Bringing town and gown together

The conversation between UND’s president and GF’s mayor on the Wake Up to UND set portends great partnerships to come

New Faces. New Places.

And New Traces – of genuine congeniality and good will between the mayor of Grand Forks and the president of UND, judging by the banter, laughter and serious discussion that the two shared at Tuesday’s Wake Up to UND event.

The relationship between the city and UND is exceptionally strong, and for that to continue, “I think we just keep doing what we’re doing,” Mayor Brandon Bochenski said to UND President Andy Armacost during the event.

“We’ve had a very good relationship since you’ve been here, and we have the benefit of both of us having come in at the same time.” Moreover, Grand Forks is proud of the University, and UND shows by its actions that it’s just as proud of its home city, the mayor said.

That mutual respect will help both entities take on shared challenges and thrive. “So, just keep fostering our future leaders and innovators of the community,” Bochenski suggested.

Then he grinned. “On top of that, a few more hockey championships probably wouldn’t hurt,” he said, and Armacost and others in the studio laughed.

A conversational format

A collaboration between the Greater Grand Forks Chamber and UND, Wake Up to UND is an annual event that usually involves a 400-person breakfast. But COVID ruled out that possibility this year, so UND and The Chamber developed an event meant to be both meaningful and different.

“Unlike previous years, in which the president and other members of the University leadership team made presentations, this year’s event was designed with more of a conversational format,” said Fred Wittmann, UND’s director of ceremonies and University events.

“And with the theme of ‘New Faces. New Places’ that we adopted, we knew this would be a great opportunity to have the new UND president and new Grand Forks mayor talk about their collaborative spirit and shared goals.”

The leaders’ conversation – moderated by Meloney Linder, UND’s vice president for marketing and communications – took place in the UND Aerospace school’s TV studio. The lights, cameras and action made this year’s event feel brand new, and that was the point, Wittmann said.

“Instead of just modifying the event, we kind of started over. We looked for a new format that would help us get the message across, and this one worked well.”

Armacost started the conversation by saying what a pleasure it has been for him and his wife, Kathy, to settle in Grand Forks.

“The welcome we’ve received has been enthusiastic and warm – even if it’s been from a six-foot distance,” he said with a smile.

Moreover, “there’s a real sense of excitement and newness across the campus and in the community.” That’s true on University Avenue and in downtown Grand Forks, two places where extensive new construction is taking place.

“We know from experience that the physical appearance of our campus and community is important,” Armacost said. “When students and their families visit us and they feel that collegiate spirit, it has a positive impact on enrollment.”

Bochenski agreed, adding that the civic warmth which the Armacosts have experienced also drew him to Grand Forks.

“This is a very family-friendly community, and it’s a safe and welcoming place,” he said. “Your kids can walk to the park four blocks away and you don’t have any worries. You just know they’re going to enjoy themselves and come back.”

Expanding partnerships

Among the partnerships between the city and UND, the new building that’ll house the Nistler College of Business & Public Administration stands out. The $70 million building – the groundbreaking for which is Oct. 9 – combines support from lead donors Werner and Colleen Nistler, other philanthropists, the state of North Dakota and, importantly, the city of Grand Forks, Armacost said.

Grand Forks’ dollars were the capstone that “put us over the threshold,” he said. In return, Grand Forks residents can expect to benefit from not only a city-run workforce development office in the building, but also three other key elements: the construction itself, with contractors buying supplies and construction workers spending dollars in town; the additional students who’ll be attracted to the new building; and the management-savvy graduates who’ll staff Grand Forks organizations for generations to come.

Bochenski agreed, saying, “I can’t wait to see what’s unlocked economically by having such a great asset in this community.”

Importantly, 2020’s other key partnership grew from Grand Forks and UND jointly facing a crisis. The key to the COVID fight was the “collaborative single message” that the institutional partners – who also include Altru Health System, the Grand Forks School District, Grand Forks County and the Grand Forks Air Force Base, among others – developed, Bochenski said.

That message was “test, trace and isolate,” he said.

And thanks to that planning, especially UND’s policy of widespread testing, encouraging safe behaviors and quarantining exposed individuals, “we fought back against our first big spike (in cases),” the mayor said.

“Now, a lot of people are coming to us and asking how we did it. … I’ve been very proud of our community so far.”

The conversation touched on leadership styles. “There’s one that stands out to me,” said Armacost, a retired Air Force brigadier general, “and it doesn’t sound very military.

“But it’s important and near and dear to me, and that is the philosophy of loving your people. This is about caring for them, taking care of their needs, helping them grow … and at a university, helping our students grow into future leaders.”

Another topic was lessons from sports. “When there’s a win, you share that with everyone,” said Bochenski, a former UND and professional hockey player.

“When there’s a loss, you figure out what you could have done better, and you look in the mirror. That was instilled in me as a member of a family of nine when I was growing up, and it’s carried me through till today, leading a staff in City Hall.”

No. 20

And a highlight was the president calling timeout for a presentation.

“Now, I know you’ve worn a lot of jerseys around these parts,” Armacost said to the mayor.

“But none have your new title, I believe. So, on behalf of Meloney and myself and the entire faculty, staff and students at UND, we have a little gift for you.”

Armacost tossed a UND hockey jersey across the set’s social distance. Bochenski caught it and held it up.

“Oh, wow,” said the mayor, smiling as he saw the jersey’s “Mayor Bo” name and No. 20, in honor of the year of his taking office.

“I feel like I’m getting drafted again, like I did 20 years ago,” when he’d held up an Ottawa Senators jersey after being chosen in the seventh round.

“It’s pretty cool. Wow, I really appreciate that, absolutely. Thank you, thank you.”