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Last modified: Thursday, October 8, 2009 2:51 PM CDT
NDSCS keeping students in the state
by Erin C. Hevern • Daily News
North Dakota legislators expressed interest Wednesday in a North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) strategy that addresses the state's workforce needs by keeping its graduates employed within the state.
The Legislative Management's Interim Workforce Committee met at the college for an all-day session under the leadership of Sen. Tony Grindberg's (R-Fargo).
Dr. John Richman, NDSCS president, proudly reported to the workforce committee that 64 percent of NDSCS graduates stay in North Dakota to work or continue their education.
Sen. Ryan Taylor (D-Towner) questioned Richman on the college's strategy in keeping these graduates in the state and how their model differs from other colleges in the North Dakota University System (NDUS).
"It's an excellent point and one I believe I can speak of two initiatives that are beginning this year," Richman responded to Taylor.
The first initiative, labeled the Community College Awareness program, is intended to build awareness and enhance the image of two-year colleges in the state university system. The awareness program received a sizable allocation as a result of this biennium's legislative session.
"We have for several years pretended that young people don't know what's out there," Richman said. "We've told young people to be successful, you've got to get off the farm, get a bachelor's degree, or move to Chicago, Minneapolis or Denver. That's the wrong message."
Although the Community College Awareness initiative will take time to develop, Richman continued, it's being complemented by an NDSCS marketing campaign also put in place this year. The college's campaign aims at capturing a higher percentage of high school graduates in North Dakota. In 2007, NDSCS enrolled 6 percent of high school graduates in the state and in 2008 increased that amount by 1 percent.
"It's not an effort to help science, it's an effort to help the state of North Dakota, it's an effort to begin to market the opportunity there is in North Dakota," Richman said.
Further discussion indicated committee interest in trends at NDSCS, including the proportion of part-time versus full-time students enrolling in the college.
Rep. Lee Kaldor (D-Mayville) questioned Richman on what he envisions for the future of NDSCS in connection to its enrollment of the part-time student.
Richman said NDSCS is seeing an increase in enrollment of the part-time student and staff has continued to pursue additional ways to become more accessible to the age groups interested in part-time programs. Individual efforts can be illustrated in the college's dual credit program and their early college credit program recently created with West Fargo Public Schools.
"[The program] is intended to attract that high school student that has an interest in that college program while they're still in high school," Richman said.
An initiative put into place this year includes concerted efforts to create an environment also specific for adults aged 24 and older, one that is customized to their time schedule and busy lifestyles.
"We need to get back to what the student wants versus what we need and want," Richman said.
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