photo by: Journal-World File

A sign at the entrance to Haskell Indian Nations University is shown Friday, Aug. 5, 2016.

Story updated at 5:32 p.m. Friday, May 23:

Frank Arpan, the president of Haskell Indian Nations University, is resigning, as he announced in an email to the Haskell campus on Friday.

Arpan, who was hired as the school’s president in May 2023, reportedly told Haskell’s Board of Regents earlier in the week about the decision to resign, according to sources close to the university. He had been on the faculty of Haskell since May 2022, serving as the university’s vice president of academics.

In his email to students and staff on the Haskell campus late Friday afternoon, which the Journal-World obtained, Arpan said he would be leaving the school on June 18. He said it has been an honor to “serve the students, staff, faculty, and tribal communities for the past three years.”

Arpan said that he was leaving to “pursue other opportunities” without elaborating. He said the decision was not easy and that he considers Haskell a “special place.”

“I will truly miss working with you all, our students, the Haskell community, our Haskell National Board of Regents and all our supporting partners,” Arpan said.

Arpan said while he may not always agree with operational decisions passed the university’s way, he greatly appreciates the work being done by the Bureau of Indian Education, a division of the Department of the Interior that’s in charge of administering the university, and he will “continue to support that mission in any way possible.”

Jennifer Bell, a spokesperson with BIE, confirmed Arpan’s departure Friday. In a statement, Bell said the BIE “appreciated President Arpan’s leadership and many contributions to the Haskell Indian Nations University community.”

“His efforts advanced student achievement, supported cultural preservation, and helped guide the institution through periods of change and growth,” Bell said.

Arpan has not discussed reasons for departing. A call to the president’s office went unanswered on Friday afternoon.

Bell said the BIE is committed to ensuring a “smooth transition,” and will work closely with the Haskell Board of Regents to “support strong interim leadership and help identify the next president.”

“Haskell’s mission remains central to our work, and we remain firmly dedicated to advancing tribal education, promoting student success, and supporting Haskell’s role as a national center for higher education,” Bell said.

Haskell has cycled through numerous presidents in recent years, and Arpan was the latest in a string of more than half a dozen temporary or long-term leaders, including — going back to 2018 — Julia Good Fox, Tamarah Pfeiffer, Ronald Graham, Jim Rains, Dan Wildcat and Venida Chenault.

The university is currently going through a comprehensive evaluation as part of the accreditation process with the Higher Learning Commission, which provides accreditation to post-secondary education institutions like colleges and universities across the central part of the country. The reviews for schools are done every 10 years. The HLC told the Journal-World that the review process, which started on Dec. 2, 2024, for the accreditation at Haskell is still ongoing. The University of Kansas also is undergoing its comprehensive evaluation this year, according to the HLC’s website.

photo by: Austin Hornbostel/Journal-World

Haskell President Frank Arpan poses for a photo with a Haskell graduate and a future student.