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North Dakota State College of Science honored numerous employees at the annual Employee Recognition Program on April 27, 2018. Faculty and staff members were named recipients of the College’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Excellence in Service Award as well as the College’s annual LIFE and Steeple awards for the 2017-2018 academic year.

The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes instructors who, among other outstanding characteristics, demonstrate competence and sincere interest in their subjects, present material in a suitable, well-integrated fashion and encourage participation from students. Selection criteria include student evaluations, feedback and deliberations by a selection committee comprised of faculty members and students. This year’s recipients were chosen from a group of more than 40 nominees. The honorees are:

• Larissa Gilbertson: Associate Professor, Academic Services Center
• Char Schuler: Assistant Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Jane Krump: Professor/Department Chair, Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Jeri Christiansen: Associate Professor, Nursing

The Excellence in Service Award recognizes employees who consistently go above and beyond every day and exemplify the College’s values of learning, integrity, flexibility and excellence. Nominations are open to those serving in the professional, office support, technical, paraprofessional, trades and service positions that are not on probationary status with recipients chosen by the President and Vice Presidents. The honorees are:

• Billie Jo Hendrickson: Building Services Supervisor, Facilities Management
• John Lesch: ITS Service Desk Specialist, Information Technology Services
• Shannon Dyrness: Administrative Secretary, Distance Education
• Vince Plummer: Personal Counselor, Student Health and Counseling Services

This year’s LIFE award recognized Network and Information Technology Security Coordinator Chris Kelsen. The award is presented to an individual, employee group or committee for developing and implementing an action plan for Strategic Planning or Academic Quality Improvement Project goals. Kelsen was recognized for his work in a number of important Information Technology Services efforts that have significantly improved the technology services that support the success of NDSCS students and employees. Chris led an extensive upgrade of the College's data network, including upgrading network hardware and implementing network routing. This was completed on a live network and Kelsen handled unexpected challenges with flexibility, professionalism and creative thinking.

This year’s Steeple award was presented to the NSF ATE North Dakota Weld Grant. The recipients included Welding Technology faculty Clint Gilbertson, Joel Johnson, Vance Harthun, Lee Larson and Mitch Van Vleet. The Steeple award stands for “Climbing New Heights” and is presented to an individual, employee group or committee for new and innovative methods to accomplish their role on campus. With the grant, NDSCS will prepare pathways for North Dakota secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools to articulate Welding education at NDSCS, and ultimately increase the number of skilled welding employees in the industry. NDSCS will develop common curriculum, teacher training, assessment and industry credentials for participating North Dakota CTE welding programs.

The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) has formally granted initial accreditation to the North Dakota State College of Science Registered Nursing programs. This includes the one-year Associate in Science in Nursing degree (ASN RN) and the two-year Associate in Applied Science degree in Registered Nursing (AAS RN).

The College’s Practical Nursing program has been accredited by the ACEN since 1991. The NDSCS Practical Nursing program is scheduled for continuing accreditation in 2019 and the Registered Nursing programs are scheduled for continuing accreditation in 2022.

According to acenursing.org, the ACEN supports the interests of nursing education, nursing practice, and the public by the functions of accreditation. Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review, self-regulatory process by which non-governmental associations recognize educational institutions or programs that have been found to meet or exceed standards and criteria for educational quality. The monitoring of certificate, diploma, and degree offerings is tied closely to state examination and licensing rules and to the oversight of preparation for work in the profession. 

NDSCS offers three academic options for Nursing students. The Practical Nursing program is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing or wish to transfer to an associate or bachelor’s program for nursing. The two-year Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing program is available to applicants wishing to become a Registered Nurse. The Associate in Science for Nursing program is available to Licensed Practical Nurses who wish to continue their nursing education and become a Registered Nurse. In addition to its regular cohorts, NDSCS has conducted more than 30 satellite nursing programs as part of its commitment to meeting the workforce needs of rural North Dakota and the region.

To learn more about the NDSCS Nursing program visit www.ndscs.edu/nursing or call 1-800-342-4325 ext. 2521.

The NDSCS Practical Nursing Southeast North Dakota cohort achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the National Council Licensure Exam for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN). The students graduated from NDSCS in December 2017 with an Associate in Applied Science degree in Practical Nursing.

