Gov. Doug Burgum used his “State of the State” speech to urge lawmakers to consider replacing the state Board of Higher Education with three separate boards – one for UND, one for NDSU and one for the other 9 campuses.
That recommendation came from Burgum’s Higher Education Task Force.
Burgum said the single board was created in 1938, when the state’s colleges had only about 8,000 students. He said it is – as he put it – “woefully ill-matched to address the complex governance challenges.”
There has been some skepticism from some Legislators.
"Those who have opposed the Task Force recommendation should recall that our K-12 governance system includes 175 school boards, and over 1,000 board members," Burgum said.
Burgum also said he knows some people were opposed to it before the Task Force recommendation came out.
"I would recommend that they take a look at the report," Burgum said. "It's an opportunity for us to show some curiosity about how we can improve."
Burgum said he believes the Legislature will come forth with a proposal that is "better than something that was invented in 1938."
Burgum said he’s confident this multi-board proposal can be done without spending any more money, and through a realignment of spending. He said that’s why it isn’t a line-item proposal in the executive budget.
Burgum is urging the Legislature to take “swift action” on approving funding for a Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library.
That Library was originally proposed at Dickinson State University. But the Theodore Roosevelt Association voted to move it to Medora, and build it near the entrance of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Burgum is proposing using $50 million from Legacy Fund earnings, to be matched 2 for 1 by other sources.
"Swift passage will send a powerful message to all potential partners, both in and outside of North Dakota, taht the North Dakota Legislature understands the lasting significance of that project to our state and its citizens," Burgum said. "We also understand that the opportunity window for capturing this coveted prize for North Dakota is open right now."
Already, the TR Association, the National Park Foundation, The National Park Service and other groups have said they support the proposal.