Genuine Kansas - Haskell Indian Nations University

Haskell Indian Nations University is a four year degree granting university in Lawrence, Kansas, which offers free tuition to members of registered Native American tribes in the United States. Typical enrollment is approximately 1,000 representing 150 tribes and all 50 states.

History Haskell was formed as the United States Indian Industrial Training School in Lawrence, Kansas in 1884. Haskell was originally an Indian boarding school for 15 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. 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 offers majors in American Indian studies, tribal archives and tribal museum management, environmental science, business administration, and elementary teacher education. Additional History From the University Web Site Twenty-two American Indian children entered the doors of a new school in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1884 to begin an educational program that focused on agricultural education in grades one through five. Today, Haskell continues to serve the educational needs of American Indian and Alaska Native people from across the United States. For more than 117 years, American Indians and Alaska Natives have been sending their children to Haskell, and Haskell has responded by offering innovative curricula oriented toward American Indian/Alaska Native cultures. The doors to Haskell officially opened under the name of the United States Indian Industrial Training School. Enrollment quickly increased from its original 22 to over 400 students within one semester's time. The early trades for boys included tailoring, wagon making, blacksmithing, harness making, painting, shoe making, and farming. Girls studied cooking, sewing and homemaking. Most of the students' food was produced on the Haskell farm, and students were expected to participate in various industrial duties. Ten years passed before the school expanded its academic training beyond the elementary grades. A "normal school" was added because teachers were needed in the students' home communities. The commercial department (the predecessor of the business department) opened in 1895 with five typewriters. It is believed that the first touch-typing class in Kansas was taught at Haskell. By 1927, high school classes were accredited by the state of Kansas, and Haskell began offering post high school courses in a variety of areas. Part of Haskell's attraction was not only its post high school curriculum but also its success in athletics. Haskell football teams in the early 1900's to the 1930's are legendary. And even after the 1930's, when the emphasis on football began to decrease, athletics remained a high priority to Haskell students and alumni. Today, Haskell continues to pay tribute to great athletes by serving as the home of the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame. Industrial training became an important part of the curriculum in the early 1930's, and by 1935 Haskell began to evolve into a post high school, vocational-technical institution. Gradually, the secondary program was phased out, and the last high school class graduated in 1965. In 1970, Haskell began offering a junior college curriculum and became Haskell Indian Junior College. In 1992, after a period of planning for the 21st century, the National Haskell Board of Regents recommended a new name to reflect its vision for Haskell as a national center for Indian education, research, and cultural preservation. In 1993, the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs (U. S. Department of the Interior) approved the change, and Haskell became "Haskell Indian Nations University." Today, Haskell has an average enrollment of over 1000 students each semester. Students represent federally recognized tribes from across the United States and are as culturally diverse as imaginable. Students select programs that will prepare them to enter baccalaureate programs in elementary teacher education, American Indian studies, business administration, and environmental science; to transfer to another baccalaureate degree-granting institution; or to enter directly into employment. Haskell continues to integrate American Indian/Alaska Native culture into all its curricula. This focus of the curriculum, besides its intertribal constituency and federal support through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, makes Haskell unique and provides exciting challenges as Haskell moves into the 21st century. Cultural centers Haskell is the home of the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame which recognizes many of the Native American athletes who attended Haskell and later became famous — Jim Thorpe, George and John Levi, and Billy Mills. The Haskell Cultural Center is a museum and archive collecting indigenous American material and provides a training venue for Haskell's archives and museum programs. Athletics The athletic program at Haskell is a successful one. They compete in the NAIA's Midland Collegiate Athletic Conference and Independant Circuit in Football, leaving the Central States Football League in 2006. The teams are called the Fighting Indians and their colors are purple, gold and white. In addition, Haskell plays host to the Home footbal games of both Lawrence High School and Free State High School in Lawrence. Men's Sports Offered Football, Cross Country, Basketball, Golf, Track Women's Sports Offered Cross Country, Basketball, Softball, Track, Volleyball Club Sports Offered Baseball, Boxing University Web Site