NE North Dakota News

As the North Dakota Legislature wrapped up its 2025 session, leaders from the University of North Dakota (UND) expressed gratitude for the continued legislative support for higher education. The Legislature passed Senate Bill 2003, providing the North Dakota University System with its operating budget for the 2025-27 biennium.

Karla Mongeon-Stewart, UND’s vice president of Finance & Operations, commented on the state’s recognition of higher education's importance. “Overall, I am very pleased with how North Dakota continues to recognize the importance of higher education,” she said.

Although UND did not receive all the funding it requested, campus leaders are satisfied that key needs were addressed. Peter Johnson, director of Government Relations & Public Affairs at the UND Alumni Association & Foundation, noted, “We’re lucky to have legislators in both chambers who really do care about higher education and understand its value to the state of North Dakota.”

Meloney Linder, vice president of Marketing & Communications at UND, highlighted workforce development as a significant concern for policymakers and business leaders. Johnson added that higher education is crucial for diversifying North Dakota’s economy beyond traditional sectors like energy and agriculture.

Mongeon-Stewart attributed part of this support to effective communication between legislators and campus leaders. She stated, “The fact that we can meet with legislators in person multiple times per session to share our ‘why,’ is so important.”

Regarding compensation and benefits, Mongeon-Stewart expressed confidence in legislative actions concerning the North Dakota Public Employee Retirement System (NDPERS). The Legislature appropriated $4.6 million and $1.39 million to offset costs related to NDPERS retirement plan closures and insurance premium increases.

Merit-based salary increases were also approved at 3% per annum over the biennium for employees with satisfactory evaluations.

Senate Bill 2003 allocates $55.6 million for a new STEM complex at UND, supplemented by up to $24 million from donors. This facility aims to enhance research activities and workforce development through improved lab space and cross-college collaboration.

The bill also includes $24.75 million for the state’s Challenge Grant—an increase from previous funding—to match philanthropic contributions to higher education institutions like UND and North Dakota State University.

Johnson remarked on legislative support for this initiative: “Legislators by and large really like the Challenge Grant concept.”

Additionally, $16 million was designated to strengthen UND’s national security mission in areas such as UAS, counter-UAS, cybersecurity, and satellite testing/design. This brings total legislative appropriations over recent sessions to $39 million.