An interim Legislative committee has begun its study of higher education in North Dakota.
"It's wonderful to come to North Dakota because in some respects, you don't have the nearly insurmountable challenges that many other states have," said Dr. David Longanecker, the president of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. "You're doing a pretty good job, and you're reasonably financed to do that."
Longanecker says North Dakota is exceptionally good in its two year schools.
"You could improve in the four year (schools), said Longanecker. "You're about average nationally."
Longanecker says North Dakota is – as he put it – “decent, but not great” in terms of college graduation rates.
"I think that's the area I would most significantly look at," Longanecker said. "How can you bring those rates up/"
Longanecker says one of the dilemmas facing North Dakota is that it doesn't have a traditional community college system.
"Your two-year sector is really a vocationally-oriented sector," said Longanecker. "Your four-year institutions are enrolling people that in other states would be in two year institutions."
Longanecker told the interim Higher Education Committee the University System must be open to change. But he says that could be a challenge.
"You can get complacent when things are pretty good," said Longanecker.
