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.

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.

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 Performing Arts department will present two concerts in April, with the Concert Band and Concert Choir performing on April 19 and the Jazz Band and Wildcat Singers performing on April 30. Both concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center on the North Dakota State College of Science campus in Wahpeton. The concerts are free and open to the public.

The NDSCS Concert Band and Concert Choir will present their last concert of the season on Thursday, April 19. The Concert Band will perform several pieces including “Tis the Last Rose of Summer,” featuring trumpet soloist Madison Nelson-Gira. The Concert Choir will collaborate with the M State (Fergus Falls) Voice Ensemble on two pieces. “Ave Verum” and “Let Everything That Hath Breath” were featured on Minnesota Public Radio last fall, with students from both NDSCS and M State participating in the recording session. Both choirs will also perform separately at the concert.

The NDSCS Jazz Band and Wildcat Singers will conclude their North Dakota tour with a home concert on Monday, April 30. The groups will be on tour the previous week with school performances at Circle of Nations (Wahpeton), Wishek, Bismarck, Medina, Drake-Anamoose, Grand Forks, Cavalier and Thief River Falls (Minn.).