The students in this cohort, from Lisbon, Ellendale, Oakes and surrounding areas in North Dakota, completed their studies over a three-year period in Oakes, N.D. The program consisted of evening classes and clinical experience based in southeast North Dakota, allowing students to continue with their current employment and maintain other responsibilities.

Community businesses and organizations in southeast North Dakota donated dollars to help fund the program offered in Oakes, N.D. These area donors include:

• City of Lisbon Star Fund, Lisbon, N.D.
• Ransom County Economic Development, Lisbon, N.D.
• Dickey County, Ellendale, N.D.
• Good Samaritan Society, Oakes, N.D.
• Oakes Enhancement Initiatives, Oakes, N.D.
• Sanford Oakes Clinic, Oakes, N.D.

NDSCS offers three academic options for Nursing students. The Practical Nursing program is for students who are interested in pursuing a career in nursing or wish to transfer to an associate or bachelor’s program for nursing. The two-year Associate in Applied Science Registered Nursing program is available to applicants wishing to become a Registered Nurse. The Associate in Science for Nursing program is available to Licensed Practical Nurses who wish to continue their nursing education and become a Registered Nurse. In addition to its regular cohorts, NDSCS has conducted more than 30 satellite nursing programs as part of its commitment to meeting the workforce needs of rural North Dakota and the region.

For further information on the NDSCS nursing programs visit ndscs.edu/nursing or email alliedhealthcareers@ndscs.edu.

By Red River Farm Network

Last fall, the North Dakota State College of Science Agriculture Program received nearly 100 acres of land. With support from several businesses and organizations, corn, soybeans and wheat are now growing at the college’s Ag Land Lab. NDSCS Agriculture Program Chair Craig Zimprich says students will return this summer for spraying, scouting and precision agriculture training. “They’ll learn from experts in sprayer technology about why different nozzles are used and new technologies,” says Zimprich. “Agronomists will be on hand, helping students scout crops. Also, we know there are salinity issues in the fields. So, the students will look at variability in the different crops, weed pressures and make recommendations.” Students in the program come from a variety of backgrounds. About half plan to return to the family farm, while others will go into agribusiness careers such as agronomy or marketing. Hear more about the Ag Land Lab from Zimprich in the interview below.

Listen to the interview online at www.rrfn.com. 

The North Dakota State College of Science and North Dakota State University have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement to better serve the research, service, educational and workforce needs of North Dakota. The two institutions share a unique combined presence in eastern North Dakota, and a cooperative spirit through which the educational interests of the state and local area are served.

“This agreement paves the way for NDSU and NDSCS to strengthen education across North Dakota by working together in areas including academic programming, operations and campus resources,” said NDSU President Dean Bresciani. “It enables us to explore additional opportunities to create academic partnerships and operating efficiencies.”

“NDSCS and NDSU have a history of cooperation and collaboration,” said NDSCS President John Richman. “This memorandum of agreement formalizes and expands that partnership, and will help us to work together to meet the area’s educational and workforce needs.”

The institutions have previously partnered in specific areas to enhance student success. Previous agreements have been outlined for:

• Pathway Program – NDSU directs appropriate students denied admission to NDSU to consider the Pathway Program, which provides an avenue for students to complete developmental coursework at NDSCS while living on NDSU’s campus and taking selected courses collaboratively at NDSU.
• Reverse Transfer – In cases where students transfer from NDSCS to NDSU before completion of their associate’s degree, the reverse transfer process allows students to transfer credits back to NDSCS for the purpose of attaining the associate’s degree.

Through this new Memorandum of Agreement, the institutions will develop transfer guides and processes to facilitate seamless transfers from NDSCS to NDSU, as well as collaborate to identify new and modify existing career and technical programming.

NDSCS and NDSU each serve a unique niche in providing educational programming to meet workforce needs, with NDSCS serving as the principal provider of sub-baccalaureate programming and NDSU providing baccalaureate and graduate programs. With a growing need for degree programs at all levels delivered in the Cass County region, the institutions recognize the need to collaborate to provide educational opportunities for students.

In addition to collaboration in academic programming, the new Memorandum of Agreement creates a path to explore collaboration for operational efficiencies and shared services.