Quest for highest-research-activity classification helps students, communities and economy

In its pursuit to achieve a “Carnegie R1” classification, as a highest-research-activity institutions, UND want to increase opportunities for its students and diversify North Dakota’s economy along the way. UND archival photo.

UND is looking for a higher class of company – but not just to show off.

Anchored firmly in the One UND Strategic Plan is Goal No. 4: “to enhance discovery at a level consistent with most research-intensive universities.” It alludes to universities and institutions often dubbed “Carnegie R1,” or doctoral universities with the “highest research activity.”

UND, along with North Dakota State in Fargo, South Dakota State, the University of South Dakota and myriad like-sized institutions around the country are considered “Carnegie R2,” a step below.

The R1s of the world include Harvard, Yale, MIT and more regional members such as the Universities of Minnesota and Michigan.

But it also includes non-urban centers not readily known for world-class research such as the University of Delaware, Hawaii, West Virginia, Nebraska-Lincoln and New Mexico.

By capitalizing on its unique geographical setting, the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, for example, is recognized as a “land-, sea- and space-grant” institution, raking in more than $317 million in extramural research expenditures. That puts Hawaii in the middle of the road among its R1 peers.

Still, the university uses its research influence to diversify the Aloha State’s economy beyond tourism and its role as a national defense hub.

By comparison, UND’s most recently reported research expenditures were about $102 million. The University wants to increase that number to $120 million by 2022.

Even beyond that, though, UND would like to stay on a trajectory toward Carnegie R1 status — not for the sake of doing it, but because it’s the right thing to do.

“It’s not that we just want to be R1,” said Grant McGimpsey, UND vice president for research and economic development. “Rather, we want to be doing things that R-1 institutions do. They have research enterprises that are incredibly impactful on their students and on the community and on the economy around them.”

Wilson Lysford, left, graduated in May with a degree in mechanical engineering. He landed an internship at Northrop Grumman prior to graduation, where he worked on a vehicle engineering team for the Global Hawk unamanned system. Lysford is shown above with fellow UND student, Megan  Larson, who is majoring in electrical engineering. Photo by Misty Perter-Belch/Northrop Grumman.

Student impact

That’s why a joint proposal from North Dakota’s two big research universities — to significantly increase what the state invests in research — is so important. The proposal, if funded, would mean an additional $25 million per year for both over the next biennium.

For UND, which is targeting five research Grand Challenges (biomedical sciences, rural health, unmanned and autonomous systems, energy and sustainability, and Big Data), the boost would expedite its path to R1. But more importantly, it would assist UND’s research efforts to diversify the state’s economy beyond agriculture and energy exploration.

“We want to be involving our students in that research as much as we can,” McGimpsey said, “and ultimately, we want to be driving the economic development of the state.”

UND students already are benefiting from this kind of activity.

Wilson Lysford, who graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in May, took advantage of an internship at Northrop Grumman, a corporate leader in UAS and other technologies, to get a head start on his future. He was hired to be part of the vehicle engineering team, working on sensors for the Global Hawk.

“The best part is getting to work with some of the more experienced engineers,” said Lysford, a native of Detroit Lakes, Minn. “I sit next to a 10-year veteran and am learning from him as I begin my engineering career.”

Lysford is not alone at Northrop Grumman, in the Grand Sky UAS business park, about 13 miles from UND and adjacent to one of six national FAA test sites for UAS development and the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

“We are pleased to have several students taking part in our robust internship program at Grand Sky,” said David Hambleton, Grand Sky Program Manager and Site Lead for Northrop Grumman. “We appreciate the partnership with UND in conducting this worthwhile program.”

David Flynn, professor of economics and finance at UND, said, as universities improve their research standing, the benefit to students and to nearby companies who hire them, cannot be overstated.

“Research is not just lining the pockets of researchers,” he said. “And it’s not just about faculty being at more prestigious institutions — what it’s really about is that we are doing this research with North Dakota students as part of innovative research enterprises, helping research clusters develop and grow and in some cases, changing public policies not just for the state, but for the nation and world.”

Big Data push

And UND is helping raise its own research standing in other ways.

UND President Mark Kennedy recently announced the University would be investing $10 million over five years in CEM, supplementing College resources to hire six new computational (Big Data) scientists. The new hires are intended to bolster the University’s standing in future-facing technologies such as artificial intelligence (A.I.), machine learning and cyber studies, technologies vital to the state’s economic health.

“We view this as a central resource for the University,” Kennedy said. “As many leaders in artificial intelligence have already said, ‘A.I. is the new electricity.’”

The investment will be far more than mere salary and benefits for the six scientists. Each would come with expertise and resources to apply computational expertise to research in all fields across campus as well as provide fertile ground for more post-docs, Ph.D.s and funded research opportunities.

The new hires will be part of a “Big Data Hub,” to be housed in a renovated and teched-up Babcock Hall when completed, UND’s historic first home for engineering education, and right across the street from CEM’s current administrative headquarters.

Hiring computational scientists is an important next step for UND’s quest to join the league of R1 institutions. And recent reports show UND’s efforts may be paying off.

Last year, the National Science Foundation issued its updated Higher Education Research and Development report for FY ’17. UND ranked 151^st, up 16 places from the last update.

“We are moving up the ranks, and with these additional hires, we should move up even further,” Kennedy said.

Better metrics

McGimpsey said the Carnegie Foundation uses metrics to determine whether institutions will be listed R1. He said UND’s current ranking is based on numbers from 2015, when UND was not reporting its research data accurately.

McGimpsey’s office recently instituted internal reporting changes that better reflect the University’s total research expenditure picture. As a result, UND’s FY17 research expenditures were $30 million more than it reported the year before.

Research expenditures, in both scientific and nonscientific fields, are crucial metrics for the Carnegie rankings.

“We will definitely have increased funding the next that the rankins appear,” McGimpsey said.

The organization also tracks post-doctoral researchers at a university and doctoral degrees granted, with PH.Ds in STEM (science, technology engineering and mathematics) weighted more heavily.

McGimpsey said UND’s current research funding would need to increase by about 20 percent and post-docs would need to be about 50 percent higher to be realistically considered for R1 status.

“That’s where we’d have to go,” he said. “And those are doable.”

More than numbers, McGimpsey stressed that R1 is a convenient label for where UND wants to be and what it wants to be doing for its students and the state.

“It really means that we want to be doing impactful research,” he said. “That’s not to say were not doing that now – we just want to be doing more of it.”

New academic advisors to support Colleges, improve retention and boost grad rates as part of UND’s strategic goals

From left: Kaylee Scheer, Lindsay Kuntz, Chelsea Mellenthin, Karyn Plumm, Ashley Vigen, Alma Pierce, Amanda Peters and Shannon Sporbert Webber. The team of core advisors are set to increase student retention and graduation rate through seamless, consistent advising across campus. Photo by Dima Williams/UND Today.

Hunched over hundreds of LEGO pieces one late January morning, they ferreted for the ones that would help them construct a visual representation of their job at the University of North Dakota.

Split in two teams for the exercise, part of their initial on-boarding, the seven newly hired academic core advisors erected models – complete with tiny yellow LEGO humans – that evoked students support, perseverance, collaboration and goal attainment. It’s a complex job, after all, one that spills across campus but, yet, anchors to a College.

“Each of these seven core advisors will be working with the Colleges [and their existing advisors], primarily to increase retention and to help them work on recruitment and different advising practices,” said Karyn Plumm, assistant vice provost for student success, who oversees the core advisors.

UND Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Tom DiLorenzo offered an even more vivid job description – student success innovators.

Retention and graduation

A new concept at UND, the core advisors, all of whom started their work in January, will uphold the University’s strategic objective of boosting student retention and graduation rates. In doing so, they will function as agents who glue the University’s seven colleges and its administration.

Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success Karyn Plumm leads the seven-strong crew of core advisors, who started their work this January. Photo by Dima Williams/UND Today.

While they will function as a cohesive team, the core advisors will work closely with and individually contribute to different colleges, said Plumm, adding that assignments are to be completed by the first full week of February. Some colleges, she said, need an expert to serve as a secondary advisor for students, in addition to faculty and professional mentors. Others seek a hand with student recruitment. Yet others need someone to help students realize and utilize various academic, degree-shaping technologies.

“Those pieces of increased student support should increase retention,” said Plumm. “I also hope that they will increase the student experience and student satisfaction.”

Hybrid that works

The idea for core advisors sprang up during the Fall 2018 semester, triggering a campus-wide review of how to weld two distinct advising models. One approach dictates a single, centralized advising operation that serves various disciplines, while the other leaves advising to the Colleges. UND strove for a hybrid that works for students, advisors, faculty and administrators alike.

“A huge focus of being a core advisor is to almost reinvent the culture of academic advising on campus, so that students are receiving consistent services regardless of which College their major is in,” said Core Advisor Lindsay Kuntz. “Each College is doing some good things and some unique things. Being able to share those as practices across all seven Colleges will really benefit students.”

The seven core advisors – who came together from other UND offices as well as other regional universities – are to serve an array of populations, including nontraditional learners, online enrollees and transfer students among others.

Big-picture aspirations

Each of the core advisors brings a well of knowledge in specific fields – recruitment, academic probation, student programs, financial assistance and major selection, to name a few – that the rest can dip into.

The core advisors engaged in a teamwork exercise on Jan. 18, seeking LEGO pieces that would help them best represent the essence of their job. Photo by Dima Williams/UND Today.

Each grasps the value  and responsibility of the job.

To an extent, Alma Pierce learned it when she was on the receiving end of counsel. In the classrooms of UND, she was a nontraditional, first-generation student and a single mom. University advisors helped her navigate the often clashing commitments of earning a degree and raising children.

“If I would not have had the help of my academic advisor, I do not think I would have been able to graduate,” Pierce said. “A lot of the words were unknown to me; it was a different language that I did not speak. Having someone who understand that perspective is incredibly helpful for students.”

UND’s new core advisors also understand firsthand the challenges faced by their advising counterparts in the Colleges – that is because most have been there before. Ashley Vigen guided students across 17 programs in the College of Business & Public Administration, while Chelsea Mellenthin tended to psychology students. In the Student Success Center, Kuntz worked with students yet to declare majors.

“Because we had such a large caseload, I was not able to work on big-picture things like retention, recruitment and trying to ramp up different programs,” Vigen said.

Core advisors will now be able to support these crucial tasks of UND’s strategic plan. College-specific projects and across-campus collaborations will fill out their schedules, which, while still evolving, are meant to complement the efforts of the traditional faculty and academic advisors.

Core Advisor Shannon Sporbert Webber said, “To be able to help the professionals that we already have on campus and to be able to work one-on-one with students, that is amazing.”

Strategic efforts, and a little fun along the way, helping students secure degrees earlier

UND saw one of its largest Winter Commencement classes graduate in December, thanks to series of strategic barrier busting moves by the University that have students dancing out the door with degrees in hand. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.

Students often dance for joy as they graduate.

At winter commencement in December, dignitaries and faculty members on the stage were dancing too.

That’s because the ceremony celebrated one of the largest winter graduations at UND – and a “graduation dance.” (Scroll down for the full list of students who were eligible to graduate)

Goal!

UND has done a lot of graduating, said Scott Correll, UND registrar.

“We have a higher percentage of students finishing in four to six years than ever before,” he said.

There are a lot of reasons for that, many of them initiatives in the One UND Strategic Plan’s Goal 2, to increase graduation rates.

UND has streamlined graduation requirements to industry and accreditation standards, said Correll. Instead of requiring 125 credits for a bachelor’s degree, UND reduced it to 120 credits, which is in line with other schools. That allowed a lot of students to graduate a semester early, saving them money and letting them enter the job force more quickly. The University has removed other roadblocks as well, without compromising degree quality.

“We’ve made some concerted efforts to help with student success,” said Correll.

Degree mapping

New degree mapping software, developed in conjunction with NDSU, allows students to plan their route to graduation. It extracts graduation requirements from Campus Connection and allows students to plan their courses semester by semester. It lists prerequisites, lets students know if courses will be offered in the fall, spring or every other year, and gives them a printable plan for their four-year degree.

It also lets them compare degrees in case they want to look at other majors. It even details typical careers for each major, national and state salary ranges and skill sets.

And students love it.

Student success

Starfish, a student success system, helps faculty members and advisors connect with students. It sends out early alerts when students aren’t progressing, and “kudos” when they’re excelling. It also helps students and advisors create success plans, ultimately boosting retention and graduation rates.

Increasing the number of student academic core advisors also helps students get more individual attention and knowledge of degree requirements.

Reason to celebrate

That’s resulted in a big payoff, with 826 degrees awarded in December.

It really is a reason to dance for joy, said Fred Wittmann, director of ceremonies & University events, who added a new twist to the commencement ceremony.

“Graduates wanted their ceremony to be more personal and unique to UND,” Wittmann said. Some students suggested borrowing a UND Hockey tradition of dancing to the song “Chelsea Dagger” by the Fratellis, whenever the Fighting Hawks score a goal at home.

After the “Alma Mater,” undergraduates moved their tassels.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Your UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA GRAD – U – ATES!!” launched the song, with streamer sticks and flutterfetti – and dancing in the aisles and on the stage.

“It really was a hit,” said Monica Evavold, University events coordinator. “People were celebrating – the smiles they had! They were dancing with joy.”

