“The campuses have already been providing inputs on legislative asks, including tentative budget numbers, and we’ll be talking about that (during) cabinet next week,” said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott. “But we just want to get it on your radar that in addition to the Envision groups, there could be things that fall in between the seams and may get bucketed under some of these Envision priorities.”

Hagerott said some items already on the NDUS legislative agenda include costs to continue equity funds, changes to the N.D. Public Employees Retirement System and costs to maintain IT infrastructure functionality and deferred maintenance for physical infrastructure.

The Envision 2035 groups identified some of the following initiatives:

Agriculture: The group is focusing on ways to present carbon sequestration as part of agriculture curriculum, potentially with targeted certificates and online offerings. It also is working on ideas to retain top faculty, which has been a challenge, as well as enrollment. Some of the group’s proposals included reaching out to middle school and high school students earlier to get them interested in the agricultural field.

Energy: Right sizing the state’s energy approach, the Grand Energy concept (much like Grand Farm), and intensified workforce development were all key components of the group’s proposals. The group theorized that expanding TrainND and reinvesting in oil and gas scholarship programs would also be key to bolstering the state’s energy workforce.

Digitization: To further refine legislative initiatives, the group is evaluating what currently is being taught in cyber and digitization, which ties to digital literacy and emerging degree programs. The group also is exploring how higher ed operates, particularly how faculty teaches in the classroom. Its third effort is to look at how to preserve the human element of what higher ed does, how to sustain very human things like being creative, thinking critically and being able to communicate. High-performance computing also was identified as affecting broader computing issues, including cloud purchases versus building capacity or industry partnerships.

Healthcare: Nursing scholarships and attracting and retaining teachers in the field were paramount for the group. It also proposed a health institute concept that could potentially reside in Minot.

Teacher of the Future: The group was focused on tenure study, but also giving teachers salaries commensurate with inflation. It also is focused on recruiting and retention initiatives and how to upscale and retool the workforce in the face of new and emerging technologies and delivery models. Another initiative would include an interstate teacher compact where teacher licensure would be simpler to obtain when moving states.

Student of the Future: The group would like to explore an initiative to assist with gambling disorder prevention services to contend with the nationwide sports gambling crisis. This would include filling gaps in the psychology field to not only serve students, but also those in rural areas using virtual behavioral health crisis care. The group also proposed a centralized marketing fund for the university system. Additionally, the group recognizes the need to develop more CTE courses as dual credit to get more students into CTE programs.

Infrastructure: The group is focusing on initiatives for both physical infrastructure and the IT infrastructure, including high-performance computing.

Human Capital/Workforce: The group’s No. 1 priority is recruitment and retention of top faculty and staff throughout the system and are looking at initiatives for pay benefits, addressing inflation, sustainable productivity and accountability and mental health. Some of the mental health proposals could include workforce access to daycare, wellness facilities, transportation and housing.

Values of the Future: An initiative borne from this group includes the ����ֱ�� Humanities Academy, which would bring needed civic education and engagement through the humanities. The group believes the concept could help with instilling soft skills like effective communication, social and emotional engagement, creative thinking, critical reasoning, volunteerism, professionalism, civic responsibility and the ability to understand different viewpoints and engaging in civil discourse.

In addition to the reports, attendees heard a summary from Hagerott about a statewide “Finish the FAFSA” campaign. The weeklong campaign encouraged students to be persistent in working through their financial aid applications. Nationally, FAFSA applications were down 40%, while North ����ֱ�� was down 25%. Campus financial aid offices were putting in extra hours to assist as many students as possible.

Hagerott also said the application deadline for an SBHE opening had been extended to 5 p.m. on Monday, May 6.

The SBHE during the meeting approved tenure for 4-year regional and research institutions, as well as 2-year institutions based on recommendations from the Student and Academic Affairs Committees.

Committee Actions

Vice Chair John Warford reported for the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. The group at its last meeting discussed tenure and approved academic programs for North ����ֱ�� State University and Bismarck State College. They also had discussions about potential 3-year degrees and accelerated or combined master’s degrees.

