NDSCS President’s Report 2015

This is a legislative year so Dr. John Richman’s, the North Dakota State College of Science’s President, annual visit to the Rotary Club of Wahpeton, ND for his President’s Report at Prante’s at noon  Tuesday February 10^th  took on added significance.  While he made the point that NDSCS  is a State assisted school not a State funded school the forty-six percent of the budgeted income that is provided by the State is integral to their being able to carry out their mission of educating a work force for North Dakota.  Unfortunately due to the problems at North Dakota State University with the building of the President’s home and at Dickenson State with a questionable degree granting mill the legislators are in an anti-higher education mood.  Without discussing the problems at the other institutions Richman pointed out that eight-eight percent of the NDSCS students graduate from programs that are in high demand in North Dakota with a ninety-eight percent placement rate for graduates.   His message to legislators: “Don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater”.    The other reason that legislators use for not funding programs that NDSCS needs for its mission is the declining oil prices.  The problem is that they are currently working on the 2016-17 budget where the money is already in the bank prior to the oil prices dropping.  The reasoning could be used two years from now for the 2018-19 budget assuming oil prices remain low

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            Dr. Richman would like that Governor Dalrymple’s higher education funding model proposed (SB2200) for 2013-15 be fully equalized and fully funded. He hopes that the legislature will freeze and fund two year college tuition and consider free tuition to N.D. two year colleges.  NDSCS is simplifying the cost model for students by merging tuition with course and program fees.  The question of out of state students raises eyebrows but forty-two percent of them remain in the state and help develop our badly needed work force.  He hopes that the legislative assembly will consider decreasing out of state tuition.  He also supports Governor Dalrymple’s plan for employee compensation.  NDSCS has been gradually working toward compensation parity with regional institutions a requirement to attract and keep good faculty and staff.

            The building issues can also raise many questions but when the water and sewer system is fifty to sixty years old rectifying that becomes a deferred maintenance and safety project.  The campus is short six fire hydrants to be up to code.  The current deferred maintenance issues on campus would cost fifty-six million dollars with the water and sewer needs being thirteen point three million of that.

            Another controversial issue has been expanding the Fargo campus.  That project has nothing to do with relocating or removing students from the Wahpeton campus.  Cass County has specific workforce needs with potential students unable or unlikely to travel to the Wahpeton campus for training. These are not the traditional immediately after high school students but adult working students frequently with families that need facilities nearby and schedules that are flexible.  Programs in Information Technology, Manufacturing related technologies and health related technologies are sorely needed for that Cass County demographic.  Sixty-five million dollars have been requested for that project.

            The evidence for outcomes from NDSCS supports these requests.  Ranked third in the nation as the Best Community College and Sixth in the nation for graduation rates with a ninety-eight percent placement rate in 2014 and a seventy-one percent retention rate most would agree that the evidence is supportive.  The John Deere Tech program is the only one to achieve a gold ranking in 2014 and the one hundred percent 2013-14 national exam pass rate for practical and registered nursing students add to the impressive achievements of NDSCS.

            Dr. Richman also spoke of the partnership programs.  No instructional program will be considered on the technology side unless there is a business partner.  Currently NDSCS has fifteen formal partners including John Deere, Case International Harvester, Komatsu; Butler Caterpillar and F-M Ambulance.  There is also a memorandum of understanding between NDSCS and North Dakota State University to share services and programs when appropriate.