NDSU President David Cook addressed the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly’s Senate Appropriations Education and Environment Committee on Wednesday, advocating for a $35 million investment titled “New Horizon: NDSU 2035.”
NDSU President David Cook addressed the 69th North Dakota Legislative Assembly’s Senate Appropriations Education and Environment Committee on Wednesday, advocating for a $35 million investment titled “New Horizon: NDSU 2035.”
Cook emphasized the importance of adapting NDSU’s land-grant mission to meet modern workforce demands, grow North Dakota’s competitive edge and improve the quality of life for North Dakotans. The request aligns with recommendations from the NDSU Industry and Workforce Ad Hoc Committee, focusing on three key objectives:
Expanding Workforce Pathways and Industry Connection ($5M)
NDSU aims to ensure clear career pathways for students while strengthening industry partnerships and making higher education more affordable. The university plans to:
- Maintain professional advising for first- and second-year students to improve retention and shorten time to degree.
- Recruit students for high-need occupations and expand degree completion programs.
- Enhance career coaching and industry engagement opportunities, including internships with start-ups and tribal communities.
- Continue student support initiatives like learning assistants, online tutoring, Bison Bridge and AI advising.
- Incorporate artificial intelligence literacy into workforce training programs.
Advancing Agriculture, Engineering, Energy and Manufacturing ($15M)
To grow North Dakota’s competitive edge, NDSU seeks to leverage its expertise in agriculture, engineering and robotics by implementing:
- New degree programs in Robotics and Automation, Agriculture Technology, and Material Science and Engineering to fill critical job gaps.
- Energy Engineering certificates, including a Nuclear Engineering specialization, to prepare students for evolving energy industries.
- AI and Machine Learning certificates to ensure graduates are equipped for the future workforce.
- Outreach Engineers and STEM Coordinators to provide statewide industry and educational support.
- Faculty-Industry Exchange Programs to facilitate collaboration between academia and the private sector.
- Expanded partnerships with 2-year schools through 2+2 pathways for students to earn an engineering degree.
Improving Quality of Life for North Dakotans ($15M)
With the healthcare industry facing growing workforce shortages, NDSU proposes expanding its nursing, pharmacy, and allied health programs. Planned initiatives include:
- Expansion of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program to address the state’s top job vacancy area.
- Development of Doctor of Nurse Practitioner certificates in Acute Care and Mental Health to tackle crisis-level provider shortages.
- New Master of Healthcare Administration and Informatics and Master of Science in Clinical Trials Management programs.
- Additional allied health degree offerings in Respiratory Care, Radiologic Science, Medical Lab Science, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
- Establishment of a Clinical Outreach and Bioskills Center to support healthcare education and virtual/rural training initiatives.
President Cook stressed that these investments will directly impact North Dakota’s economy by supplying a highly skilled workforce across key industries.
View President Cook's testimony online at the North Dakota Legislature website.