Board member Dr. Casey Ryan reported for the Research and Governance Committee. The members listened to a presentation about high-performance computing and considered costs for having facilities at research universities. Board member Danita Bye said her group discussed new board member orientation improvements and heard a report from the post-tenure ad hoc committee.

The Budget and Finance Committee led by Board member Kevin Black recommended approval for Valley City State University and North ����ֱ�� State University tuition exemption for Canadians during its last meeting. They also heard a presentation on a unit cost model from Dr. Douglas Jensen at Bismarck State College, as well as a financial review from Robin Putnam, NDUS director of financial reporting.

Board member Jeffrey Volk presented for the Audit Committee, which spent its last meeting reviewing a systemwide internal audit, as well as quarterly reports.

Committee Reports

Student member of the Board Sadie Hanson provided an update from the North ����ֱ�� Student Association stating the group elected its new executive team, as well as candidates for the Board.

Faculty Advisor to the Board Dr. Lisa Montplaisir said the Council of College Faculty was in the middle of post-tenure review and tenure processes. The group also held its election of officers from each institution and transitions for those members will happen in May.

Board member Michael Linell reported for the Staff Senate, which met to discuss spending rules and raising funds. The group was also planning its summer retreat agenda and service programs and projects to engage in this summer.

The Board heard first readings of Policies 311 (), 340.1 (State Forester), Policy 404 (Collaborative Applicant) and 461 (Digital Literacy). All policies were approved.

Second readings were heard for HR Policies 1 (Introduction), 4 (Probationary Period), 8 (Workers Compensation), 13 (Employment of Relatives) and 24 (Reduction in Force) and all were approved.

No public comments were made.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for May 30, 2024.

— 30 –

The University of North ����ֱ�� reported the highest retention rate at 83%, which is the highest ever for an NDUS institution since the system began tracking data in 1990.

Additionally, 19% of students systemwide transferred from one NDUS institution to another institution within the NDUS.

“Whether it’s an associate or bachelor’s degree or even certificates and stackable credentials, students are persevering in their programs to pursue opportunities in the workforce,” said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott. “These are encouraging numbers and I want to thank the N.D. State Board of Higher Education, our presidents, faculty and staff for creating abundant pathways for our students to achieve success.”

For 4-year institutions, retention rate is the percentage of full-time, first-time bachelor’s (or equivalent) degree-seeking undergraduates from the previous fall who enroll in the current fall semester. For all other institutions, retention rate is the percentage of full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates from the previous fall who are again enrolled in the current fall semester.

The NDUS also experienced its highest systemwide rate at 57%, which is an 8% increase over the past decade. NDUS 2-year colleges had a combined graduation rate of 48% while the 4-year universities had a 61% combined graduation rate. Both of those beat national averages for public institution, which were 31% for 2-year colleges and 59% for 4-year universities.

— 30 –

“The scholars named to the All-North ����ֱ�� Academic Team represent the best of the best from across our state,” said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott. “They are leaders not just in the classroom, but also within their communities. They serve others and have demonstrated a spirit of volunteerism all while pursuing academic excellence and successful futures in our workforce.”

This year’s team members and the colleges they attend included:

• Sierra Lang, Bismarck State College
• Aissata Soumare, Bismarck State College
• William Broderius, ����ֱ�� College at Bottineau
• Kindal DeGraeve, ����ֱ�� College at Bottineau
• Lexie Nelson, ����ֱ�� College at Bottineau
• Megan Green, Lake Region State College
• Carla Moros, Lake Region State College
• Morgan Thielbar, Lake Region State College
• Kyra Bellew, North ����ֱ�� State College of Science
• Brayden Schmeichel, North ����ֱ�� State College of Science
• Rose Wendel, North ����ֱ�� State College of Science
• Katie Willprecht, North ����ֱ�� State College of Science
• Paige Heilman, Williston State College
• Melaica Lozada, Williston State College
• Allyson Webster, Williston State College

In North ����ֱ��, the community college awards are co-sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and the North ����ֱ�� University System College Technical Education Council. The academic team recognition program is active in 37 states. ����ֱ�� named to the state team are also nominated for the All-USA Academic Team.