The List:

Here’s the complete list of our Winter Commencement graduates, organized alphabetically by hometown and name:

NORTH DAKOTA:

Aneta — Kari Hillesland (BSRHS Cum Laude); Argusville — Seth Adkins (BBA Cum Laude); Belcourt– Skyler DeCoteau (BSCSCI), Kathryn Hall (MS); Berthold — Joe DeRouchey (MS); Beulah — Rachel Funkhouser (BACC Cum Laude), Rose McLaughlin (BA Magna Cum Laude), Joseph Roberson-Kitzman (MPA), Samantha Roth (BSEG), Kaitlynn Rueb (BS); Bismarck — Beth Anderson (MS), Melissa Brendel (MS), Megan Crawford (MS), Tim Davenport (BGS), Benjamin Delzer (BSIT), Amanda Engesser (BA Cum Laude), Logan Fischer (BA Magna Cum Laude), Julie Frank (MEDUCAT), Ashton Hager (MSW), Paige Hardmeyer (MS), Cassady Hope (BS), Erin Jahner (MS), Seth Kreft (BBA), Kylie Miller (BA Magna Cum Laude), Chris Narum (MEDUCAT), Cole Olson (BACC Cum Laude), Haylie Rants (BSN Cum Laude), Jeffery Scholl (MSW), Joshua Seibel (BBA), Kirsty Solberg (BSSW Cum Laude), Christina Striegel (MSW), Alison Traynor (MPH), Taeler Vetter (BA Cum Laude), Kaitlin Weigel (MSW), Bo Yesel (BSEE Magna Cum Laude), Megan Zako (BA); Bowman — Eric Bucholz (BACC); Burlington — Macy Mauck-Christianson (BS Summa Cum Laude); Carrington — Riley Miller (BBA), Mattea Rindy (BSED Cum Laude); Cavalier — Deane Bjornson (BACC Summa Cum Laude); Cooperstown — Carter Anderson (BSME); Crosby — Angela Wanzek (PHD); Dazey —Mariah Hackman (BSED); Devils Lake — Yubin Chen (BACC Cum Laude), Sarah Elfman (MS), Thomas Ford (MPA), Dylan Moser (BAPS Magna Cum Laude); Dickinson — Collin Bren (BBA Cum Laude), Lindsey Danbom (BA), Lallaine Hauser (MEDUCAT), Preston Kubas (BSA Magna Cum Laude), Sierra Rohr (BSED Magna Cum Laude), Jordan Wanner (BGS Cum Laude); Drayton — Kalyn Woinarowicz (BSCJS Cum Laude); Dunseith — Dale Brunelle (PHD), Marissa Llanes (BS), Lynn Martell (MA), Edinburg — Abbie Sondeland (BSN Summa Cum Laude); Fargo — Tracy Athmann (BS Cum Laude), Grant Birmingham (BBA), Corinna Bitz (BSN Cum Laude), Andrew Blumer (BBA), Elisabeth Boatman (BSN), Brandon Boyd (MS), Hannah Camrud (MS), Kal Datz (BS), Thomas George (BBA), Rachel Hohenstein (MS), Chelsey Horner (MS), Dylan Hughes (BACC Summa Cum Laude), Hannah Karlins (BSED Magna Cum Laude), Rebecca Kelly (BBA), Aleksandr Kulikov (MBA), Andrea Lewis (BSN), Emily Melchior (BSN), Andrea Moore (MSW), Morgan Nerat (MSW), Kinsey Papachek (BSN Summa Cum Laude), Leonard Randze (BSN Cum Laude), Ari Rustad (BA Magna Cum Laude), Kaira Schefter (MS), Anna Schimmelpfennig (PHD), Brittney Smith (BSN), Erin Spies (PHD), Jenna Thurston (BSSW Magna Cum Laude), Garrett Trochman (BBA), Alex Widner (BSN Magna Cum Laude), Allyssa Wutzke (MS); Grafton — Enrique Balderas IV (BACC Magna Cum Laude), Ibrahim El-Sarraf (BA), Alexander Martinson (BSKIN), Katherine Sand (JD);

Grand Forks — Kirsten Aafedt (BSED Summa Cum Laude), Dallas Aaker (BBA), Adedoyin Adeyilola (MS), Madison Alme (BBA), Amy Almquist (BA), Amanda Amiot (BBA), Grant Aplin (BBA), Dane Barber (BSA Cum Laude), Chad Bartosh (BS), April Baumgartner (BSRHS), McKayla Baxley (BSN), Bianca Bell (MSW), Andrew Benson (BGS), Natasha Benson (BA), Carly Bergman (BSN), Ceara Berry (BSN), Hayden Bertsch (BBA), Elizabeth Birch (BSA Summa Cum Laude), Amanda Boomgaarden (BSED), Skylar Borg (BS), Dakota Bray (BSA), Tamika Brekke (BSCJS), Aleah Brennan (BSED Cum Laude), Steven Buchhop (MS), Shannon Burgard (BSN), Chad Burke (BSA Cum Laude), Angela Byzewski (BSED Cum Laude), Brian Carmean (BSA Magna Cum Laude), Turner Carr (BSA Cum Laude), Kevin Carver (MS), Aaron Cary (BSA Summa Cum Laude), Sai Mohan Reddy Chirra (MS), Joshua Christianson (BS Cum Laude), Jennie Cinelli (BA), Tanner Corbett (BSIT), Evan Cox (BSA), Rachel Cox (BA Summa Cum Laude), Kasey Crowley (BS), Stephanie Danielson (BBA), Manohar Kumar Reddy Dasannagari (MS), Chase Davis (BSCSCI), Kyle Dewitt (MEDUCAT), Maharshi Dey (MS), Lance DiAngelis (MS), Margaret Dievendorf (MS), Brittany Dvorak (BA), Katherine Edgar (BBA), Zeinab El-Rewini (BAPS Summa Cum Laude), Keonna England (JD), Robert Feaster (BBA Cum Laude), Christine Fiala (BSED), Eveline Fondong (MSW), Luke Gage (BSA), Amber Godfrey (BS), Maggie Godfrey (BA), Rachel Gray (BSKIN), Casey Griffin (BA), David Hamilton (JD), Justin Heinz (MS), Heather Helgeson (MS), Jeremy Holter (BSED), Austin Holtz (BSCSCI), Seth Hovland (BSA Magna Cum Laude), Ryan Hundley (BSA Cum Laude), Sanseong Hwang (BSA Cum Laude), Tyler Jehs (MS), Shelby Johnson (BA), Kurt Jones (BSA), Julia Kaczorowska (BSKIN), Miranda Kaelberer (BSED), Nicholas Kane (BSA), Logan Keitzman (BSN), Alexander Kelly (BA), Ben Kieffer (BBA), Mick Kmett (BSA), Jordan Kramer (BA), Mark Kudryavtsev (BBA), Andrew Larson (BSA), Jaylen Larson (BS), Jenna Laurin (BS Summa Cum Laude), Nicholas Lawson (BSFWB), Brandon LeClair (BSA), Alisha Lindsay (BSCN), Kaylee Loken (BSKIN), Dominique Lord (BSA), Jonah Lund (BS Summa Cum Laude), Bethany Lundby (MS), Paula Lundsten (BSED Summa Cum Laude), Joshua Magana (BSA), Mohammed Mahmoud (PHD), Amanda Martin (BBA), Kathryn Martin (BS), Katie McCoy, (BS), Stephanie McVeigh (BSN Cum Laude), John Merchant (BSKIN), Keaton Merck (BSKIN Cum Laude), Charles Mettille (BSA), Elizabeth Meyer (BSSW Magna Cum Laude), Josephine Moe (BS), Lori Mohagen (MSW), Aisha Mohamed (BS), Karem Mokom (JD), Kimberly Moon (MS), Abby Moore (MSW), Troy Nakauchi (BSA Summa Cum Laude), Blayke Nelson (BBA), Lingzhi Nelson (BACC Summa Cum Laude), Daniel Noakes (BSA Magna Cum Laude), Sean Norton (BSED), Jamie O’Halloran (BSED Magna Cum Laude), Brady Oliveira (BSCJS), Haley Olson (BMUS Summa Cum Laude), Shaylah Olson (BS Magna Cum Laude), Dakotah Osborn (BSA), Alex Osowski (BSA Cum Laude), Ogochukwu Ozotta (MS), Ryan Paape (BSA Summa Cum Laude), Trevor Parson (BSGDT), Michael Pascual (BSA), Haylee Pearce (BA Magna Cum Laude), Brandon Peterson (BSA Summa Cum Laude), Benedikte Pettersen (BSKIN), Hannah Phelps (BA Summa Cum Laude), Matthew Ramage (BBA), Carlos Ramirez (BSA), Jenna Richardson (BSSW Summa Cum Laude), Jessica Risch (BACC Cum Laude), Paige Salwei (BSN Magna Cum Laude), Taylor Sand (BGS), Austyn Schlueter (BSA), Afshin Shabani (PHD), John Simonson (BBA Cum Laude), Darcy Solem (BSSW), Jacob Soukup (BA), Zoee St. Claire (BS), Lucas Stanley (BSME Cum Laude), Jonathon Steinke (BBA), John Stennes (BS Cum Laude), Brandon Stockton (BA), Frank Swiontek (MBA), Madalyn Tessier (BSCHEMEG), Lindsey Thiel (BBA), Christina Striegel (MSW), Zachary Tomczik (BS Cum Laude), Jennifer Trader (BSED Cum Laude), Jordan Turner (BSA), MaKayla Valdez (MA), Spencer Valentine (BA Cum Laude), Akumbom Vekwusi (MBA), Quinn Wahlstrom (BSED), Hongsheng Wang (MS), Yanbo Wang (MS), Laura Warne (BA), Abby Whalen (BBA), Julie Wilberg (MS), Cody Williamson (BSPTE), Ashleah Wimberly (MA), David Wischer (BSED Summa Cum Laude), Andrew Woodard (BSA), Charlotte Woods (BS Cum Laude), Chloe Wylot (BSN Cum Laude), Lu Yang (MS), Barco Yolo (MS), Emily Zink (BS); Grand Forks AFB — Alexandra Schmidt (BBA Cum Laude);

Granville — CJ Sitter (MENGR); Grassy Butte – Sharon Musick (MEDUCAT); Halliday — Chad Dahlen (PHD); Harwood — Alecia Diede (BS Summa Cum Laude); Hatton — Chanli Fladeland (BA); Hazelton — Matthew Mastel (BGS); Hazen — Ryan Schwarz (BBA Magna Cum Laude); Hebron — Tara Heydt (MEDUCAT); Hettinger — Torrin Poss (BS Cum Laude); Hillsboro — Tatiana Berge (BS); Horace — Kaitlin Langerud (BACC); Hunter — Jennifer Goss (BSN Magna Cum Laude); Jamestown — Yawo Badagbo (PHD), Simone Leigh (MS), Kathryn Mcphail (BSIT), Sarah Neva (BSN Magna Cum Laude); Kindred — Casey Heisler (BSRHS); Larimore — Janafer Georgeson (BGS); Leeds — Shelby Jorgenson (BSGDT Cum Laude), Kalvin Slaubaugh (BS Cum Laude); Lincoln — Summer Schnellbach (BA Magna Cum Laude); Lisbon — Jane Braaten (PHD); Mandan — Jordan Axness (BBA), Larissa Eckholm (BA), Nicole Klein-Balkowitsch (BA), Dylan Scherr (BA Magna Cum Laude), Jennifer Tokach (BBA), Casey Wieland (BBA), Manvel — Tia Green (BS); Mayville — Dacey Lopez (BS); Medina — Courtney Heupel (BSED Summa Cum Laude); Michigan – Samantha Reese (BA); Minot — Jessica Bullard (BSSW), Devon Drawz (MS), Katelyn Haberman (BSED), Joshua Hartmann (MBA), Braden Kalamaha (BSEE), Maria Neset (MEDUCAT), Moneesha Noble (BA), Antonia Ouedraogo (BGS), Brianna Skavlem-Marto (BA), Luke Sorum (BSFWB); Minot AFB — Mallory Block (JD); Mohall — Callie Carlson (BA), Sam Carlson (BACC); New Town — Symbria Bell (BACC); Northwood — Julia Sebekow (BBA); Oakes – Jenna Weisz (MS); Osnabrock — Renae McGauvran (BSED Summa Cum Laude); Park River — Zachary Gaarder (BSN Magna Cum Laude), Amber Gillespie (BBA Magna Cum Laude); Pembina — Amber Johnson (PHD); Reynolds — Kimberlea Borgen (BS), Noelle Cutshaw (BS Magna Cum Laude); Rocklake — Brenna Jacobsen (BS Magna Cum Laude); Rolla — Sloan Henry (MA), Rachael Mickelson Hendrickson (MS), Katy Ramey (BSED Summa Cum Laude); Roseglen — Mary Hosie (BSN); Rugby — Brady Fossum (BS); Sarles – Cindy Martin (MEDUCAT); Stanley — Chai Pappa (BBA), Mylah Rostad (BSSW); Strasburg — Devin Roehrich-Cherenzia (MS); Taylor — Kelsie Tyrrell (BSED Magna Cum Laude); Thompson — Shelby Mayers (BSN Cum Laude), Michelle Rakoczy (PHD), Amy Shirek (BSED Summa Cum Laude), Teaunna Storey (BS); Valley City — Gabrielle Cummings (BSSW Magna Cum Laude), Stacey Eggers (BS), Charles Pegg (MPA); Velva — Ellie Johnston (BA), Cora Pfennig (BGS); Wahpeton — Jonathan Bartels (BSED Magna Cum Laude), Kiet Nguyen (BS Cum Laude), Matthew Schuster (BSME), Jessica Vogeler (BSN Summa Cum Laude); Walcott — Hunter Evanson (BS), Kali Heyen (MSW); Wales — Nancy Pillen (MSW); Washburn — Daniel Madche (MS); Watford City — Jenna Cranston (MS), Vincent Wagner (BS); West Fargo — Trent Barkus (JD), Kelsey Bishoff (BS Summa Cum Laude), Kimberly Burken (MS), Danielle Carlson (BA Cum Laude), Abigail Derrig (BGS), Tamara Hofmann (MSW), Katelyn Jipson (BSN), Joseph Lennon (MS), Jessica Morse (BA Magna Cum Laude), Tanner Robberstad (MS); Williston — Yannick Agbor (MS), Cambree Billehus (BSN Cum Laude), Jacob Oleksik (BACC), Joseph Robillard (MSW), Dominic Seidel (BS); Wyndmere — Marcela Fields (BA); Zap — Randi Julson (BACC);

MINNESOTA:

Ada —Theoren Solseng (BS Cum Laude); Alexandria — Melissa Hansen (BA), Matthew Peffer (BSCJS), Abby Telander (BSN Summa Cum Laude); Andover — Carl Hermanson (BBA), Faith Lee (BACC) Jonathon Santiago (BSCJS); Brady Scullen (BSA); Anoka — Hailey Huspek (BA Magna Cum Laude); Apple Valley —Abdiaziz Mohamud (BSEE), Desiree Robinson (BBA Cum Laude), Michael Terry (BSA); Appleton — Kayla Henneberg (MS); Arden Hills — Abigail Bachman (MPH); Argyle — Carly Safranski (BSN); Battle Lake —Nathan Young (BS Cum Laude); Baudette — Janie Sipe (BSED Magna Cum Laude); Baxter — Stacy Tetreault (BACC); Bemidji — Ashley Charwood (MSW), Cody Graham (BSKIN), Brandon Loven (BSKIN), Paige Marty (BA Summa Cum Laude); Big Lake — Madeline Ries (BA); Blaine — Luke Whitcomb (BA); Bloomington — Brady Bjerke (MS), William Hollingsworth (BACC); Bovey — Miracle Edminster (BSPA); Brainerd — Fallon Ryan (BAPS Summa Cum Laude); Breckenridge — Jamie Stollenwerk (MSW); Brooklyn Park — Holly Anderson (BACC Cum Laude), Thomas Neisen (BSEE ); Browns Valley —Tomas Ortega (BSED Magna Cum Laude); Buffalo — Samuel Kreb (BA); Burnsville — Nicholas Dyrstad-Cincotta (MS); Cambridge — Brenna Harrower (BSSW); Cannon Falls — Garrett Samuelson (BSA Summa Cum Laude); Carlton — Brytton George (BSCHEMEG); Carver — Anna Austin (BA); Champlin — Lucas Borowicz (BSA Cum Laude); Chisholm — Victoria Marturano (BA); Clinton — Destiney Grooters (JD); Columbus — Douglas Ahlgren (MSAE); Coon Rapids — Peter Anderson (BACC), Catherine Matike (BSN), Brian McCarthy (MBA ); Cottage Grove — Brandon Christiansen (BA), Hayley Kobe (BA), Colette Nelson (BSGE), Colt Nelson (BSGE), August Ollrich (BBA), Katelyn Uhlendorf (BSED); Crookston — Carrie Diaz (MA), Erin Drown (MEDUCAT), Alexander Kenemore (BSCJS), Chandler St Michel (BAPS); Crystal — Rebecca Mundfrom (BA); Deer Creek — Brooke Thorson (MSW); Deer River — Valerie Howard (BGS); Delano — Zachary Daly (BSA Magna Cum Laude), Austin Gilbert (BSCSCI); Dilworth — Jessica Hall (MS), Andrea Rieder (BS Summa Cum Laude);

