[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6278643,"mediaKeyId","2639295-7beda25c9f8d8a3607dec61a54c4c207","parentId",2639295,"title","Dakota College at Bottineau urges new residence hall, expanded TrainND presence and downtown allied‑health capacity","audioSeconds",819,"startMs",6024000,"endMs",6843000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2639295-7beda25c9f8d8a3607dec61a54c4c207&start=6024&end=6843","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2639295-7beda25c9f8d8a3607dec61a54c4c207/thumbnail_6024000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6278643/North-Dakota/Dakota-College-at-Bottineau-urges-new-residence-hall-expanded-TrainND-presence-and-downtown-alliedhealth-capacity","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278643-e2937f9150b430ba39446691a124c10d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153563&Signature=ceefua0dFTZ0-u03DkQubmaM8SfRbmlfauMYhoFxOFsAy3QMOUX9kyn5zqPLEhdWgdRs8c1Zrcjzi1yIoS9qSsKK0zGikK4HsMLwaEhWg47~9yUjj9-SPdrCtDm5LSz2~EpTk3jzdwoxc5FWhNCiHSOuVCKlM8E8WybJsI~HM4ik3E8pe~IAtN8pfqJ2xjYCJSMTkWeX89-T-P0E~uZ94z6~KfAvml6hQMm4taAlpvMGdIpWFLjo1JvxEi85drY1v0FmwtYHLrKdGe7b-tANzyhuSvZNu5u0EPr13ZzbFu89s4~B9NdLnIyp~EuEe7lUmzhJlgvgDPVUh8waTbMWzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota State Legislature","date","2025-03-14T00:00:00Z","article","Dakota College at Bottineau (DCB) told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division that enrollment and program growth have increased demand for clinical and residence capacity even as the campus grapples with multi-million‑dollar deferred maintenance on three residence halls.

Campus Dean Carmen Symone described record head count and full‑time-equivalent growth (DCB reported a fall head count of about 1,206 and rising FTE) and highlighted new allied‑health programming downtown in Minot — including a dental‑assisting cohort and a planned dental‑hygiene program for fall 2025. Symone said the college is already leasing second‑floor space in Trinity Health’s Health Center West for nursing instruction but that the leased space is not a long‑term solution.

The most urgent local infrastructure issue Symone detailed was student housing. DCB operates three residence halls (Milligan, Gross and Mead) whose age and deferred maintenance have produced recurring plumbing, groundwater and structural issues. Symone provided a room‑by‑room description in testimony and cited February 2022 deferred‑maintenance estimates: roughly $1.7 million for Gross Hall, $2.9 million for Mead Hall and $2.2 million for Milligan (the testimony noted those are 2022 estimates and likely higher now). She said some facilities have asbestos ceilings, alkali‑damaged cinderblock, failing plumbing and sump‑pump dependencies.

DCB’s capital proposal described a staged plan to replace aging residence inventory with a new, modern hall on the Gross Hall footprint. Symone said the college would need to stage demolition and construction to preserve capacity during the work and estimated a project in the range discussed in testimony (a scaled, campus‑fit replacement) at roughly $30 million to replace the three existing halls over time; she said demolition of one hall without replacement would make the campus nonfunctional for residential students so sequencing is required.

Workforce and TrainND

Symone also urged the committee to consider expanding TrainND services into the Minot region (a “TrainND North Central” site) or to provide outreach funding; testimony described a $1.6 million statewide TrainND pilot request (about $400,000 per region) and DCB asked the committee to consider a smaller local allocation to establish TrainND capacity in Minot. She said TrainND-aligned workforce training would flow naturally into DCB’s CTE and allied‑health programs and that downtown DCB space could host noncredit workforce courses.

Other highlights

- DCB reported successful capital work completed earlier (Old Main renovation) and said auditors found prior control weaknesses that the campus has addressed with staff turnover and improved business-office support shared with Minot State.

- DCB requested $12.35 million jointly with Minot State for the regional health sciences campus (see separate article). Symone said the downtown location helps clinical partnerships and is already home to dental assisting and other short-term career programs.

What the committee asked and next steps

Legislators pressed for cost estimates, sequencing and bond/revenue options for housing and asked what revenue streams could support debt service. Symone said the campus relies on auxiliary revenues (housing, dining) and that revenue-bond approaches are constrained because campus-owned housing currently supports broader operating budgets; she described steps DCB is taking to increase dedicated revenue (a student dining fee and a modest roster fee for student-athletes) and said long-term replacement will require a mix of state support and local planning.

