DICKINSON, N.D. (AP) — The president of North Dakota’s Dickinson State University announced his resignation Monday, days after professors from the school’s nursing department resigned.
Steve Easton announced his resignation in a video, acknowledging that there had been “confusion among some of the faculty and administration.”
Seven faculty members resigned on Wednesday, KFYR-TV reported. Trista Keith, a former assistant professor in the School of Nursing, told the station that faculty in the School of Nursing were notified in recent years that their certification was in jeopardy. She also cited insufficient time and resources for faculty to complete certification requirements as a reason for the faculty’s resignations.
Easton said the North Dakota Board of Nursing has prohibited him and other administrators from searching for new nursing faculty members.
“I would not be doing my job if I couldn’t do everything I can for the students, which includes finding teachers so they can continue their education, because it’s my job to fight for the students,” Easton said.
The board said in a statement that it did not force Easton’s resignation or reject her employment, but that it had given the university a standard notice on Friday that it would “reconsider multiple deficiencies in the nursing program” at its next board meeting following the faculty member’s departure.
Easton also said he was told the school’s financial backers might quit if he stayed on. He said he would stay on through a short, orderly transition period. It was not clear when his final term would be.
In statements, State Board of Higher Education Chairman Tim Mihalic and North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerot praised Easton’s leadership.
Easton was appointed president of Dickinson State University in March 2020 after serving as interim president for several months. During the 2023 legislative session, he supported a controversial and failed tenure review bill, but opponents argued it would infringe on academic freedom and threaten the school’s accreditation.
Dickinson State University has approximately 1,500 students enrolled for the fall semester of 2023. Fall classes begin on August 26th.