黑料专区

Polytechnic Mission Expansion Timeline | 黑料专区

to the top of the page
Home Page

Polytechnic Mission Expansion Timeline

June 2026

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2027:
  • Plumbing, Program Certificate
  • Plumbing, Associate of Applied Science
Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 announces an agreement with  (AV), located in Germantown, Md., to support the training of defense technology technicians with a Defense Technology Technician Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. The agreement requires 黑料专区 to recruit six students to start in the fall of 2026. This new pilot program offers scholarship opportunities for students interested in joining a defense technology program.

May 2026

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2027:
  • Agriculture Management, Bachelor of Applied Science

March 2026

Green check markND Governor Kelly Armstrong joins 黑料专区 leaders and industry partners for the opening of 黑料专区’s new Immersive Reality Room, part of the college’s XR for VR project, a $9.9 million initiative funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Disability Innovation Fund. The project uses extended reality technology to help youth and adults with disabilities explore career pathways and connect with competitive, integrated employment opportunities in high-demand industries.

ribbon-cutting ceremony  community open house  
 

January 2026

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2026: Green check mark黑料专区 reached the highest enrollment in its 86-year history with 4,773 students enrolled for the spring 2026 semester. 黑料专区 previously set all-time enrollment records in spring 2025 and fall 2025 and broke the mark again, enrolling 328 more students than last spring, a 7.26% increase and one of the strongest spring-term gains on record.

November 2025

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2026:

September 2025

Green check mark黑料专区 once again set a new enrollment record. Official numbers released on Sept. 23 by the North Dakota University System show that 4,549 students enrolled at 黑料专区 for Fall 2025. That's an 8.16% increase over last fall’s 4,206 students and marks the seventh consecutive semester of enrollment growth. Full-time enrollment grew by 10.3%, while part-time enrollment increased by 6%, reinforcing the continued strength of 黑料专区’s applied learning model.

August 2025

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2025: Green check mark黑料专区 is the only institution in ND selected for the Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI). The designation comes with a $50,000 grant to make education and training more accessible for students in the 黑料专区 Mechanical Maintenance Technology, the Automotive Collision Technology and the Industrial Automation & Robotics programs. Students enrolling full-time in one of these three programs for the 2025-2026 academic year are eligible for up to $1,500 in scholarship funding. More information is available at bismarckstate.edu/MetallicaScholars.

July 2025

Green check mark黑料专区 celebrates the opening of the Advanced Technology Center with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and a community open house on July 10, 2025.

ribbon-cutting ceremony  community open house  
 

June 2025

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2025: Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badgeOn June 16, 2025, the United States Naval Community College (USNCC) entered into a new partnership with 黑料专区 (黑料专区) to offer online associate degree and certificate programs focused on artificial intelligence (AI).
 

May 2025

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2025:

March 2025

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2025:

January 2025

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2025: hard hat Icon The polytechnic building project comes to completion and the 黑料专区 Advanced Technology Center is first celebrated with an employee preview event. A community open house is planned for July 2025. Programs begin holding labs in the two new flex labs and classes begin using the other state-of-the-art learning spaces. Students are taking advantage of the new collaboration and study spaces. 

Green check mark黑料专区 reached a historic milestone, achieving the highest enrollment in its 85-year history. With 4,445 students enrolled for the spring 2025 semester, 黑料专区 surpassed its previous record of 4,392 students, set in the fall of 2011. This marks the sixth consecutive semester of enrollment growth. Additionally, 黑料专区 has experienced a 20% increase in full-time students over the past two years, a testament to the college’s expanding academic offerings, industry partnerships and commitment to workforce readiness.

Green check markAcademic programs begin holding labs in the two new flex labs and classes begin using the other state-of-the-art learning spaces inside the Advanced Technology Center. Students are taking advantage of the new collaboration and study spaces.

