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North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) will soon begin demolishing a coal boiler structure that was taken out of service earlier this year on its Wahpeton campus after a small explosion and fire rendered it unusable. The 40-year-old coal boiler will be permanently retired and campus energy needs will be met by the three remaining natural gas boilers.

Installed in the mid-1970s, the coal boiler has had minimal use over the past five years and was fired up during the coldest winter months for only 60-70 days annually. Its size is massive, similar to coal boilers on the campuses of the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University, and required retrofitting for the College to use efficiently.

Demolition of the structure will begin in early 2017 and while the majority of the boiler is housed inside the Central Heating Plant, located east of 7th Street; the most noticeable remnant to be removed will be the large, 120-ft. tall steel chimney.  Following demolition, the space formerly occupied by the coal boiler will be repurposed for a yet-to-be-determined campus need.

Energy conservation measures on the Wahpeton Campus have been a priority in recent years and those efforts, including the $8.4 million renovation of Old Main and the installation of energy efficient windows in several residence halls and buildings, have reduced energy demands.
 
“The three natural gas boilers have more than enough capacity to heat the Campus,” said Dallas Fossum, Executive Director of Facilities Management and the campus lead who will oversee coal boiler demolition.

The North Dakota State College of Science Concert Choir, Concert Band, Wildcat Singers and Wildcat Jazz Band will hold their annual fall concert on Monday, October 17, 2016 at the Bremer Bank Theatre in the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center at 7:30 p.m.

The concert will be the first for incoming instrumental director Adam Hollingsworth. Dr. Hollingsworth comes to NDSCS from his recent adjunct position teaching brass and assisting the Gold Star Marching Band at North Dakota State University.

The Concert Band will perform four selections under the direction of Hollingsworth. The Concert Choir is set to perform four numbers under the direction of Choral Director Bryan Poyzer.

The Fall Concert will feature a piano solo performed by Wayne Doe of Coon Rapids, Minn. The Wildcat Jazz Band and Wildcat Singers will conclude the concert by performing a variety of popular pieces.

The concert is free and open to the public.

The North Dakota State College of Science Electrical Technology Department will commemorate Careers in Energy Week October 17-21, 2016.

NDSCS will be hosting industry speakers to inform its students about various aspects of the energy industry, including electrical contracting, industry codes and wind generation.

High school students considering an energy-related career can learn about the NDSCS Electrical Technology program, as well as other programs offered at NDSCS, during Discovery Days on October 20 or 21. Further information about Discovery Days can be found online at ndscs.edu/specialevent.

The public is invited to view displays celebrating Careers in Energy Week at the NDSCS Mildred Johnson Library throughout the week of October 17-21.

Careers in Energy Week is part of a nationwide effort to promote awareness of energy careers and future workforce needs. NDSCS is a member of the Dakota Energy Workforce Consortium, a partnership of colleges and electric and gas/electric utilities in North Dakota and South Dakota, which is leading state and local efforts. To learn more about National Careers in Energy Week, visit getintoenergy.com. Learn more about the NDSCS Electrical Technology program at ndscs.edu/electrical.

North Dakota State College of Science honored two groups with the College’s annual LIFE and Steeple awards on October 26, 2016. This year’s LIFE award was presented to the NDSCS Diversity and Equity Council, while the Steeple award was presented to the Faculty Qualifications Task Force.

This year’s LIFE award recognized Diversity and Equity Council Strategic Initiatives. The recipients included Dana Anderson, Mindi Bessler, Cheryl Brown, Sheila Goettle, Michelle Griffin, Jim Johnson, Melissa Johnson, Kerri Kava, Ronda Marman, Jackie Marquardt, Jane Passa, Elizabeth Phares-Oren, Chad Pitts, Sybil Priebe and Mason Rademacher. The LIFE Award stands for “Bringing LIFE to NDSCS” and recognizes collaborative efforts that support the LIFE values of the College. 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.

The Diversity and Equity Council worked collaboratively and administered the first NDSCS Climate Survey. The results of this employee and student survey established the direction and framework for the council to develop a strategic plan, which created a measurable, lasting impact on the NDSCS community over the past year. Specifically, the Diversity and Equity Council implemented a Safe Zone program and training for students and employees, developed Upstander training, enhanced policies and procedures to establish an inclusive college experience, planned and implemented events and materials to focus on awareness and action, encouraged the LGBTQ roommate matching system, and developed a one-stop reporting system to allow an easy way for students and employees to report concerns or issues.

This year’s Steeple award was presented to the Faculty Qualifications Task Force. The recipients included Greg Anderson, Clint Gilbertson, Sandi Gilbertson, Shannon King, Wade King, Ken Kompelien and Jane Krump. 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. Criteria for the award include taking a risk, thinking outside the box, just-in-time delivery and how that addresses immediate needs, shared innovation, impact on student learning and development, and documented results.

The Faculty Qualifications Task Force was established to draft policies and procedures for determining NDSCS faculty qualifications. This was in response to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) publishing a clarification of faculty qualifications which had substantial implications for many faculty, especially faculty for Early Entry courses. The task force had a very tight timeline as the College wanted the policy in place prior to the HLC Comprehensive Quality Review visit last spring. Developing the policy and procedures required significant research, review, innovation and collaboration. The task force worked very quickly and had no template. The NDSCS policy was approved on April 14, 2016, and other North Dakota University System institutions are now using this policy as a model when developing their own faculty qualifications policies. The policy and procedures the task force developed will ensure that NDSCS faculty will continue to be world-class and meet the educational needs of NDSCS students.