On March 8, 1890, the state's first governor, John Miller, signed the bill designating the land to establish a college of agriculture and mechanic arts, the North Dakota Agricultural College, as a part of the Morrill Act of 1862. In 1960, the name was changed to North Dakota State University.
Graduate students were first accepted in 1895, and a formal announcement of graduate studies has been carried in the bulletins since 1902.
The Graduate School was formalized July 1, 1954, by approval of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education. Graduate studies were administered by a Graduate Council from November 1949 to June 1954, and before that by a Graduate Committee.
The first Master of Science degree was awarded in 1899. Since then, graduate students have been in regular attendance and have participated in the scholarly activity of the campus. The number of degrees awarded increased noticeably after 1920 and again after 1950 in reflection of general trends in higher education in the United States.
In 1959, the North Dakota Board of Higher Education first authorized certain departments to offer the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The first Ph.D. degrees were awarded in 1963.
North Dakota State University is the state's first Morrill Act land-grant institution. Located on the state's eastern border in Fargo, North Dakota's largest city, the university strives to be a leader in information systems, technology transfer, economic development, and lifelong learning; and encompasses a broad spectrum of curricular offerings, scholarly activity, and service. It is one of two major research universities in an eleven-institution state university system.
NDSU has enjoyed steady enrollment growth for the past decade. Current enrollment is about 12,000 students on the campus in Fargo. NDSU also serves several thousand people throughout the state in continuing education and extension programs.
Instruction is carried out in nine academic units: the Colleges of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources; Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Business Administration; Engineering and Architecture; Human Development and Education; Pharmacy; Science and Mathematics; University Studies; and the Graduate School.
NDSU has 41 doctoral and professional programs, 55 master's degree programs, and 81 bachelor's degree programs. The North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station and NDSU Extension Service are integral parts of the University.
NDSU participates in the Tri-College University consortium with neighboring Minnesota State University Moorhead and Concordia College. NDSU has approximately 1,500 staff members and 950 faculty and academic staff.
Recently named one of the most desirable places in the country to live by Money magazine, Fargo is quietly earning a reputation as a perfect place to make a home. Nestled in the rich farmlands of the Red River Valley, the Fargo-Moorhead community has many qualities that contribute to this reputation, including the highly respected educational system; advanced medical technology; a progressive business community; numerous cultural and arts opportunities; clean air and water; and good-hearted, friendly people.
With more than 163,000 people in the community and about 500,000 people in the service area, Fargo-Moorhead is among the largest metropolitan centers between Minneapolis and Seattle.One of the reasons people choose NDSU as a place to get a good education is that the F-M community provides students access to part-time jobs, internships, parks and other recreational facilities, entertainment, and cultural amenities.
Opportunities for graduate study are available in seven colleges including the School of Education. Many departments have long records of strong graduate offerings. An active program of physical plant improvement has provided greatly expanded facilities for graduate work. A study of the level and location of degrees earned by the graduate faculty attests to the caliber of instruction maintained.
Cooperating agencies such as the Institute for Regional Studies, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the United States Department of Agriculture provide unusually fine opportunities for research experience, for the selection of disquisition topics, and for guidance in the preparation of the disquisition. These agencies also provide opportunities for part-time employment for a number of graduate students.
Tri-College University is a consortium of the three Fargo-Moorhead institutions of higher education: North Dakota State University, Concordia College, and Minnesota State University Moorhead. Through the Tri-College course exchange, students can take courses on the other two campuses without going through separate admissions procedures. Tuition is paid only to the home school. Guidelines are available in the general NDSU Bulletin and from the registrar.
Bus service is provided among the campuses daily during the academic year.
Reciprocal parking arrangements are available for students who wish to drive to the other schools.
Students may use the library resources of all three schools. This highly effective sharing of library resources is facilitated by a combined serials listing and twice-daily delivery service.
Several academic programs are conducted jointly by the three schools. Master of Science, Master of Education, and Educational Specialist degrees in Educational Leadership are offered through the Tri-College University. The scope of opportunities for students is expanded by the sharing and coordination of programs and services among the many academic departments within the three schools.
Continuing Education is an outreach unit of the university that makes the resources of the institution available in a variety of ways, including distance-based education. Courses, locations, and delivery systems are planned in response to requests and identified needs.
Continuing Education activities fall into three main categories: on- and off-campus credit courses, non-credit activities, and learning opportunities mediated via technology. Admission to NDSU is required to enroll in Continuing Education courses, Which are numbered 601 or above. Individuals interested in enrolling in degree eligible credit activities must complete application procedures through the Graduate School.
