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State College of Science looks to expand in Fargo

Courtesy NDSCS

The North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton is looking for a major expansion of its Fargo campus.

It will ask the state Board of Higher Education to allow it to begin a fundraising campaign for a new location in Fargo. The projected cost: $46 million.

NDSCS President John Richman told the Board's Budget and Finance Committee there are 5000 open jobs in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area right now, and that's projected to grow to 30,000 by 2020.

We all understand the workforce demands and workforce issues that are out there," Richman said.

Richman told the Committee the new facility would be owned by the college’s foundation, and possibly a consortium of K-12 school districts. He said the facility would also work with the other two year schools in North Dakota, to have them provide curriculum.

"We have multiple two year colleges coming together -- some for the first time -- in program collaboration, operational collaboration," Richman said. "We have multiple K-12 districts coming together to talk about creating a curriculum that a sophomore can take, and start working toward their associate degree."

Richman said he has letters of support from the Chamber of Fargo-Moorhead, The Greater Fargo-Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, the cities ofn Fargo, West Fargo and Wahpeton.

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