Nominations are based on outstanding academic performance and service to the college and community. Each member of the team receives a certificate of congratulations from Gov. Doug Burgum, an award certificate, a medallion and a monetary award. Team members are also eligible for scholarships from Dickinson State University, Mayville State University, Minot State University, Valley City State University, North ����ֱ�� State University and the University of North ����ֱ��. The University of Mary also offers awards to team members.

— 30 –

��The statewide initiative would be “an integrated effort of getting people to basically retool with advanced technology,” Hagerott said. “It is upskilling the existing people we have, and this includes then the pillars of student vitality, the workforce and intelligent machines. This includes the various workforce categories of agriculture, energy, healthcare and also veterans. We have really incorporated veterans and national defense into our strategic planning as it’s evolved over time.”

As relates to student vitality, the Board would focus on fostering a higher education system in which those who go to campus have clear minds, strong bodies and resilient sprits. It also would include initiatives on ways to increase enrollment and student success.

The Board also would focus on building a more productive workforce by expanding academic program availability to more urban and rural areas throughout the state. This would include advocating for an adaptive workforce in the energy, agriculture and healthcare sectors.

During the presentation about the RUN-ND initiative, it was noted that the Georgetown University Center of Education and Workforce recently stated that by 2031, 71 percent of all jobs in North ����ֱ�� will require postsecondary training beyond high school.

The third RUN-ND pillar is intelligent machines and a statewide initiative would make AI a tool for all North ����ֱ��ns, much like StageNet made broadband internet available for urban and rural communities in the state in the early 90s. The state also would focus on automation using robotics and aviation and increase productivity in the workforce.

“This is what we talked about earlier — the Envision 2035 — all the study groups came out and emerged with digitization as a key ingredient to moving ahead,” said NDUS Vice Chancellor of Strategy Jerry Rostad. “And this is where we developed the concept of a public-private AI.”

NDUS representatives will present the RUN-ND initiative and the Board’s strategic planning to Gov. Doug Burgum during a strategy review at the end of the week.

Committee Actions

Hagerott recommended and the Board approved nominations for the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education (SBARE). The Board is authorized to appoint members who are nominated by the N.D. Ag Coalition (five board members) and the geographic areas represented by NDSU Extension’s multicounty program units (five board members). The SBARE is responsible for budgeting and policy making associated with the North ����ֱ�� Agricultural Experiment Station and NDSU Extension.

The two nominees were John Dhuyvetter, who was reappointed to a 4-year term and Mike Clemens, who is a new appointee.

“This entity was created 25 years ago to help prioritize and lead the statewide agricultural enterprise, and this board is also represented on our Envision 2035 (Future of Agriculture) Group,” Hagerott said. “I was able to join one of the one of the Envision 2035 meetings and (Future of Agriculture Group) is very engaged and that’s one of our top workforce priorities in addition to research and education.”

The Board approved a series of requests during the meeting, including tuition exemption requests for several NDUS institutions and authorization of a Bismarck State College Joint Powers Agreement regarding the Bismarck Community Bowl. It also heard updates from the Envision 2035 study groups.

��

Committee Reports

Vice Chair Dr. John Warford reported for the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. The group heard a report from Bismarck State College regarding bachelor’s degree requests. The group agreed that the Envision 2035 planning process would be the best place to receive further input from the other 10 institutions regarding the request.

Board member Dr. Casey Ryan reported for the Research and Governance Committee. The group discussed the North ����ֱ�� Economic Diversification Research Fund and are reviewing several grants. The Governance Committee heard a presentation from Vice Chancellor Darin King regarding an Enterprise Service Management Report, which is given every 6 months.

The Budget and Finance Committee reviewed a tuition waiver report and campus budget report. It also talked about capital budget requests, including tiered capital funding.

Student Member of the Board Sadie Hanson provided an update from the North ����ֱ�� Student Association, stating the group passed several resolutions including supporting digital literacy and use of AI in classroom, alternate pathways to teaching licensure, AI and digitization and opposition to sports betting.

Faculty Advisor to the Board Dr. Lisa Montplaisir said campuses are in the middle of Council of College Faculty elections and new officers will be elected this week. She said each campus also is providing feedback on the post-tenure review report.

The Board heard first readings of HR Policies 1 (Introduction), 4 (Probationary Period), Policy 8 (Workers Compensation), 12 (Employment of Relatives) and 24 (Reduction in Force). All policies were approved.