North Dakota State University is accredited at the doctoral level by the Commission on Colleges and Universities of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. State Board of Higher Education Created by constitutional amendment in 1939, the State Board of Higher Education is the governing body of North Dakota State University and all other state-supported institutions of higher education in North Dakota.The nine-member State Board of Higher Education is the policy-setting body for the North Dakota University System and consists of seven citizen members who serve four-year terms and who are appointed by the governor, one student who is also appointed by the governor for a one-year term, and one faculty member who is selected by the Council of College Faculties.
John Q. Paulsen, President 2004-2008
Richie Smith, Vice President 2005-2009
Sue Andrews 2002-2010
Pamela J. Kostelecky 2002-2009
Charles W. Murphy 2006-2010
Grant Shaft, 2007-2011
Student 2008-2009
Faculty Advisor 2008-2009
Joseph A. Chapman, Ph.D., President
R. Craig Schnell, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic
Affairs
Keith Bjerke, B.S., Vice President for University Relations
Prakash C. Mathew, M.A., Vice President for Student Affairs
D.C.Coston, Ph.D, Vice President for Agriculture and University
Extension J
ohn C.Adams, M.B.A., Vice President for Finance and
Administration
Philip Boudjouk, Ph.D., Vice President for Research, Creative
Activities, and Technology Transfer
Greg McCarthy, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for
Interdisciplinary Research
R. S. Krishnan, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic
Affairs
Sudhir Mehta, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Academic
Affairs
Catherine S. Haugen, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Student
Affairs
Broc Lietz, B.S., Associate Vice President of Finance and
Administration
Valrey Kettner, J.D., Associate Vice President Sponsored Programs
Administration
Rick D. Johnson, J.D., LL.M., General Counsel
David A. Wittrock, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Graduate and
Interdisciplinary Studies and Dean of the College of University
Studies
Janna Mausolf Stoskopf, M.S., Dean of Student Life
Kenneth F. Grafton, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Agriculture, Food
Systems, and Natural Resources
Thomas Riley, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and
Social Sciences
Ronald D. Johnson, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Business
Administration
Gary Smith , Ph.D., Dean of the College of Engineering and
Architecture
Virginia L. Clark Johnson, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Human
Development and Education
Charles C. Peterson, Pharm. D., Dean of the College of Pharmacy,
Nursing and Allied Sciences
Kevin Mc Call, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Science and
Mathematics
Michele Reid, M.L.S., Dean of NDSU Libraries
Kristi Wold McCormick, Ph.D., Registrar
Barbara Lonbaken, M.S., R.N., Associate Dean Student Wellness,
Director of Student Health Services
Kerri Spiering, M.A., Director of International Programs
Eveaden Myers, J.D., Execurtive Director, Chief Diversity
Officer
William D. Slanger, Ph.D., Director of Institutional Research and
Analysis
Jeff Gerst, Associate Vice President for ITS and Chief Information
Officer
Ann Burnett, Ph.D., Director of Women's Studies
Robert Harrold, Ph.D., Director of Assessment and
Accreditation
Gene Griffin, M.S., Director of the Upper Great Plains
Transportation Institute Lisa Nordick, M.S., Director of Distance
and Continuing Education
Bruce Bollinger, M.B.A., Director of the Agricultural Budget
Office
Duane Hauck, M.S., Director of the Extension Service
James R. Venette, Ph.D., Associate Dean and Director of Academic
Programs
Stacey Winter, Director of Purchasing
Raymond E. Boyer Jr., Director of the University Police and
Safety
Bruce S. Frantz, M.A., Director of Facilities Management
Jack Donahue, B.S./B.A., Director of Dining Services
Bill Burns, Ph.D., Director of Counseling and Disabilities
Services
Steven K. Glunberg, M.D., Medical Director, Student Health
Services
Michael D. Harwood, M.S., Director of Residence Life
Jeanne Enebo, Director of Student Financial Services
Allyn W. Kostecki, M.A., Director of Trio Programs
Carol J. Miller, B.S., Director of the NDSU Bookstore
Laura Oster-Aaland, M.S., Director of Orientation and Student
Success
Jaclynn Davis Wallette, B.A., Director of Multicultural Student
Services
Jill Wilkey, B.S., Director of Career Center
Laura M. McDaniel, M.S., Assistant Vice President of University
Relations
Jobey Lichtblau, M.Mgt., Director of Admissions
Karen Hendrickson, M.S., Manager of Grant and Contract
Accounting
Karin Hegstad., Manager of Customer Account Services
Paula Thovson, B.S., Budget Director
Gary L. Wawers, M.B.A., Controller