WICHE brings together senior academic leaders to foster dialogue about issues facing individual institutions through its leadership and professional development networks.

WESTERN ALLIANCE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE ACADEMIC LEADERS – 2-YEAR INSTITUTIONS

• Bismarck State College
• Williston State College

Kaylyn Bondy, Bismarck State College, serves on the Alliance executive committee.

WESTERN ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP FORUM – 4-YEAR INSTITUTIONS

•   Minot State University
•   North Dakota University System
•  University of North Dakota
•   Valley City State University

Eric Link, University of North Dakota, serves on the Forum executive committee.

WESTERN ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY is a year-long professional development program for academic leaders aspiring to become chief academic officers in the WICHE region. Eight cohort members from North Dakota institutions have participated in the Academy since its inception in 2015.

Thanks to collaboration with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC), one of four U.S. regional higher education compacts, WICHE-region educational institutions, nonprofits, and public education entities can benefit from three programs: MHECtech, which provides competitively bid purchasing contracts for an array of hardware, software, and technology services; MHECare, which provides a student health insurance plan and teletherapy services; and a MHEC Cyber Insurance Program, which offers risk transfer and advisory solutions. Learn more.

WICHE ACADEMY FOR LEADERS IN THE HUMANITIES is a leadership development program for aspiring academic leaders with a background in the humanities. The two-year fellowship consists of campus-based and external mentoring, a three-day in-person seminar, and an extended project. Eric Wolfe, University of North Dakota, is participating in the 2023-25 cohort.

WICHE Behavioral Health Program (BHP) worked with the leadership of Sanford Health to begin a doctoral psychology internship program. The internship development began primarily with Sanford’s integrated health sites in North Dakota. The Sanford PIC welcomed its first cohort of two interns into the program this year, and is working on a self-study as the next step toward accreditation.

WICHE BHP, in partnership with the University of North Dakota College of Education and Human Development, and with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), co-administers the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MP-MHTTC). The MP-MHTTC provides comprehensive training, resources, and technical assistance to mental health providers and other practitioners in the SAMHSA Region 8.

In October 2022, WICHE BHP was awarded a multiyear grant from SAMHSA to establish the Mountain Plains Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center of Excellence (MP ROTAC). The MP ROTAC develops and disseminates resources, training, and technical assistance
that focuses on opioid and stimulant misuse in rural areas throughout SAMHSA’s Region 8.

WICHE BHP also administers the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP), a multiyear initiative supported by the Health Resources & Services Administration to identify treatment barriers and best practices for preventing and treating substance use disorder, including opioid use and psychostimulant use disorders. The RCORP program supports one grantee in North Dakota – City County Health District.

The BHP Together With Veterans Program, focused on reducing Veteran suicides, also has one established program in Minot, North Dakota, which to date has served approximately 1,700 rural veterans.

Knocking at the College Door is the leading U.S. resource for projections of college-ready students. Knocking, which includes a quadrennial publication with additional analysis, is essential for postsecondary policymakers, planning and workforce efforts, and economic development.

WICHE offers curated data and policy resources to support better-informed decision-making:

•  Tuition and Fees in the West includes tuition, fees, and enrollment data about 350+ public institutions in the West.
• Benchmarks: WICHE Region presents information on the West’s progress in improving access to, success in, and financing of higher education.
•   Data on over 35 indicators in WICHE’s Regional Fact Book for Higher Education in the West.

CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICERS NETWORK Staff from the North Dakota University System also participate in regular collaborative calls with colleagues around the region.

WCET- The WICHE Cooperative for Education Technologies is the leader in practice, policy, and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education.   Bismarck State College, Dickinson State University, Lake Region State College, Mayville State University, North Dakota University System, University of North Dakota, United Tribes Technical College, Valley City State University, and Williston State College are WCET members.

STATE AUTHORIZATION NETWORK (SAN) helps guide institutions through state regulations around online courses and programs. North Dakota has 15 members. See wcetsan.wiche.testing.brossgroup.com/member-institutions-organizations for a complete list.