Second readings were heard for Policies 807.1 (Mobbile Phones and Other Mobile Computing Devices; Restrictions on Use of State Phones), 810.1 (Appropriated Funds Reserve) and 512 (Student Drivers and Use of State Vehicles by Student Groups) and all were approved.

No public comments were made.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 25, 2024.

The is to provide access to digital-cyber oriented education, training, certificates and knowledge produced by the collaborative North ����ֱ�� University System (NDUS) of eleven campuses, in partnership with select business and corporate partners.

“The ����ֱ�� Digital Academy’s success cannot be understated. The group has made real progress in ensuring enhanced digital literacy for students and faculty across the North ����ֱ�� University System’s institutions,” said Jerry Rostad, NDUS vice chancellor of strategy and strategic engagement. “Most of all, it has encouraged discussion about current and future technologies and how they are transforming our world.”

Going forward, one of DDA’s goals and objectives is to provide diverse, accessible and employer-endorsed program offerings. Since 2022, 15 online cyber science courses were established — 69 currently are offered NDUS-wide — at six of the 11 NDUS institutions, allowing students to pursue a certificate or degree.

A certificate gives students an earned skill in as little as three courses. Many of these certificates are offered remotely, allowing students to remain in their communities while advancing their education. A few examples of certificates promoted by the DDA include cybersecurity and software development.

The DDA also is a “go-to” resource for campuses to facilitate discussion about workforce needs, degrees, certificates and course development for emerging technologies. NDUS faculty has been offered grants from the DDA to create online courses in cyber technology. Over the last three years, 46 grants for $5,000 have been awarded through the DDA.

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) has influenced the focus of the DDA on several fronts. The DDA is working with the University of North ����ֱ�� to deliver a faculty development workshop in using AI in the classroom for all institutions of the NDUS.

Additionally, this year, 15 scholarships for $1,000 were awarded through the DDA for NDUS faculty to attend and participate in conferences or professional development experiences involving artificial intelligence (AI). The awards were to help encourage professional learning and AI implementation in college classrooms.

The DDA also continues to work with business and industry to address workforce needs. In June 2023, the DDA Workforce Advisory Committee merged with the TechND Workforce Advisory Committee to discuss needed skillsets for upcoming graduates entering the workforce and guide faculty on course development to enhance those skillsets.

For more information and to view the DDA status update report, visit

The first iPhone was released by Steve Jobs and Apple in 2007 and the world has not looked back.

Business and industry, education, healthcare, and all the rest have been leveraging new discoveries made by digital hardware, coded software, blinking lights, and data lakes. The current hot topic of artificial intelligence or more specifically generative AI promises to digitize our society even more.

The United Nations says digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in history, just 17 short years removed from that first iPhone. Low-cost computing, the internet, and mobile connectivity has created what the UN calls the “Age of Digital Interdependence.”

However, despite all the wonderful new technical tools at our disposal, this digital interdependence has downsides. Digitalresponsibility.org cites several psychological and social issues associated with the use of technology. Issues range from deficits in soft skills, isolationism, inability to focus, and expectations of instant gratification to name a few.

In turn, it should not be surprising to see these issues manifesting across society. The North ����ֱ�� University System – as part of a visioning of the future process – asked business and industry leaders across North ����ֱ�� to identify the most important skill needed for today’s workforce. Their top answer: soft skills.

Employers are looking for people with soft skills. People who can effectively communicate, personally connect, and work collaboratively with other humans. The need for people who can think critically and synthesize information cuts across all sectors of the North ����ֱ�� economy.

Unfortunately, interacting with digital devices does not lead to the development of soft skills. The more time we spend on our devices means we are spending less time interacting with others. This is particularly concerning with children during their formative years. Research is already starting to show that if anything, constant interaction with electronic devices is quickly atrophying the human development of soft skills.

That is why it is more important than ever to put down the devices and find a park or recreational program. Whether it’s running and jumping with others at a playground, playing in an adult hockey league or taking a birding class, parks and recreational programs lend to the development of both physical skills alongside soft skills.

