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