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The North Dakota State College of Science and North Dakota State University have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to better serve the research, service, educational and workforce needs of North Dakota. The two institutions share a unique combined presence in eastern North Dakota, and a cooperative spirit through which the educational interests of the state and local area are served.

“This agreement paves the way for NDSU and NDSCS to strengthen education across North Dakota by working together in areas including academic programming, operations and campus resources,” said NDSU President Dean Bresciani. “It enables us to explore additional opportunities to create academic partnerships and operating efficiencies.”

“NDSCS and NDSU have a history of cooperation and collaboration,” said NDSCS President John Richman. “This memorandum of agreement formalizes and expands that partnership, and will help us to work together to meet the area’s educational and workforce needs.”

The institutions have previously partnered in specific areas to enhance student success. Previous agreements have been outlined for:

• Pathway Program – NDSU directs appropriate students denied admission to NDSU to consider the Pathway Program, which provides an avenue for students to complete developmental coursework at NDSCS while living on NDSU’s campus and taking selected courses collaboratively at NDSU.
• Reverse Transfer – In cases where students transfer from NDSCS to NDSU before completion of their associate’s degree, the reverse transfer process allows students to transfer credits back to NDSCS for the purpose of attaining the associate’s degree.

Through this new Memorandum of Agreement, the institutions will develop transfer guides and processes to facilitate seamless transfers from NDSCS to NDSU, as well as collaborate to identify new and modify existing career and technical programming.

NDSCS and NDSU each serve a unique niche in providing educational programming to meet workforce needs, with NDSCS serving as the principal provider of sub-baccalaureate programming and NDSU providing baccalaureate and graduate programs. With a growing need for degree programs at all levels delivered in the Cass County region, the institutions recognize the need to collaborate to provide educational opportunities for students.

In addition to collaboration in academic programming, the new Memorandum of Agreement creates a path to explore collaboration for operational efficiencies and shared services.

North Dakota State College of Science fall semester classes will begin Monday, August 20 at 4 p.m. for all students in Wahpeton, Fargo and online. Students who are not yet enrolled for fall semester can still do so by contacting the Enrollment Services office at 701-671-2521.

Opening weekend events in Wahpeton will kick off on Saturday, August 18 when residence halls open. New student orientation, an annual series of events designed to help students connect to the College community and establish positive and healthy habits, will take place from August 18-24 and will include outdoor evening activities for new and returning students.

These events will include:
• August 18, 9 - 11 p.m.: Outdoor Movie on The Oval
• August 19, 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.: Street Dance in Lot 2 north of Old Main with music provided by a disc jockey
• August 20, 9 - 11 p.m.: Glow Volleyball and other Glow Games with music on The Oval
• August 23, 9 p.m. – 12 a.m.: Street Dance in Lot 2 north of Old Main with music provided by a disc jockey

North Dakota State College of Science has received national recognition from two publications that have recently ranked the College among the nation’s best.

NDSCS was included at #14 on a list by Forbes that ranks the nation’s Top Two-Year Trade Schools. The list, revealed in an article titled “The Top 25 Two-Year Trade Schools: Colleges That Can Solve The Skills Gap”, evaluated more than 700 schools across the nation, and considered post-graduate success, affordability, completion success and student experience.

The College was also ranked #15 among public institutions in a report by the Chronicle of Higher Education in its 2018 Almanac of Higher Education titled “2-Year Colleges With the Best 3-Year Graduation Rates, 2016”. The report ranked 762 institutions based on their percentage of first-time, full-time, degree- or certificate-seeking students who entered in the fall of 2013 and graduated within three years.

“These recognitions acknowledge the great work of our employees at NDSCS,” said NDSCS President John Richman. “The rankings are an indication of our efforts to support our students’ success, and the steps we are taking to fulfill our mission of educating and training the workforce of North Dakota and the surrounding region.”

Additional Information:
Forbes.com: The Top 25 Two-Year Trade Schools: Colleges That Can Solve The Skills Gap
Forbes.com: How The Top Two-Year Trade School Ranking Is Scored
Chronicle.com: 2-Year Colleges With the Best 3-Year Graduation Rates, 2016