North Dakota University System to Request Higher Education Funding

BISMARCK, N.D. — In an effort to carry out the overall vision of the North Dakota University System (NDUS) and the state’s 11 public colleges and universities, officials plan to request $146 million in capital spending to support 14 campus construction projects.

The top-ranked project is a $124 million medical school at the University of North Dakota, which is predicted to increase enrollment. Officials settled on a $38.5 million request from the $146 million budget proposal to initiate the first phase of construction, according to NDUS Chancellor Hamid Shirvani.

Another $30 million of the proposal would be used for a new science, technology, engineering and math classroom and laboratory building at North Dakota State University. If approved, the new building would host instructional activities, which are currently being held in cramped spaces that are 40 to 100 years old.

The budget plan also requests for $84 million in state funding for the next two years, bringing the general fund spending for the NDUS operational budget to almost $600 million — a 16.3 percent increase compared to the $516 million of higher education funding for the current biennium that ends June 30.

Shirvani said that more than $25 million (or about 30 percent) of the additional state funding would cover the costs of inflation, regular maintenance, and salary and retirement increases. The remaining $59 million would fund state priorities such as $25 million for campuses and $5.5 million to hire more security officers at the 11 schools.

The budget proposal will be presented to state legislators during the session that starts on Jan. 8. However, it already faced its first test on Dec. 5 when Gov. Jack Dalrymple delivered his 2013-2015 executive budget address to legislatures, showing which higher education plans he supports. In the address, he proposed an increase of $89 million in funding for higher education. In addition, the governor proposes that the budget would provide one-time funding for capital improvements, including $68 million to the expansion and improvement of UND’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences and $29 million for a new building at North Dakota State University.