Enrollment at North Dakota State College of Science has risen to 2,942 for the fall semester of 2022. This is an increase of 140 students or 5% when compared to last year’s headcount of 2,802.  The official headcount is taken on the 20^th instructional day each semester. 

NDSCS President, Dr. Rod Flanigan attributes the enrollment growth to the continued awareness of the high-quality technical education and transfer programs available at NDSCS. “Students and employers alike recognize that great careers are available for our highly skilled graduates. This is demonstrated by our enrollment increase and a 97% placement rating,” said Flanigan.

The 2022 NDSCS student body includes 1,514 full-time students and 1,428 part-time students.  Students residing in an on-campus residence hall or a campus apartment increased to 909, an increase of 4.6% when compared to last fall.  “This is very encouraging” Flanigan stated, “While we have multiple remote options available for those that desire them, residing on campus allows students to have a full collegiate experience while learning in our world-class facilities.” 

A total of 1,428 students take the majority of their classes at NDSCS-Wahpeton, while 259 take most of their classes at NDSCS-Fargo, and 197 are fully online. Early entry enrollments, also known as dual credit, have grown to 1,058, the highest number of dual credit students in the history of NDSCS. 

The enrollment data shows that NDSCS continues to do an exemplary job of serving North Dakota. The total number of students from North Dakota is 2,119, which comprises 72% of the student body. Minnesota students comprise 22.5% of the student body with the remainder drawn from 30 other states and 3 foreign countries.  NDSCS enrolls students from 48 of the state’s 53 counties.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded approximately $1.4 million in grant funding to the North Dakota State College of Science, which will impact students interested in STEM careers. The grant is poised to help address retention, graduation, and engagement of students by providing financial, academic, and professional success support which is personalized to each scholarship student.

NDSCS President Rod Flanigan praised the scholarship for the positive impact it will have on students. “NDSCS continues a dedicated focus on student success, ensuring students have the tools necessary to excel in the workforce. Thank you to those at NDSCS who had the vision and passion to dedicate toward this grant. Your continued dedication on student-centric initiatives like this NSF grant make NDSCS a special place for students to learn and grow. What an amazing opportunity to support students and amplify STEM careers in North Dakota and our region. NDSCS is honored to carry out the mission of this grant.“

The Science of Success STEM Scholarship Program will provide scholarships up to $10,000 per year to a minimum of 70 students who are pursuing associates degrees in 11 career and technical programs, and five Liberal Arts Transfer Programs.

“The uniqueness of the scholarship program is our emphasis on supporting CTE students and forming learning cohorts comprised of CTE and Liberal Arts students based on the theme of developing STEM awareness,” said Dr. William Shay, Professor of Chemistry and Physics at NDSCS, and manager of the grant. This grant aims to bolster the statewide and regional in-demand workforce by graduating students who not only possess the technical skills required by industry and universities but will also possess the career-ready skills critical for professional success and understand the importance of their profession to the STEM community.

This is not the first grant from the NSF to NDSCS. The previous S-STEM award provided scholarships from $1,000 to $10,000 per academic year to 88 students during the funding period: 82 students enrolled in Career and Technical Programs, and 6 students enrolled in Liberal Arts Transfer Programs. According to Shay, “Success was documented by retention rates, graduation rates, and academic achievement. The retention rate for first-year scholarship students was 82% with a three-year graduation rate of 67%.”

The project is funded by NSF’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields.

Scholarship-eligible academic programs include:

• Career and Technical Programs: Architectural Modeling & Design Technology, Electrical Technology, Electrical Master Technician, Industrial Electrical, Information & Communication Technology, Web Developer, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, Land Surveying and Estimating Technology, Precision Machining Technology, Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics Technology, Welding Technology
• Liberal Arts Transfer Programs: Biotechnology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics

North Dakota State College of Science fall semester classes will begin Monday, August 22 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 Admission office at 701-671-2521.

Opening weekend events in Wahpeton will kick off on Saturday, August 20 when residence halls open for student move-in at 10 a.m. Welcome Week, 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 20-27 and will include outdoor evening activities for new and returning students.

These events will include:
• Saturday, August 20, 9 - 11 p.m. – Outdoor Movie on The Oval
• Sunday, August 21, 4 – 7 p.m. – Community Block Party (community is invited, learn more at NDSCS.edu/Block-Party)
                                  9 p.m. – 12 a.m. – Street Dance in Lot 2 north of Old Main with music provided by a D.J.
• Monday, August 22, 7 - 10 p.m. – Glow Games on The Oval with music provided by a D.J.
• Wednesday, August 24, 8 – 10 p.m. – Karaoke and Open Mic Night on The Oval
• Thursday, August 25, 9 p.m. – 12 a.m. – Street Dance in Lot 2 north of Old Main with music provided by a D.J.
• Friday, August 26, 7 – 10 p.m. – Laser Tag on The Oval with music provided by a D.J.

