NDSU asks Legislature to fund new programs, expanded facilities after enrollment, retention gains

FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota State University President David R. Cook told the state’s Appropriations — Education and Environment Division on Friday that NDSU has stabilized a recent enrollment decline, is moving ahead on a $59,000,000 engineering complex funded in part by large private gifts, and is seeking $35,000,000 in legislative “New Horizons” funding to accelerate workforce-oriented degrees and training.

Cook said NDSU’s one-time $4,800,000 education-transformation allocation helped raise first-to-second-year retention and new online offerings, and asked lawmakers to consider a follow-on investment. “That tuition freeze funding, which came out of this committee, was very significant for us,” Cook said during the hearing. He described the $4.8 million as “transformational” for retention-oriented advising and learning-assistant programs.

Why it matters: Lawmakers on the division heard program-level proposals aimed at North Dakota workforce shortages in health care, engineering, precision agriculture and energy. Cook and college deans framed the requests as investments to produce job-ready graduates and to reduce the number of unfilled health and technical positions across the state.

Cook told the committee that last session the Legislature authorized $59,000,000 for an engineering complex on the NDSU campus, matched by philanthropic commitments the university solicited. “A gentleman, named Richard Oferdahl … wrote us a check for $25,000,000,” Cook said. He named corporate gifts including $5,000,000 commitments from Doosan Bobcat and Mortensen and said construction is under way and the building is expected to open for students in August 2026.

Alan Kallmeyer, interim dean of the College of Engineering, outlined academic proposals tied to that investment: a new bachelor of science in robotics and automation, a bachelor’s in agriculture technology focused on precision agriculture, stackable AI certificates and energy-related certificates (including a proposed nuclear engineering certificate). Kallmeyer said the college also proposes outreach engineers placed around the state to help industry adopt automation and precision technology.

Teresa Connor, dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences, said the college seeks funds to expand pharmacy and nursing capacity, accelerate certain programs, create a master’s in clinical trials and research compliance, and develop a clinical bioskills center for advanced anatomy and simulation training. “We are here to serve North Dakotans,” Connor said, listing widespread demand for practitioners and noting the university supplies a large share of pharmacists and nurses working in the state.

Student testimony underscored the practical benefits of the investments. “I stand before you today as a testament to the profound impact that investing in education can have,” said Alyssa Hodges, identified as a third‑year pharmacy student, citing simulation labs, research opportunities and community outreach experiences at NDSU.

Cook also described internal cost‑cutting and restructuring under an initiative he called “NDSU Transform.” He said the university reduced academic leadership positions from seven to five, implemented P&L budget accountability at the college level and is pursuing about $24,000,000 in cumulative reductions by the end of FY 2027. He noted voluntary separation offers produced roughly 19 staff departures and that total faculty/staff FTE reductions to date exceed some individual college staffing levels.

Several capital requests were discussed as authorization items rather than immediate state construction appropriations: a $13,000,000 wrestling practice facility proposed to be raised through philanthropy and guaranteed by the NDSU Foundation before construction, renovation of University Village residence halls, and a possible $50,000,000 Memorial Union renovation driven by a student fee vote and philanthropy. Vice President for Finance Bruce Bollinger told the committee the university requires a foundation letter confirming available funds before starting foundation‑backed projects.

Cook characterized the New Horizons request as three buckets totaling $35,000,000: $5,000,000 for student success and scalable student‑service innovations (building on the one‑time $4.8 million), $15,000,000 for health‑care workforce initiatives, and $15,000,000 for engineering and precision‑ag programs. He said the Senate had appropriated $12,000,000 toward that total in its version of the budget, and that the Senate figure is one‑time funding.

Committee members asked about duplication with existing programs, program approvals and whether certificates or majors would need State Board review; Kallmeyer confirmed all new academic programs require state board approval and said the college intends articulation agreements (2+2 pathways) with community colleges so students can stack certificates toward degrees.

Cook and the deans identified several items that are contingent on outside funding or votes: the biosafety lab would move forward only if a grant is awarded; the Memorial Union renovation depends on a student referendum and philanthropic support; the wrestling facility requires foundation confirmation of fundraising. Cook said the state’s earlier targeted investments helped stop an enrollment decline and urged continued legislative support to accelerate programs tied directly to workforce needs.

Looking ahead, Cook said legislators will examine budget details in committee as the session continues and reiterated the university’s preference for some of the asked funding to be ongoing but acknowledged the Senate’s one‑time designation for the New Horizons money.

Ending note: The NDSU delegation — university leadership, two college deans, finance officers and a student speaker — will return to the committee as budget deliberations continue; no formal committee votes occurred during the presentation.