MINOT -- North Dakota's State Board of Higher Education approved UND Foundation plans to build a new home for the school's president at a meeting today in Minot.
The board approved spending about $900,000 out of foundation donations to construct the new home, which foundation director Tim O'Keefe said should be completed before UND's next president takes office July 1. UND President Charles Kupchella plans to retire at the end of this school year and the search for his successor is already under way.
The Foundation plans to begin construction on the new home in early October, pending legislative approval. Kupchella and his wife Adele will stay in temporary housing on UND's Bronson property while the construction is underway, O'Keefe said.
The foundation has budgeted the total cost of the project at $1 million, to cover the cost of displacing the Kupchellas and other incidentals. He has said the foundation could pay for the project with cash on hand, but has chosen to bond for the project because of low rates.
O'Keefe described the new home's style as academic gothic. UND associate facilities director Rick Tonder has said the home will match the campus style much better than the current house.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Anytime you have the chance to improve the property value of an institution . . . that's a very good thing," UND Vice President for General Administration Phil Harmeson told the board. "This will enhance the image of UND . . . thus enhancing the image of the North Dakota University System and the state of North Dakota."
The new home will be built just north of the current president's house.
The state board also approved preliminary foundation plans to build an alumni center on the site of the current president's home. State board documents pin the cost of that project at about $250,000.
The board also approved accepting a $1.3 million donation from UND alumna Larry Jodsaas, through the UND Foundation, to expand the School of Engineering and Mines' Harrington Hall. The expansion will be called the Jodsaas Center and will function similar to a center for entrepreneurship within the engineering school, foundation officials said.
The board also approved plans for a new president's house at North Dakota State University in Fargo.
UND, NDSU and Dickinson State University are the only university system schools that currently provide housing for their presidents.
