President Richard A. Hanson says faculty, staff and students should “step up to make NDSU healthy, strong, competent and caring.” He made his comments during an open forum on March 11 in the Memorial Union Century Theater.

During the forum, Hanson said NDSU is the embodiment of the 1862 legislation creating land-grant institutions. He said those institutions emphasize leadership, innovation, problem solving, excellence in research and facilitating the work of the agricultural world.

“Land-grant means ‘for the land and for the people.’ We reach out and bring our educational product to the people. We support research endeavors that support agriculture. We are the land-grant. It’s a very special mission,” Hanson said. “And the land-grant mission is alive and well.”

In other matters, Hanson said he has the paperwork to promote 13 faculty members to full professors, and he noted with pride that seven of them are women. He said those promotions will go the State Board of Higher Education for approval.

Hanson also urged the campus to care for the Fargo-Moorhead community, being especially mindful of the rising Red River.

“We are now entering a specific season in the Upper Great Plains – it’s called the flood season. I want to remind you of last year when this university stood up and made a difference,” he said. “The university will put its resources on the line once again. I encourage each of you in whatever way you can, to step up. It’s our responsibility. When you live in a community, you have to take care of the community.”

As of March 11, about 500 NDSU volunteers had contributed approximately 1,400 hours to filling sandbags in preparation for expected flooding. Hanson asked the crowd to respond when the city needs NDSU. “When the call comes out, step up,” he said.