More than 60 communities across North ����ֱ�� have active park districts while the state manages 13 state parks. There are countless golf courses, swimming pools, and skating rinks. Seasonal programs range from adult basketball, table tennis, and kickball to youth art classes, playtown and swimming lessons. Programming ranges from ice and pool events to family and art events. Collectively, these programs and activities naturally lend to human communication, connection, and collaboration. In short, they are a fun activities that contribute to the development of soft skills.

So, grab your family and friends and enjoy the splendor of your local community park system and the company of your loved ones. Your electronic devices will not miss you.

The reports were preceded by a presentation from Jerry Rostad, NDUS vice chancellor of strategy and strategic engagement, which provided a summary of a planned strategy review with Gov. Doug Burgum in March. Inputs from the Envision 2035 process will further shape the Governor’s strategy review, ultimately identifying higher education initiatives for next year’s legislative session.

“If you remember, he (Gov. Burgum) explicitly wants to know what the SBHE is doing about automation and artificial intelligence,” said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott. “What are we doing about transformative things, truly changing things? I think with the Envision work you all are doing, we’re going to have several things going forward.”

Summaries from the Envision 2035 study groups included:

Agriculture – Some of the aspirations identified by the group included getting more students interested in the agricultural industry and preparing them for careers in a dynamic and rapidly changing sector. It was also important for the group that students are encouraged to be adaptive and lifelong learners upon graduation.

Energy – The group stressed the importance of developing a comprehensive energy approach by focusing not just on oil and gas, but also on hydrogen, coal, wind, solar and water. There also was discussion about expanding TrainND to western North ����ֱ��, particularly in Minot and Dickinson. The group also promoted Grand Energy and the need to invest in automation, robotics and AI for the workforce.

Digitization –Teaching and preparing students for a changing digital landscape so they can enter the workforce ready to make substantial contributions for the state was a primary focus for the group. Also, building AI infrastructure, reflecting on what it is to be human, nurturing creativity, critical thinking and communication were core topics for discussion brought forward by the group.

Healthcare – The group encouraged a focus on building more scholarships and finding ways to attract students into the healthcare field, get them to stay in the field and enhance experiential training by building on public/private partnerships.

Teacher of the Future – The group recognizes veteran teachers in schools/districts as key resources in helping identify needs, such as mentoring, professional development and re-training.

Student of the Future – The group has distributed a survey that has been sent out with 500 respondents, so far, to gain analysis about student sentiment on campuses regarding dual credit. Some other topic areas that were addressed that tie to students’ overall well-being were the offering of telehealth services, facing dangers related to sports gambling and recreational marijuana, providing student health insurance and expanding scholarship opportunities to meet workforce demands. The group also encouraged increased collaboration between campuses for seamless transfer of NDUS students.

Infrastructure of the Future – The group focused on IT modernization and sustainment, as well as an investment in hardware, software/apps and personnel. It also wanted to focus on partnerships, including connecting with the Digitization Group to develop curriculum design and digital literacy for students, faculty and staff.

Human Capital/Workforce of the Future – The group continues to meet to gather additional data and refine reports.

Values of the Future – Two subcommittees were involved in the work for the Values of the Future Group: ����ֱ�� Humanities Academy and ����ֱ�� Professional Model. The committees identified civic education as a potential requirement for students, leading to an engagement certificate. They also identified effective communication, creative thinking, volunteerism, professional integrity and civic responsibility as attributes graduates should have.

The SBHE also received a brief from Lisa Johnson, NDUS vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, about an initiative called Complete College America (CCA). The group is a national advocate for increasing college completion rates and closing institutional performance gaps by working with systems to promote policies that improve student success.

By belonging to the consortia, North ����ֱ�� would establish higher education completion goals, one of which is elevating the number of adults with some sort of post-secondary credential. North ����ֱ�� currently sits at 55% and through CCA, would set a goal for 65%

“I think we’re on a good trajectory with all of the certificate programs we offer, but we would also be committing to put a team together to work on data communication, implementing, developing a plan, and providing annual data, which is easy to do through our Core Technology Services,” Johnson said.

The SBHE took a unanimous vote in support of the initiative and to send a letter to the governor for his approval.
Earlier in the meeting, the SBHE approved developmental leave for Chancellor Hagerott. The chancellor will use the time to prepare a syllabus for an AI course, as well as to complete a book on technological change.

