North Dakota's Board of Higher Education took a beating in the state Senate during a confirmation vote for board member Sue Andrews, with a Senate GOP leader calling the university system a "monster" and an "education cartel."

Although Andrews was confirmed 30-15 on Tuesday night for her second four-year term on the board, state Sen. Connie Triplett, D-Grand Forks, said Andrews did not deserve reappointment.

In an interview with senators who quizzed three of Gov. John Hoeven's nominees for the board, Andrews "did not seem to know very much about what was going on with the Board of Higher Education," Triplett said.

"Since she has just completed a four-year term, I found that quite troubling," Triplett said. "The overall perspective that I had … is, we could do better."

Andrews, of Mapleton, has voted to endorse a Board of Higher Education policy that expects university administrators to "toe the line" when the board decides on budget policy, and was not willing to acknowledge "some level of dysfunction" on the board, Triplett said.

The board has come under criticism for its handling of former Chancellor Robert Potts, who resigned last August over disagreements with some board members about the scope of his authority.

Andrews said Triplett was "certainly entitled to her view," but said she believed she had been a good board member.

"I am educated on the issues, and I am looking out for the entire university system, and for the students, which is why we are all there, after all," Andrews said.

North Dakota's university system has helped to develop the state's economy, with "example after example after example of businesses, and training, that have come into North Dakota," Andrews said. "We have a lot to be proud of."

Two new board members, Grant Shaft, of Grand Forks, and Jon Backes, of Minot, fared better in their confirmation votes Tuesday night. Senators endorsed the two attorneys on 45-0 votes.