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Once again, I’m proud to present for the reading
pleasure of our many stakeholders an account of the
past year in this vibrant intellectual community known
as the University of North Dakota. In these pages, you’ll
read about the full spectrum of activities in one of
our nation’s best doctoral research universities,
including events and achievements in the arts, sciences
(including medicine), humanities, and law. There are
articles discussing how we go about fulfilling our teaching
and learning mission as well as our research and public
service missions.
Much of this issue is devoted in some way or
another to an enhanced mission that the University has
warmly embraced following the publication of the state’s
Higher Education Roundtable Report, namely that of playing
a more direct role in economic development.
You will read about the doubling and tripling
of our sponsored research program base, and the further
development of an already vibrant commercialization
complex/research “park.” Here at UND we
see our involvement in commercialization extending well
beyond any designated place on the campus. Organizations
such as the Energy and Environmental Research Center
have worked with literally hundreds of companies throughout
the entire world. Every bit as important as those are
the linkages that exist between, say, our aerospace
sciences programs and companies that are spun out of
that program, like Professor Leon Osborne’s Meridian
Environmental Technology Inc. Still, a cluster of buildings
from the Hilton Garden Inn to the soon-to-be-completed
Ina Mae Rude Center does form a kind of “park,”
and we’ve formed a large board of directors to
help give definition to our commercialization complex
and to its further enhancement and development, of course
with the aid of the Legislature and the Governor’s
Centers of Excellence program.
The University’s move deeper into commercialization
and economic development will not come at the expense
of our core teaching and learning mission. Indeed, through
experiential learning and giving students opportunities
to work in research and commercialization activities,
we are creating a world-class, much-enriched, hands-on
learning laboratory here at UND.
The University’s ability to bring the best
minds to the level of bachelor’s, master’s,
doctoral, and professional degrees is one of the best
resources this state and region have to build a foundation
for a robust future. The University of North Dakota
continues to draw students from all over the country.
This year, we have students from every state in the
United States and some 60 nations, thus addressing another
need here in the Upper Midwest: increasing diversity.
I trust that you will enjoy reading the articles
and accounts in the pages to follow. As always, we continue
to appreciate the support the University receives from
all of you.
Thanks.
Charles E. Kupchella
President of the University
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