Associated Press Writer

By DAVE KOLPACKBy DAVE KOLPACK

Some North Dakota lawmakers believe it's a good time to recruit college students from other states, especially since many of those states are setting enrollment caps and laying off professors.

Legislators are debating a bill that would give the state Commerce Department $1 million for a marketing campaign to help woo out-of-state students. The bill also would add $1.2 million to a student internship program.

"We need to be more aggressive in making North Dakota as a destination place for college students," Sen. Tony Grindberg, R-Fargo, told the House education committee Wednesday.

William Goetz, chancellor of the state university system, said high school enrollment in North Dakota is dropping and other states are making cutbacks in higher education because of a weak economy.

"I think this is a tremendous opportunity for us, in terms of making that effort," Goetz said. "There is a real market outside of the state of North Dakota."

About 34 percent of the undergraduate and graduate students at North Dakota colleges come from other states or Canada, Goetz said. About 50 percent of students at North Dakota State and the University of North Dakota are from out of state, he said.

Grindberg said the marketing idea was discussed in meetings with business leaders throughout the state, many of whom are worried about a work force shortage. The Commerce Department was selected to handle the proposal because of the focus on economic development, Grindberg said.

Statistics show 25 percent of out-of-state college students choose to stay and work in North Dakota, Grindberg said.

"In my opinion, we have the opportunity to position ourselves in more of a leadership role," Grindberg said.

The proposal would have the Commerce Department work with the state Board of Higher Education to develop the plan. Jennifer Clark, a legislative lawyer, said the bill was broadly written to allow lawmakers to "develop what works."

The Commerce Department is beginning to collect ideas for recruiting students, said Tracy Finneman, the group's marketing director. The department has worked with other state agencies on similar programs, she said.

The bill would boost money for a student internship program from $600,000 to $1.2 million. The program has helped fund internships for 205 students with 87 companies, said Kayla Effertz, a Commerce Department spokeswoman.

Surveys show a majority of the interns want to work in North Dakota, Effertz said.

"We think it will help make it easier for companies to find qualified workers," she said.

The bill is HB1038.