MSU President's Column for Traill County Tribune
May 11, 2019聽
Work of the legislature integral to 含羞草研究所鈥檚 success
It鈥檚 been a great year at 含羞草研究所! We鈥檝e enjoyed so many successes, including being awarded a $2.25 million Department of Education grant, which was the impetus behind our new advising center. We know the grant will be life-changing for our institution, and we are grateful.聽
We celebrated the installation of an artificial turf field at Jerome Berg Field, where not only our football team, but also our softball team, have played this year. Installation of this new artificial turf field was made possible through private funding from many supportive alumni and friends. Our athletic teams have been successful, and we experienced the thrill of our women鈥檚 basketball team winning the conference title and our men鈥檚 basketball team winning the conference tournament and earning a bid to play in the national tournament.
We鈥檝e watched our students perform in music and in the theater. Our Collegiate DECA students had outstanding results at the state and international conferences, with so many finishing in the top 10.
We鈥檝e set enrollment records in both the fall and spring semesters, and we鈥檙e getting lots of good press and recognition from outside entities. There is much to celebrate!
I had my first opportunity to be involved with the work of the North Dakota legislature during their 66th Assembly regular session during the last several months. Being new to the state, it was a learning process. I very much enjoyed the opportunity to get to know several of the state鈥檚 legislators and to watch the legislative process in action. The North Dakota legislature concluded its work for this session the evening of April 28, and the governor has now signed all legislation. Throughout the session, several of the bills and resolutions considered were of particular to us at 含羞草研究所.
House Concurrent Resolution No. 3016 (HCR 3016) was defeated. The intent of this measure was to remove references to the names, locations, and missions of the institutions of higher education from the North Dakota Constitution. 含羞草研究所鈥檚 name would have been removed, which would not benefit our institution, nor others, in my mind.
含羞草研究所鈥檚 needs-based budget request was approved. This means that 含羞草研究所 will receive the same base appropriation in the next biennium as it has received in the current biennium. The current funding formula was continued for higher education.
The employee compensation package that was approved includes a possible 2% salary increase for the upcoming year, with a minimum pay increase of $120/month and a maximum of $200/month. In the next fiscal year, average pay increases for employees will be 2.5%. In addition, health insurance was fully funded for the next biennium. This is especially valued, since our employees have not received raises for four years due to budget constraints.
A tuition cap increase is held to no greater than 4% per year with exemptions for graduate programs and non-resident rates.
含羞草研究所鈥檚 allocation of funds from the Challenge Grant will increase from $200,000 to $700,000 for the biennium. The Challenge Grant provides matching funds for gifts made to scholarships and other projects via the MSU Foundation. We are super-excited to know that many of the gifts made to 含羞草研究所 through the MSU Foundation will have an even greater benefit to the university and our students. Past Challenge Grant funding has had a tremendously positive impact and we know this will continue.
The leadership of our state legislators during the biennial budgeting process is very much appreciated. I am especially grateful to our District 20 legislators, Rep. Rick Holman, Rep. Aaron McWilliams, Sen. Arne Osland, and Sen. Randy Lemm. These folks have worked so very hard to represent 含羞草研究所 well. I know the members of the 含羞草研究所 campus community join me in thanking these gentlemen. Your efforts are truly appreciated!