Bismarck State College received an endorsement from a group of academic officers to pursue a bachelor's degree program, despite representatives from two universities voting against the idea.

The Academic Affairs Council, which is composed of vice presidents of the state's 11colleges and universities, recommended Tuesday that BSCbe allowed to begin studying the prospect of getting a bachelor's degree of applied science in energy management.

Students can receive two-year degrees at BSC, but they have to continue their education at other schools to earn a bachelor's degree.

Tuesday's conference call meeting was closed to the public and media because it is considered a staff meeting and also because the council is not delegated duties by the Board of Higher Education, according to Pat Seaworth, general counsel for the University System.

Wayne Boekes, provost and vice president of academic and student affairs for BSC, said BSCreceived the support of all of the institutions represented at Tuesday's conference call, except Minot State University and the University of North Dakota. Mayville State University abstained from the vote, Boekes said.

Although BSCis asking for only one bachelor's degree program, Boekes said there is some concern from other institutions that one program will eventually turn into more.

"A couple believe it is a foot in the door and that we're going to break it wide open,"Boekes said.

Boekes said he was pleased that the majority of the academic officers gave their approval, but he said the reasons the two universities voted against studying the idea were pure "turf and politics."

Calls to Gary Rabe, vice president of academic affairs for MSU, Dennis Fuller, president of MSU, Greg Weisenstein, vice president of academic affairs for UND and Charles Kupchella, president of UND, were not immediately returned on Wednesday.

Although Tuesday's recommendation inches BSC closer to getting a bachelor's degree program, the school is still miles away from making the idea a reality.

Boekes said the next step in the process is for the Chancellor's Cabinet, which is comprised of the presidents of all the schools, to make a recommendation that will be presented to the Board of Higher Education, which has the final authority.

If the Board of Higher Education approves phase Iof the process, BSC will begin a full-blown request that includes a comprehensive study.

The board would then consider the study before giving final approval to BSCto add a bachelor's degree program.

Boekes said the earliest BSC could get a four-year degree program would be 2007.

Pam Kostelecky, president of the Board of Higher Education, said it would be premature to comment on the request because the board has not discussed it yet and has not seen a formal presentation from BSC.

A bachelor's degree in applied science in energy management would allow students to take management positions in the energy industry.

Boekes said the degree could be viewed as similar to bachelor's degrees in applied science available from Minot State University, Dickinson State University and Mayville State University, but he added that BSC students are not continuing their education at those three schools.

Boekes said many of BSC's energy students are from out of state and choose to complete their bachelor's degrees at schools near where they live after completing the two-year program from BSC online.

There are already students from 49 states and one foreign country enrolled in BSC power-plant technology education online.

BSC is in the process of expanding its energy curriculum and has already begun construction of a $15 million Energy and Technology Center.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.raffertyReach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)@;bismarcktribune.com.)