Ending

DCB asked the committee to prioritize housing and workforce outreach funding, and to consider the joint downtown health-sciences proposal. Symone said DCB will collaborate with system partners and TrainND if the legislature funds a regional expansion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Friday, Mar 14, 2025 8:55 AM - 11:04 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Dakota College at Bottineau told the appropriations committee it has record enrollment growth, new allied-health programs downtown, and urgent deferred‑maintenance needs for three aging dorms; the campus proposed a staged replacement residence-hall project and asked for TrainND outreach funding to expand workforce training in Minot.","taxTitle","Appropriations - Education and Environment Division, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28886,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278648,"Minot State and Dakota College propose downtown health sciences campus in SB2003 testimony",140,3619000,3759000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2639295-7beda25c9f8d8a3607dec61a54c4c207&start=3619&end=3759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2639295-7beda25c9f8d8a3607dec61a54c4c207/thumbnail_3619000.jpg","/articles/6278648/North-Dakota/Minot-State-and-Dakota-College-propose-downtown-health-sciences-campus-in-SB2003-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278648-0ae53a7f3e2133936e363e5f818dcb4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153563&Signature=IcugxITt04CS9QgDq4~XMJo4MdqiFlKp3iLhnwh02qg850HNFedgppoaPivWSURwBghYNsKKQkMVbhkIdr5fPFKQQXsOWoIg017P371GW57~n9GOcjz0yIA-0ZBz5RayHhAIA1l7QI5NQM9Mdi1PMcEJY915XSFTeT1~b6gUGaAOuJK24MjQ0kgoqDFLQLoxa~AYt-kn3sQ5meoQ715ngy8mrlTYlCt9Gp3tgF9QhYS6jgK7FUcFOA7ttn~8mlfzxsKq-saGeVHvlA-kcTsG8Ptarl5hkw7rTkiPQf2vNTerz4Phv2uxcDwBlSm8DlcIx9ZxG4q1nvuyYJQtK41lNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Minot State University and Dakota College at Bottineau presented a joint capital proposal during the SB2003 hearing to purchase and repurpose Health Center West (a Trinity Health-owned facility) into a regional health sciences campus in downtown Minot.

President Shirley described the building at the corner of Burdick and Broadway (referred to in testimony as Health Center West) as “one of the most turnkey” downtown facilities and said Trinity currently occupies the first floor while Dakota College leases the second floor for nursing instruction. Shirley said the concept would be to purchase the building and convert it into a shared health sciences campus where Minot State and Dakota College would colocate programs, share simulation equipment, and expand allied-health and technical training (for example, sonography, pharmacy tech, medical assisting and nursing pathways).

Carmen Symone, campus dean for Dakota College at Bottineau, expanded on the Minot-focused workforce rationale and described how leasing the second floor already put DCB closer to downtown clinical partners; she said a permanent, jointly owned facility would enable expanded cohorts and shared program infrastructure. Both witnesses said Trinity Health provided a letter of support and regional hospitals were interested in the concept.

Why it matters: Witnesses framed the downtown campus as a workforce-focused investment that would increase allied-health training capacity and strengthen clinical partnerships with regional providers.

Key details

- Joint request: Testimony described a joint capital request (Minot State University and Dakota College at Bottineau) for a regional health sciences institute using the Health Center West building; Minot State noted Trinity Health’s support in a written letter provided to the committee.

- Program mix: Nursing, simulation labs, sonography, pharmacy-tech and other allied-health programs were listed as likely program areas for the downtown campus; the building would support shared simulation and lab equipment to reduce duplication.

- Current occupancy: Trinity Health retains tenancy on the first floor; Dakota College currently leases the second floor for its nursing program but Shirley said Trinity is not expected to lease the space to the colleges indefinitely.

What the committee asked and next steps

Committee members asked for additional detail on cost, timeline and how the joint ownership and program governance would work; the witnesses said they would return with more specifics in a follow-up session.