Duluth — Leah Davis (MS), Haley Harrold (BA), Andrea Ruberg (BSED); Eagan — Logan Lavandowska (BBA), Taylor O’Shea (BSED), Dana Wegge (BA), Shelby Williams (BSN Cum Laude); East Grand Forks — Terry Clark (BA Cum Laude), Talon Freitag (BBA), Cody Grassel (MS), Jaci Helgeson (BSED Magna Cum Laude), McCayla Jordan (BACC), Adam Judovsky (BSCJS), Rachael Kuznia (BSRHS), LaRae Letexier (BSSW), Hannah Millette (BSED Cum Laude), Alyssa Mitzel (BA), Danyelle Osowski (MS), Judd Parker (BA), Scott Seyler (BBA), Olivia Westover (BSED Cum Laude), Hunter Zeman (BBA); Eden Prairie — Mallory Davison (BSED Magna Cum Laude), Abigail Wright (BSED Cum Laude), Edina — Weston Bennett (BBA), Mary Cutshall (BBA), Allison Duggan (BSED Cum Laude), Morgan Matson (BA Magna Cum Laude), Yeva Mirzoyan (BA); Eitzen — Catrina Krueger (BSA Cum Laude); Elko — Caitlyn Vang (BBA); Erskine — Brendan Morrison (BAPS), Hunter Plante (BA), Madison Stuhaug (BSED Magna Cum Laude), Excelsior — Vincent Biyogo (BS), Hannah Hollenhorst (BSN Magna Cum Laude), Hayley Yeager (BSED Cum Laude); Farmington — Nicole Heagy (BA), Chandler Renken (BSME), Nicholas Stephan (BSCJS), Austin Sutter (BBA); Fergus Falls — Josiah Burkhardsmeier (BSCSCI), Cassandra Eerdmans (BSEE Magna Cum Laude), Shelli Wolenetz (BA); Fisher — Kane Perrin (BSKIN); Forest Lake — Micah Ison (BA), Alexander Letch (BBA); Geneva — Matthew Bartsch (BGS); Golden Valley — Thomas Longar (BS); Grand Rapids —Chantal Holum (BSN Magna Cum Laude), Robert Schrom (BS), Sarah Trombley (BSN); Halstad — Kolton Brohaugh (BA); Hampton — Brooke Freeberg (MS); Hermantown — Marissa Kolquist (BSN Cum Laude); Hibbing — Deion Harris (BA), Kailey Wirtanen (BACC Summa Cum Laude); Hugo — Bianca Kameli (BBA), David Sexter (BSCSCI); International Falls — Jenna Anderson (BS Magna Cum Laude), Taylor Farmer (BA), Sydney Raboin (BSED Cum Laude); Inver Grove Heights — Alex Hassebroek (BSIT); Janesville — Kyle Budach (BSA); Lake Bronson — Kyle Braun (BA); Lake City — Courtney Haviland (BSSW); Lakeland — Ryan Danielson (BSA Cum Laude); Lakeville — Jonathan Barrett (MBA), Amanda Berry (BA), Mason Crowley (BACC Magna Cum Laude), Emily Grossman (BBA Cum Laude), Carlee Miller (BSN), Annabeth Smith (BSN), Reid Taubenheim (BACC), Zachary Whalen (BA); Lester Prairie — Jonathan Ernst (BSA); Lino Lakes — Christopher Michalek (BSCHEMEG Cum Laude); Madison Lake — Zachary Hebl (BSA); Maple Grove — Brandon Emmons (BA), Michael McShane (BSME), Caitlin Morris (MSW); Maple Plain — Patrick Johnson (BSCJS); Marble — Emily Broich (BAPS); Medina — Courtney Latterell (BSKIN); Menahga — Grant Skoog (BS); Mendota Heights — William Deitchler (BSA), Ryan Leech (BA), Isabella Postiglione (BSN Magna Cum Laude); Minneapolis — Eugene Crandall (BGS), Chloe Engel (BBA), Michael Engelsgaard (BA), Eric Gefroh (BACC Cum Laude), Lovisa Rhen (BSED), Sara Wagner (MSW); Minnetonka — Shane Claypool (MBA), Hannah Gelhar (BSN), Bridget McCarthy (BA); Monticello — Brady Banyai (BBA); Moorhead — Amber Cox (BSN), Jay Hanson (BSA Cum Laude), Jeremy Hulderman (MS), Kayla Michelson (MS), Grant Weiss (BBA); Moose Lake — Jacob Disterhaupt (MS); New Brighton — Benjamin Linser (BSCSCI); New London — Erin Powers (BSMLS); North Branch — Noah Hubbard (BSPTE); Oak Park Heights — Christian Peterson (BSEE Cum Laude); Osakis — Elyse Wiener (BS); Otsego — Kabedi Muvundamina (BSPTE); Owatonna — Dylan Hudock (BSA Cum Laude); Park Rapids — Rebecca Hays (BSRHS), Nicolas Lopez Lara (BS); Pelican Rapids — Alyssa Guck (BBA); Plymouth — Trevor Ash (BA), Tyler Coyne (BBA), Drew Greely (BBA), Paige Marcy (BSCHEMEG), Sai Peri (BSCSCI), Alyssa Stolt (BSME); Prior Lake — Aaron Kempfert (BSME Cum Laude); Ramsey — Jessica Brown (MBA), Justine Foyt (MS); Red Lake Falls — Chelsey Chaput (BSED); Rochester — Abdifatah Abdi (BSMLS), Mohamoud Ahmed (BSMLS),,Joseph Dietz (BSCHEMEG), Bethany Nandy (BSMLS), Addie Powers (BA); Rockford — Kayla Buenger (BSSW), Colton Stecker (BBA); Rogers — Isabel Getta (BA), Zachary Swanson (BA), Ian Wageman (BS); Roseau – Ashley Filpula (MS);

Rosemount — Ryan Sword (BBA); Saint Cloud — Kazimir Gazdzik (PHD), Madison Gedde (BSN), Mike Hill (BS), Austin Poganski (BBA); Saint Louis Park — Allie Simonett (BSCJS); Saint Michael — Kayla Mager (BSN Magna Cum Laude); Saint Paul — Joseph Andresen (BBA Cum Laude), John Glawe (MBA), Ian Harlander (BSA Summa Cum Laude), Yahye Nur (BS), Hailey Pavlak (BSKIN), Paul Underwood (MBA); Saint Peter — Killian Bixby (BSA Cum Laude); Saint Stephen — Shawna Buelow (BSN); Salol — Dayna Rothenbacher (BACC Magna Cum Laude); Sartell — Matthew Bakken (BBA); Savage — Ashley Strand (MBA); Shoreview — Lilly Langton (BSCJS), Lei Yang (MFA); Side Lake — Janelle Shea (BSN Cum Laude); St. Louis Park — Erik Ekukanju (MSAE), Mikka Schacherer (BSCJS); Staples — Kayla Schmieg (BSED Cum Laude); Stillwater — Sarah Gehl (BSKIN); Taunton — Megan Boerboom (BA); Thief River Falls — Shelby Beito (BSCN), David Erickson (BSCSCI), Shannon Jesme (PHD), Haley Nelson (BSN), Shunay Reese (BSN), Jami Schultz (BGS), Kasey Trontvet (MS); Victoria — Kellie Rickabaugh (MSW); Waconia – Laura Cline (MA); Warren — Kendall Hapka (BBA), Hannah Miller (BBA); Warroad — Gretta Brunelle (BS), Brendon Saseangbong (BA); Wayzata — Jack Dingmann (BBA), Keaton Studsrud (BBA); Wheaton — Hannah Hasbargen (BACC Summa Cum Laude); White Bear Lake — Connor Bolduc (BS), Hunter Halonen (BBA), Jeffrey Harken (BBA); Winona — Riley Ewert (BSA Magna Cum Laude), Christopher Hogge (MS), Renee Sullivan (BSN Magna Cum Laude), Christy Wolvington (BSMLS Magna Cum Laude); Winsted — Dustin Koehnen (BSKIN Summa Cum Laude); Woodbury — Meghan Braun (BSSW Cum Laude), Jorgen Holt (BSCE), Kayla Rose (BSN), Valerie Schroeder (BSED Cum Laude), William Stefani (BSGEOL), Sara Torgusson (MS); Worthington —Amanda Cook (BSEG); Wyoming — Leonard Thom (BSME);

OTHER STATES:

ALASKA: Delta Junction — Michael Augustin (BSCE); Eagle River – Quan Tran (MS); Juneau — Joelle Mesdag (BA Summa Cum Laude); ALABAMA: Auburn — Muztahid Muhammad (MS); ARKANSAS: Searcy — Whitney Moser (BA); ARIZONA: Mesa — Ethan McRae (JD); Phoenix — Abigail Swigart (MA); Yuma — Brandon Gaspar (MSW); CALIFORNIA: Bishop — Maile Wagoner (MS); Fountain Valley — Minh Le (MENGR); Grass Valley — James Jacobson (BSA Cum Laude); Huntington Beach — Kari Brown (MS); Irvine — Said Aliev (BSPTE); Lafayette — David Richardson (MSAE); Laguna Niguel — Brittany Mueller (BSRHS); Lincoln — Monica Santa (JD); Newport Beach — Erik Johnsen (BBA); Novato — Daphna Cohen (MA); Oceanside — David Rosenfeld (BSPTE Magna Cum Laude); Palmdale — Corbin Von Buck (BSA), Margaret Walsh (MS); Porterville — Martha Zavala (MS); San Jose — Akkas Uddin Haque (MS); Lindsey Moore (MS); San Ramon — Karina Garcia (MS); Springville — Nicholas Kavadas (BSKIN); Suisun City — Crystal Davis (MS); Valencia — Anna Tucker (BSCE); Valley Village — Dulce Montoya (MS), Sandra Nowosiolski (MS); West Sacramento — Jesseca Hendricks (BGS); Winnetka — Emmanuel Enemchukwu (BSPTE); COLORADO: Centennial — Alison Krebs (MSAE); Durango — Colin Mummery (MSAE); Fort Collins — Nathan McGee (MS); Superior — Chrishma Singh-Derewa (MS); CONNECTICUT: Newington — Mariusz Starzec (PHD); FLORIDA: Destin — Camden Sasko (BSME); Gainesville — Clive Georges (BA); Ocala — Danielle Horosh (MA); Orlando — John Corkum (BSEE); Panama City – Katlin Timme (MS); Pensacola — Sandra Emerson (BA); Punta Gorda — Garner Suessmann (BSA); GEORGIA: Covington — Julie Lewandowski (MA); East Point — Katrina Montfort (MS); Savannah — Joni Lukes (BA); IOWA: Alta Vista — Kelly Swehla (BSMLS); Ames — Alex Sailsbury (BSA Magna Cum Laude); Hiawatha —Trent Meyer (BACC); IDAHO: Emmett — Alex Shiverick (BSA Magna Cum Laude); Twin Falls — Angie Smith (MSAE); ILLINOIS: Chicago — Sara White (BBA); Highwood — Kendall Behm (MS); Lafox — Kristofer Larsen (BA); River Forest — Hind Alghanmi (PHD); INDIANA: Hillsboro — Tessa Philpott (BS); KANSAS: Highland — Katelin French (MA); Topeka — Ryan Spellman (BSCHEMEG), Evan Sutherland (BSCHEMEG); Wichita — Christian Cory (MA); KENTUCKY: Buckner — Ashlee Anderson (MS); MASSACHUSETTS: Andover — Nicholas Gerroir (BSA); Burlington — Nicole Giacoppo (MS); Leominster — John Thompson (BSME Magna Cum Laude); Norwood — Michael DeCosta (MENGR); MICHIGAN: Dowagiac — Lisa Phillips (MS); Grand Rapids — Richard Tata (MBA); Houghton — Karmen Markham (MSW); Ironwood — Jeremy Blodgett (BSA Summa Cum Laude); Kent City — Taylor Trzybinski (BSA Magna Cum Laude); Southfield — Chana Krakauer (MS); MISSOURI: Adrian — Stewart Eidson (BA Magna Cum Laude); Des Peres — Nikolai Dunne (BSA Magna Cum Laude); Florissant — Marcedes Hurd (JD); Saint Louis — Chastity Franklin (BSKIN); Wildwood — Jakob Brosman (BSA); MONTANA: Billings — Chase Martin (BSCSCI); Florence –– Whitney Hergert (BA); Glasgow — Ellen Walstad (BSCHEMEG Cum Laude); Great Falls — Alexa Pyette (JD); Livingston — Dean Moore (BA); Missoula — Emily Beach (BSN Summa Cum Laude); Roberts — Jeremy Prinkki (BSA); Sidney — Matthew Harris (BSPTE), Tia Lewis (BSED Summa Cum Laude); NORTH CAROLINA: Clayton — Hannah Matthews (BA); Fayetteville — Doniecia Ebron (MS), Caryn Wolfe (BSN); Hampstead — Riley McGlynn (PHD); Lewisville — Jenna Smith (BA Cum Laude); NEBRASKA: Omaha — Alyssa Garrett (BSME); NEW HAMPSHIRE: Bedford — Erica Lunden (BA); NEW JERSEY: Bordentown — Katherine Courtney (MS); Lakewood — Nechama Zarecki (MS); Wallington — Dawid Mludzik (BA); NEVADA: Las Vegas — Megan Conedy (MSW); NEW YORK: Brooklyn — Xuchu Xu (MS); Clifton Park — Caryn Toriaga (MS); Flushing —Cheryl Schwartz (MS); Monroe — MIrel Steinberg (MS); Webster — Azizah Alogali (PHD); OHIO: Fairfield — Christopher Woeste (BGS); Poland — Kiley Wright (MA); OKLAHOMA: Edmond — Angelique DeBlois (MA), Dilyn Stevenson (MS); PENNSYLVANIA: Claysville — John Avolio (BGS); Greenville — Edward Pickens (MS); West Chester — Daniel Dixon (MS); RHODE ISLAND: Barrington — Christopher Bohnwagner (MBA); North Smithfield — Diane Newberry (BA Magna Cum Laude); Pascoag — Jillian Quirindongo (MS); SOUTH CAROLINA: Summerville — Brian Stodola (BA); SOUTH DAKOTA: Aberdeen — Odeen Rowe-WIlliams (MA); Bowdle — Rachel Kessel-Neuharth (BA); Burke — Jennifer Bennett (MSW); Gregory —Lesley Holmes (MSW); Herrick — Lindsey McCarthy (MSW); McLaughlin — Brooke Henderson (MS); Mitchell — John Fouberg (MEDUCAT); Pierre — Alex Beck (BS); Rapid City — Brett Dziwulski (BSCSCI),  Eric Grover (MSW), Sandra Kenrick (MS); Sioux Falls — Collin Block (MSW); Joseph Farrell (MBA); Sean O’Connor (BSA); Alexander Trellinger (MS); TENNESSEE: Hendersonville — Jessica Singer (MA); TEXAS: Dallas — Ian Entzion (BBA); Houston — Ryan Adler (BSA Magna Cum Laude); Katy — Himal Pangeni (BSPTE Cum Laude), Timothy Wuenscher (MS); New Braunfels — Collin Blair (BSA Cum Laude), Austyn Maracle (BSA); Nolanville — Andrew Coelho (BSCE Magna Cum Laude); Richmond — Eric Willmott (MBA); Sugar Land — Naveed Iqbal (BSME); Victoria — Ludmi Herath (PHD); UTAH: North Salt Lake — Jessica Lake (MA); Park City — Grant Ellis (BSME Magna Cum Laude); Pleasant Grove — Kyle Harper (MBA); South Weber — Sydni Robinson (BSA Cum Laude); West Jordan — Devan Bobo (MA); VIRGINIA: Arlington — Patrick Squires (MS); Boston — Elise Wheelock (BSA Summa Cum Laude); Centreville —Christina St. Clair (MA); Manassas — Subik Pokharel (MS); VERMONT: Burlington — Kendre Guinane (MS); WASHINGTON: Arlington — Patrick Blaine (BSME Cum Laude); Lake Stevens — Jason McCroskey (BSA); Longview — Eric Prater (BA Summa Cum Laude); Marysville — Gabriele Beniak (MS); Normandy Park — Amanda Osgood Jonientz (PHD); Shoreline — Elizabeth Staatz (MS); WISCONSIN: Ashland —Anthony Litersky (BSKIN); Baldwin — Tori Harken (BSCJS); Danbury — Ben Jensen (MS); Houlton — Payton Peterson (BSED); Janesville — Haley Stejskal (BS Cum Laude); Oconto — Jordan Koppa (BSA Magna Cum Laude); Onalaska — Grant Campbell (BS); Pleasant Prairie — Danielle Parker (BS); Racine — Cameron Clifton (BSA Summa Cum Laude); Rhinelander — Justine Terzinski (MSW); Superior — Levi La Porte (MS); Zachary Welle (BBA); Sussex — David Walenta (BA); WYOMING: Casper — Emily Murdock (MS); Cheyenne — Randi Losalu (MSW); Wilson — Lora Oz (MS);

