Branching Out Spring 2019

DEAN’S CORNER DR. JERRY MIGLER Campus Dean GREETINGS FROM DAKOTA COLLEGE AT BOTTINEAU! As I write this, the college is on spring break, meaning that we are half-way through the semester. Our enrollment continues to be strong, with a record spring headcount of 882 students, which is an increase of 93 students when compared to last year. The previous high spring enrollment was 868 students in the spring of 2011. Some key announcements from DCB this spring are the hiring of a new Foundation Director, the launch next fall of our new Agriculture program, and the potential development of a Career and Technical Education Center in Minot. NEW FOUNDATION DIRECTOR Elsewhere in this issue, there is information about Leslie Herslip- Stevens, who became DCB’s new Foundation Director in early February. Leslie brings excellent skills to the DCB Foundation from her previous positions inmarketing and through her work with other foundations and non-profit organizations. And, as an alum of Dakota College at Bottineau/ NDSU-Bottineau, she has a unique understanding of the strengths that a small college like ours can provide to students. In short, she is the perfect person for this position and we welcome her to DCB. NEW AGRICULTURE PROGRAM We are excited to announce the launch of a new Agriculture program – or re-launch, as DCB previously offered an ag program, but it had been discontinued. Agriculture is big business in north central North Dakota, and Dakota College at Bottineau is taking steps to support this important industry. Starting in Fall 2019, Dakota College at Bottineauwill be offering a new program in Agriculture Management and Technology. This new program is tailored to meet the needs of the individual and fill a critical workforce need. The program will allow students the opportunity to focus on one (or more) of the following options: Livestock Production, Crop Production, Specialty Crop Production and Agribusiness. Students will have the option to complete a one-year certificate program or a two-year associate degree program. Making this program possible is a unique partnership between Dakota College at Bottineau, Lake Region State College, andWilliston State College. Through the use of distance education technologies, each campus will contribute courses to the program based on their areas of expertise. The consortium is a wonderful example of campuses partnering instead of competing to meet a labor need in the state. To help jump-start the program, the Foundation is developing a scholarship program specifically targeted at potential agriculture students. I’m hoping that past ag program graduates will consider donating to this effort. Please contact me or Leslie Stevens if you are interested in contributing. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER IN MINOT As part of Minot’s National Disaster Resilience grant, the city was awarded $1.5 million in funding to develop a career and technical education (CTE) center in the city. Minot is the largest community in the state not served by local postsecondary CTE programs. Amajor focus of this center would be the offering of postsecondary courses and programs. Discussions are now underway in which DCB and Minot State University could collaborate to serve this need. For DCB, our focus would be on providing the CTE programs needed to meet workforce demands in Minot and the north central region of the state. The immediate focus would be on programming in the areas of information technology, allied health, and business support services. Because of the a ff i l i a t e relationship between Dakota College at Bottineau and Minot State University, DCB andMSU are uniquely positioned to serve the need for postsecondary CTE – and all of higher education - in Minot. Between the two institutions, a full complement of higher education options would be available to the community. These would include one-year CTE certificates, associate’s degrees, bachelor ’s degrees and master’s degrees. While still in the planning stages, this is an important development for the future of the college, and more importantly, demonstrates how higher education in the state is partnering to serve critical economic development needs. 4 | BRANCHING OUT SPR ING 201 9