Haskell Indian Nations University, KU partner to serve both campuses

LAWRENCE -- A partnership between Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas is yielding programs that not only serve needs in Native American communities but also promote exchanges of services for faculty and students at both campuses in Lawrence.

Marigold Linton, director of KU's Office of American Indian Outreach, said that in recent years collaborative efforts between Haskell and KU have yielded more than $7.3 million in grants, research and exchanges of services. Haskell and KU have worked together on a number of projects, including:

 • bridge programs to encourage Haskell students to seek careers in biomedical research
 • an international research team investigating rising sea levels
 • programs for Native Americans in speech-language-hearing
 • a graduate Indigenous Nations Studies program
 • mentoring programs for Haskell transfer students at KU
 • a "civic dialogue" generated through performing arts
 • a Haskell course offered through KU's Tribal Law and Government Center
 • a joint task force on alcohol abuse prevention
 • an annual community Indian art show and market
 • faculty exchanges
 • course exchanges for students.

Haskell President Karen Swisher said that formal agreements between the two universities began nearly 10 years ago.

"A foundation for our institutional partnership was the creation of a task force in 1992," Swisher said. "The Joint Haskell-KU Inter-Institutional Task Force guides a number of collaborative efforts between our universities."

KU Provost David Shulenburger said that the joint task force and formal agreements have enabled the development of partnership initiatives to serve students and faculty at both universities.

The joint task force members include Swisher; Shulenburger; Linton; George Godfrey, Haskell vice president for academic affairs; and Deb Teeter, KU director of the Office of Research and Planning.

Established in 1884, Haskell enrolled 1,028 students this fall representing more than 130 tribes in more than 35 states. KU, established in 1864, enrolled 25,782 on the Lawrence campus this fall, representing all 50 states.

Briefly, 13 partnership initiatives between Haskell and KU include:

Haskell/KU Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program -- More than 20 Haskell students have studied in the laboratories of KU mentors in this three-year cooperative program funded with a $600,000 National Institutes of Health grant. Now in its second year, the program is directed by an inter-institutional steering committee that meets weekly, alternating between Haskell and KU.

Initiative for Minority Student Development -- In summer 2001, NIH granted $2 million for KU's first IMSD project to smooth the transition for Haskell students transferring into KU programs. In addition to offering small classes, the project provides tutoring services and group seminars for entry-level courses in biology, chemistry and mathematics and provides biomedical research opportunities in laboratories for KU students.

Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement -- In fall 2001, NIH granted $4 million for Haskell's first RISE project. RISE provides infrastructure support for Haskell; opportunities for student development, student research and faculty development; and science class enhancements.

Polar Radar for Ice Sheet Measurement Project -- This five-year international science and technology project to study rising sea levels involves 12 research institutions, including Haskell. Prasad Gogineni, KU distinguished professor of electrical engineering and computer science, leads the project. A total of $290,000 of the $8.7 million grant from the National Science Foundation and NASA will be used to involve Haskell students directly with the project team, upgrade Haskell's Global Information Systems lab, develop mapping capability and provide field research for Haskell faculty.

Native Americans in Communication Disorders -- Haskell's and KU's speech-language-hearing faculty have worked together since 1990 to help meet a need in Native American communities for Native American professionals in speech-language pathology and audiology. In 1992, a federal education training grant initiated the Haskell-KU Native American Training Program in speech-language-hearing. The program grew with a 1999 Health Careers Opportunity three-year, $243,000 federal grant for Native American undergraduates interested in biomedical careers. In 2000, a $674,000 federal education training grant funded Native American graduate students studying speech-language pathology and audiology. Eight students have earned bachelor's degrees; six have earned master's degrees. Three Native American students are working on doctoral degrees, 10 on master's degrees and one on a bachelor's degree.

Native American Studies and Indigenous Nations Studies programs -- In 1997, in cooperation with Haskell, KU established a graduate Indigenous Nations Studies program to complement Haskell's Native American Studies undergraduate program. Donald Fixico, Bowlus distinguished professor of history and a Native American, has directed the program since January 1999. Fixico said the opportunity to work with Haskell faculty and students was a major factor in his decision to come to KU. The program enrolls about 16 students, publishes a journal and has a $75,000 research grant to analyze treaties involving Department of Defense installations in Indian country.

Balanced Exchange Program -- In spring 1996, Haskell and KU began an exchange enabling Haskell students to take KU classes and KU students to take Haskell classes without paying additional tuition at the other institution.

Haskell Mentor Program -- The program matches faculty, staff and student mentors from KU to help Haskell students with the transition to their first year at KU. The program expanded to include not only faculty but also staff and former Haskell transfer students at KU as mentors. The program provides a one-time $150 book grant for students from the Student Senate's Educational Opportunity Fund.

City-University Joint Task Force on Alcohol Abuse Prevention -- In 1998, Haskell and KU joined the city in studying how to reduce alcohol abuse among young people in Lawrence.

Civic Dialogue Project -- This fall, Haskell and KU's Lied Center of Kansas initiated a three-year program to help bridge a gap between native and non-native communities regarding a land-use controversy in Lawrence. Native American traditional and contemporary performing arts and other activities focus on communication between the communities. The project has included a public forum series on land use and Native American issues, co-sponsored by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce; a continuing/adult education class on Native American art; and the development of a curriculum on Native American art and culture for USD 497.

Haskell-KU Networking Committee -- In 1999, KU's multicultural affairs office established a networking committee of Haskell and KU faculty and staff members to address issues facing Haskell students transferring to KU. The committee also keeps abreast of issues concerning Native American students. Theresa Milk, graduate student in education from Wanblee, S.D., chairs the committee.

Tribal Law and Government Center -- In 1995, KU's School of Law established the center, which provides scholarships and forums for legal issues involving indigenous nations and peoples through a class on tribal sovereignty taught annually at Haskell by Rob Porter, center director and KU law professor. The center includes the Tribal Lawyer Certificate Program to help KU law students prepare for careers representing indigenous nations and tribes.

Lawrence Indian Art Show -- Now in its 13th year, the annual show includes a two-day Indian Market at Haskell for American Indian artists and a monthlong juried show at the KU Museum of Anthropology. The Lawrence Arts Center, the KU Spencer Museum of Art and the Lawrence Public Library sponsor related events.