CANADA:

ALBERTA: Airdrie — Carrie Forster (MS); MANITOBA: Blumenort — Peter Brandt (MS); Morris — Kevin Clace (PHD); Oak Bluff — Elisabeth Hewett (JD); Stonewall — Brett Nespor (MS); Winnipeg — Jina-Marie Elwin (MSW), Tiffany Ford (MBA), Kelsey Harrison (JD), Adeolu Joseph (MA); SASKATCHEWAN: Regina —Eugene Akunor (BSCHEMEG);

UND looks inward to muster resources to invest in future amid sea of uncertainty

Looking to the future, UND President Mark Kennedy says the University must be constantly investing and re-evaluating education to create a brighter future for students and the state. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.

The University of North Dakota is swimming strong into the future, against a current of challenges, on its way toward a tidal wave of opportunity.

But in doing so, the emphasis is not merely on being the biggest fish in a shrinking sea, rather it’s on being the smartest, most innovative and most adaptable to change.

President Kennedy

To survive, and even more so, to thrive, the entire University community must continue to strategically look inward to create its own resources to invest in the future, leaders say.

UND President Mark Kennedy has set the tone across campus with the “One UND” Strategic Plan, a future-looking roadmap that touches on improvements in every aspect of the University.

But that alone is not enough to sustain the momentum. And relying on the state to adequately fund the University to stay on a trajectory of smart growth is not going to cut it, either.

After years of major cuts to higher education budgets, Kennedy and others are advocating for stable funding from the state over the next biennium – in other words, a needs-based budget with merit pay increases.

“Even if the final result is a needs-based budget, it will not cover non-payroll inflationary increases, much less provide a pool to invest in new priorities,” said Jed Shivers, UND vice president for finance & operations.

Kennedy added, “For UND to thrive, we must be future focused, constantly investing and re-evaluating what we do to create a brighter future for our students and the state.”

Adapting, innovating and overcoming

And that’s exactly what’s happening across campus: a focus on strategic investments in and evaluations of student success, research and campus renewal.

Over the past several issues, UND Today has been highlighting these successes and plans for the future.

We’ve delved into new investments for core advisors on campus who are bolstering the work of academic advisors in each of UND’s Colleges and Schools to help ensure students success. We’ve detailed how new barrier-busting moves and best practices are allowing students get their degrees faster and driving up UND’s 4- and 6-year graduation rates to record levels. And just last week, we brought you news from the Chief Information Officer about technological upgrades to increase cyber safety, strengthen research analytical firepower, and improve student experiences across campus.

UND’s committed alumni also have received much-deserved attention in UND Today for their generous giving to support student scholarships and faculty endowments through the North Dakota Challenge Fund. The Fund allows donors to amplify their gifts with state matches. UND has matched privately all of its $17-million share of Challenge Fund grants (in the past), garnering $34 million in total gifts and other contributions supporting students and faculty.

We’ve also written extensively about how UND is using innovative private-public partnerships and other novel ways to repair and upgrade aging facilities, and in some cases, construct new buildings to make the campus core more appealing to prospective students, without additional costs to UND. Replacement and relocation of the campus steam plant is a prime example of thinking outside the box to address challenges.

A major University investment to support research was announced on Dec. 13, 2018, when UND officially committed $10 million of its own money over five years to hire six computational scientists with expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics and cyber technologies. The new resources are intended to enhance research capabilities across campus and to expose UND students to the skills they’ll need in the jobs of the future.

These internal research investments would be greatly enhanced by another proposal that we’ve covered in UND Today, and that’s making its way through the Legislature. This proposal would boost research funding from the Legislature for the state’s two research universities to nurture new discoveries and commercialization to help diversify the state’s economy.

What’s ahead?

Over the next few issues, UND Today has more articles planned on what UND is doing to innovate for the future. Coming soon, you will see more stories on technological enhancements and tools to further improve the experience of current students as well as those looking to enroll at UND. Also, we’ll dive into the need for UND academic programs to differentiate themselves based on quality rather than price-point to avoid an unfortunate “race to the bottom.”

Meeting demands

Tom DiLorenzo

The goal is to position UND to be more adaptive to changing student demands and needs of the state and industry, all while remaining steadfastly committed to UND’s strong liberal arts foundation.

“It makes good sense to constantly and critically evaluate how automation is transforming the workplace and how our programs prepare our students with the specific skills and broader critical-thinking capabilities to succeed in those rapidly changing environments,” said Tom DiLorenzo, vice president for academic affairs and provost. “This helps the University ensure that our offerings are what our students want and need, and gives us the best sense of where we should be investing.”

President Kennedy appears on ‘North Dakota Today’ to talk Big Data and UND’s role in state’s future

Grad education enhancements on campus and online provide comprehensive support students need to succeed

New enhancements across campus as well as in the digital sphere are driving the success of UND’s graduate students. Photo by Shawna Shill/UND Today.

Across the nation, graduate programs are swelling. Newly minted bachelor’s degree recipients and working professionals alike are returning to the classroom to pursue further studies.

And, more and more of them are flocking to the University of North Dakota.

As of mid-February, over 1,200 graduate applications have streamed to UND’s admissions office. The tally constitutes a staggering 13 percent increase from the same time last year.

“That is a really exciting movement happening going into fall semester already,” said Janelle Kilgore, interim vice provost of strategic enrollment management.

The uptick, to a large extent, sprang from the University’s revamped, dynamic website, which lures prospective students, as well as the strategic efforts of the admissions office, said Jennifer Aamodt, interim director for admissions.

“Once [students] express interest, we are doing a lot of work to make sure that we are communicating with them on a much more personalized level,” Aamodt said. “We are also striving to connect students with faculty much earlier.”

Kilgore anticipates the ranks of graduate students to grow past the 2,500 mark by the start of the fall term – a development in line with UND’s strategic goal of expanding online and graduate enrollment.

“I think if we have strong master’s degree programs and doctoral programs, we are going to have strong undergraduate programs,” she said.

Heeding that logic, UND has ushered in several new advancements – online as well as on campus – to spur the success of its master’s and Ph.D. students from the very moment they join the University.

Research Achievement Day

Don’t forget about Graduate Research Achievement Day (GRAD) coming up on March 7.

“Graduate students are a key component and driver of our research mission, and GRAD provides an important opportunity to showcase that research, its significance and value, to both internal and external stakeholders,” said UND President Mark Kennedy. “Showcase events like this are an opportunity to put our collective best foot forward, shining a bright light on the breadth, depth, and high quality of research across UND.”

If you go:

When: March 7, public viewing starts at 1 p.m., followed by an award ceremony & reception at 3 p.m.

Where: Memorial Union Ballroom

Place to call home  

Once graduate students arrive on campus, they will have a space to call home, a building dedicated to their distinct needs that previously did not exist.

The Stone House is newly renamed to Dr. Kathleen and Hal Gershman Engagement Center.

Today, perched on the corner of University Avenue and Centennial Drive, the historic Stone House lies amid an overhaul. But, if renovations proceed according to plans, by next fall semester, it will accommodate a tech-forward center for graduate students.

“I think this is what you might call a game changer,” said Chris Nelson, associate dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Several reasons bolster a sense of aptness to that description.

The upgraded Stone House, the original president’s abode on campus that received a $3 million gift from Hal and Kathleen Gershman last year, will help the University retain graduate students by nourishing a community that shares similar struggles and aspirations. The State Board of Higher Education recently approved renaming the building to the Dr. Kathleen and Hal Gershman Engagement Center.

“One of the primary reasons for grad students dropping out of a program, especially those doing research, is a feeling of isolation,” Nelson said. “We are hoping that a space like this can help mitigate some of those feelings.”

As part of UND Strategic Plan, the School of Graduate Studies strives to raise retention rates by a few percentage point every year – even as they currently rest above the national average, said Nelson. The engagement center is to help achieve that by offering students three ample floors to socialize, study, learn and even eat.

Newfound voice

Along with keeping graduate students in the fold of the University, the envisioned graduate center, Nelson said, could foster an avenue of expression that is now lacking. The School of Graduate Studies has assembled a Graduate Student Advisory Council, with representation from each College, to gauge the best uses of the building.

Nelson hopes that the Council will naturally morph into an organization, akin to UND’s Student Government, to capture and amplify the voice of graduate students.

“It is beneficial to grad students to have that and I think [the Dr. Kathleen and Hal Gershman Engagement Center] will help provide that too,” Nelson said. “[The center is] a way to make it clear to [master’s and Ph.D.] students that they matter to the University, the University cares about how they do here, about their quality of life while they are in grad school and the quality of their experience.”

Experience, of course, transcends the physical confines of the new graduate center. Thanks to the latest technology, online students will be able to more meaningfully engage with and participate in on-campus events such as seminars and expert talks.

Online success

But when it comes to completing assignments and doing research online, dedicated faculty make all the difference for distance learners.

Naima Kaabouch, electrical engineering professor and graduate program director, said that graduate faculty in her department sets up weekly virtual meetings with students in addition to constant email threads, phone calls and text messages.

The efforts have paid off. Under their expert guidance, online Ph.D. candidates are publishing top-quality articles and even filing provisional patents through their companies.

“This is very good because we are not doing just the theory but [we are] training students to solve real problems, to serve the country, their companies and to be able to compete in the global market,” said Kaabouch.

The success becomes even more remarkable with the relative novelty of UND’s online Ph.D. program in electrical engineering. Together with the online Ph.D. curriculum in energy engineering, it has been around for a little under three years.

“We recognized that students are most of the time working full time and have a family,” said Michael Mann, chemical engineering professor and executive director of the Institute of Energy Studies. “So we had to structure things a little bit differently, recognizing that they have different needs.”

Toward R1

Currently, nearly 35 students are progressing through their Ph.D. training in energy as well as electrical engineering from afar, Mann said.

Their research undertakings, he added, contribute to UND’s stride toward the premier Carnegie R1 designation (Highest Research Activity).

Nelson anticipates that the modernized Dr. Kathleen and Hal Gershman Engagement Center– with its plethora of objectives – will also help spur valuable graduate academic initiatives on the route toward R1.

“Better recruitment, more high-quality students, increased retention and completion – it all helps UND because it improves our reputation, it makes us the kind of place students want to come to, so they bring their knowledge, they bring their research skills and they help in our push toward Research 1 status,” he said.

Online community

The University’s partnership with the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity (NCFDD) also serves as an effective conduit to online reputation-building by extending support to faculty and graduate students.

Geared toward faculty and graduate students, NCFDD offers a suite of expert webinars and peer activities to boost research, writing and networking as well as to balance academia and personal life.

NCFDD offers a suite of expert webinars and peer activities to boost research, writing and networking as well as to balance academia and personal life. In doing so, it facilitates interactions among graduate students from various institutions.

“I think it is easy to get caught in thinking that you are all alone in your experience because it is pretty intensive,” said Cindy Juntunen, dean of the College of Education and Human Development, which played a role in initiating the collaboration.

“To get a chance to hear from other people how they have managed [their graduate studies] – not just other people at UND, but to hear from somebody at UCLA, somebody at Florida State; to really think about that range of connections that grad students can make is really cool,” Juntunen said.

