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Wednesday, April 12th Liv Stromme

Asst. to House Majority Leader
hmajasst@nd.gov
(701) 390-4290

Nursing program at NDSU granted lease extension

Sanford Health, education board reach agreement over proposed legislation

BISMARCK, N.D. The North Dakota Board of Higher Education and Sanford Health have reached an
agreement that allows the nursing program at North Dakota State University to continue in its current
building.

North Dakota House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, announced the agreement today. It came after
an amendment was introduced to Senate Bill 2003 that would have prohibited the board or NDSU from
spending any money, including private funds, to lease property or employ staff members to operate the
nursing department in Bismarck.

This nursing program is critical to the residents of North Dakota, said Al Hurley, Vice President of
Operations Sanford Bismarck. Extending the initial rent rate of $1/year not only stabilizes the program, a
benefit to the men and women pursuing degrees in nursing, but it also ensures residents of North Dakota
will be able to depend on NDSU to graduate skilled and qualified nurses, who are much needed in the
state.

The initial lease between Sanford Health and NDSU was signed in 2013. It allowed the university to pay
$1 per year for three years to use the building. After that, the rent would increase.

The amendment, proposed by Bob Martinson, R-Bismarck, would have altered that.

The purpose of the amendment was not to close the school, Martinson said. I recognize the need we
have in this state for qualified nurses. My intention was to open a discussion on leases and business
practices to make sure, moving forward, we are best able to meet the various needs in the state.

Sanford Health has agreed to extend the initial $1/year rent term for an additional two years. House Bill
2003 as amended is awaiting floor action.

Id like to thank Sanford Health for working with us, Carlson said. State revenues are down, and the
legislature continues to look for ways to balance our budget while still maintaining programs that matter to
the health and well-being of our residents. This allows us to do both.

Kathleen Neset, chair of the State Board of Higher Education, agrees.

We want our nursing students to know that when they begin a program in the state, they will be able to
see it through. Thats our commitment to them, to the businesses who hire them and the patients who
depend on them, Neset said. This extension allows us to take a moment to make sure we can make this
program viable.

The nursing program at NDSU enrolls more than 250 students.