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) students recently earned top honors at the national SkillsUSA Championships held during the National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia in June. Three NDSCS students received medals for their achievements.

Brady Kroll, an NDSCS plumbing student from Barnesville, Minn., won a silver medal in the Plumbing category. Kroll was tested on his ability to ‘rough-in’ hot and cold-water lines with copper tubing and ‘rough-in’ sanitary drainage, waste and vent lines with cast iron and PVC plastic for a water closet, a lavatory, a washer box and a floor drain.

Zachary Lahlam of Marion, ND also won a silver medal, this time in the Power Equipment category. In Power Equipment, Lahlam’s skills were tested in all areas of technology, from understanding related theories, interpreting both electrical and hydraulic schematics to customer service skills.

Additionally, Cale Mouser of Tenstrike, Minn. earned a bronze award in the Diesel Technology category and Shayne Hoffman of New Hradec, N.D., an Architectural Drafting & Estimating Technology student, won fourth place in the Architectural Drafting category.

“Our SkillsUSA participants exemplify all of our talented students at NDSCS and the outstanding faculty that foster their learning and skills. We are incredibly proud of these students’ accomplishments,” said Dr. Lisa Karch, Vice President for Instructional Affairs.

The SkillsUSA Championships event is one of the largest hands-on workforce events in the world and are known for career competition events showcasing the best career and technical education students in the nation. This year’s competition was the first time since 2019 all competitions were held in-person. More than 5,200 contestants competed in 108 separate events, with nearly 1,100 judges and contest organizers make the national event possible.

Funds are now available through Train ND, a division of North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), to assist North Dakota businesses with costs associated with creating a new or expanded registered apprenticeship programs. Employers are encouraged to visit NDSCS.edu/Apprenticeship to learn more about funding and other support. Funds are available for developing a new apprenticeship model or expanding an existing apprenticeship program to a new industry sector or occupation, population, or meeting needs in a different region or location; these funds were obtained through the Apprenticeship Expansion Grant.

In recent years, governors and state legislatures have recognized apprenticeships as an effective strategy for meeting the needs of businesses, keeping up with a rapidly changing economy, building a skilled workforce, and accelerating growth that leads to economic opportunity for workers and families.

NDSCS Apprenticeship ND Manager, Brian Fuder said, “Expanding apprenticeships will help individuals gain the skills necessary to fill vacancies and help employers find skilled workers more readily. At NDSCS we are here to help and we encourage businesses and industry partners that are considering implementing apprenticeships to reach out for assistance.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected North Dakota State College of Science’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Technology program to be an Unmanned Aircraft Systems -Collegiate Training Initiative program or the UAS-CTI.

The FAA’s UAS-CTI program recognizes institutions that prepare students for careers in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. In order to qualify for the initiative, schools must offer a bachelor’s or associate degree in UAS or a degree with a minor, concentration, or certificate in UAS. Schools must provide curriculum covering various aspects of UAS training, including hands-on flight practice, maintenance, uses, applications, privacy concerns, safety, and federal policies concerning UAS.

“This recognition demonstrates that NDSCS provides the highest quality education to our students. We are excited to be a part of the UAS-CTI training initiative – it will help further strengthen and grow our UAS program,” says Vice President for Instructional Affairs, Dr. Lisa Karch.

Seth Simonson, Assistant Professor for Construction Management, Land Surveying & Civil Engineering and UAS at NDSCS says, “The opportunity for NDSCS students to gain this skill or continue their education with UAS provides even more significance and experience to their already valuable education. NDSCS is committed to and prepared to educate students into the future for UAS.”

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Alumni Foundation will provide more than $1 million in scholarships to students this fall. In just six years the NDSCS Scholarship Fund has grown from $400 thousand to more than $1 million.

“Through the generosity of our business and industry partners, alumni, and friends we are able to reduce the up-front costs of attending NDSCS” said Kim Nelson, Executive Director of the NDSCS Alumni Foundation. Nelson also shared that donors’ generosity was amplified through the North Dakota Challenge Grant legislative appropriation that provides a 2-to-1 match for donations up to $25 thousand or more. Since its inception in 2013 the ND Challenge Grant has awarded the NDSCS Alumni Foundation just over $4 million.

NDSCS scholarships are available to all new and returning NDSCS students in all programs and awarded based on a variety of criteria including academic ability, progression toward graduation, students’ programs demographics, and/or hometown. Scholarships benefit all NDSCS students regardless of how they access their learning — at NDSCS Wahpeton, NDSCS Fargo, Online, and/or while they are still in high school through dual credit.

“Higher education is an investment and at NDSCS we are constantly identifying ways to make College more affordable for our students,” said Dr. Jane Vangsness Frisch, Vice President for Student Affairs and Strategy. “We strive to keep costs low and are grateful for generosity shown by our many partners and donors – through this generosity 74% of students Fall 2021 attended tuition-free through scholarships, grants and being sponsored by industry partners.”

To find out about more giving opportunities learn more at NDSCSAlumni.com/Scholarships