She added that these professional relations carry the reputation of UND across the country, not only drawing attention to its research and creative endeavors but also attracting prospective faculty and students.

UND’s cooperation with NCFDD, which began last semester, falls under the auspices of the Teaching Transformation and Development Academy (TTaDA), which provides similar professional enrichment services on campus.

“The diversity and inclusivity excellence work that continues to be done on campus is really important right now,” said Lynette Krenelka, executive director of TTaDA. “[NCFDD] ties right into that work that we are doing.”

On campus eminence  

While master’s and Ph.D. candidates may find NCFDD a useful resource toward the completion of their graduate education, their projects with UND faculty are increasingly gaining traction at esteemed regional and national conferences.

Earlier in February, Susan Felege (left) and nearly 30 of her students attended the Wildlife Society meeting in North Dakota, where they collected top awards for their research and presentations. Photo courtesy of Susan Felege.

Last week, for instance, 27 UND biology students – a third of them being graduates – took over the North Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society meeting in Mandan, where they collected top honors for their research and presentations.

“Students need to be able to talk about their work and they need to be able to talk about it to a variety of audiences,” said Susan Felege, associate professor in biology, who sponsors students in her wildlife lab to attend at least one large conference a year.

Such occasions allow them to wield a real influence in their chosen fields. A few years ago, Felege said, through extensive research, a graduate student of hers helped improve North Dakota’s hunting and trapping regulations.

“Continued and expanded support across the University for graduate students to attend such events is critical to show that our students are doing cutting-edge research that it has an impact,” Felege said.

Eye on future

Success at professional conferences, nonetheless, begins with thorough curricula in the classroom that meet the demands of today’s economy and, at the same time, look toward the future.

At the College of Business & Public Administration (CoBPA), graduate students like Jonathon Nord, who recently received a national recognition for his UAS-focused thesis, excel at varied master’s programs that offer unique opportunities such as concentrations in the latest business domains, including data analytics.

Beginning Fall 2019, the flagship MBA degree will offer a specialization in aviation management, blending the strengths of the College and UND’s renowned John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences.

“There are not a lot of MBA programs in the Unites States that have an aviation management concentration, so we are excited to be on the forefront,” said Kate Menzies, graduate admissions advisor at CoBPA.

Moreover, as graduate studies flourish in popularity, UND is among the forward-thinking institutions nationwide to offer accelerated 4 + 1 programs that grant a duo of a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in 5 years.

Such an option – coupled with UND’s assorted enhancement of graduate education – allow students to not only navigate the job market of today but to also seize the possibilities of tomorrow.

Vice Provost Jeff Holm brings UND’s online education leadership to ‘North Dakota Today’

Aamodt to lead admissions merger, assumes role after serving in interim capacity since September 2018

Jennifer Aamodt is the newest Director of University Admissions. She has been with UND’s admissions office since 2012 and will oversee a merger of graduate and undergraduate admissions this spring. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.

After being at the University of North Dakota for the past 19 years, there’s something Jennifer Aamodt must love about UND.

“UND is where I’ve spent my entire adult life,” she smiled. “What is it that I don’t love about UND?”

It’s where she earned her bachelor’s degree in social work, got her first job out of college and pursued her master’s degree in counseling while working full-time. The Michigan, N.D., native worked hard, ascended the ranks and never looked back.

Announced Wednesday, Aamodt assumes the duties of director of university admissions March 1, where she will oversee the recruitment and admission of undergraduate and graduate students. She has served in the role on an interim basis since September 2018.

Aamodt has been with the University Admissions Office since 2012. Before that, she first worked in Continuing Education’s certificate programs, then moved up to assistant director of customer relations.

“I’ve had fabulous mentors through the years and there are so many great people around campus that have made my work here full of opportunities to advance and grow,” she said. “This is an exciting step.”

Integral role

Aamodt will report to Janelle Kilgore, interim vice provost of strategic enrollment management. Kilgore says the enrollment landscape is getting more challenging every year, and people like Aamodt will help UND thrive, not just survive.

Janelle Kilgore

“The loyalty and compassion Jenn has for the University makes her the perfect fit for this position,” she said. “Jenn is a phenomenal person and hard worker.”

During her interim directorship, Aamodt credited both the admissions team and Kilgore, Senior Vice Provost Debbie Storrs and Provost Tom DiLorenzo for recognizing the integral role admissions plays on campus. The work done behind the scenes, in engaging students and bringing them to UND, is life-changing.

“A person’s outcome is different because they came to be a student here,” she said. “Through a quality education and great student experiences, they have the ability to go out and change the world. It’s exciting to be on the front end of that and bring in tomorrow’s leaders.”

No small feat

Creating leaders in action is no small feat, and Aamodt will hit the ground running to create a new and efficient admissions structure.

Her first major project is in the reorganization of admissions. Her team’s goal is to complete a merger of undergraduate and graduate admissions processes for all new and prospective students by May. This merger will align the full force of the admissions staff to support graduate enrollment goals and graduate admissions processes.

All graduate admissions operations will be housed in the University Admissions Office, once the transition is complete. The graduate school will continue to handle its current-student processes after their students are admitted, through graduation.

Tom DiLorenzo

“Creating those efficiencies and streamlining our processes so students have a smooth experience, regardless of how they’re coming in as a student, is a great service for both our students and staff,” Aamodt told UND Today.

Other immediate focuses include implementing a new customer relationship management tool, providing more ways to communicate with students attending and interested in UND. Aamodt says it does more to address what students are used to in today’s web technologies – fast, intuitive and personal. She’ll also lead the University in becoming the first North Dakota institution to implement the Common Application, which will put UND in front of more students as they apply to universities.

“I am thrilled that Jenn was willing to embrace this important position and help enhance the prospective student experience,” DiLorenzo said in yesterday’s campus-wide announcement. “I look forward to working with her.”

First day on the job

Jennifer Aamodt

But even before leading reorganizations and implementations of variety and number, her first day on the job marks Admitted Student Day at UND – a way for newly admitted or undecided students to have a different experience from the normal campus visit.

Prospective undergrads can see what it’s like in the classroom and explore a day in the life of a UND student. They can explore their academic areas of interests and talk with a student panel about any questions they have regarding the University.

Aamodt will play emcee for the day – making sure everyone is where they need to be and helping moderate panels geared toward curious parents. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in a growing tale of dedication and service.

“I look forward to working with not only the great folks in admissions, but everyone across campus to help elevate the UND experience,” she said.

New program from College of Education & Human Development equips educators for the data age

Rob Stupnisky, associate professor of Educational Foundations & Research, is leading a new, online graduate certificate addressing data literacy in the classroom. Learning Analytics is a growing field – the certificate’s four courses will provide the tools to find, organize and analyze data. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.

Rob Stupnisky sees the field of education going through a transformation not far off from other domains, such as health, business and sports.

Data – lots of it – is collected at every stage of a student’s career, from entering kindergarten to applying for university graduation, said Stupnisky, associate professor of educational foundations & research.

“So, all of this data is being generated,” he said. “But few people have the expertise to figure out how to look at it and interpret it.”

A 12-credit online graduate certificate—Learning Analytics—from the College of Education & Human Development aims to address data literacy from the perspective of the classroom. Its four courses intend to provide the tools to ask applicable questions, find data, organize it and analyze it to show patterns through visualization.

Stupnisky is working with the Grand Forks School District to understand what data K-12 schools are generating in the classrooms, what questions teachers and administrators have that data can address and developing this program to suit those needs.

“Everyone wants to help students succeed,” he said. “Data analytics is a new angle we want to help people capitalize on.”

He says this increasingly in-demand skillset and professional field of learning analytics is about leveraging information to better understand what’s happening with students. Comprehensive data sets, in the right hands, can inform decisions regarding curriculum and improving student outcomes.

Better prepared

Madhavi Marashinge, chief information officer of the University, took the first course of the certificate this past fall, when it was first offered.

Madhavi Marasinghe

She works with data on a daily basis in making decisions that steer UND from an administrative level.

“The main reason I enrolled is I like to learn,” Marashinge told UND Today. “And analytics is a very highly sought-after field now, simply because we have so much data.”

Her extended reasoning for enrolling aligned with Stupnisky’s purpose for the certificate: once the University analyzes the data it receives from student information systems, like Blackboard and Starfish, it can be better-prepared to help students succeed.

“That’s what we are here for,” Marashinge said. “It’s about how we can help them and be proactive as educators.”

If a particular group of students is having difficulty, it can be safely assumed that a similar group coming along may need additional help, she says. The beauty of analytics is getting ahead of the curve.

Marashinge recommends the certificate to anybody who is already working with data, and to faculty who can receive training in how to retrieve and interpret information about their courses and students. She describes learning analytics as a hot field with plenty of jobs on the way.

Learning analytics at UND is part of a larger push for addressing Big Data on campus. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.

Piece of the puzzle

When asked about his background in the area, Stupnisky reasons that nobody has a background strictly in learning analytics – it’s just that new.

“The International Society of Learning Analytics only started in 2011,” he said, adding that he’s attending their ninth conference in Tempe, Ariz., this April. “I don’t think anyone has a background, but there are probably a lot of people who come from education, who have data, and they want to know what to do with it. There are also probably people who have experience with data analysis, but they haven’t looked at opportunities in education as much.”

Jeffery Holm

Stupnisky pointed to a job market analysis by Hanover Group that showed learning analytics jobs increasing at a rate of 9.7 percent in North Dakota, opposed to 4 percent for most other occupations.

The graduate certificate is also a piece of the puzzle in addressing one of the five Grand Challenges: effectively, efficiently and ethically produce, manage and securely use information in the age of big data. Psychology has issued a similar certificate in behavioral analytics, and Computer Science has their BS/MS program in data science and analytics.

Vice Provost Jeffrey Holm says that in modern society, data literacy is as important as any other literacy. Every day people are faced with information citing statistical data, and the ability to critically evaluate such information is paramount.

“In education, and working with individuals, how do you help an individual student? You have to be able to get past that gut feeling, stereotype and look at information objectively,” said Holm. “That’s what analytics helps you do. It’s another tool to help educators.”

Changing classroom

Stupnisky says such tools are especially useful as online education becomes more prevalent.

“If I were teaching a class of 25 face-to-face and I notice a student at the back constantly furrowing their brow, asking people next to them questions, I would know that student is having trouble or my curriculum wasn’t clear,” he said. “When you’re teaching an online class with more students, those indicators aren’t in front of you – how do you really know?”

By being able to see how students interact with the coursework, alerts could tell instructors that a student needs more attention, or perhaps that the curriculum isn’t working. Stupnisky says that applications such as UND’s Blackboard and Starfish help produce such data, but more people need to know how to find it and what to do with it.

In implementing the certificate, Stupnisky says the department wanted to make it approachable for both K12 and higher education settings. Enrollment solely requires a bachelor’s degree and doesn’t assume prior knowledge of education or analytics fields. The courses are fully online, so students can enroll from anywhere, complete the work as their schedule allows and complete the program in 12 months. Students are trained to use a free, open-source software, called R, for data analysis.

“We’re looking for anybody in an education setting who has access to data, who needs to do something with it, and would like to develop some skills to do it as best as they can,” he said.

Provost Forum features array of UND developments, short and long term plans for campus facilities

Provost Tom DiLorenzo brought in voices from teaching development, enrollment and facilities in the academic year’s final Provost Forum. Photo by Jackie Lorentz/UND Today.

Hosting his final open forum of the academic year, Provost Tom DiLorenzo wanted a variety of campus initiatives represented.

Starting with a look at teaching evaluations led by Lori Swinney of the Teaching Transformation and Development Academy (TTaDA), Janelle Kilgore talked enrollment outlooks for 2019; Karyn Plumm briefed attendees on student orientation changes; and Mike Pieper put ongoing and upcoming campus projects into perspective, including the reconstruction of University Avenue this year.

“There have been a number of things, really positive and exciting things, happening on campus,” DiLorenzo said.

Bigger picture

Swinney, a digital learning specialist with TTaDA, says a holistic evaluation to teaching brings in multiple dimensions of data and feedback while providing the best overall snapshot of one’s professional development. The concept encompasses self and peer evaluations, records of research and professional development, as well as factors such as course planning and grading.

Lori Swinney

The Student Evaluation of Learning and Feedback for Instructors (SELFI) is an increasingly important data point in this holistic endeavor.

“Improving SELFI scores has been a focus for the past two semesters,” Swinney said. “We increased the number of SELFIs submitted, but we’re continuing this effort. We have great resources about how you’re able to get students to use them, and use them effectively.”

Within SELFIs, students answer questions pertaining to the learning environment, engagement, graded materials and rapport with instructors.

At TTaDA, they’re also rolling out the UND Digital Badging Initiative. This recent trend in higher education puts skills, learning and experience on display. By attending a professional development activity, you can earn a badge. A badge can be upgraded by verifiably applying and sharing the skills one learns in such activities.

“Badging and authenticating work that students, faculty and staff do is part of the top ten key trends in higher education,” Swinney said, citing a national higher education technology report.

On-track enrollment

Kilgore showed that the quality of incoming students is an important trend in enrollment at UND, despite a dip in Fall 2018 headcount.

Janelle Kilgore

“As we continue to have steady enrollment, we are seeing increased quality,” the interim vice provost of strategic enrollment management said. “The biggest indicator for student academics is high school GPA. We want to make sure students coming in are successful in your classes and successful with progressing to graduation.”

Other highlights from Kilgore include UND being the first institution in the state to send out financial award letters and award packages to incoming freshman. Also, there has been a five percent increase in students from low-income families submitting enrollment deposits.

“My previous role was financial aid director and access is significant for me,” she said. “This increase represented a huge success, as we are creating more access to students.”

University stewards

With clean-cut goals for Fall 2019 numbers, Kilgore reminded the Provost Forum audience that they’re all recruiters for UND. She said it’s important to maintain positive interactions with students, and getting the word out whenever possible about the successes of UND.

She shared a tweet from someone who came to campus, with their family, for a tour. After locking their keys in their car, UND campus police were quickly on the scene to assist.

“This could have been a very bad day, and not because of anything at UND,” Kilgore said. “But because our fabulous police department came and unlocked their car, UND jumped up in their minds.”

Karyn Plumm

DiLorenzo was able to share his own experience of UND police helping him get unstuck from a snow drift, saying they regularly go above and beyond to make people feel safe and welcome on campus.

“I don’t think people understand how fantastic our police force is, and that tweet was a great example,” DiLorenzo said.

Plumm, in talking about freshman orientation, furthered the notion of UND faculty and staff as stewards of the University.

“We’ll have orientation groups on campus from June 10 through July 18, so if you’re on campus and see families, say hi, welcome people,” she said. “Make sure to have those positive interactions.”

