Nursing Advisors Meet to Discuss Current Issues at Dickinson State University

DICKINSON, N.D. (KXNET) — Right now, campus leaders and the North Dakota Board of Higher Education have about a month to come up with a plan for the coming year at Dickinson State.

This week, KX News brought you news that Dickinson State University President Steve Easton has announced his resignation.

Easton has served as president for the past four and a half years, but relations with faculty appear to have reached a crisis when last week all seven of the school’s nursing professors abruptly resigned.

One of Easton’s priorities was to increase class sizes and graduate more registered nurses from the program.

But in a statement, Easton said he was stepping down after he said he was blocked from trying to hire more nursing faculty.

“This is a critical need, so we need to make sure that they find a solution, you know, with the nursing association and these instructors so that they can continue this program and these students can continue their education and we can, you know, produce more nurses that we desperately need in the state, across the state, so yes, it’s very important that this be addressed,” said Sen. John Hoeven.

So far, the State Council for Higher Education has not taken any action regarding the DSU.

We’re told a nursing advisory meeting will be held Tuesday in Dickinson to discuss next steps for the school’s nursing program.