When BSC Provost Dr. Wayne Boekes arrived on campus in 1981, he had already devoted 12 years to career and technical education in North Dakota and Colorado. Classroom teaching and several director positions prepared him for his next 27 years in leadership roles at BSC and on state and national councils.

At first, his days were split between BSC and the Bismarck Public Schools. With vocational-technical education his specialty, Dr. Boekes was dean at the college and director with the school system for eight years. He continued as dean at the college until 1996, when he was appointed vice president for academic and student affairs.

Now retired as of June 30, Dr. Boekes has time to reflect on those 27 years when enrollment more than doubled. BSC’s total enrollment was 1,475 students in 1981, and 3,591 in 2007.

As the campus’s top academic administrator since 1996, Dr. Boekes was part of the campus leadership that led the college through educational improvements and physical expansion. Among the many developments are 22 new programs, online courses, other technology initiatives, and expanded services for students, leading to increased retention and student satisfaction. He was instrumental at the forefront of many initiatives now commonplace at BSC, including academic assessment, strategic planning, ArtsQuest, and collaboration with other N.D. University System institutions to bring baccalaureate programs to the BSC campus.

The collaboration piece is one of two initiatives that Dr. Boekes sees as having the most significance in preparing BSC for the future.

“People were really crying for four-year public baccalaureate programs in Bismarck, so I made that a priority when I became vice president,” he says. “Now students can stay in Bismarck and earn degrees from a certificate all the way to a doctorate.”

Dr. Boekes says that if BSC had not had these programs from Dickinson State and Minot State universities in place, it would not have been as easy to develop the Higher Education Center in Bismarck. The Center will provide one location for the collaborative programs and will be housed in the Horizon Building north of the Technical Center. The other major piece preparing BSC for the future is the bachelor of applied science degree in energy management. Dr. Boekes worked tirelessly to get approval of the BAS degree, which is designed to prepare energy workers for supervisory and management positions.

“We have ownership of that program, and it’s a step in the future for BSC,” he says. “No other public community college in North Dakota offers a four-year degree.” Because he plans to continue volunteer work on local boards and councils, Dr. Boekes may have little time for reflecting on the past. He also plans to spend time with his wife, Ellen, and their three children and six grandchildren.

Q: BSC was often ahead of other campuses in the system on certain initiatives. I'm thinking of online classes, participation in the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP), IVN system upgrades - there may be others. What do you attribute this to?

A: It depends on the leadership of the college - that person sets the tone on risk-taking. BSC has been at the forefront of most initiatives. Other times we learned from other campuses. Our people were willing to understand that we need to work together. Cooperation and collaboration are good.

Q: What have you liked the most about working on a college campus?

A: The fact that I've had the opportunity to work closely with students as well as employees and watch their growth - it comes down to people. Our employees go out of their way to assist students while they are here and even after they leave us. Our campus has wonderful, dedicated folks. One example is that we did not have turnover when we were instituting ConnectND. Our people stuck it out."

Q: What will you miss?

A: "I'll miss the people here. I've been blessed. It hasn't all been easy… but the pluses outweigh the negatives so much. People get an idea and just run with it. It's great to work with people like that."

Lamb Award - Presented by Lutheran Church for religious leadership in Scouting
District Award of Merit - Highest honor presented by Frontier Trails District of the Boy Scouts of America
Silver Beaver - Highest honor presented by Northern Lights Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Excel Hall of Fame - Award of Excellence for dedication, support and encouragement of personal and professional development of students
Honorary Life Membership - N.D. Distributive Education Clubs of America
North Dakota Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award

Burleigh County Planning Authority (Vice President, President)
North Dakota Council of Local Administrators (Exec. Committee, President)
National Council of Local Administrators (Board, Nat'l Secretary, Vice President, President)
N.D. University System Distance Education Strategic Advisory Council (Chairperson)
N.D. Tech Prep Management Team (Three-term Chairperson)