[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 130 (Thursday, September 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1658]]



  BRING GREATER ADMINISTRATIVE FLEXIBILITY TO HASKELL INDIAN NATIONS 
                               UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAN MEYERS

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 19, 1996

  Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to 
bring greater administrative flexibility to Haskell Indian Nations 
University located in Lawrence, KS.
  Haskell has been educating native Americans since 1884. One of only 
two institutes of its kind in the United States, any person of native 
American descent can attend Haskell tuition-free in fulfillment of 
treaty obligations. Since it's inception, Haskell has grown into a 
cherished educational institution in the native American community and 
a respected neighbor in Lawrence, KS.
  Under the leadership of President Bob Martin, Haskell University has 
begun a far-sighted transformation into a 4 year university 
specializing in training elementary and secondary education teachers, 
and environmental science and conservation programs. For the past 3 
years, the first group of education baccalaureate students have been 
studying at Haskell and will graduate this spring.
  However, in order to continue its transformation, Haskell needs the 
autonomy and authority to hire and retain faculty-rank teachers. That 
is what this bill does. Local control and authority has already been 
granted to all tribally-controlled community colleges. While I realize 
that the time before this Congress does not permit a thorough hearing 
of this bill, I want to alert my colleagues to both the need and 
importance of the legislation.

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