Additional SBHE Business, Reports

Student Member Sadie Hanson reported on the most recent North ����ֱ�� Student Association meeting. The group heard from a guest speaker from Job Service ND. They also a passed resolution in support of extending NDUS president contracts to 3 years, as well as a resolution in support of the continuation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Dr. Lisa Montplaisir reported for the Council of College Faculties. The group continues to discuss AI initiatives on campus and attend the monthly NDUS AI Forums. They’ve also made some bylaw changes to advance to the SBHE and will have its election of officers in March. Additionally, they have spent time discussing a post-tenure review document and have shared it with campuses for feedback from faculty senates.

The Board heard first readings of Policies 512 (Student Drivers and Use of State Vehicles by Student Groups), 807.1 (Mobile Phones and Other Mobile Computing Devices; Restrictions on Use of State Phones) and 810.1 (Appropriated Funds Reserve). All policies were approved.

Second readings were heard for Policies 303.1 (SBHE Meetings and Agendas), 504 (Resident Tuition Law and Guidelines), 507 (Student Publications), 510 (Rights of ����ֱ�� Called to Active Military Service), 602.2 (Report on Faculty Appointments), 701.2 (Developmental Leave), Policy 705.1 (Executive Compensation), 803.1 (Purchasing), 803.4 (Purchasing Cards), 806.3 (Moving Expenses) and all were approved.

No public comments were made.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for March 27, 2024.

— 30 –

BISMARCK, N.D. – North ����ֱ�� University System (NDUS) Chancellor Mark Hagerott was the featured speaker at the weekly 1 Million Cups Bismarck-Mandan forum on Wednesday. Hagerott was invited to share his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative effects on education, government, business and industry while presenting to attendees at ����ֱ�� Stage.

Hagerott previously has served on the faculty of the U.S. Naval Academy as a historian of technology, a distinguished professor and the deputy director for the Center for Cyber Security Studies. He also served as a White House Fellow and studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar. His research and writing focused on the evolution of technology and education.

During his presentation in Bismarck, Hagerott shared insight about the NDUS and North ����ֱ�� State Board of Higher Education Envision 2035 process, in which representatives from academia, local government and the private sector plan for the future of higher education and preparing students for success in the workforce. He said that AI will affect all sectors of society, including some of North ����ֱ��’s major industries like energy and agriculture.

“AI is here and it is going to dramatically change things,” Hagerott said. “It’s going to change healthcare, the entertainment world, create incredible wealth, but it will also bring social, governmental and even mental health challenges. And as massive investment continues in AI, North ����ֱ�� needs to start thinking ahead about how it will invest in data infrastructure to ensure our state does not get left behind.”

In addition to discussing the origins of AI and digitization, Hagerott proposed a whole-of-government approach to storing data and building a large language learning model for North ����ֱ��’s education system, government and private industry. The initiative would better secure the state’s information and preserve its autonomy, he said.

Hagerott’s entire presentation is viewable at

According to its website, 1 Million Cups is a dynamic platform designed to engage, educate and connect entrepreneurs in communities across the globe. The weekly event brings together local entrepreneurs to present their startups in a supportive and welcoming environment.

Later in the day, Hagerott also participated in a national webinar, which was facilitated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology’s NICE Program. He and several other panelists were asked to address “Expanding Cybersecurity Learning and Workforce Opportunities for Rural Americans.”

The panel discussed how rural areas still are experiencing challenges regarding limited broadband access, limited access to quality education and training, sparse job opportunities, lack of economic diversity and transportation or community barriers.

— 30 –

“This is a great opportunity for our faculty members to learn more about AI and how it can be incorporated into their curriculums,” said NDUS Chancellor Mark Hagerott. “Higher education will be transformed over the next few years by these new technologies. It’s important that we immerse ourselves in AI now to discover best practices so we can better prepare our students for our future workforce, which also will see new innovations through AI and digitization.”

To be eligible to receive the scholarships, faculty members had to submit the name of a conference or type of professional development event they would like to attend. They also had to explain how they would use that information to enhance classroom teaching.