December 2024

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2025:

November 2024

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs starting in Fall 2025:

October 2024

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:

September 2024

Green check mark黑料专区 celebrates another milestone this fall with 4,206 students enrolled for the Fall 2024 semester, marking a 3.5% increase over last year and the fifth consecutive semester of growth. This year’s enrollment is the highest the college has seen since enrollment peaked in 2011 with 4,392 students and signals a strong, ongoing demand for 黑料专区’s polytechnic-focused education model.

August 2024

Green check markOn August 1, 2024, 黑料专区 held a kick-off event on campus to launch the 黑料专区 Office of Workforce and Economic Development and Grand Energy to address the acute workforce shortages in industries critical to North Dakota's success, beginning with the Energy sector.
Green check mark黑料专区 is selected as one of 18 nationwide recipients to join the prestigious Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI), a major workforce education initiative launched in 2019 by All Within My Hands (AWMH) and the American Association of Community College (AACC) to support career and technical education programs at community colleges. This designation comes with a generous $75,000 grant to make education and training more accessible by lessening the financial burden for students enrolling in the 黑料专区 Welding or Mechanical Maintenance Technology programs.

July 2024

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:

June 2024

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:

March 2024

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs: Green check markOn March 28, 2024, U.S. Senator John Hoeven holds a press conference at 黑料专区 to announce that he has secured $8.3 million in federal funding for defense technology research and development for global defense engineering company to create a space engineering and manufacturing hub in Bismarck, and for 黑料专区 to educate the engineers and train the technicians needed for this work.

February 2024

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badgeThe National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security has designated 黑料专区 as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) through academic year 2029. This designation qualifies 黑料专区 graduates with cyber degrees for federal jobs in the cyber field. 黑料专区 initially received the five-year designation in 2019. The initial designation was through academic year 2024

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:

January 2024

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs: Green check mark黑料专区 reports continued enrollment growth for the spring 2024 semester with 4,183 students enrolled in more than 100 career pathways – a 6% increase over the spring semester in 2023 and the most students enrolled at 黑料专区 since fall 2011. This is the second consecutive year 黑料专区 had more students enrolled in the spring than in the fall of the same academic year. 黑料专区 credit hours increased by more than 8%, with students enrolled in approximately 39,000 credits this semester.

Hard hat iconOn Jan. 31, 2024, 黑料专区 celebrates a construction milestone with a for the region's only state-of-the-art polytechnic advanced technology center being built on the 黑料专区 campus. This event holds GREAT significance, as the beam signed by 黑料专区 students and employees, business and industry partners, and numerous supporters of our polytechnic mission will remain visible in our new facility, and the names will become a permanent piece of our polytechnic history.
Green check markIn line with its dedication to workforce development and student accessibility, 黑料专区 unveils its Great Plains Promise, a groundbreaking initiative offering free tuition for eligible 黑料专区 first-year and transfer students enrolling for Fall 2024. The waiver program aims to remove financial barriers and empower students to pursue higher education to acquire the skills necessary to thrive in the workforce.

Green check mark黑料专区 announces the creation of the Office of Workforce and Economic Development. Designed to create speed-to-market and innovative educational solutions, this division serves students, industries and communities by accelerating talent acquisition through multiple pathways into the workforce.

October 2023

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badgeThe Aspen Institute names 黑料专区 one of the 150 institutions eligible to compete for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance among two-year colleges. This is the third consecutive cycle 黑料专区 has been chosen as an Aspen Prize Top 150 U.S. Community College.

September 2023

Hard hat icon黑料专区 receives the student body stamp of approval on a plan to build a multipurpose student and athletic facility on campus. On September 27, 2023, more than 82% of 黑料专区 students voted in favor of building the Bavendick Center – an 80,000-square-foot that will be home to Mystics collegiate sports, recreational activities and campus events. A generous lead gift from the Frank and Joanne Bavendick family, coupled with student fees and additional donations, will provide the funds to construct the new $40 million facility.

