FARGO, N.D. (AP) - The North Dakota Board of Higher Education leader says despite current budget cuts, there are brighter days ahead for funding the state's 11 colleges and universities.
The board was briefed Wednesday on the budget proposal by outgoing Gov. Jack Dalrymple. It would slash higher education spending by 15 percent, 5 percent of which could be restored through 2.5 percent tuition increases annually over the next two years. That amounts to about $32 million from the original $682 million higher education budget proposal.
Board chair Kathleen Neset, of Tioga, told the group that because funding is closely related to energy, this will likely be the "roughest time" and a better outlook is ahead. Neset is president of an oilfield consulting service.
The Dalrymple budget eliminates 313 full-time positions in higher education.