Scholarship applicants represented a wide array of academic disciplines, including nursing, social and behavioral sciences, pharmacy, nutrition and dietetics and agriculture, to name a few. The scholarships were awarded to:

• Ashley Bauer, Bismarck State College
• Michelle Cauley, ����ֱ�� College at Bottineau
• Carey Haugen, Mayville State University
• Evan Borisinkoff, Minot State University
• Leisa Harmon, Minot State University
• Tara Bladow, North ����ֱ�� State College of Science
• Jennifer Krueger, North ����ֱ�� State College of Science
• Rebecca Brynjulson, North ����ֱ�� State University
• Sherri Stastny, North ����ֱ�� State University
• Ahmed Rabia, North ����ֱ�� State University
• Junguk Hur, University of North ����ֱ��
• Cherry Oliver, University of North ����ֱ��
• Richard Van Eck, University of North ����ֱ��
• Katie Woehl, Valley City State University
• Emily Wicktor, Valley City State University

The ����ֱ�� Digital Academy assists students, businesses, industry and government in North ����ֱ�� and across the upper Midwest by adapting and meeting the rapidly changing demands and opportunities for information technology and cyber sciences. Its mission is to provide access to digital-cyber oriented education, training, certificates and knowledge produced by the collaborative North ����ֱ�� University System of 11 campuses, in partnership with select business and corporate partners.

— 30 –

The value of higher education has been a hot topic in the national press recently, especially in the context of the pandemic, rising costs, and changing labor markets. Critics argue that higher education is not worth the investment or that it is irrelevant. Some large companies and employers have dropped education requirements from the hiring process, prioritizing an applicant’s skills and experience, later providing necessary training in-house at the companies’ expense.

In North ����ֱ��, home to many farms and small businesses, the State Board of Higher Education and the University System are closely aligned with business and industry leaders. We work together to offer programs that prepare our students for success in the workforce. We do this while continuing to find ways to keep college education affordable.

Looking to the future, the State Board has asked the question, “What will the world look like when today’s first grader graduates from high school?” The answers are starting to emerge from an Envision 2035 study that started last spring. Nine study groups are looking at everything from energy, agriculture and healthcare to the student and the teacher of the future. An overriding theme is clearly the transformational impact that digitization is having on society. The results of these in-depth study topics will help frame the long-term health of higher education in North ����ֱ��.

One of North ����ֱ��’s more unique and successful ventures has been the Career Builders Scholarship and Loan Repayment Program. The program is designed to help businesses to attract and retain talent in high-need and emerging occupations in the state. It’s unique in that it is a dollar-for-dollar matching program whereby the state will contribute $1 for every $1 of private-sector matching dollars received for a recipient.

Since 2022, 102 new Career Builders scholarships were awarded.�� The private sector, with a state match, has committed $1.2 million in scholarships since 2022, while $1.1 million was committed to student loan repayments.�� Since 2022, there has been a 29 percent increase in recipients.�� Since inception, 165 unique donors 9a growth of 39%) have committed to this workforce development program.

One of the State Board’s goals is to provide access to programs people want, where and when they need them. We are doing this with new educational programs and creative delivery methods. Our institutions have created 328 new, in-demand certificate programs during the past three years, and we are now offering approximately 400 certificates throughout our university system.

A certificate can give someone an earned skill in as little as three courses. Many certificates are offered remotely, allowing students to remain in their communities while advancing their education. A sample of certificates include education in cyber security, data entry, digital marketing, UAS systems, engineering, and many more emerging fields. Certificates can be bundled or stacked, leading to an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, giving students flexibility in how they achieve their educational goals and giving our institutions latitude in creating a broad set of relevant, work-related programs.

North ����ֱ�� continues to develop methods to bolster student affordability and accessibility. In 2022, the University System’s student loan indebtedness was lower than the national average. We want to keep it this way and during the last legislative session, our lawmakers enabled us to freeze tuition over the next two years. Additionally, NDUS institutions during the 2021-2022 academic year issued $121.4 million to students in scholarships, grants, and waivers.

I encourage our high school students, and those who might have some college but never finished, to consider pursuing a college degree. It’s worth the investment in your future. Find more information about the options available to you at ruready.nd.gov and insights.nd.gov/College.