[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6382924,"mediaKeyId","2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb","parentId",2125924,"title","NDSCS seeks $24.5 million to convert underused library to educational innovation center, advances aviation and ag expansions","audioSeconds",2618,"startMs",10318085,"endMs",12936885,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb&start=10318&end=12936","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb/thumbnail_10318085.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6382924/North-Dakota/NDSCS-seeks-245-million-to-convert-underused-library-to-educational-innovation-center-advances-aviation-and-ag-expansions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6382924-4b168bb299212057876d1c70a2034b86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009671&Signature=e8UBjhMJs4K04lTru-kbejV403AXq~SiwJ5pn7-X0bSOLxCm3owdhz-xOvU0HyguP3HDKxKW5kAibNxQWlLPRWB7R6QOlxLkHgN-jyXVr5M-J4O4t655tW0UT2Ri5FbX~bv-X-2fLP9oSzDDgCctXoJ~BlOrLD0u9P7J97P-VyYnQDx9QA2oH83uwNZvq9DKEKW5N08FZdaRE-CXCX9aHUPBpRqQhrDxrtbhbT3bMDdluMsAZJOn0xLhpcAvsYK3MugX8ZtIR9KyydScmMUG5z3sBxsODqJBBomRyMfMU2YjZ74X~cQd8A32RTaqVlPguoAXgDMINd1PkUDhB5hbGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division , ND","date","2025-01-16T00:00:00Z","article","Rod Flanagan, president of North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), told the Appropriations committee that the college has a 20 percent increase in student enrollment over four years and produces more career‑technical credits than the rest of the state’s institutions combined.

Flanagan said NDSCS recorded 3,367 total enrollments for fall 2024, including 1,346 dual‑credit students, and that many workforce programs have grown substantially. “This past year, we, reimagined our guiding statements, and we, developed a new strategic plan. The number that led the rest of the strategic plan is our goal for student credit hours,” he said, adding the college’s target of 80,000 credits by 2030.

The college outlined capital and program requests. NDSCS asked for about $24.5 million to renovate the campus library into an educational innovation center that would create flexible labs and maker space to support robotics, automation, electrical and allied health growth; presenters said conversion would also remove about $8 million of deferred maintenance from the college’s capital backlog. Flanagan said the new space would allow growth in electrical (reported at more than 150 students), robotics/automation, nursing and allied health and provide a student activity hub.

NDSCS also asked for roughly $3 million to demolish three vacant dormitories that have sat unused about 15 years; the college said demolition includes asbestos abatement. Flanagan described a separately funded project — a precision‑ag/diesel expansion — that received nearly $20 million in prior legislative support and matching private gifts; he reported progress and on‑time, under‑budget delivery of that package.

Flanagan described new program planning including an aviation maintenance program supported by Federal Aviation Administration grants and partnerships with a local jet center for hangar access and lab space. He said the aviation program will be capital intensive and will require additional seed funding to stand up instructor and lab capacity before enrollment grows.

The presentation emphasized NDSCS’s role in statewide workforce training and the college’s high composite financial index. Flanagan asked legislators to support targeted capital for the educational innovation center and demolition and highlighted the workforce innovation bill discussions as essential to fund high‑cost program starts.

