14]

The university hosts cultural and academic events that attract visitors (both American Indian and non-Indian) from across the country and abroad. Such events include the annual Haskell Indian Art Market,[15] the Stories-n-Motion Film Festival,[16] and the Haskell Commencement and Pow-Wow.[17] These public events are held along with numerous educational conferences, workshops, and presentations.

Haskell Indian Nations University was a four year degree granting university in Lawrence, Kansas.

Haskell was formed as the U.S. Indian Industrial Training School in 1884. Haskell was originally a non-reservation boarding school for fifteen students and provided agricultural education for grades one through five. The emphasis was on assimilation -- teaching the students to become members of the dominant society. The school's name was changed to Haskell Institute in 1887 to honor Dudley Haskell, the U.S. Representative from Kansas who was responsible for the school being located in Lawrence. A semi-military system was initiated where students wore uniforms and marched to their classes and exercised regularly. By 1894 there were 606 students enrolled, representing 36 states. Haskell expanded its academic training beyond the eighth grade to include "normal school".

Haskell began offering college level classes in 1927. From 1927 until 1935 the Potawatomi Agency was a subagency of the school. Haskell Institute graduated its last high school level class in 1965. In 1970 the college was accredited as Haskell Indian Junior College and offered only college-level classes. In 1993, with the addition of a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary teacher education, the Board of Regents changed the name to Haskell Indian Nations University. Haskell offered majors in American Indian studies, tribal archives and tribal museum management, environmental science, business administration, and elementary teacher education.

There are 183 Bureau-funded elementary and secondary schools of these, 53 are BIE-operated and 130 are Tribally-controlled. The BIE also directly operates 2 postsecondary institutions: Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) and the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI).