FARGO (AP) - North Dakota colleges and universities saying goodbye to longtime presidents this year are doing what they can to keep down the cost of receptions, gifts and special publications.

The University of North Dakota had several "built-in opportunities" to honor President Charles Kupchella this year during events related to UND's 125th anniversary, said spokesman Peter Johnson.

The area chamber of commerce also hosted a community reception for Kupchella. No university funds were spent on that event, though other events and gifts did come out of university funds or the budgets of university foundations.

For example, a campus reception cost $1,500 and a publication called "The Kupchella Years" cost UND $6,417. However, that report was done in place of two president's report publications that normally would have been produced.

"I like to think we were frugal in how we went about saying goodbye to a man and first lady who were with us for almost a decade," Johnson said of Kupchella and his wife, Adele.

Kupchella is retiring June 30 after nine years on the job.

Valley City State University President Ellen Chaffee also is retiring June 30, after 15 years. A dinner reception in her honor was funded through ticket sales, and an open house was sponsored by a food service company and cost the university nothing.

Chaffee was presented with a laptop that cost $935. Of that, $200 came from state funds and the rest from the university foundation.

Lake Region State College President Sharon Etemad also is retiring June 30, after 21 years at the Devils Lake school. A retirement party that cost $5,000 was paid for with foundation money.

Dickinson State University President Lee Vickers retired April 4 after nine years.

The school's alumni foundation hosted a $1,000-a-plate dinner and reception that funded an open house for the community and an open house for faculty, staff and students. A publication that highlighted the milestones of Vickers' career also was funded through proceeds from the dinner.

Gifts, including a painting of the campus, were not funded with university or foundation dollars.