Ending: NDSCS pitched a conversion of an underutilized library into a shared innovation center to expand multiple CTE programs; it also requested demolition of unused dorms and seed funds for new aviation maintenance training tied to FAA grants.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Jan 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","North Dakota State College of Science told the committee it has record or near‑record enrollment in several CTE programs, is expanding precision agriculture and diesel facilities and asked for $24.5 million to convert an underused library into a multi‑use educational innovation center plus $3 million to demolish vacant dorms.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Education and Environment Division, Senate, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28899,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6382930,"Lake Region State College seeks deferred‑maintenance funding; turbine insurance and workforce training highlighted",2930,7207247,10137655,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb&start=7207&end=10137","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb/thumbnail_7207247.jpg","/articles/6382930/North-Dakota/Lake-Region-State-College-seeks-deferredmaintenance-funding-turbine-insurance-and-workforce-training-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6382930-49acfc0ae8ced254cc9c7cd1fa00abe4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009671&Signature=RHS~UHopFwO3caFx-bYbCjfh7RIavAZf8JiE6lgPQU1xLaonr8zDMUWj0rfM3aC0TBnrcWkWvz87sbRLKc1knw9gvcg9KL1QRDcwqzWsLtxjop2y5awalodQuutucBqmMQmEP4bTtCFMzi264LsMoanZlFis4YKffdCEdELlEkgVe3Kv477sFzTauiipx0~1JDMqPZMUIUws0kygMa~wbtjziU8y43Ch2V1tKAPFygWlHCaS4UA00M5KtGqtGb7bdqFLx1~aXVHS6zwnaiRYFkFoa-RO8esB7MRd0ZtsrcOpvKSiL~8lAJlSpdD-t59uRNTR7CZwCb5Y7-5ChguqwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Doug Darling, president of Lake Region State College, thanked the committee for past support and described a capital request focused on deferred‑maintenance: roof restoration, parking and an electrical distribution upgrade tied to a local utility conversion.

Joanne Kitchens, vice president for administrative affairs, gave amounts and sequencing: the roof restoration proposal covers 29 roofs (13 prioritized for completion by 2027) and the college estimated a remainder cost of about $3.2 million for the 2025‑27 biennium to complete the next phases. Kitchens said the college spent $626,000 on a 2024 phase and argued the higher‑quality roofing membrane requested would lower long‑term water intrusion risk. She added that, if deferred further, the college’s roofing vendor estimated an additional $3.3 million in future costs.

Kitchens said the campus also needs a parking and curb‑and‑gutter program; after partial use of Tier 3 funds to address an urgent gearbox repair for a campus wind turbine, the college still estimated a parking need of roughly $1.1 million and proposed a $2.5 million package for broader repairs and new parking tied to a recently completed agriculture facility. The college's electrical request — required because a local utility planned to upgrade distribution to 12,500 volts — was estimated at about $360,000 and needs to be complete before the utility conversion in 2027.

Kitchens gave a concrete example of operating pressure: a commercial insurance renewal for the campus wind turbine rose from about $17,000 per year to about $75,000 per year; she said that increase strained auxiliary finances when the turbine was offline for gearbox repairs. Darling and Kitchens said the college’s composite financial index remains healthy (reported at 4.57) and that the foundation has grown substantially through the challenge‑grant match program.

Darling outlined workforce and program work: wind energy technician training (including Global Wind Organization training), solar installation work, expansion of nursing and peace officer training, and the college’s role in apprenticeship development across the region. He also noted community interest in sports facilities such as a multi‑use pavilion and a second ice sheet, and said fundraising is underway.

Kitchens asked legislators to consider adjustments to the challenge‑grant match for small institutions (she suggested a reduced match rate might allow more effective use of deferred‑maintenance funding) and to support inflationary and PERS‑related budget factors that raise operating costs.

