Dr. Frank Arpan provided an update on the operation and future plans for Haskell Indian Nations University. Arpan was promoted to the Presidency after serving as Vice President of Academics. He previously served as Dean of Academics at Sisseton Wahpeton College in South Dakota and is a tribal member of the Yankton Sioux. Presently, 879 students are enrolled at Haskell with 146 tribes represented. Tuition is free which makes a degree attainable at a very reasonable cost. Degrees are available in Social Work, Community Health, Communications, Elementary Teacher Education, American Indian Studies and Environmental Science.
Arpan expressed concerns about the road ahead. He noted that Haskell is directly under federal government control, which he believes has had a negative impact on the academic role of the university. While many tribes are represented in the student population, some 400 tribes are not. And no new degree program has been added for the last twenty five years. Accordingly, Haskell is exploring a cooperative agreement with Peaslee Tech. Arpan closed his remarks stating that the Haskell community is looking forward to celebrating a 140th anniversary.
