The Board of Higher Education is delaying a decision on extending NDSU President Dean Breschani’s contract until its November meeting.
The proposal was to extend that contract another year, to June 30th, 2018. But after a 2 ½ hour closed door meeting, the Board voted 7-1 to review Breschani’s progress on meeting some goals – including communication, teamwork, collaboration, IT consolidation and research.
"There were differing opinions on the accomplishments of Dr. Breschani," Board chair Kathleen Neset said after the meeting. "He has an absolute passion for NDSU. And we, as a governing board of the University System, have a responsibility to all of the colleges and universities, collaborating and working together. Sometimes, those two have come in conflict."
Breschani has been at odds with Chancellor Mark Hagerott over some of those issues.
Before the Board met, a group of Fargo business leaders sent a letter to Board members supporting Breschani. Board member Kari Reichert acknowledged that.
"There's some really, really good things happening at NDSU," Reichert said. "One of the challenges we have as a board is making sure that we're supporting the entire system as well as our individual institutions. There are wonderful things happening at NDSU, and I want to thank those who have reached out to remind us of that."
A group of Fargo business and political leaders sent the Board a letter supporting Breschani. That letter was also given to newspapers.
"I do appreciate the good things going on at NDSU," said board member Nick Hacker. "And I do appreciate the hard work that goes on there."
