Associated Press Writer By DALE WETZEL

Associated Press Writer

By DALE WETZELBy DALE WETZEL

Sharon Hart is resigning Friday as president of the North Dakota State College of Science, almost a month after the school's faculty denounced her leadership. She is taking another job as a technical education administrator.

The Board of Higher Education voted 5-1 on Wednesday to approve the settlement, which calls for Hart to replace Eddie Dunn as director of the College Technical Education Council. Dunn was named chancellor of the state university system last month.

Board member Bruce Christianson opposed the agreement, saying he did not like its provisions for lump-sum salary and benefit payments to Hart.

John Richman, the college's vice president for academic and student affairs, was appointed interim president of the two-year school, which is located in Wahpeton. He will hold both positions until June 30, when the board hopes to hire a permanent successor to Hart.

The College Technical Education Council is part of the state university system's central office. It provides aid to the five two-year colleges that are part of North Dakota's public system. Its members are the council's director, the presidents of the two-year schools and the director of the state Department of Career and Technical Education.

John Q. Paulsen, the Board of Higher Education's president, said Hart's background in community college and vocational administration made her well-suited to her new position.

"I believe she has done many good things at the State College of Science. She has had to make many difficult decisions," Paulsen said. "I'm happy we've been able to work out a reassignment. … She has a lot of knowledge, a lot of expertise, and I think this agreement will allow us to make use of her experience."

Under the proposed settlement, Hart will remain as CTEC director until June 30. She will be paid $10,311 monthly in salary, along with almost $2,600 monthly in housing and vehicle allowances. Dunn said she will work out of her rural Wahpeton home.

Should Hart leave her job before June 30, she will get a lump-sum payment of two months' worth of salary, pension and health insurance benefits along with her regular salary, the agreement says. The sum equals more than $20,000.

If Hart remains in the director's job until June 30, her extra severance payment will equal six months' salary and benefits, totaling more than $60,000. The payments will come out of the school's budget.

Hart has been under fire in recent months for her management style, and her decision to give promotions and raises to a handful of College of Science administrators. In August, faculty members voted 95-1 to approve a motion of no confidence.

Some College of Science alumni have said Hart has hampered their attempts to raise private funds to benefit the school.

Hart has said the promotions and raises were justified, and within her discretion. The assets of the college's private foundation have grown more than 20 percent during her tenure as president, Hart said.

Hart has been president of the College of Science since July 1, 1990, when she succeeded Jerry Olson, who had been the Wahpeton college's president for 13 years.

She was the first woman president of the State College of Science in its history. Hart had served as president of Middlesex (Conn.) Community College before moving to North Dakota, and was hired in part because of her background in administration and technical education.

Dunn said he asked Pat Seaworth, the university system's general counsel, to speak to Wahpeton community leaders to gauge their impressions of Hart. Seaworth said they had reservations about Hart's "management style and decision-making process."

He declined to elaborate.

"We have an agreement here, and everyone is ready to move on," Seaworth said. "We don't have to get into those things."

Hart's departure leaves three vacancies among the top jobs in North Dakota's university system. Searches are already under way for new presidents for Bismarck State College and Mayville State University, along with a search for a new chancellor. Dunn intends to leave the job June 30.

College president resigns, will take another job

BISMARCK (AP) - Sharon Hart is resigning Friday as president of the North Dakota State College of Science, almost a month after the school's faculty denounced her leadership. She is taking another job as a technical education administrator.

The Board of Higher Education voted 5-1 on Wednesday to approve the settlement, which calls for Hart to replace Eddie Dunn as director of the College Technical Education Council. Dunn was named chancellor of the state university system last month.

Board member Bruce Christianson opposed the agreement, saying he did not like its provisions for lump-sum salary and benefit payments to Hart.

John Richman, the college's vice president for academic and student affairs, was appointed interim president of the two-year school, which is located in Wahpeton. He will hold both positions until June 30, when the board hopes to hire a permanent successor to Hart.

The College Technical Education Council is part of the state university system's central office. It provides aid to the five two-year colleges that are part of North Dakota's public system. Its members are the council's director, the presidents of the two-year schools and the director of the state Department of Career and Technical Education.

John Q. Paulsen, the Board of Higher Education's president, said Hart's background in community college and vocational administration made her well suited to her new position.

"I believe she has done many good things at the State College of Science. She has had to make many difficult decisions," Paulsen said. "I'm happy we've been able to work out a reassignment … She has a lot of knowledge, a lot of expertise, and I think this agreement will allow us to make use of her experience."

Under the proposed settlement, Hart will remain as CTEC director until June 30. She will be paid $10,311 monthly in salary, along with almost $2,600 monthly in housing and vehicle allowances. Dunn said she will work out of her rural Wahpeton home.

Should Hart leave her job before June 30, she will get a lump-sum payment of two months' worth of salary, pension and health insurance benefits along with her regular salary, the agreement says. The sum equals more than $20,000.

If Hart remains in the director's job until June 30, her extra severance payment will equal six months' salary and benefits, totaling more than $60,000. The payments will come out of the School of Science's budget.

Hart has been under fire in recent months for her management style, and her decision to give promotions and raises to a handful of College of Science administrators. In August, faculty members voted 95-1 to approve a motion of no confidence in her leadership.

Some College of Science alumni have said Hart has hampered their attempts to raise private funds to benefit the school. They circulated a petition asking that she resign.

Hart has said the promotions and raises were justified, and within her discretion. The assets of the college's private foundation have grown more than 20 percent during her tenure as president, Hart said.

Hart has been president of the College of Science since July 1, 1990, when she succeeded Jerry Olson, who had been the Wahpeton college's president for 13 years.

She was the first woman president of the State College of Science in its history. Hart had served as president of Middlesex (Conn.) Community College before moving to North Dakota, and was hired in part because of her background in administration and technical education.

Dunn said he asked Pat Seaworth, the university system's general counsel, to speak to Wahpeton community leaders to gauge their impressions of Hart. Seaworth said they had reservations about Hart's "management style and decision-making process."

He declined to elaborate.

"We have an agreement here, and everyone is ready to move on," Seaworth said. "We don't have to get into those things."

Hart's departure leaves three vacancies among the top jobs in North Dakota's university system. Searches are already under way for new presidents for Bismarck State College and Mayville State University, along with a search for a new chancellor. Dunn intends to leave the job June 30.