The assistant vice provost for student success updated forum attendees on the location of orientation, which moved to Columbia Hall in the wake of the Memorial Union’s reconstruction starting this summer. Days will be college-specific, as students will visit on the basis of the programs they selected.

“We’ll make sure to update their major and adviser changes, everything, so when they leave they’ll have everything available in their Campus Connection and Starfish accounts,” Plumm said. “If they have questions, they can reach out to someone on campus over the summer.”

Groundbreaking work

The Coulee to Columbia Initiative is seeing major steps this summer, says Mike Pieper, associate vice president for facilities, with the reconstruction of University Avenue. The City of Grand Forks project will rework UND’s main drag from the English Coulee to Columbia Road. Pieper says a reconstructed University Avenue will provide 42 percent more efficiency to vehicle traffic during peak changes (people walking to and from class) and yield a 27 percent reduction in terms of safety conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians.

Mike Pieper

“The City is concerned about timing, as they got heat last year about 42^nd Street’s reconstruction,” Pieper said on Thursday. “The difference between these projects is, this year, it is a complete shutdown and one phase. They’re predicting to have it open by move in day, this fall.”

He went on to characterize other “short term pains” involving other major projects happening over the summer.

The new steam plant construction, and its accompanying building infrastructure work, will create some strain in campus transit, Pieper says. Lane closures are to be expected this summer; the new plant is expected to be completed a year from now, in April 2020. The demolition of the old plant, soon after, will allow for expanded parking and a more direct flow of traffic through the south end of campus.

Other projects will be renovations to the Chester Fritz Library, including the relocation of UND’s IT department into the building and improving its general condition, and completing renovations to the Gershman Center.

“Our goal is to get it up and running before school, so it can be another place for students while the Union is down,” Pieper said of what was recently known as the J. Lloyd Stone Alumni Center, or the Oxford House.

On the topic of “what’s next,” Pieper had an exhaustive list on hand – exploring public-private partnerships with housing and mixed use buildings; a new College of Business & Public Administration; phase two of the High Performance Center; transitioning Babcock Hall into a big data hub and working with Aerospace on a new flight operations building.

This summer, the facilities team is hoping to have responses for a request for proposal on campus signage. Wayfinding, as a campus initiative, has been in the works for almost three years now. Pieper says the amount of movement around campus has created a lot of signage that isn’t consistent.

“It will be exciting to see,” DiLorenzo said of what’s to come from this summer’s projects. “The Coulee to Columbia concept is coming together. As parents and students are here for orientation, it’s important to give them a good impression.”

After two weeks as interim president, Dr. Joshua Wynne shares his vision for the University

Dr. Joshua Wynne, UND vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, was named interim president of the University of North Dakota by a unanimous vote from the State Board of Higher Education.

Dr. Joshua Wynne, interim president of the University of North Dakota, understands the value of history, but he prefers to focus on the road ahead rather than the past.

“It’s okay to look in the rearview mirror; just don’t stare,” he explained. “Certainly, the past informs our thoughts and impressions of the future, but if we continue to focus on the past, then we miss the present and the opportunities for the future.”

On May 30, Wynne, who’s also the UND vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, was named the University’s interim president while a permanent successor is sought for former UND President Mark Kennedy. After two weeks in his new role, Wynne outlined his approach to new responsibilities and how he’ll work with key University constituencies, including faculty and staff.

“Let’s join hands to start fully implementing the One UND Strategic Plan and then move forward with an understanding that our direction can be adjusted to some degree as things evolve,” he said. “We need to have open and honest communication that goes in both directions as we move forward – but let’s keep moving forward.”

Maintaining momentum

UND’s strategic plan enjoys broad support and provides a good blueprint for the University, Wynne noted, adding that maintaining momentum is one of his primary goals.

“The efforts to beautify the campus, to address issues of deferred maintenance, to work on improving student graduation rates, to be ever mindful of the issue of student debt and the cost of an education – I think all the initiatives that we’re working on to address those issues are the right initiatives. What I hope we’ll do under my tenure as interim president is continue to execute the plans that are in place to get good outcomes on all of those issues.”

One of the opportunities on which Wynne said UND must capitalize is more virtual education experiences – a larger online presence. But he also said it’s important to not lose sight of the on-campus student experience while finding the correct balance in an increasingly digital world.

“I’m glad that we are addressing those issues now,” Wynne said. “We need to continue to be a leader in this regard. I’m really focused on getting a better feeling for the depth and breadth of our online activities, and to continue this emphasis in the future. They will be an important part of how we deliver educational experience going forward. They’re already an important part, and I think the trend is clear that they will be increasingly important in the future.”

Dr. Wynne believes that building relationships with students, alumni, philanthropists, the community, the State Board of Higher Education and the North Dakota Legislature encourages communications – forming a basis for mutual respect. (above) Dr. Wynne, dean welcomes Dr. Don Warne (right) as the new director of Indians into Medicine (INMED). Image courtesy of Wanda Weber/School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

Relationships are key

Wynne believes that building relationships with students, alumni, philanthropists, the community, the State Board of Higher Education and the North Dakota Legislature encourages communications – forming a basis for mutual respect and doing what’s right for the people of North Dakota.

“The University of North Dakota is a public university, supported by generous public support through the North Dakota Legislature,” he said. “One of the things I’ve tried to do when I’ve represented the School of Medicine & Health Sciences is to be completely open and frank with the members of the legislature. They clearly value a relationship where they know that I’m providing information in as appropriate and accurate way as possible, and that’s what the term ‘a good faith effort’ really means.”

Wynne said he prefers to emphasize the presidential aspect of his new temporary title as UND’s interim president.

“I’m going to do my very best to do the right thing for the University and for the people of North Dakota,” Wynne explained. “I intend to act as president for whatever time I’m in the interim role. I am not going to put off decisions because they’re tough or awkward. Rather, I’m going to do what a sitting president would do, which is to solicit input, get advice and then make the very best decision I can under the circumstances. I intend to try to do the right thing, and to do the right thing in a timely fashion so that we don’t end up in a period of suspended animation.”

(Above) Dr. Wynne seeks input during a UND SMHS Faculty Academic Council meeting. Dr. Wynne recently pointed out that, after serving as SMHS dean and as a UND vice president for Health Affairs  for 10 years, his knowledge of and familiarity with the University’s management and operations is strong. But now he’s experiencing them from a different perspective now as interim president. Photo by Tyler Ingham/UND Today.

New perspective

Wynne pointed out that after serving as SMHS dean and as a UND vice president for 10 years, his knowledge of and familiarity with the University’s management and operations is strong. But now he’s experiencing them from a different perspective.

“I’ve been well acclimated to university-wide issues prior to the past two weeks, but it certainly is even more cogent and interesting now that I’m in the office of the president,” Wynne said. “From everything I’ve been able to gather, my assessment is that the University is in a good position. What we need to do now is keep moving forward and striving for excellence.

“We as One UND – the faculty, staff and students, – have identified the right things to work on,” he continued, “And we now need to move ahead with those tasks.”

NDUS search committee mulls visions for the future, attributes of next UND leader

A “cloud map” lists attributes that listening session attendees want to see in UND’s next president. Graphic courtesy of North Dakota University System

UND’s presidential search will impact generations of students.

That was the message from Mark Hagerott, chancellor of the North Dakota University System, at the inaugural meeting of the presidential search committee on July 24. President Mark Kennedy left UND in June to assume the presidency of the University of Colorado System. Dr. Joshua Wynne, vice president for health affairs and dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, is serving as interim president.

“People are looking to the future,” Hagerott said. “If you look at the key attributes that people want in UND’s next president, you will see words like building, aspiration, growth. We need to adapt to the future and create a vision for UND that’s aligned for the future.”

Hagerott was speaking about the results of three listening sessions conducted by committee co-chairs Dr. Casey Ryan (State Board of Higher Education vice chair, physician and former president of Altru Health System) and Dennis Elbert (former dean of the College of Business & Public Administration).  Around 30 people attended each session, which yielded a seven-page, single-spaced list of attributes that attendees want to see in the next president. That list, along with a “cloud map” of key words from the sessions, was distributed to the committee members. Additional listening sessions will be held with students during the fall semester.

“The idea of servant leadership jumped out,” said Elbert. “People are looking for someone with a passion for UND who will focus on service to the state of North Dakota. There was an emphasis on transparency, trust and integrity. What also stood out was the need for ‘management by walking around.’ What does that mean? To me, it means working with and showing concern for others. People want bold thinking, and that idea of servant leadership really resonated.”

At the inaugural meeting of the presidential search committee, members discussed results of three prior listening sessions and the recruitment process for finding UND’s next leader. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

Lots of advice

Elbert said that there are good things at UND that people want to continue, especially the One UND Strategic Plan.

“The city of Grand Forks is pleased with their relationship with UND,” Elbert said. “It’s the best it’s been in years, and they find it very worthwhile.”

Elbert also noted that some underlying concerns are not new.

“Some of these issues were present in 2015 during the last presidential search,” he said.

Members of the committee said they had also received a number of comments about the type of person who could best serve UND.

“We’re getting advice from across the galaxy,” Elbert said.

“There has been a lot of reference to the good old days of President Clifford (who served from 1971 to 1992),” said another committee member. “He was a great man, but his style of leadership would not work today. We need to be realistic. Times have changed.”

Committee members noted that Clifford’s powerful personality, people skills and communication ability would be good attributes in UND’s next president.

Mark Hagerott, chancellor of the North Dakota University System, said the next president of UND needs a future focus. The committee will develop three finalists to be interviewed by the State Board of Higher Education. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

Down to business

The committee is charged with bringing three unranked finalists to interview with the State Board of Higher Education.

They listened to a presentation on open records law, learning that meetings are open to the public, but names and documents of all applicants except the finalists are closed. They hope that will allow strong candidates, perhaps including sitting presidents, to apply.

There was some discussion of the position description, which includes a statement that the desired candidate should have a connection to UND and the state. Members agreed to re-word that section to make it more open to applicants from outside the area. There was also some discussion about the desire to have a president who would remain in office for a longer period of time.

“We need someone with ‘staying ability,’ Elbert said. “A president needs a number of years to be effective and make accomplishments.”

Student Body President and committee member Gracie Lian agreed.

“I have friends in their fifth year of school who have had four presidents,” she said. “I want to avoid that for future students. They feel the underlying issues, and it affects them.”

“We are looking for stability,” said Dr. Ryan. “But nothing in the document obligates a president to be here a certain number of years. We can’t do that.” Hagerott noted that a member of the State Board of Higher Education is looking at updating presidential contracts and possibly adding financial penalties for early departures, as well as incentives for longer tenure.

The committee agreed to use AGB Search, a higher education search firm which has done several searches for NDUS, after reviewing bids. They had originally wanted to use a recruiting firm, but it would take more time to send out RFPs to possible vendors than to use an already-approved vendor such as AGB. Instead, they reduced the duties of the firm from 20 to nine, with Ryan and Elbert taking on the additional search duties, including some recruiting. Cost will be $57,530, substantially less than a full search.

The committee hopes to complete its work before July 2020, and has an accelerated timeline but no deadline.

“We want to get the right person, not the quickest,” said a committee member. “There is a sense of urgency, but there is also a lot of confidence in Interim President Wynne.”

President opens up about leadership style, support for One UND Strategic Plan and future of online education

UND Interim President Joshua Wynne shared the floor with local business and community leaders last week at Minnkota Power Cooperative. The University’s leader seeks debate and discussion in order to develop consensus among the broader community. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

When UND Interim President Joshua Wynne holds a meeting, he doesn’t want just updates or the latest gossip.

In front of Grand Forks business and community leaders last Tuesday, Wynne proclaimed he relishes discussion and debate. If he’s in a meeting, he wants to hear multiple perspectives, popular or not, on the issues of the day.

“Unpopular ideas are how we work toward the best answers,” he said, inviting members and friends of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp. (EDC) to ask questions and comment on the University’s leadership.

Hosted by Minnkota Power Cooperative, the gathering served as yet another platform for Wynne to clarify his objectives and motivations for his service as UND president on an interim basis. Especially emphasized was his desire to regularly and openly communicate with the area’s business community.

Keith Lund, president and CEO of the EDC, was pleased to hear it.

“It’s very clear that he intends to maintain momentum,” Lund remarked afterward. “He’s not going to be custodial in this role, and he plans to continue making connections within the community.”

It’s important that communication remains consistent, Lund said – that both town and gown understand the issues and work together to address them.

“This event today is an example of how important that is,” he concluded. “Our turnout was fantastic, even on a great summer day like today. It demonstrates the value the community sees in this dialogue.”

Wynne was able to reiterate his personal support of the One UND Strategic Plan, which is a value shared among many in the local business community. Wynne spoke specifically to research and philanthropic support when prompted to speak on strategic priorities. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

Solid roadmap

Wynne’s invitation to share the floor was met with questions regarding international recruitment, the One UND Strategic Plan and the balance of online and on-campus education.

The UND leader continued to operate from the tagline, “Moving forward, striving for excellence.”

Concerning education, research and service to the community, Wynne reiterated that the University’s strategic plan is a solid roadmap. The objective now is to continue progress on the plan’s tenets, which need to be flexible in changing circumstances.

“You have to be able to evolve your plan as conditions change,” he said. “But I think it’s a good roadmap for now, and that’s not just my opinion. That’s what I hear from the community and my colleagues on-campus.”

Prompted by Lund to speak on potential priorities for the strategic plan, Wynne talked about two that were “near and dear” to his heart under former president Mark Kennedy: research and philanthropic support.

First, “there has been substantive growth in the appreciation of the importance of research and scholarship in our community, both locally and many places in North Dakota,” he said, bringing up recent legislative considerations for research funding. “I’m quite confident that 10 years ago, that serious discussion would not have occurred.”

Wynne hopes to continue the upward trajectory of research at UND through developing a permanent Vice President for Research & Economic Development, ensuring stability in that division, and working with the State Board of Higher Education’s Research Committee, which met for the first time Wednesday.

Regarding the importance of philanthropic support, Wynne cited medical school successes in mitigating student debt. UND’s School of Medicine & Health Sciences has been able to buck the trends of rising financial burden by having “skin in the game” with donors, as well as “generous support” from the Legislature. One key program, RuralMed, pays students’ tuition in return for the students practicing for five years in rural North Dakota.

“A fact I’ve learned is that many [undergraduate] students graduate with no debt,” Wynne said. “On the other hand, trying to increase support of scholarships is important for kids who don’t think they have the resources to go to college. Then those who do come from rural areas or less-well-off families won’t be saddled with debt.”

