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'One board' bill may have a chance in the Legislature

REp. Mark Owens (R-Grand Forks)

It isn’t what a task force recommended – and it isn’t what the House rejected – but there will be another measure to make changes to the state Board of Higher Education.

The task force recommended three boards – one for UND, one for NDSU and one for the other 9 campuses. It was amended to a two board situation – one for the two research universities, and one for the remaining campuses. That was defeated in the House. Now, the Senate will take up an “expanded” one board plan – that would raise the number of voting members from 8 to 11. The board members would serve six year terms, and would be eligible for a non-consecutive second term.

Rep. Mark Sanford (R-Grand Forks) said he prefers the one-board expansion plan, because it reinforces the idea of one University system.

"The board's mission should be to set expectations, and be sure they're measured," Sanford said. "One of the ways they do this is through the people they employ at the System office."

Sanford said it does put a heavy burden on the Chancellor and the other employees of the office.

"The Board isn't there day to day," Sanford said. "But if the board sets and monitors expectations, it's doing its job."

Rep. Mark Owens (R-Grand Forks) chairs the House Education Committee. He said he could support ether a one or two board proposal. He said he didn’t like the three-board plan, because it split the research universities.

"Being from Grand Forks, I know very well the in-fighting that occurred between the two universities," Owens said. "That has all changed since we brought them together, and I think things have improved."

Owens said the two universities have been working together.

"That's the way it should happen in a state as small as we are," Owens said. "The only place they should fight is on ice, and on a football field."

If the legislature passes the expanded one-board plan, it would be a Constitutional amendment that goes to the voters in the 2020 General election.

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