Ending

Both institutions asked the committee to consider the joint proposal as part of SB2003 deliberations; Minot State and Dakota College said the downtown campus would be aimed at addressing regional health-care workforce shortages.","Minot State and Dakota College at Bottineau asked for joint funding to acquire and repurpose Trinity Health’s Health Center West into a regional health sciences campus downtown, offering shared simulation and allied-health programs to address local workforce needs.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6278653,"Minot State lays out enrollment gains, workforce programs and capital needs during SB2003 hearing",3220,509000,3729000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2639295-7beda25c9f8d8a3607dec61a54c4c207&start=509&end=3729","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2639295-7beda25c9f8d8a3607dec61a54c4c207/thumbnail_509000.jpg","/articles/6278653/North-Dakota/Minot-State-lays-out-enrollment-gains-workforce-programs-and-capital-needs-during-SB2003-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6278653-d76d629b2b8d8b4231d7eb2c94cf50c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153563&Signature=cDxR4FO1udASQFaxInhTPexfSRecNFPnDjpiiwsZEIPnJdmpv41UlLbzldw0hkphZVttC92FyxMHXy-vDPfJThtMF0iH4BP9qnjuXsYBrFDwp75vjckbMfsdXICbgJBa1gRJPX89HJSA1yRNIgZJGRVcdZwreEoh8JaRI9iEXCqxb8rxCcRos7HgIX4hGfnZKnbwzO8UdyBGEN8gaUtI3K3R183fA7UWE6-3Cqr~G387DpwjR7sIwrbAanhI0HNlHEhVQ7GcowSKtOp~kxtlKFVeisrRmVumNpcS5KSFGFI~3-Nag6Zh8aJmw~AJ8arNzN6Wd~y4UcggRmIN5ASp3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Minot State University officials told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division on the hearing for Senate Bill 2003 that enrollment has edged up after COVID-related declines, key workforce programs are expanding and the campus is seeking state support for academic renovations and several capital projects.

President Shirley, Minot State University’s lead witness in the hearing, said the university’s spring enrollment is “just over 2,600” students and that enrollment is up for a third consecutive semester. He told the committee the institution’s largest majors are nursing (about 70 baccalaureate graduates annually), social work, management and elementary education, and he highlighted newer programs such as exercise science and rehabilitation, cybersecurity (a National Security Agency/Department of Homeland Security designated cyber defense center of academic excellence), entrepreneurship and a new data science major.

Shirley said the university has no recent audit findings in state auditor reports and credited the business office for financial controls. Krista Lambrecht, Minot State’s vice president for administration and finance, gave the committee a fiscal overview, saying fiscal 2024 operating revenue came mainly from grants and contracts, state appropriations, and tuition and fees and noting a funding-formula adjustment tied to enrollment changes.

Why it matters: Minot State described programs tied directly to regional workforce needs — especially nursing and health-related fields — and framed capital requests as aimed at maintaining and upgrading instruction and lab spaces that support those programs.

Most important details

- Nursing: Shirley said the nursing program graduates about 70 baccalaureate nurses per year and that Minot State has expanded partnerships (including guaranteed-admission pathways with regional community colleges) to grow capacity.

- Academic and capital requests in SB2003: Lambrecht summarized the university’s base budget request and Senate adjustments; the Senate version included a funding increase and a $8,100,132 one-time academic space renovation line intended for laboratory and teaching-space upgrades (no new square footage). Shirley also detailed three capital priorities the campus had asked the State Board to rank: the academic-space renovation (the one with legislative intent), a proposed regional health sciences campus (a joint Minot State–Dakota College at Bottineau request), and demolition work for an aging residence hall (Dakota Hall) that requires additional tunnel shoring work estimated at roughly $1.4 million in total to complete the demolition safely.

- NDCPD and new program funding: The Senate included $500,000 for an MSU-hosted program described in testimony as the MSU Advancing Students Towards Education and Employment Program (through the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities). Shirley said the program serves students with developmental disabilities and is spreading to other campuses.

- Challenge grant and foundation fundraising: Shirley said Minot State recently concluded a multiyear capital campaign that raised about $55 million; he credited the state challenge-grant program for enabling growth in endowed scholarships.

- Student modalities and outcomes: Shirley presented data showing a substantial shift to hybrid and online modalities since 2019; he also said the six-year bachelor’s completion rate (IPEDS measure for first-time, full-time freshmen) is roughly mid-40 percent and that first-year (freshman-to-sophomore) retention has remained near 70 percent over the last eight years.

What the committee asked and what followed

Committee members questioned Shirley and Lambrecht about when Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs would return to the committee, the status of the IT rate and funding-formula adjustments, and how the campus is preparing for a planned influx of personnel tied to changes at Minot Air Force Base. Shirley said the university is “starting to think through” the long-term implications of increased base personnel but has not yet adopted specific ramp-up plans for 2025.

Ending

Minot State officials told the committee they would return for a deeper dive on larger capital requests. The university presented its operating request, noted the Senate adjustments, and asked the committee to consider full funding for academic renovation priorities and the jointly proposed health-sciences initiative.","Minot State University officials told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division that enrollment is stabilizing, nursing and cyber programs are growing, and the university seeks state funding for academic renovations and other capital needs included in Senate Bill 2003.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dakota College at Bottineau urges new residence hall, expanded TrainND presence and downtown allied‑health capacity

Minot State and Dakota College propose downtown health sciences campus in SB2003 testimony

Minot State lays out enrollment gains, workforce programs and capital needs during SB2003 hearing