The College Fix

Calls come as the board considers four leadership vacancies at North Dakota universities

The North Dakota State Board of Higher Education is facing calls to choose women to fill four leadership vacancies, with one scholar describing it as “ethical” and “the right thing to do.”

The board oversees the state’s public universities. Three presidential positions currently are open at Bismarck State College, Dickinson State University, and Lake Region State College, The North Dakota Monitor reports. A fourth, the North Dakota University System chancellor, will become open later this year.

Some scholars want the board to fill the positions with women, arguing there has been a historically low number of female leaders in state higher education. According to The Monitor:

“When it comes right down to it, in my opinion, there needs to be a concerted effort to hire more diversity,” said Debora Dragseth, Baker Boy Professor of Leadership at Dickinson State University who served as vice president there from 2020-2022.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Dragseth said. “It’s ethical. But also the fact that the majority of college students are female. Who’s representing them? Who’s walked in their shoes?”

Dragseth calculated that women have served as the top leaders at higher education institutions throughout the state just under 6% of the time over the course of their history.

That hiring pattern needs to change, says Ellen Chaffee, a former Valley City State University president.

“The SBHE’s record for hiring women in CEO positions for the last 25 years shows a pattern and practice of discrimination on the basis of gender,” she told The Monitor.

“College students need to see and interact with diverse people as part of preparing for success after graduation,” Chaffee said. “If the (State Board of Higher Education) does not seek, recruit and hire women, there is virtually no chance they will have strong women applicants and have the best possible new presidents.”

The leader of the board also spoke up in support of the idea.

“From my perspective, and I think of the board in general, I agree, we need more female representation,” Chair Tim Mihalick told the news outlet. “When we get the qualifications that match the institution’s needs, I would absolutely see us hiring a female leader.”

However, some universities have gotten into legal trouble for hiring and admissions practices and programs based on individuals’ race or sex.

Recently, legal experts raised questions about the constitutionality of certain diversity, equity, and inclusion goals at North Dakota State University, The College Fix reported.

One, which aims to increase female enrollment in its business school, is a “clear violation” of Title IX, “which bans all forms of sex discrimination in schools,” legal expert Edward Bartlett told The Fix. 

In another example, a 2023 investigation found the University of Washington’s psychology department violated a non-discrimination policy by putting “inappropriate” emphasis on applicants’ race in a hiring decision, The Fix reported.

In another case last year, the University of Connecticut revised a news release about its “Women in leadership” initiative to include men after The Fix raised questions about it. The Fix asked if a university attorney had reviewed the program for Title IX compliance or if the school planned to offer an equivalent opportunity for men.

MORE: Northwestern faces complaint after bragging about 50-percent female class

MORE: Michigan State’s ‘Women’s Leadership Accelerator’ likely illegal: watchdog

IMAGE: Ken Wolter/Shutterstock

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