Bismarck Tribune

By KAREN HERZOGBy KAREN HERZOG

Jerome Migler, one of the semifinalists for the position of president of Bismarck State College, cited his experience in new program development, a love of challenges and commitment to diversity among his qualifications for the position of BSC president during a group interview Wednesday with college administrators and others.

Migler is currently provost at the Moorhead campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College; in his current job as "campus CEO," Migler oversees all academic programs and services, student services, finances and facilities.

Before that, Migler held various positions during 12 years at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, most recently as vice president of College Outreach. In this position, he administered Workforce Training for southeast North Dakota and managed the Skills and Technology Training Center in Fargo.

Migler earned his doctorate in education at the University of Minnesota; his bachelor's and master's degrees are from North Dakota State University.

"My love is in two-year colleges," he said. Migler said he was impressed with Bismarck State College's new programs and creative energy.

"BSC has a lot of things going on that are exciting - pushing the envelope, not afraid to try new things," he said.

Coming into a new position at BSC, he would spend time initially working to understand all facets of the position, not just on campus, but in the community as well, he said.

Experience has taught him to be a quick study on how organizations function: "Initially, I'd want to learn,"he said.

After that, it becomes important to have the skills to motivate people, to explain new directions and put in place the building blocks "to get from where we are to where we want to go," Migler said.

Meeting and developing relationships with community leaders, members of civic organizations, school superintendents and legislators is a high priority, he said.

"What I do is about relationship,"he said. "You know them; they know you."

Migler said he has been involved in strategic planning in his current position, in which growing campuses, thinking smart and creating program clusters are linchpins of success.

Creating programs involves research into the job market for graduates - key concerns would be the quality and size of that market - and finding the resources - facilities, equipment and teachers - for those programs, he said.

It's also important to get business and industry invested in the success of those programs, he said.

Other priorities Migler cited are the continuing need to use advances in technology for campus programs and services, online strategies, student retention strategies, managing and growing financial resources, working with legislators and with the State Board of Higher Education.

Migler described his management style as "fair, open and very participatory.

"I want to understand. Ido a lot of listening and observing, going out and seeing what's happening."