NDUS Councils

The Academic Affairs Council provides guidance and leadership for academic programs and policies throughout the North Dakota University System. The council helps the State Board of Higher Education, University System campuses and University System office identify student educational needs and challenges and develop strategies for addressing those issues. The Academic Affairs Council also fosters communication and coordination between system institutions and with tribal and private colleges in the state.

Council members include the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, director of academic affairs, chief academic officers from each campus and student and faculty representatives. The council meets on a monthly basis.

For more information, contact Claire Gunwall, Director of Academic Affairs, 701-328-4140.

The Student Affairs Council provides guidance and leadership on student affairs issues throughout the North Dakota University System. The council helps the State Board of Higher Education, University System campuses and the University System office identify student needs and challenges and develop strategies for addressing those issues. The Student Affairs Council also fosters communication and coordination between system institutions and with tribal and private colleges in the state.

Student Affairs Council members include the vice chancellor for academic and student affairs, director of student affairs, chief student affairs officers from each campus and student and faculty representatives. The council meets on a monthly basis.

For more information, contact Katie Fitzsimmons, Director of Student Affairs, 701-328-4109.

The Administrative Affairs Council advises the chancellor and campus presidents on administrative, budget and related financial matters.

The council includes the NDUS chief financial officer and the vice presidents of finance/operations from each University System campus. The council meets about nine times a year.

For more information, contact David Krebsbach, Vice Chancellor for Administrative Affairs/Chief Financial Officer, 701-328-4116.

The CIO Council advises the State Board of Higher Education, chancellor and campus presidents on key strategic information technology initiatives, priorities, policies and procedures. The council makes recommendations on information technologies, including electronic communications networks and systems, computing systems, administrative information systems, academic information systems and other information technology activities, and evaluates alignment of resources with those recommendations.

Council members include the University System CIO and campus presidential appointees who represent – at a policy level – the information technology interests of their respective institutions. The council meets about nine times each year.

For more information, contact Darin King, Vice Chancellor for Information Technology/Chief Information Officer, 701-777-4237.

The Human Resource Council advises the chancellor, campus presidents and University System councils on human resource issues. The council also manages the University System’s broadbanded staff classification system.

The council is made up the vice chancellor for administrative affairs, human resource directors from each institution and three employee designees: one from a two-year institution, one from a four-year institution and one from either UND or NDSU.

For more information, contact Jane Grinde, Human Resource Director for CTS, 701-777-1918.

The Public Affairs Council ensures the delivery of consistent messages to key stakeholders of higher education in North Dakota. PAC members also contribute campus information to the University System website. Members include the primary public affairs contact for each of the 11 campuses, the NDSU agriculture communication director and the University System director of public affairs and marketing.

For more information, contact Eric Jensen, Director of Strategic Engagement/Creative Development, 701-328-1826.

The College Technical Education Council was established by the State Board for Career and Technical Education and the State Board of Higher Education to improve the coordination, collaboration and effectiveness of career and technical education and training at all levels in North Dakota and increase effectiveness and efficiency in program delivery.

The CTEC formulates and recommends policies and procedures relating to career and technical education in postsecondary institutions; develops goals, programs and communication strategies; and considers financial elements of these strategies with regard to its mission.

CTEC members include the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, the four University System community college presidents, the Campus Dean of Dakota College at Bottineau, and the Director and Executive Officer of the North Dakota Department of Career and Technical Education. The council meets about two times a year.

For more information, contact Lisa Johnson, Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, 701-328-4143.

The Diversity Council works to ensure diversity policies adopted by the State Board of Higher Education are implemented and observed on University System campuses. The council advocates for effective approaches to diversity issues and encourages campus diversity initiatives. The council also provides information about practices campuses can adopt to improve retention rates and ensure student success.

Council members are appointed by campus presidents. The chancellor also appoints an NDUS staff member and a liaison from the Chancellor’s Cabinet, which is made up of the campus presidents.

The council meets either face-to-face or via Teams.

For more information, contact Katie Fitzsimmons, Director of Student Affairs, 701-328-4109.