Ending: Lake Region presented a deferred‑maintenance capital package and several workforce training initiatives, flagged a steep jump in turbine insurance costs, and requested legislative help on funding and system policy for challenge‑grant matching and other cost pressures.","Lake Region State College told the Appropriations committee it needs capital dollars for roof restoration, parking and electrical upgrades, described an expensive turbine insurance renewal, and outlined workforce and apprenticeship programs tied to wind, solar and other employers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6382931,"Mayville State presses for Old Main renovation, campus security and base budget growth",2723,3842050,6565915,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb&start=3842&end=6565","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb/thumbnail_3842050.jpg","/articles/6382931/North-Dakota/Mayville-State-presses-for-Old-Main-renovation-campus-security-and-base-budget-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6382931-c4d21b4e7cc7c11701b1bc67df3b7a7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009671&Signature=ZVyu1z3x6s1NLRvKnBZrGcoiYIVB4CNroDMbWLO3V3UZgHXvzYT4sz1Rd~e15XFxyiDz3hble9LbckYoiYDzad4qZN5a1KnAebRLBAvok8NZ1hKbQcrWjq5QSmDeLNbknzlMc59agml~iXmI7Dc7G3TrL2lXJfU5fCUrTjSrMCvnZFiEnsgjr26HxhO9h3~Mng3aRpbjrCX5XlK7plLj2TK~YOfeXb7Jpq0Ps3vcfpylZN7cjQDIgpv9IwF4N-y3djP8uA~skakgXAxFdZe-aOiBbVMvsQim7sJXBMpsBIf0AMjN0lsIiCr4EA3v8nyPZuHeCUpdPK4K4NPbt4ya3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brian Van Horn, president of Mayville State University, told lawmakers the university recorded an 8.2 percent enrollment increase for fall 2024 and pushed the committee to support a second phase of renovation for Old Main and an expanded base budget.

“About 20 to 25 percent of the students in the parent‑to‑teacher pathway that the legislature funded in the last legislative session have come through Mayville State University,” Van Horn told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division, citing the university's role in statewide teacher pipelines.

Van Horn and Amber Hill, vice president for business affairs, presented a multi‑part funding request. The largest capital ask is a roughly $35 million second phase for Old Main, a 55,000‑square‑foot historic building the university has begun renovating. Van Horn described the project as addressing approximately 60 percent of the campus deferred maintenance and said the legislature had previously authorized $17 million; the administration seeks the remainder to complete the renovation.

Hill described a separate campus security package priced at $1.3 million for card access, additional IP cameras and pedestrian lighting; she said the campus currently has no dedicated campus security presence, only a roving sheriff's deputy. Hill also presented capital requests for roof restoration (multiple roofs), parking and an electrical distribution upgrade tied to a community utility project; the total capital package the university presented exceeds the small, annual tiered allocations it receives for deferred maintenance, and Hill argued the requested amounts would be difficult to fund only from campus matches and donors.

On operations, Mayville asked the legislature to restore the 3 percent mandatory salary reduction that had been applied to the system, provide ongoing cost‑of‑living and market adjustments, and to consider a request to close a faculty and staff pay gap the university quantified in submitted materials. Hill said Mayville's faculty pay gap versus the North Dakota University System average is about 33 percent and staff about 18 percent; the university requested a $1.75 million base increase intended to reduce that gap.

Van Horn also highlighted Mayville's progress on retention and financial stability. He said the university improved first‑year retention from 67 percent to 77 percent year over year and increased foundation assets substantially, crediting challenge‑grant matches for growth in endowment funds.

Van Horn and Hill noted a system‑wide discussion of challenge grant match rates and tiered capital distribution (Senate Bill 2212 and other proposals were mentioned by committee members during Q&A). No legislative action was taken on Mayville's requests during the hearing.

Ending: Mayville State framed Old Main as a multi‑purpose investment to reduce deferred maintenance, add classroom and student spaces, and deliver operational efficiencies while also seeking base budget increases to address salary competitiveness and rising operating costs.","Mayville State University updated the Appropriations committee on rising enrollment and retention, a large Old Main renovation request, a campus security project and a request to close faculty/staff pay gaps.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6382936,"Williston State reports sharp enrollment gains, advances $36.6 million health training building",3290,426655,3716925,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb&start=426&end=3716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2125924-05bbe6cc616833c3eb01938ca80cb8eb/thumbnail_426655.jpg","/articles/6382936/North-Dakota/Williston-State-reports-sharp-enrollment-gains-advances-366-million-health-training-building","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6382936-271bd1137058d7bb83f16d66d59cd6b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771009671&Signature=jb8eJP4eh2tmvBDY1UQxTgl0Ew86MYEOy8fGhsK5WuqzjGh7BDBUXcNAfjqgVT9t8t~ABZf5dItD~u0NAaANO3l8YbfPuoMjp3pISmdu9FWWuaHrERS7un4NdpXUVNSy0tjh9xh~LYn~m74rkMm-visoCkpdrrMdaU77iKyGe9wsJHCB~rJdI1oRJwoAK~SqtaErYwYsOt-JirEKkDj5eEvnlWyX-NBwi~W-3PMjwje~lkXnNSIh3lU7byvU91T7rf6q6yrY13j4Nr0xZ93QI43Tq5Av5pE6dvezwnNdhuBgnG5OAv98dMQABaRYmpibU02CZYwD2UXsdcQ6Oe-KEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bernal Herning, president of Williston State College, told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division that the college has reversed multi-year declines and added new capital projects and academic programs to meet regional workforce needs.

