The North Dakota Board of Higher Education will consider a formal timeline for a decision on the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

A settlement with the NCAA requires UND to gain approval from the Spirit Lake and Standing Rock tribes by the end of November 2010 if it wants to continue using the nickname and logo without penalties.

Board member Duaine Espegard of Grand Forks believes the board should make a decision by next fall.

Espegard said it would show the board takes its responsibility seriously and would give UND time if it has to make a change.

UND President Robert Kelley said the university has been preparing for a decision one way or the other.

"We're not entirely sitting on our hands in the sense of looking forward. We're trying to figure out how we're going to move as a large organization when a decision is reached," Kelley told the board Wednesday.

"I would welcome the opportunity of reaching that decision as soon as possible for the sake of the University of North Dakota," he said.

The timeline is expected to be considered by the board at its next meeting, which could be by conference call.

Associated Press