"When you think about it, we've got 27,000 students enrolled in one big university," UND President Robert Kelley told his audience Thursday. "That's good for North Dakota."
He got that figure by adding up the 13,200 students enrolled at UND this fall and the 14,200 enrolled at North Dakota State University.
Kelley was speaking to a group of area residents attending a breakfast that he hosts every few months with his wife, Marcia, where he fields questions from the public.
The latest breakfast comes against the backdrop of turmoil and uncertainty at NDSU, where Kelley's counterpart, Joseph Chapman, announced his resignation Wednesday over controversial spending decisions.
Kelley continued to be optimistic, speaking enthusiastically of partnering with the Fargo university on everything from degrees -- a joint master's degree in public health is in the works -- to research -- NDSU's expertise in miniaturization will help develop technology for UND's unmanned aircraft program.
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Kelley also spoke again of the partnership the university enjoys with the city. Pointing to Grand Forks Mayor Mike Brown, who was in the audience, he said he hoped to develop with the mayor a corridor on University Avenue linking the campus with downtown. Maybe the mayor will help with a light rail system, Kelley suggested.
Kelley is talking with the provost about what university functions could move downtown and looking at possible buildings.
In athletics, he said he was actively building relationships with other university presidents in conferences UND might want to join, not specifically naming the Summit League.
The Summit League is seen by many as the best league for UND to join. The Great West Conference it's in, where members are scattered geographically, is seen as impractical.
Reach Tran at (701) 780-1248; (800) 477-6572, ext. 248; or send e-mail to ttran@gfherald.com .
