Grindberg says hearing 'cleared the air' but buyout amendment still planned

BISMARCK -- State Sen. Tony Grindberg, R-Fargo, said Thursday’s testimony from North Dakota University System Chancellor Hamid Shirvani “cleared the air on a lot of issues,” but didn’t change his mind about proposing an amendment to buyout Shirvani’s contract.

The Senate Appropriations Committee called University System officials to a hearing Thursday over the NDUS decision to use part of an Information technology building on the University of North Dakota campus as office space for Shirvani.

“They addressed it head on. There was some misinformation,” said Grindberg, vice-chair of the committee. “Clearly, the intent of the Legislature was not to have an executive suite office in the IT building.”

The Legislature approved $12.5 million during the 2011 session for the building that was originally proposed to consolidate IT employees that are scattered around the UND campus, Fargo and Bismarck. Committee members were concerned the office space was added -- decreasing the amount of space for IT employees.

Before Thursday's hearing, Shirvani said he was withdrawing plans for the office space, which he said was not for his use alone. But the issue helped bring to the surface questions about the leadership of Shirvani, who took over as the leader of the University System and its 11 colleges in July.

Grindberg said this week he would offer an amendment to a higher education spending bill that would authorize a buyout of Shirvani's contract.

State Board of Higher Education Chairman Duaine Espegard repeated during the hearing that the board remains solidly in support of Shirvani.

Tags: north dakota, news, updates, government, educations, legislature