Wynne, speaking with Grand Forks County Administrator Tom Ford and UND Student Body President Gracie Lian, says the balance of online and on-campus education is the essential question of university leadership. UND’s push for online growth comes amidst ominous forecasting for the future of higher education. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

Essential questions

Grand Forks County Administrator Tom Ford followed Wynne’s points on financial burden by bringing up UND’s goal of leading in online education. He expressed concern over the potential conflict between bolstering an online presence and maintaining on-campus growth. Students living in Grand Forks impact the area’s economy, in both workforce and tax revenue.

“If there is one issue that I didn’t appreciate but over the last five weeks have come to understand, this is it, and it’s an essential question that we need to answer moving forward,” Wynne replied.

Wynne cited predictions by Harvard Business School Professor Clay Christensen that half of higher education institutions in the country will be obsolete in the next 10 years – a casualty of the digital revolution.

But in the same body of work, Wynne noted, Christensen found that some of the biggest donations to universities are made for a specific reason: that a particular experience with a professor changed the lives of those in a position to give back.

While online education is less likely to produce those life-altering relationships, it won’t completely supplant the on-campus experience, Wynne said.

“I think we have to work through a hybrid approach,” he said. “Online is an important part of the way we educate students now, and it will continue to be.”

After hearing Wynne’s dialogue with the audience, Grand Forks Chamber President and CEO Barry Wilfahrt concluded that the University is in good hands.

“The fact he said he’s going to be an interim president with an emphasis on president was impressive,” he said, echoing the view that the strategic plan is popular within the business community. “This isn’t a time in any business or organization where you can be in a placeholder role. If you aren’t working hard to move forward, you’re moving backward – it’s critical.

“People who worked with Dr. Wynne on the medical school project, with the Legislature, know he has a track record of success and credibility. The medical school and his programs are two of our strongest successes, and we expect that he’ll transfer that approach to the entire University.”

Chamber members hear about UND construction plans

Speaking to the Business, Government, Education Alliance Committee of The Chamber of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, members of UND’s executive leadership team presented construction updates and outlined future projects. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

Together, we build the future.

That message resonated when UND leaders met with a key committee of The Chamber of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks early Wednesday morning.

“Our relationship with UND has never been better,” said Todd Feland, city administrator for Grand Forks and committee co-chair. “It’s based on real opportunities.”

Along with construction updates, the Business, Government, Education Alliance Committee learned about future projects, including a proposed new College of Business and Public Administration.

As committee members saw slides of the building and perused an information booklet, DeAnna Carlson Zink, CEO of the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, spoke about the project’s importance.

“The College of Business & Public Administration is losing the recruiting battle,” said Carlson Zink. “We have an urgent need to update the building. Students and their families are coming through Gamble Hall, walking out the door and heading south down I-29, where they will see new business school buildings at Concordia, NDSU, South Dakota State, and Omaha, all built in the last six to 10 years. Some of these students, even if their parents are alumni, don’t choose UND for business.

“We have outstanding programs and faculty. We need a great facility to compete.”

It’s not just about a new building, Carlson Zink said. New facilities could help increase internships, grow enrollment, recruit faculty and update the curriculum, as well as offer new majors.

Carlson Zink spoke to the committee about the need for a new College of Business & Public Administration facility. With a new home, UND’s business school could make up ground in the race for recruiting students and faculty. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

The future of business

“We don’t just educate students for 2030,” Carlson Zink said. “We need to educate students for 2050 and 2075.” Focus groups want the school to concentrate on collaboration with businesses, she added.

“This is about creating opportunities for students tomorrow – today,” she said.

A new College of Business & Public Administration building has been made possible by a “magnificent” $20 million anonymous gift, said Jed Shivers, UND Vice President for Finance and Operation. The North Dakota Legislature approved $20 million in matching funds, and an additional $30 million is being sought from donors.

“We’ve been talking about and working on the Business & Public Administration building for 15 years,” Carlson Zink said. “It’s important to the University and the state. We have sent so many leaders into the state and world from this college, and we want to show the Legislature that they made a good commitment.”

UND hopes to have enough money raised for construction to begin in the fall. “I want to thank legislators and the business community for helping make this happen,” Carlson Zink said.

Rendering of the new College of Business & Public Administration. Image courtesy of JLG Architects.

Compact and connected

Construction updates took up much of the rest of the meeting.

UND has more than enough space, but that space can be better used, said Mike Pieper, associate vice president for facilities.

The ultimate goal, Pieper said, is for the UND campus to be compact and connected, and for the core campus to contain nearly all academic space except for the medical and aerospace complexes. Adding new housing options and mixed-use space will make the campus more vibrant, he added.

“We are investing $350 million in the academic core of campus,” Pieper said. “Much of that is restoration. I’ve never seen so many original windows.”

Classic buildings, including Gustafson and Carnegie halls, will be remodeled and restored to their original look. Babcock Hall, the original home of the College of Engineering & Mines, will be remodeled and restored with an addition. It will house “big data” and computer science.

UND is currently building a new energy-efficient steam plant, and the old plant will be removed, opening up the campus. The project is part of a public/private partnership with Johnson Controls, and UND hopes to initiate similar team efforts.

In addition, “I’m always asked about Ray Richards Golf Course,” Pieper said as he put up a slide of the greens. “All the greens have been rebuilt, and we expect a soft opening in the fall.”

Brian Larson, director of construction management, presented updates on the Memorial Union and the upcoming unveiling of the Gershman Engagement Center. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

Campus renewal

UND is undergoing a historic level of campus renewal, said Brian Larson, director of construction management at the university.

“The Coulee to Columbia project will upgrade University Avenue with raised medians that channel pedestrians to crosswalks and improve traffic flow,” Larson said. “We’re excited to open University Avenue. It’s been a great project that uses local contractors.”

The original president’s home, previously known as the Stone House, will become the Gershman Engagement Center, thanks to the generosity of Hal and Kathy Gershman. The renovated building will be a center for graduate and international student collaboration.

“Historic features have been left intact,” Larson said. “It’s a beautiful building.”

Larson said that the Memorial Union is nearly demolished, and he showed slides of the new student union, which will be built on the site.

“It will be the living room of campus,” Larson said.

The new three-story, 158,000-square-foot Memorial Union will include study and meeting spaces with up-to-date technology, expanded dining and retail options, indoor/outdoor gathering spaces, a rooftop terrace and much more.

UND proud

“We are working to make the University and community proud,” said Shivers. “Consolidating space is not easy to do. We know there are strong feelings about it, and we are working with the community and Historical Preservation Society.”

Shivers said the Memorial Union project has been driven by students, and described how the University worked to offset the costs to students by reducing the amount of student fees.

“President Wynne is very focused on student debt,” Shivers said. “At his direction, the University will contribute another $250,000 per year related to the future Memorial Union, and that will help to reduce overall student fees.”

Shivers was able to provide breakdowns of financial data, as well as answers regarding UND’s focus on high-value education and online programs. Photo by Connor Murphy/UND Today.

Question and answer

After the presentation, UND administrators took questions from committee members.

UND’s tuition is very reasonable compared to other colleges, said a legislator. Shivers replied that UND looks very carefully at tuition, which is below Minnesota averages and 25 percent lower than the University of Minnesota-Crookston.

“We are very competitive, and we will continue that,” said Shivers. “This reflects what we want to do in the state. We want to stay affordable and provide high value.”

A committee member asked how many students take online courses at UND.

“Online courses are tailored to meet the needs of students,” said Shivers. “They are demanding it. Nearly half of our students have taken an online course.”

Regarding online-only students, Shivers said Mayville State University has the highest rate in North Dakota, with about 40 percent of enrollees taking courses exclusively online. UND has about 21 percent of online-only students, while NDSU has 4 percent.

In answer to a question on how online learning affects campus space, Pieper said it does have an influence, but that influence is counterbalanced by active learning classrooms and other amenities on campus, including a new Student Union.

“It’s all about student connections,” said Cara Halgren, vice president for student affairs. “If students are connected, they’re happier. Anxiety is an issue, especially with the rise in technology. Students feel less connected, and we’re looking at how to create space for human connection. That’s why we need the new Memorial Union and the business college.

“We talk to parents who say their children are high academic performers, but that their children need to make friends.”

The new buildings, as well as other campus construction, will help fulfill that goal, she added.

Said Vice President for Marketing & Communications Meloney Linder to the committee, “Thank you for all you do for UND. This work doesn’t happen alone.”

First official meeting between President Wynne and student leaders represents start of key dialogue

In their first official meeting, held at the North Dakota Museum of Art, student body leaders Gracie Lian and Matthew Ternus brought Joshua Wynne, UND’s interim president, up to speed on important issues for UND’s students. Photo by Mike Hess/UND Today.

The new president met the new president for the first time, officially, on Tuesday.

Neither let their “newness” get in the way of tackling topics top of mind for UND’s students.

Lunching together at the North Dakota Museum of Art Café, University of North Dakota Study Body President Gracie Lian and Vice President Matthew Ternus met with Joshua Wynne, interim president of UND, to begin a fresh chapter of campus leadership.

The student body leaders brought the university’s top executive up to speed on issues the students had addressed on the campaign trail this spring, on their path to their April election as president and vice president.

Their meeting last week was an important first step, Wynne says, as some of the topics discussed were the first he’s heard of them. As permanent dean of UND’s School of Medicine & Health Sciences, his prior concerns had mostly been at the graduate level.

“It doesn’t mean these issues have easy solutions, but I can’t be working on them if I don’t have the awareness,” he said. Among the subjects discussed were campus internet, open educational resources, Game Day experiences and further connecting UND to the Grand Forks community.

Maintaining awareness among administrators is crucial, the student leaders say, as both parties gear up to lead campus through the coming semesters.

Top of mind topics

Ternus, after having conversations around campus, had some expectations of what he was walking into in meeting with President Wynne.

“You hear about someone who is dedicated to improving the quality of education and the quality of the student experience,” he said. “That’s exactly who we saw in this meeting.”

Lian’s impressions before lunching with the president were similarly positive, remarking, “people described how he listens first; how he’s a hard worker; and how he really cares. Our conversation made it obvious that he’ll be maintaining these qualities through his tenure.”

Ternus, a junior majoring in secondary education, says the president was attentive and supportive toward their platform.

“I thought it went really well,” he said, pointing to the discussion of campus internet as an example. “Specifically, that was something he was excited to hear about – that there is a need and want for stronger, more stable internet. It’s an example of something he wasn’t aware of as a big topic among everyday students that Gracie and I found during the campaign. Things like that can be eye-opening and show why it’s important to have this dialogue continue.”

Former Student Body Vice President Kaleb Dschaak, now a student representative on the State Board of Higher Education, also attended the lunch, but said he mostly listened to the exchange.

Dschaak said he wanted to hear what the two parties plan to pursue, as it may impact his role with the state board. In the future, he’ll be bringing topics of his own to the administration’s attention.

“It’s unique because you’re watching student leaders take over and President Wynne stepping in. You see the parallels,” Dschaak described, speaking from his experience in Ternus’ place. “I saw how quickly they were able to start brainstorming around the discussion, and it marks a positive start to the school year.”

Following their meeting, Ternus said Wynne was attentive and supportive toward their platform. Wynne, moving into a broader leadership role as interim president, appreciates the amount of awareness the pair are able to provide. Photo by Mike Hess/UND Today.

Creating “One Campus”

The conversations between Lian, Ternus and Wynne will continue on a monthly basis, the student body leaders told UND Today. Ternus says he’s hoping to follow through on what’s been established, as well as bring new ideas to the table as they arise.

Through their campaign slogan of “One Campus,” the pair are also aiming to keep students aware as conditions change around campus. The Memorial Union and University Avenue’s reconstruction are top of mind.

They want to establish a direct line to students through a student government newsletter and continue development of a UND app focused on student engagement: construction updates, events, easy access to Blackboard and Campus Connection, and so on.

“When you tell most people walking around campus that you work with student government, you’re greeted with, ‘What’s student government?’” Ternus said. “We want to provide them the opportunity to hear what we’re working on.”

Lian recognizes Wynne as potentially their biggest advocate when it comes to lifting the student voice. She says keeping him up to date on UND students’ needs can help him and his vice presidents shape the University’s agenda.

“You can’t be an effective leader and effective advocate for change if you don’t know what the average student is needing in their studies,” she explained. “So when he mentions ‘shifting’ from graduate to undergraduate, he’s working hard to understand the differences and needs.”

UND leader launches inaugural ‘Presidential Podcast’ to more regularly engage with campus community and beyond

UND Interim President Joshua Wynne launched his first-ever “UND Presidential Podcast” over the weekend.

University of North Dakota Interim President Joshua Wynne has taken to the air waves.

In an effort to continually find fresh, new ways to bring the campus community, as well as our valued external stakeholders, updates about the University and its service to the State and region, President Wynne launched his first-ever “UND Presidential Podcast” over the weekend.

Below, you should see – or better yet hear — the inaugural installment of this new venture, which President Wynne intends to make a biweekly part of your University’s communication plans. Each recording roughly runs about 5-6 minutes.

“I hope you enjoy these regular opportunities for me to more actively engage with you,” Wynne stated in his greeting, introducing the audio recordings to the campus community and beyond.

The first recording largely centers on the recent New Faculty and Administrators Bus Tour of North Dakota, with mentions of many of the UND alumni, legislators, business leaders and North Dakota citizens, who we were able to visit right in their own backyards and main streets.

The Transcript

A transcript of the recording follows:

Hello, I’m Interim University of North Dakota President Joshua Wynne. You may also know me as the Vice President for Health Affairs at UND and the proud Dean of YOUR School of Medicine & Health Sciences.

I want to welcome you to the inaugural edition of what we hope will be a biweekly update to the campus community — and beyond — about important happenings and exciting developments at UND!

Sometimes those exciting developments take place off campus … as was the case in August, when I had the pleasure of hosting the annual UND Bus Tour of North Dakota. This year, about 30 of us, many new UND faculty and administrators, traveled across the northern portion of North Dakota.

Each year since 1990, UND’s newcomers have boarded a UND bus to see the Peace Garden State firsthand. Stops on this year’s three-day tour dotted U.S. Highway 2 westward to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and back again. We had stops in Grafton, Devils Lake, Minot, Velva, New Town, Watford City, Tioga, Rugby and Lakota.

We were treated to walkthroughs of the Marvin Windows plant in Grafton and Leading Edge Equipment in Devils Lake, along with tours of the Three Affiliated Tribes Museum in New Town, a drive through the North Dakota Badlands and so much more.

We met lots of alumni along the way, all of whom reinforced how important their alma mater is to them and to the State of North Dakota. The alums included Jim Vasichek, owner of Leading Edge Equipment, Joe Gillis of the Three Affiliated Tribes and Jessie Veeder of McKenzie Country/Watford City Tourism.

