One of the most persistent and confounding problems in North Dakota’s higher education system are university presidents – backed by politically loud constituencies made up of alumni and sports fans and hometown media – who don’t want to be governed. Who resent the governance of the State Board of Higher Education and the Legislature and…
Plain Talk: Wynne Says Former UND President Mark Kennedy’s Progress Was “Tainted” by “Personality Issues”
Former University of North Dakota President Mark Kennedy, who left that position under a cloud of criticism to take a new one at the University of Colorado, did a lot of good things according to interim UND President Joshua Wynne. He said, on this episode of Plain Talk, that you have to “separate the message…
The Hiring Process for Mark Kennedy Cost North Dakotans Nearly $50,000 for Each Year He Actually Worked
In recent years, when it’s come time to hire for a high-profile position in North Dakota’s state government, our public servants have increasingly turned to expensive private consultants. These firms conduct national searches and return to the decision makers a list of candidates. This is an expensive process, and it’s success are inconsistent at best.…
Guest Post: Suggestions for Reviving the University of North Dakota
This guest post was written by William J. Brotherton, a UND graduate, a North Dakota and Texas attorney, and an adopted member of the Spirit Lake Sioux. He is the author of Burlington Northern Adventures: Railroading in the Days of the Caboose. He lives in Argyle, Texas. Now that the University of North Dakota will…
Ed Schafer Says No to Another Stint as President of the University of North Dakota
This week current UND President Mark Kennedy sent an official resignation out to campus, occasioned by his acceptance of a new job as president of the University of Colorado. Here’s what he sent: Kennedy isn’t North Dakota’s problem any more. Things had gotten so bad that Colorado hiring him saved North Dakota the trouble of…
Former DOT Drivers License Director Allegedly Told Female Subordinate She Reminded Him of a Character in a Romance Novel He Wrote
Glenn Jackson was director of the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s drivers license division until he resigned last week. He’d been on leave since February pending an investigation into accusations that he, among other things, was showing favoritism to young, female employees. As you can see from the full investigation report into those accusations (below),…
Mark Kennedy Named New President of the University of Colorado
It was a close, but the outcome wasn’t unexpected. On a party line vote, the Board of Regents voted to appoint current University of North Dakota President Mark Kennedy as the new President of the University of Colorado. If you want to watch the whole, long-winded meeting you can do so here: This solves a…
Heidi Heitkamp Says She’d Consider Being President of the University of North Dakota
I wrote previously that if former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp wanted the president’s job at the University of North Dakota she should be considered for it. Of course, current UND President Mark Kennedy still has the job, even though he’s the sole finalist for a new job in Colorado. But it’s clear he’s worn out…
Print Column: Subjecting Mark Kennedy to an Ideological Litmus Test Is Unfair
MINOT, N.D. — Once upon a time I thought Mark Kennedy was going to be a good leader for the University of North Dakota. I cheered when he made tough decisions like closing down the women’s hockey program which bled money because, despite vocal support from some, few showed up to watch the games or…
UND Should Absolutely Consider Heidi Heitkamp for President
One way or another, UND President Mark Kennedy is gone. “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here,” is a phrase I’m sure you’re familiar with if you’ve ever stayed until closing time at a bar. That’s pretty much where Kennedy is at. He may or may not get a new job…