Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - 'Human capital' availability crucial

'Human capital' availability crucial

Mar 26, 2007 - 15:54:51 CDT

By EDDIE V. DUNN
Bismarck

The private sector and the North Dakota University System have put forth one consistent message this legislative session: The single most important factor that will determine the future success of North Dakota will be the availability of “human capital” — the talent, energy and innovation needed to compete in today’s knowledge-based economy. That is the central message emphasized by numerous private sector business representatives in testimony during this legislative session and at a Feb. 27 news conference.

In the 1980s and ’90s, North Dakota lost young people because there were no jobs. Now our state is losing jobs because we do not have enough qualified people to fill them. The private sector is saying North Dakota needs more human capital — now — and they are saying they rely upon the North Dakota University System to provide it.

As chancellor and CEOs of the state’s 11 public colleges and universities, it is both our responsibility and desire to provide the work force employers need in partnership with our state’s business community and the Legislature. Together we can address the largest decline in young adults of any state in the nation and create a brighter future for the people and state of North Dakota.

We need legislators’ help. To enhance the economy of North Dakota, we encourage their strategic investment in a 2007-09 NDUS budget that includes the following adjustments to the House version of HB1003 in priority order:

1. Restore $4.2 million in state general funds to provide 5 percent annual salary increases for faculty and staff, as originally included in the executive budget; even with this level of funding, some institutions will be faced with re-allocation and reductions to meet increased costs next biennium.

2. Fund the state health insurance plan at the level needed to maintain the current level of benefits for all state employees.

3. Add $2.4 million to provide adequate ConnectND funding to stabilize and enhance performance of the system and to maintain a balanced budget and positive cash flow through 2007-09 or 2009-11, depending upon the level of base and one-time funding.

4. Add $400,000 in base funding and $373,800 in one-time funding to complete the installation of the Northern Tier Network and to cover ongoing maintenance costs for one year of the biennium.

5. Add $200,000 to the State Board of Higher Education Contingency and Capital Improvement Emergency Fund to restore funding to the 2005-07 funding level of $496,482.

6. Add $1,791,174 to the SBHE Initiative Fund to restore funding to the 2005-07 funding level to support cost-saving projects and collaborative initiatives among the institutions.

7. Add $308,000 in funding to allow the addition of a full-time CTEC director.

8. Add $200,000 to the Operations Pool to restore funding to the 2005-07 funding level of $344,559.

Other important funding investments are continuation of the current Centers of Excellence program and increased funding for work force training, both of which are included in other agency budgets and need legislators’ support.

(Copies of a version of this letter were sent to all state legislators. In addition to Dunn, chancellor of the university system, the letter was signed by Lee Vickers, president of Dickinson State University; Gary Hagen, president of Mayville State University; Ken Grosz, campus dean of Minot State University-Bottineau; Joseph Chapman, president of North Dakota State University; Ellen Chaffee, president of Valley City State University; Larry Skogen, president of Bismarck State College; Sharon Etemad, president of Lake Region State College; David Fuller, president of Minot State University; John Richman, president of North Dakota State College of Science; Charles Kupchella, president of the University of North Dakota; and Joseph McCann, president of Williston State College. — Editor)

News > Opinion

Printer friendly version 'Human capital' availability crucial

Comments

Hmmm, wrote on Mar 26, 2007 11:50 PM:

" To Lynn: So scoring at or near the top of the nation in test scores, graduation rates, high school graduation rate, & college graduation rates indicates that ND schools are behind the rest of the nation? I'm not following. To EDDIE V. DUNN: Higher Ed spending is all good and well but please recognize reality. Keeping Mayville, Valley City etc. open while keeping BSC BSC is absolutely absurd. "

To Lynn wrote on Mar 26, 2007 9:34 PM:

" I would suggest you look at North Dakota student test scores compared the rest of the nation and I think you will see that ND is not falling short. Maybe your school district is but the state as a whole is doing very well. "

Over Taxed wrote on Mar 26, 2007 12:58 PM:

" Maybe they should take the money out of the 40 million that they spent on travel. Or maybe cut back on the athletic departments I here NDSU's cost about 9.5 million this year. "

Chavez wrote on Mar 26, 2007 12:25 PM:

" North Dakota currently has eleven (11) institutions of higher education for a population of around 650,000. That is an unreasonable number of said schools and should, in my opinion, signal the need to close those at Valley City, Mayville, Devils Lake, Bottineau, Williston, and Wahpeton. Some of those schools are mentioned in the state constitution, so amendments would have to take place, but it is high time that the State's schools of higher education be pared down to realistic numbers. "

mb wrote on Mar 26, 2007 10:17 AM:

" The census bureau stated in 1990-2000 report that ND needed to close some of its colleges as the state could not continue to support all of them. That is when they stated ND was a 3rd world country and could not support itself. It also stated ND could not continue its "state" welfare system for teachers and public employees and they would have to some of their healthcare costs or ND would not have enough money for elderly and disabled. The city of Bismarck gave Paul Johnson $20,000 raise in 2005 for Bismarck School district. I believe he is making $150,000 or $10,000 less than our Congressman who have two homes and DC is a lot more expensive than ND. Maryland has imported over 300 teachers from Phillipines and they have worked out great. "Time" magazine article. It's time ND stop paying highest wages in US and start paying what taxpayers can afford. Every state is importing students from India for Engineering jobs which are short in US. "

Dan wrote on Mar 26, 2007 8:39 AM:

" Instead of throwing money at the colleges and univiersities, perhaps the private sector should get off its high horse and start throwing some REAL MONEY at ND employees. THAT is the cure. "

Lynn wrote on Mar 26, 2007 8:37 AM:

" Perhaps prior to worrying about the college, the local school districts should be looked at. No need to provide a higher education to students who are being passed through the local school system who still can't read or add properly. Not only does the education being provided need to be considered but the enviroment in which the students are learning. The school systems that I've seen in North Dakota fall far short of those across the nation in more ways than one. "

Close the Schools wrote on Mar 26, 2007 8:37 AM:

" It is time for reality to set in and for the public to bring the university system to a vote again. These small schools that cannot fund themselves should be closed. These small schools are a burden on taxpayers of ND. It is all about economics people! Closing some of these schools will save money and allow the good schools to do even better. Would also most likely result in better opportunities for the students. "

WHATEVER wrote on Mar 26, 2007 7:55 AM:

" Actually, let's just convert all the smaller universities into prisons, which we will need more of anyway. In fact, let's just convert the entire state of North Dakota into a federal prison. That's one way to grow the population of ND. "

Taxpayer wrote on Mar 26, 2007 7:16 AM:

" I have a better idea!! Let's for once admit reality and close the campuses in Mayville, Valley City, and Devils Lake. What this letter is telling all taxpayers, is more, more, more; instead of cutting back. "

Dumbfounded wrote on Mar 26, 2007 4:42 AM:

" How about adding some of that money to my budget as my real estate taxes are going sky high. Maybe we should provide some of this money be eliminating some of the college presidents positions. Where do these people get off that this money grows on trees? If the private sector in this state would pay competitive wages the people will come here to work. We are now exporting our college students out of state. None of my kids friends that have graduated from college stayed here, they all left for bettor wages. Throwing money at the colleges will not cure this problem. "

Post Your Own Comment

All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.