Herning said the college had a fall headcount of 1,058 and that full‑time equivalent enrollment and other categories all rose by double digits compared with the prior year. “These numbers here on this slide are from last fall semester. They are the census numbers that we reported to the state and to IPEDS,” he said.

The increases follow an active capital program. Herning described three campus projects: a repurposed childcare center, a turf conversion of baseball and softball fields, and a new healthcare training building. The childcare project cost $2,300,000 and serves 90 children (70 full time, 20 part time); the college reports it hosts Valley City State University early‑childhood students for practicum hours at the center. The turf project was locally funded after the college scaled an earlier $7.8 million approval to a $5.6 million plan; Herning said that work is about 90% complete and will include grandstands, a press box, fencing and lighting before spring play.

The largest project is the healthcare training facility. Herning said the total cost is $36.6 million and that the legislature provided 80 percent of the funding while the college foundation covered the remainder. He told the committee the project is seven months into a 16‑month schedule and is “on schedule, under budget,” with classes planned to begin in spring 2026 and a targeted construction completion in November 2025.

Zahi Atala, vice president for academic affairs, described the planned academic expansion tied to the new facility and other initiatives to retain students locally. Atala said the college will offer more than a dozen new health programs and move nursing and massage programs into the new building. He also described a “2+2 comatriculation” approach with four‑year campuses so students may enroll simultaneously at Williston State and a partnering university and access local classes counted under federal financial‑aid rules (he referenced 34 CFR 668 when explaining home/host institution rules).

Herning and Atala said clinical sites, instructor recruitment and accreditation limits will determine how quickly program capacity grows. Herning said the college currently can serve up to 60 ADN students and is planning to request permission from the Montana State Board to enroll some Montana residents at cross‑border clinical sites; he estimated the college hopes to approach roughly 100 nursing students if they secure instructors and clinical placements.

Finances and fundraising also featured in the presentation. Herning and Hunter Berg, the college foundation director (referenced in the presentation), credited the foundation with awarding $2.3 million in scholarships and supporting capital matches. Herning thanked the legislature for prior support and noted the campus expects to appear before the committee on Senate Bill 2212 (tier capital/building fund) the following week.

Herning closed by asking the committee to consider the college’s enrollment and program expansion when evaluating funding; no formal votes or committee actions were recorded during the presentation.

Ending: Williston State emphasized rapid enrollment gains, completion of local facilities and an on‑schedule health training building intended to expand the regional healthcare workforce. Officials said program capacity will depend on instructor hires and clinical placements and signaled upcoming requests to the legislature for capital and formula funding adjustments.","Williston State College told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division it has rapidly increased enrollment, completed a campus childcare center and turf fields, and is seven months into construction of a $36.6 million healthcare training building slated for November 2025 completion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

NDSCS seeks $24.5 million to convert underused library to educational innovation center, advances aviation and ag expansions

Lake Region State College seeks deferred‑maintenance funding; turbine insurance and workforce training highlighted

Mayville State presses for Old Main renovation, campus security and base budget growth

Williston State reports sharp enrollment gains, advances $36.6 million health training building