Green check mark黑料专区 partners with Goldman Sachs Foundation and Goldman Sachs to offer the no-cost Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses practical business training program and personalized support services to 25 North Dakota entrepreneurs. On Sept. 28, 2023, 黑料专区 hosts Goldman Sachs Foundation President Asahi Pompey, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. John Hoeven, Rep. Kelly Armstrong and the first cohort of North Dakota business owners on our campus for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses kick-off event.

August 2023

Green check markOnly five years after its designation as North Dakota's Polytechnic Institution, 黑料专区 has recorded its highest enrollment in 10 years with 4,065 students enrolled for the Fall 2023 semester – a nearly 8% increase over Fall 2022. 黑料专区 credit hours went up more than 5%, with students enrolled in nearly 39,000 credits. The most significant increase was in freshman enrollment, up more than 9% over last year. Of the 11 NDUS institutions, 黑料专区 has the largest freshman class – 2,433 students enrolled in their first year of college – which is also a historic high for 黑料专区.

July 2023

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs: Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $121,274 in grant funding from the National Security Agency to support cybersecurity education through the 黑料专区 2024 Gen-Cyber Summer Camp for students in grades 6-8.


Hard hat iconThe polytechnic building project is in full swing! Despite a few minor rain delays early on, the majority of the foundation will be in place before school starts in August. In addition to foundation work, a stormwater detention pond is being built on the south side of the NECE, similar to the one on the east side of the building. Construction progress is tracked with updated time-lapse videos "From the Ground Up"

June 2023

Green check markU.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visits the 黑料专区 National Energy Center of Excellence and holds a round-table discussion with 黑料专区 President Doug Jensen and representatives from 黑料专区's K-12, career/tech education, industry and government partners to learn 黑料专区 how these entities are working together to identify, address and meet workforce needs through education in ND and how this can be applied to education throughout the U.S. While on campus, Secretary Cardona also requested to tour the 黑料专区 Energy program labs.
 
hand shaking presentation learning  
 
presentation of learning round table discussion table discussion


Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:

May 2023

Hard hat iconProgress on North Dakota's Polytechnic Institution's Polytechnic Education Center is slowed due to an early winter and late spring that produced near-record snowfall. Crews get back up to speed in mid-May. Construction progress is tracked with updated time-lapse videos "From the Ground Up"

April 2023

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 receives $9,960,000 in funding from the ND Legislature to cover increased building costs due to inflation for North Dakota Polytechnic Institution's Polytechnic Education Center.


Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded a $20,553 technical skills training grant from the N.D. Department of Commerce to expand the Heavy Equipment Operators training program to meet workforce demands.


Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new program: 黑料专区 receives final approval from the ND State Board of Higher Education Academic to offer the following new program:

March 2023

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $295,000 in grant funding from the Griffiss Institute as a sub-award through NDSU to enhance cybersecurity labs to support armed forces who pursue training.


Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded a $100,000 technical skills training grant from the N.D. Department of Commerce to establish a 3-D Printing training program to meet manufacturing workforce demands.

February 2023

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded a $100,000 technical skills training grant from the N.D. Department of Commerce to establish a Heavy Equipment Operators training program to meet workforce demands.


Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded an $8,500 technical skills training grant from the N.D. Department of Commerce to create curriculum for expansion of the Security Operations Center training needs.

January 2023

Green check mark黑料专区 enrollment is up 20.19% for Spring 2023 – the highest increase in the North Dakota University System. For the first time in 10+ years, 黑料专区 has more students enrolled in the spring semester than in the fall of the same academic year. “This certainly goes against the enrollment trends we are seeing in higher education, both in North Dakota and across the country,” says 黑料专区 President Doug Jensen. “I believe this is the result of both an increased need for a skilled workforce and the way our polytechnic model offers career pathways and flexible education options.”

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badgeThe 黑料专区 Foundation is awarded $315,447 in grant funding from the N.D. Department of Commerce to support a scholarship program for students impacted by COVID to pursue in-demand career pathways.

