October 24, 2026

By Barry Wilfahrt

At a time when many colleges and universities face declining enrollment, rising costs and questions about the relevance of higher education, Northland Community & Technical College is demonstrating how innovation, financial stewardship and relevant programs can drive success.

Under the leadership of President Dr. Shari Olson and her team, Northland has embraced these priorities with impressive results. Its approach deserves recognition — and offers lessons for other institutions navigating challenging times.

Perhaps the clearest evidence is enrollment growth. Northland reported a 9.1% increase during the 2024–25 academic year and a 15% year-over-year increase in fall 2025. By March 2026, college officials were projecting another 12% increase for the academic year.

That growth didn’t happen by accident.

Northland’s EXPO events bring hundreds of high school students to campus for hands-on demonstrations and career exploration. Expanded school outreach, stronger employer partnerships and opportunities for working adults to earn credit for existing knowledge and skills help the college reach more students.

Read full story:
https://www.grandforksherald.com/opinion/letters/viewpoint-northland-community-technical-college-is-model-for-innovation-growth-and-stewardship