Williston State reports sharp enrollment gains, advances $36.6 million health training building

Bernal Herning, president of Williston State College, told the Appropriations - Education and Environment Division that the college has reversed multi-year declines and added new capital projects and academic programs to meet regional workforce needs.

Herning said the college had a fall headcount of 1,058 and that full‑time equivalent enrollment and other categories all rose by double digits compared with the prior year. “These numbers here on this slide are from last fall semester. They are the census numbers that we reported to the state and to IPEDS,” he said.

The increases follow an active capital program. Herning described three campus projects: a repurposed childcare center, a turf conversion of baseball and softball fields, and a new healthcare training building. The childcare project cost $2,300,000 and serves 90 children (70 full time, 20 part time); the college reports it hosts Valley City State University…