November 2022

Hard hat IconOn November 29, 2022, 黑料专区 breaks ground on North Dakota's Polytechnic Institution's Polytechnic Education Center.
Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $130,500 in grant funding from the N.D. Department of Commerce to establish a Security Operations Center to enhance cyber education and training.


Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $15,000 in a technical skills training grant from the N.D. Department of Commerce to establish an Unmanned Aeriel Systems (UAS) training program to meet workforce demands.

October 2022

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:
Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $2,249,840 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to support student success initiatives to increase retention and successful completion of training programs.

September 2022

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded a $1.6 million Department of Labor Strengthening Community Colleges grant to establish apprenticeships to specifically address workforce shortages and equity gaps in the healthcare, manufacturing, and automation sectors. The 黑料专区 Registered Apprenticeships Done Right (RADaR) project recruits diverse, underserved populations for in-demand careers by establishing career pathways and using registered apprenticeships as the proven vehicle to meet both industry and student needs.

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $95,566 in grant funding from the National Security Agency to support cybersecurity education through the 黑料专区 2023 Gen-Cyber Summer Camp for students in grades 6-8.


Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $195,500 in technical skills training grants from the N.D. Department of Commerce:
  • $100,000 to support oil and gas training for students pursuing roust黑料专区 or petroleum pump operator careers
  • $27,500 to fund scholarships for K-12 teachers seeking cybersecurity training for credentials
  • $50,000 to support regional and statewide incumbent workers pursuing training in automation and PLC training
  • $18,000 to establish a Certified Medical Assistant training program to meet workforce demands

August 2022

Green check mark黑料专区 sees a 6.26% enrollment increase from Fall 2021 to Fall 2022 – the highest increase of the 11 North Dakota University System institutions. “These enrollment numbers are exciting,” says 黑料专区 President Doug Jensen. “This shows us that more students are seeing the value of our polytechnic education model. High-demand career pathways, hands-on learning, great faculty, affordable tuition and new degree programs mean 黑料专区 students have more options now than ever before.”

July 2022

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $96,000 in National Science Foundation grant funding as a sub-award through Indian River State College (Florida) to participate in the National Electric Vehicle Consortium (NEVC). The NEVC is a collaboration of education and industry partners working to identify needs and train the future workforce for electric vehicles and EV infrastructure.


Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $1,871,312 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce EDA to purchase equipment for polytechnic training programs to meet workforce needs.

June 2022

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving.黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:

May 2022

Hard hat IconCrews begin soil testing between the NECE and the tennis courts to determine the bearing capacity of the ground for the polytechnic education facility.


Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving.黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:
  • Finance, Bachelor of Applied Science (starts Fall 2022)
  • Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Bachelor of Applied Science (expected Spring 2023 start)
  • , Certificate
  • , Certificate (starts Fall 2022)
  • , Certificate (starts Fall 2022)
  • , Certificate (starts Spring 2023)
  • , Certificate (starts Fall 2022)
  • Graphic Design Technology, Certificate
  • , Certificate (starts Fall 2022)
  • , Certificate (starts Fall 2022)

April 2022

Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving.黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:
  • Sport and Fitness Pedagogy, Certificate (starts Fall 2022)
  • Sport and Fitness Technology, Certificate (starts Fall 2022)

Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $131,163 in grant funding from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to support scholarships for students to pursue careers in the nuclear industry.

March 2022

Hard hat IconWork begins with Icon Architectural Group to design, develop and implement plans to expand the infrastructure that exists in the National Energy Center of Excellence (NECE) building for the polytechnic education facility. The goal is to enhance without duplicating existing space.


Hard Hat Icon黑料专区 selects as the Construction Manager at Risk.

February 2022

Hard Hat Icon黑料专区 selects as the architect for the polytechnic education facility and begins the process of hiring the Construction Manager at Risk.


Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solving黑料专区 receives final approval from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the following new programs:

January 2022

Green check markThe ND State Board of Higher Education authorizes the $38M spend on the 黑料专区 polytechnic education facility.



Green check mark黑料专区 receives authorization to extend the current in-state tuition rate to 12 designated states and provinces located within the area of impact that is underserved by our academic programming.


Document icon with a dollar sign and a seal badge黑料专区 is awarded $1,368,264 in grant funding from the National Science Foundation to establish the AIM (Accomplish Innovate Motivate) Scholars Program and fund scholarships for low-income, talented, domestic students to pursue successful careers in promising STEM fields.


Icon of a human head with gears inside, representing cognition, learning, or problem-solvingIn response to an industry need for medical laboratory technicians, 黑料专区 receives approval from the ND State Board of Higher Education Academic and Student Affairs Committee to change the Medical Laboratory Technician program from an Associate in Science (AS) degree to an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. The program will transition from a higher-credit-load AS to an equally challenging AAS with fewer credits to make it more affordable and to get graduates into the workforce sooner.

December 2021

Green check mark黑料专区 along with legislative, industry, community and educational partners, holds a to outline the expanded polytechnic mission and the plans for a polytechnic education facility on the 黑料专区 campus.


Hard hat Icon黑料专区 President Doug Jensen announces that the college will break ground in 2022 on the region’s only polytechnic education facility. The state-of-the-art polytechnic center will feature project-based learning and nontraditional, hands-on collaborative working environments; flex labs where business and industry can partner on developing projects and ideas, and space for operating and building new programming and equipment and advancing applied research.


Green check markNorth Dakota Governor Doug Burgum praises the project’s concept of equipping students with workplace-ready skills, credentials and degrees driven by local demand for customized career pathways. He also commended 黑料专区’s leadership for embracing a polytechnic focus that is responsive to the unstoppable forces of demographics, economics, technology and culture that are creating challenges for higher education institutions across the country.

November 2021

Green check markSB2345 passes the ND House and Senate and ND Governor Doug Burgum signs it granting 黑料专区 $38 million to advance its expanded mission as North Dakota’s Polytechnic Institution – $35 million for a polytechnic education facility and $3 million for start-up costs and programming.

June 2021

  • 黑料专区 receives Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Substantive Change request approval. 黑料专区 can now offer all degrees at the baccalaureate level.

March 鈥� April 2021

  • 黑料专区 delivers numerous presentations to public/private stakeholders and governmental leaders on the value proposition for the implementation of the North Dakota’s Polytechnic Institution mission and the impact this initiative will have on the talent demands to build the economy in North Dakota.

March 2021

  • The ND State Budget Process begins for 2021-to-2023.
  • 黑料专区 delivers the budget and polytechnic presentations to the ND House and Senate Appropriation Committees.
  • 黑料专区 delivers the polytechnic presentation to the Interim Committee for Higher Education.
  • The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Substance of Change request and documentation is submitted.

December 2020

  • The National Coalition of Advance Technology Centers (NCATC)report is finalized and provides guidance for the design, development and implementation of the 黑料专区 polytechnic mission.

October 2020

  • 黑料专区 commissions a study with Gray’s Associates to determine the skills, technical talent and degree programs needed in high-priority occupations to impact economic growth.
  • 黑料专区 commissions a study with National Coalition of Advance Technology Centers (NCATC) to determine the public/private sector stakeholder needs and the infrastructure required to deliver the expanded polytechnic mission.
  • The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Substance of Change request and documentation begins.

July 2020

  • Dr. Douglas Jensen joins 黑料专区 as 黑料专区's 7th president and is tasked with the college's mission expansion as a polytechnic institution.

September 2018-June 2020

  • 黑料专区 President Larry Skogen retires and the North Dakota University System and 黑料专区 conduct a presidential search.

September 2018

  • The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education approves a new charter for 黑料专区 to become North Dakota's Polytechnic Institution.