From the President: The path forward

President Andy, first lady Kathy, and “first dog” Sadie officially report for duty at their new home on UND’s campus.

After a long and unplanned delay, Kathy and I are at last on the University of North Dakota campus. On June 23, we awoke in University House to the sight of the sun rising over the English Coulee, ready to experience our first full day in our new roles. Since then, we’ve been acclimating ourselves to the community while learning about the proud history and traditions of the University.

As pleased and excited as I am to begin my tenure as UND’s president, I’m aware of the challenges ahead. For example, UND is opening for the fall semester, offering a mix of on-campus and online courses because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve designed our fall operations to minimize risk, especially for our campus members and the citizens of Grand Forks. Our approach to the reopening has relied on careful, thoughtful and thorough planning with much input from faculty, staff, students and others.

As you may know, Josh Wynne, dean of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences and vice president for Health Affairs, was appointed chief health strategist by Gov. Doug Burgum to assist the state of North Dakota with its COVID recovery efforts. UND is most fortunate to count on Dr. Wynne as a valuable resource with a broad range of knowledge and experience as UND returns to its vital roles of teaching and learning.

While we are confident in our plans to minimize risk, we also have the option to revert to online education should it become necessary. Rest assured, our goal is to consider all likely scenarios and have necessary precautions in place.

Recent national events of racial turmoil and unrest have demonstrated that institutions of higher learning must be mindful of our role in facilitating and modeling discussions around this sensitive topic to bring about greater understanding and positive change. In the months ahead, UND will undergo the process of examining its operations and its curriculum to identify opportunities for each member of our campus to be treated with a greater sense of respect and dignity. There is no better place to achieve a rich understanding of each other, our backgrounds and our cultures than at UND, with our commitment to critical thought and discovery. This is what it means to be One UND.

In late June, UND received permission from the State Board of Higher Education to take down Memorial Stadium, which served as home to the University’s football team for 74 years. While it’s sad to lose a facility that’s provided many fond memories for UND students and alumni, it’s important to me as a 30-year U.S. Air Force veteran to see that whatever facility replaces Memorial Stadium, it continues to honor those who fought and died in World War I.

I am proposing that we save some of the materials and architecture from Memorial Stadium for incorporation into a new facility that continues to pay tribute to our veterans.

Finally, there is good news on the construction of the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration. The City of Grand Forks Jobs Development Authority is investing $1.33 million, pushing us over the $50 million threshold to earn state matching funds of $20 million and to begin building. Not only will this new facility occupy a key location on campus of which our community can be proud, it will also enable the modern learning needed to develop the next generations of business leaders who will drive economic development and help create a more diverse and resilient economy for our state.

Kathy and I are thrilled to be in North Dakota at the University of North Dakota. I look forward to meeting and working with our wonderful University alumni in the days ahead.

#UNDproud

President Andrew Armacost