FARGO (AP) - North Dakota State University President Joseph Chapman now has a 25-minute commute to his job, but he says it will not stop him from keeping close ties to campus.

Chapman and his wife, Gale, are living in south Fargo while their on-campus housing gets an upgrade.

Chapman said he plans to continue his regular walks around campus to keep his connections with students.

"I don't plan to get separated from the campus," he said.

Chapman said living 10 miles away from campus has reinforced for him the importance of having the president live on campus.

The NDSU Development Foundation plans to spend up to $900,000 in private donations to either upgrade or build a new president's house.

The Board of Higher Education in September endorsed new president homes on both the NDSU and University of North Dakota campuses. The UND house also will be built with private donations.

A plus of the Chapmans' temporary home is a garage large enough to accommodate their vehicles. One of the issues with the existing president's house at NDSU is an inadequate garage.

"It's amazing," Chapman said. "The vehicles aren't covered with snow and they start like that."