The North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) is gearing up for its comprehensive accreditation review by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), scheduled for April 14-15, 2025. This process is crucial, as accreditation ensures that educational institutions meet established standards of quality and effectiveness, thereby maintaining public trust and enabling students to access federal financial aid. 

NDSCS's accreditation journey began in 1971, with reaffirmations in subsequent decades. In 2002, the college adopted the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), an accreditation model emphasizing quality and continuous improvement. Following the phasing out of AQIP in 2019, NDSCS transitioned to the Open Pathway for accreditation. This ten-year cycle focuses on quality assurance and institutional improvement, incorporating a Quality Initiative Project (QIP) tailored to the institution's needs. 

NDSCS's current QIP is the "Partnering for Success" project. The objectives for this project included assessing the current state of partnerships at the college, increasing business and industry collaborations by 3% from 2022 which totaled approximately $6.5 million, establishing and expanding partnerships across all areas of the college, and developing training activities to enhance partnership development. The results from this college-wide project were a huge success. Based on a comparison of partnership reporting between fiscal year 2022 and fiscal year 2023, there was an increase of over 200 partnerships. 288 partnerships were reported in 2022 with 496 reported for 2023. This 70% increase demonstrated that there truly was a significant opportunity to grow partnerships at the college. 

The upcoming HLC review will evaluate NDSCS based on five criteria. 
1. Mission – The institution’s mission is clear and guides its operations. 
2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct – The institution acts ethically and responsibly. 
3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources, and Support – The institution provides quality education, sufficient resources, and support for students and faculty. 
4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement – The institution assesses and improves its educational effectiveness. 
5. Institutional Effectiveness, Resources, and Planning – The institution engages in systematic planning and uses its resources effectively. 

To document its compliance with these criteria, the college has submitted a written report called The Assurance Argument to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) which is a key component of the Accreditation Process. 

This 35,000-word document includes a detailed narrative of how the institution meets each of HLC’s five criteria. It also includes evidence files, which are supporting documents (policies, reports, meeting minutes, assessment data) that substantiate the claims made in the narrative. This document is submitted through HLC’s online Assurance System and reviewed by a peer review team. The Assurance Argument can be viewed on the college’s website at NDSCS.edu/reaccreditation. 

NDSCS must also submit a Federal Compliance Filing as part of their comprehensive evaluation materials, demonstrating compliance with specific regulations set by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Accreditation not only assures the public of an institution's commitment to quality education but also facilitates the transfer of credits among institutions and signals to prospective employers that graduates have met widely accepted educational standards. As NDSCS approaches its April 2025 review, the institution continues to enhance its educational offerings and processes, aiming to meet and exceed the HLC's standards.

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) is celebrating a major milestone as its HOSA-Future Health Professionals chapter makes its debut at the State Leadership Conference (SLC). The event, held March 16-18 in Bismarck, brought together students from across the state to compete in various healthcare-related events.

Cierra Erickson, a first-year Dental Hygiene student at NDSCS, made an impressive showing by placing first in the “Dental Terminology” testing event, earning a gold medal. Her victory qualifies her to compete at the international level this summer in Nashville, Tennessee.

Originally from Minot, ND, Erickson has been involved in HOSA since high school and now serves as co-president of the NDSCS chapter.

This is the first year NDSCS has had an official HOSA chapter, making Erickson’s achievement even more significant. The college is now one of only four post-secondary institutions in North Dakota with a HOSA chapter, joining North Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, and Lake Region State College.

HOSA is a growing organization in North Dakota, with more than 850 members statewide spanning middle school, high school, and post-secondary education. More than 350 students attended this year’s SLC, highlighting the increasing interest in healthcare professions among students.

With its new HOSA chapter already making an impact, NDSCS is looking forward to further opportunities for its students to excel in the healthcare field.

The North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Culinary Arts program will host its 5th annual Culinary Scholarship Dinner on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the Hektner Student Center on the Wahpeton campus. 

