BISMARCK, N.D. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) – Fall enrollment at North Dakota University System campuses is up nearly 4%, the highest enrollment recorded since 2014.

The 11 public colleges and universities have 47,522 students, according to figures released Wednesday. The system’s record enrollment was in 2011 at 48,883.

Williston State College saw the highest percentage growth in headcount with 11%, while North Dakota State College of Science reported a 9% enrollment jump, Bismarck State College reported an 8% increase and Mayville State University reported 7% growth.

The University of North Dakota, which leads the state in enrollment, saw a 5% increase and is at an all-time high with 15,844 students.

UND President Andy Armacost said the university has seen strong growth in new students the past two years.

“We’re grateful to be able to impact a large number of students with the great programs at UND,” Armacost said.

Bismarck State College’s enrollment of 4,549 students also was a record.

“Seven straight semesters of growth show that our polytechnic mission is not only resonating but making a real difference for students and the industries we serve,” Interim President Dan Leingang said in a statement.

North Dakota State University has recorded the exact same fall headcount for the past three years at 11,952 students. NDSU showed a 3% increase in first-year students, alongside a significant rise in new international undergraduate students, according to a news release from the university.

NDSU has 95% of students enrolled in in-person programs, the highest number across the entire North Dakota University System, the release said.

NSDU President David Cook, who is in his third year on the job, appeared remotely before a North Dakota legislative committee Wednesday.

“We have stabilized enrollment at NDSU, and I think we’re creating the right foundation for where we want to be,” Cook said.

Minot State University President Steve Shirley, in a Tuesday presentation to the State Board of Higher Education, said that while headcount at the school is flat, there is a 3% increase in full-time equivalent students that he said reflects a “nice little bump” in freshman enrollment — about a 15% increase.

“We’re excited about that,” he said.

Dickinson State University was the only school to show an enrollment decline, down 3%.

Dakota College at Bottineau had 3% enrollment growth. Lake Region State College and Valley City State University each reported 1% increases.

MINOT — The board overseeing the North Dakota University System has awarded the interim chancellor the permanent role and changed the name of that role in the process.

The State Board of Higher Education unanimously approved Brent Sanford as commissioner of the system at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 23, in Minot.

Sanford, a former Republican lieutenant governor, was

named the interim university system leader in April,

replacing Chancellor Mark Hagerott,

who stepped down around the same time.

In August, Board Chair Kevin Black told a legislative committee meeting in Dickinson that

he favored skipping a nationwide search in favor of giving Sanford the job.

Before the vote Tuesday, Black called it a “once-in-a-generational opportunity” to appoint Sanford, whom he said can make a true difference for higher education.

“For those reasons, I think doing the right thing and putting the right person in the seat trumps the process. In this case, I think it is absolutely 100% worth it,” Black said.

Other board members praised Sanford, indicating he was an obvious choice.

“I can always recognize the guy that’s got that ‘it factor,’ and in my opinion, Brent’s got that ‘it factor,’ and I’m excited about his opportunities to come and lead this university system,” said Member Tim Mihalick.

Said Member Danita Bye, “We could have done a national search and Brent would be our top candidate.”

Black said despite changing the title to commissioner, a motion that also received unanimous approval, the role of the position does not change.

“What I think the board is really saying through this motion is that we believe it’s important to align with what the Constitution says and what Century Code says,” he said.

To reflect the change, Board Vice Chair Donald “D.J.” Campbell laid out further amendments to other leadership titles.

The chancellor will become commissioner, the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs will become deputy commissioner/chief academic and student affairs officer, and the vice chancellor for administrative affairs will become deputy commissioner and chief financial officer, he said.

Before the vote on Sanford took place, he gave a presentation to the board and answered questions from board members.

Member Patrick Sogard asked about

a perception among some in the public

of Sanford’s lack of experience in academia.

Hagerott, who had led the university system since 2015, had a doctorate degree, and other recent chancellors have had master’s or other advanced degrees.

Sanford said his experience interacting with higher education as lieutenant governor was valuable.

He added that he was truly enjoying the role as interim chancellor.

“You can probably tell I do and I find it a better fit than I thought it would be, because it’s turning out that this job is very much a government leadership, government administrator, political administrator, type job that I’m used to,” Sanford said.

Also slated to be discussed Tuesday was

consideration of a policy change stating presidential vacancies at colleges and universities may be filled without doing a search.