October 27, 2026

By Grand Forks Herald editorial board

The Minnesota State college and university system’s Robin Hood approach to a budget crisis cast an ironic pall in the room last week as Northland Community and Technical College President Shari Olson highlighted the school’s recent successes.

During her annual State of the College presentation, Olson laid out a number of wins at NCTC, the two-year public institution based in East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

Growth topped the list. In 2024, NCTC set a goal to increase its enrollment by 10% over the following three years. Already, the college has seen a rise of more than 21%. A well-laid plan is in place to keep the momentum going.

NCTC’s “Strategic Enrollment Framework” lists student recruitment as the No. 1 priority, followed by enrollment while securing “employer sponsorships in low-enrolled programs that are high cost.” Beyond that, NCTC plans more engagement, persistence and, ultimately, “goal completion.”

A few of the programs mentioned during the State of the College event were degrees in aviation maintenance, peace officer training and positions in healthcare — all of which are of utmost importance in northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota.

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