This event serves as a key fundraiser for the NDSCS Culinary Arts program, helping provide scholarships that increase accessibility for students pursuing careers in the culinary field. Attendees will enjoy a six-course gourmet meal with wine pairings, carefully prepared and served by NDSCS culinary students, faculty, and alumni. 

An Evening of Fine Dining and Fundraising 

The Scholarship Dinner is not only an opportunity to support the next generation of culinary professionals, but also a hands-on learning experience for students, allowing them to refine their skills in a real-world fine dining setting. 

Event highlights include: 

• Six-course meal with wine pairings
• Wine raffle – Guests can purchase a cork for $25, each matching a bottle of wine valued up to $150
• Silent auction – New for 2025, featuring exclusive culinary experiences and premium items 

Ticket Information 

• Date: Thursday, March 6, 2025
• Location: Hektner Student Center, NDSCS Wahpeton
• Tickets: $125 per person – available online at NDSCS.edu/Culinary-Dinner 

A significant portion of the event’s food and supplies are donated by industry partners, ensuring that most of each ticket price goes directly to the NDSCS Culinary Arts Endowment Fund. Tickets are tax-deductible. 

For more information or to reserve tickets, visit NDSCS.edu/Culinary-Dinner.

Twenty-one North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) Collegiate DECA members showcased their business acumen at the North Dakota Collegiate DECA Career Development Conference held at the Holiday Inn in Fargo on February 13-14, 2025. The competition brought together approximately 85 students from eight colleges and universities across North Dakota. 

Collegiate DECA is an international organization that prepares college and university students for careers in business. The organization’s programming engages students from a variety of academic disciplines, with a focus on business-related areas such as marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. Collegiate DECA activities complement and enhance students’ college curriculum. 

NDSCS students achieved impressive results during the North Dakota Conference, with numerous finalists qualifying to compete at the International Career Development Conference (ICDC) in San Francisco this April. 

Top award winners in individual events include:

• Torrie Mack – Finalist, Entrepreneurial Operations
• Ryan Otoole – 3rd Place, Entrepreneurial Operations
• Nicholas Langenwalter – 2nd Place, Entrepreneurial Operations
• Addison Gerdon – 2nd Place, Fashion Merchandising and Marketing
• Zoey Bohnenstingl – 3rd Place, Human Resource Management
• Ava Howard – Finalist, Human Resource Management
• Sumer Roberts – 2nd Place, Retail Management
• Nicholas Ulrich – 3rd Place, Retail Management
• Kameron Parker – Finalist, Sales Management and Leadership
• Leah Tibbetts – 2nd Place, Travel and Tourism 

Top team event winners include: 

• Kameron Parker/Ryan Otoole – 3rd Place, Business Ethics
• Ava Howard/Torrie Mack – 2nd Place, Business Ethics
• Sumer Roberts/Seth Kenna – Finalists, Entertainment Marketing
• Addison Gerdon/Leah Tibbetts – 1st Place, Marketing Communications
• Cooper Klosterman/Nicholas Langenwalter – 1st Place, Sports Marketing 

“I was pleased at how well our students performed. As is usually the case, almost all NDSCS Collegiate DECA members are first-year students who have never competed before, going against seasoned juniors and seniors from four-year colleges who have experienced both state and national competitions,” commented Gregory Anderson, the faculty advisor for NDSCS Collegiate DECA. “I will be very proud to see several of our students take the next step at the International Conference in April.” 

Photo caption: 

NDSCS Collegiate DECA students 
(L to R) Front Row: Carley Hoff, Julia Anderson, Ellie Meyer, Zoey Bohenenstingl, Sumer Roberts Middle Row: Jace Johanson, Nicholas Langenwalter; Avery Malme, Kameron Parker, Addison Gerdon, Nicholas Ulrich, Ava Howard, Torrie Mack. Back Row: Cooper Klosterman, Leah Tibbetts, Carson Andel, Seth Kenna, Peyton Kadel, Khouba Toure, Brandon Henderson, Ryan Otoole