We also were thrilled to be greeted by many state legislators and other dignitaries in their home districts. They included State Sen. Dale Patten in Watford City, Reps. Jay Fisher and Matt Ruby and Sen. Karen Krebsbach in Minot and Rep. Jon Nelson in Rugby.

Among other highlights was a visit and supper at Black Butte Acres, on the Effertz Farm in Velva. The farm is a family business run by Jerry and Norma Effertz with assistance from their daughters, Maria and Kayla, who both are UND alums. They were wonderful hosts, and all radiated their passion for the beauty and wonder of living in rural North Dakota. Especially for new faculty and staff who are not from North Dakota, the visit provided a unique and instructive perspective on rural life.

Another point of interest for me and others was a stop at McKenzie County Healthcare Systems in Watford City, hosted by CEO Dan Kelly. Dan is one of the real leaders in rural health care delivery, and he educated our busload of new North Dakotans on the current status of health care in his region. As you undoubtedly know, Watford City has experienced as dramatic a transformation as perhaps any locale in North Dakota as a result of the oil boom. According to another of our tour guides, Daniel Stenberg of McKenzie County Economic Development, the town’s population has increased something like four-fold or more, and it sports a variety of new facilities to support the burgeoning community.

As for natural beauty, a trip to the nearby North Unit of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, with our hostess Jessie Veeder, provided everyone with an awareness and appreciation for the ruggedness and solitude of this part of North Dakota’s landscape.

On the morning of the bus tour’s third and final day, we were treated to breakfast with high-performing, incoming UND students from the Minot area along with their parents. Those students are starting their UND careers this semester, and I spoke with several of the students and their families. I was impressed with their eagerness to get started on their chosen career paths. Their passion for North Dakota and UND was quite evident. I also had a chance to meet Tara Mulhauser, a UND student advisor in western North Dakota. Tara helps advise interested high school students with information about opportunities at UND. Thank you, Tara, for all you and your fellow advisors do for UND and our future students!

Before returning to Grand Forks, the bus tour paid a visit to Neset Consulting Services and its president, Kathy Neset, who also is a member of the State Board of Higher Education. We visited Kathy’s homegrown business in Tioga, and her business supports other companies in the Bakken region as they drill deep into the state’s resource-rich subsurface to extract oil and natural gas. Kathy treated us to lunch and an enlightening “Bakken 101” presentation on what has made North Dakota the second-largest oil producing state in the nation, in short time. 

Then it was off to Rugby, the geographical center of North America, for old-style ice cream treats and other refreshments, before taking part in a delightful and delicious community supper in Lakota’s recently-restored historic public library.

It was a great trip and served to highlight the vital role UND has across the state. It was truly time well-spent!

And we got back to Grand Forks just in time to see a revamped and refurbished University Avenue open up to the public after months of construction.  It’s perfect timing as we welcome our students for the start of the fall semester, including what we now know to be the best-prepared freshman class in UND history.

Tune in for more on that next time.

Well, that’s it for today. Thanks so much for joining me. I hope you enjoyed hearing this update as much as I did bringing it to you. And I look forward to bringing much more information to you through the sound of my voice in the weeks and months ahead.

Go UND!

After gaining ground with graduation rates, emphasis shifts to another Strategic Plan goal: student retention

Dubbing this academic year the ‘Year of Retention,’ Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Tom DiLorenzo wants to make sure the One UND Strategic Plan is successful on all fronts, after marked improvements in graduation rates. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.

First it was graduation rates, a core element of the One UND Strategic Plan.

Now…

“I’ve dubbed this year as the Year of Retention,” said Tom DiLorenzo, UND provost and vice president of academic affairs, at the Provost’s Forum on campus in September.

“We’ve done a fabulous job with enhancing graduation rates. Over the past three years, we’ve boosted our graduation rates by more than 10 percent.

“That’s phenomenal,” he added. “No other university that I know of can make that statement. It’s tremendous.”

“But we haven’t done quite as well on retention,” even though boosting retention rates also is a part of the strategic plan, DiLorenzo said.

Indeed, the University’s most recent figures back this up:  Retention fell slightly this year, as the fourth-week enrollment figures show. That means the freshmen who entered UND last fall were a little less likely to return as sophomores than were the freshmen who entered two years ago, in 2017.

“We need to be working on ways of keeping students here from fall to spring and beyond,” DiLorenzo said at the Provost’s Forum.

“So, I am working with the deans, the core and professional advisors and other individuals from across campus to help us with retention. And you can all participate in that,” DiLorenzo added, sweeping his arm to indicate the audience.

​Students are customers, and we can learn a lot from how successful retailers treat their customers, he suggested. Student service and retention go hand in hand.

“At any given point in time, you can just say to a student, ‘How are you doing?’” the provost said at the forum.

“You can just reach out and say, ‘How can I help you?’ And those are important things, because if students feel like they are part of a community – if they feel like they are being recognized – if they feel like someone cares about them, that plays a huge part in their decision to stay at UND.”

Recently, DiLorenzo spoke in more detail with UND Today about the University’s Year of Retention plans.

As mentioned, it’s all about ​student service and caring for each other, he said. But it’s especially about data-driven ​student service, meaning those practices that have proven effective at UND and elsewhere at boosting retention.

At the first Provost’s Forum of the 2019-20 academic year, DiLorenzo outlined his vision for the ‘Year of Retention.’ Photo by Dima Williams/UND Today.

Starfish

Starfish is one such tool. Already familiar to most on campus, Starfish is an online student success platform whose use at UND gets more robust every year. Using Starfish, faculty can tell students when they are falling short, when they are doing well and how they can continue to be Leaders in Action.

As important, Starfish gives faculty an “early alert” system to quickly ​communicate to students, advisors and others when students are having attendance or other difficulties.

“By being able to say things like, ‘Hey, I see that you weren’t in class for a few days. Is anything going on?’, you can step in and maybe coach or help them before they are thinking about dropping out,” DiLorenzo said.

Starfish is a formal part of the One UND Strategic Plan ​and one of many action items in Goal 2, which has set UND on a path to increasing retention as well as graduation rates.

HIPs

If you’re a recent UND graduate, some of your most memorable academic or career-building experiences may not have taken place in a classroom. Maybe you conducted research with a faculty member; maybe you had an internship at a startup, where you brainstormed new strategies in the same room as the entrepreneurs.

If that fits your experience, it’s no accident. UND has come to understand and embrace the importance of HIPs, or High Impact Practices. HIPs are educational experiences with a strong active-learning component. First-year seminars are an early example. So are learning communities, writing-intensive courses, e-portfolios and capstone courses or projects.

At UND, the data show that most students have had at least three high-impact practices by the time they graduate. And because HIPs are so strongly associated with retention, the University is trying to make sure students have even more opportunities to experience them during their college careers, DiLorenzo said.

Through a fast-tracking process with the Registrar’s Office, potential transfer students can learn the status of their credits within one to three days. The advent of this newly efficient process directly correlates with an increase in transfers to UND. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.

Transfer students

Once upon a time, transferring to a university such as UND was a shot in the dark. Maybe the transfer student’s new university would accept his or her credits; maybe the university wouldn’t. Moreover, maybe it would take weeks for that university to make its decision – or maybe it would take months.

That’s not exactly a retention-friendly environment, DiLorenzo said, which is why at UND, transfer students now learn the status of their credits within one to three days.

“This takes an exceptional effort, but it’s worth it,” DiLorenzo said.

First, the Registrar’s Office fast-tracks the student’s transcript. Second, core and professional advisers work one-on-one with student files, quickly putting them in front of the right ​faculty evaluators – who, in turn, also work with care and rigor, but at a stepped-up pace. Finally, advisers contact students with their equivalencies and a plan for registration.

The net result is ​student service that can save students months of uncertainty, DiLorenzo said.

“This was one example where we used data to inform us,” he said.

“We saw how long it was taking, and we knew it just wasn’t good. So we created a plan, we executed it – and now the students are benefiting tremendously.”

The growth in the number of transfer students matriculating at UND is directly correlated with this effort, DiLorenzo said.

Degree planner

We’ve come a long way from the days of students standing in lines in front of the Registrar’s Office, with their crossed-out and scribbled-on course schedules – each on a flimsy piece of computer paper — in hand.

These days, the digital scheduler “allows students to enter the classes they need in a given semester, and the tool will create a number of schedule possibilities that can be filtered according to work schedules, student organization/team commitments, or even sleep preferences (for those late risers),” as UND Today has reported.

The software also can “extend that planning capability to the full span of the degree. If a course can’t be completed in the initially planned semester, or program requirements change, the degree plan will offer solutions to keep the student on track.”

The common thread in all of the above efforts is clear:  Take away obstacles that hinder student success.

Said DiLorenzo, “I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating: We’re not trying to make things easier academically. We’re trying to make them easier bureaucratically.”

The Year of Retention will have UND redoubling its efforts to put best-practice solutions in place, he said. ​Everyone from across campus, regardless of their position, is asked to participate for the benefit of the student and UND.

“We’re finding strategies that have been proven to work. We’re putting these programs in place all across campus. And we’re seeing great results.”

Number of new transfer, graduate and law students increases over last year; four-year graduation rate also shows gain

Students take a selfie in front of the Eternal Flame during Welcome Weekend 2020 at UND. Despite the ongoing pandemic, UND is seeing enrollment growth in a number of key areas. Photo by Shawna Schill/UND Today.

After a spring in which worries about a significant drop in fall-semester enrollment abounded, and a summer of keeping fingers crossed during a time of pandemic, UND is pleased to report positive first-day numbers in key categories such as overall enrollment, new transfer students, new graduate students and new law students.

Moreover, the freshman class – down by just 3 percent or 56 students from last year – is shaping up to be the most diverse and academically prepared ever. This achievement, like several other First Day Enrollment successes described here, aligns with the One UND Strategic Plan Goals and represents the continuation of positive trends of the past few years.

This fall, UND posted a first-day enrollment of 13,413, up 41 students or 0.31 percent from the first day of classes last year. The figure includes the best-prepared cohort of new freshmen to date. Two years ago, the freshman class came in with an overall high school GPA of 3.46; last year, the figure was 3.50, at the time the highest overall high school GPA in UND’s history.

This year, the incoming freshman class of 1,627 looks to make history again, having compiled an average high school GPA of 3.54. Since the launch of the One UND Strategic Plan, the collective GPA of UND’s freshman classes have consistently made small but steady year-to-year increases.

The One UND Strategic Plan also has driven significant increases in UND’s four-year graduation rates. Starting with the class that entered UND in 2012 and tracking the numbers through the class that entered in 2015, UND’s four-year graduation rate has steadily increased each year.

In fact, the 2015 cohort graduation rate has increased by a full 43 percent over the 2012 cohort graduation rate. This increase is highest among American Indian/Alaska Natives and African American graduates.

“UND’s Fall 2020 enrollment and other achievements reflect the demand for our diverse array of educational credentials and the quality of our programs,” said Debbie Storrs, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

“We’re excited to welcome our new freshmen to campus and are also pleased to see increases in online, graduate, transfer, and part-time students,” Storrs added.

“These successes are the result of good teamwork, generous scholarships made possible by our friends and alumni, and the quality of education our committed faculty provide. To a person, our One UND team takes tremendous pride in helping so many students pursue their educational dreams.”

Challenging times

For UND to see gains in all of the above categories is a real achievement in a pandemic year, Storrs said. The coronavirus put all colleges and universities on a roller coaster – and UND was no exception.

For example, back in April, the talk around campus was of a potential 10 percent drop in enrollment. In June, the Fitch Ratings Group predicted enrollment drops of up to 20 percent among colleges nationwide.

With that in mind, the fact that UND’s numbers are on par with or even exceed last year’s is extremely good news, Storrs said.

“This has been a unique and fluid year, with students and their families also being challenged,” she said.

“They’re coping with the pandemic. They’re making difficult financial decisions, sometimes right up until the last minute.

“And so, the fact that so many students are choosing to attend UND makes us extremely proud. We honor their trust, and we’re committed to delivering to them the best educational experience that we possibly can.”

Archival image.

Welcoming climate

The incoming freshman class is on track to being UND’s most diverse. Based on first-day to first-day numbers, the fall class is up 5 percent in the number of students who report an ethnicity other than white/Caucasian. Again, last year’s class was UND’s most diverse ever, which means this year’s class has reached another all-time high in the University’s history.

“It is exciting to see that our class of first-year students continues our upward trend of being more racially diverse than the previous year, said Cara Halgren, Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Affairs and Diversity.

“As the UND Diversity and Inclusion Task Force begins its work, Dr. Tamba-Kuii Bailey, assistant professor and the Task Force’s co-chair, and I look forward to working with our colleagues across campus and the community to identify actions we can take to make UND better for everyone.”

Goal 4 of the One UND Strategic Plan calls on UND to “enhance discovery at a level consistent with most research-intensive universities”; and with that in mind, this year’s 6.3 percent increase in the number of new graduate students is significant.

The increase brings the number of new graduate students to 780, up 46 students from last year’s first-day number of 734.

“I am excited to see solid growth continue in our graduate enrollments across campus and online,” said Chris Nelson, Associate Dean of the School of Graduate Studies at UND.

“This growth – contributing to another semester of record breaking overall graduate enrollment – reflects the tireless efforts of many across campus, including not only graduate directors and faculty, but also all who make UND such a welcoming place. We look forward to continuing this upward trajectory.”

Upward trends

Transfer students are also among the enrollment categories that have grown this year. This year’s first-day number of new transfer students is 986, up 32 students or 3.35 percent from last year’s number.

“As a campus, we’re making a very coordinated effort in how we’re reaching out to and serving transfer applicants, and it’s paying off as we continue to see growth in that student population,” said Jennifer Aamodt, director of admissions.

Online programs at UND are registering some of this year’s most dramatic enrollment increases. UND counted a total online-program enrollment of 3,571 on this year’s first day. That’s up 555 students or a full 18.4 percent over the first-day figure from last year.

“The broad variety of programs we offer online, and the high quality of our online offerings, gives working professionals and non-traditional students the chance to complete their degree or earn an advanced degree in a flexible format that works for their lifestyle.”

The UND School of Law saw an increase in new law students of just more than 5 percent over last year’s first day. “In a time of uncertainty for prospective law students, we are very excited that our first-year student recruitment held very strong again this year and resulted in an even more diverse class,” said Michael S. McGinniss, Dean and Professor of Law.

“We are also delighted to add several transfer students from across the country. This combination helped our UND Law community grow in overall enrollment for this year.”

UND’s official enrollment will be tallied on the North Dakota University System’s Census Day, the week of Sept. 21. The roller coaster will likely continue, with students both here and across the nation making decisions on their educational pursuits relative to the pandemic. UND stands ready to support those students, both in on campus and online courses.