The State Board of Higher Education has endorsed the State College of Science’s expansion project into Fargo.
The Board will ask the Legislature for an initial $10 million – to pay for land and planning. NDSCS is planning to offer two year degrees – and the expansion is targeted toward non-traditional students, aged 25-to-49.
Higher ed board member Don Morton supported the project – but says expanding two year programs into areas that already have full universities merits some further discussion. He says there are technical schools in Moorhead, East Grand Forks, Crookston and Thief River Falls.
"Are we okay with North Dakota students going across the river, or do we need to build a two-year school in Fargo, a two year school in Grand Forks?" said Morton. "Those are discussions I think we have to have. Is it important for us to build a fence around North Dakota and keep as many students here?"
NDSCS President John Richman says this project will fill a need for the older-than-average student in North Dakota’s largest city.
"When they cross the river, they give up their affordability," said Richman. "They give up their state grants, their state scholarship opportunities. We also believe that when they go across the river, their workforce network goes east and does not come back west. I don't see this as building fences around North Dakota. I see this as a way to attract even more people to North Dakota."
The Board is asking that this proposal be a part of Gov. Jack Dalrymple’s executive budget request to the 2015 Legislature.
