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Professor and land-acknowledgment committee urge NEIU to offer in‑state tuition to Native students
Summary
A professor and member of NEIU’s Land Acknowledgment and Action Committee recommended the board adopt in-state tuition for Native students who are citizens of tribal nations in the U.S. and Canada, arguing it would align with institutional mission and boost recruitment; no board action was taken at the meeting.
Joe Hibdon, an associate professor of mathematics and member of the NEIU Land Acknowledgment and Action Committee, urged the Board of Trustees to adopt a policy granting in-state tuition to Native American and Alaska Native students who are citizens of a federally recognized tribal nation in the United States or Canada.
Hibdon told trustees that offering in-state tuition would align with NEIU’s mission, support the university’s recent AANHPI (Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander) designation and make NEIU more competitive for students from tribal colleges and universities in neighboring states. He cited the University of Illinois Chicago as an example that offers comparable tuition treatment and said the change would not necessarily cost the university money while expanding access.
Hibdon framed the change as a recruitment and equity measure that could increase Native student enrollment and support inclusion on campus. The board did not act on the suggestion during the meeting; the item was referenced later in committee reporting as one of the public-comment topics heard by the Finance, Buildings and Grounds committee earlier the same day.
Ending
Trustees noted the public comment and administration indicated they had received the materials. Any formal policy change to grant in-state tuition to specific groups would require subsequent administrative review and a formal board action.
