Minot State University President Steven Shirley notified the university staff on Wednesday, sharing via email, that 23 employees with the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) will be losing their jobs due to federal funding cuts.

The NDCPD is part of a national network of 67 similar programs throughout the country, which serves the disabled community and government agencies to provide training, technical assistance, service and information. The NDCPD has been operating for nearly 35 years and has made its home at MSU since it was founded on Oct. 1, 1990.

Shirley’s letter acknowledged the decades that the NDCPD has been a significant part of the MSU community, as well as the variety of programs and opportunities it provides in Minot and beyond. However, Shirley stated a large portion of the funding to operate the NDCPD’s programs is provided through federal grants and contracts. Shirley further clarified the NDCPD’s funding sources were completely separate from the rest of the funding and budgetary decisions made with the university’s state-funded budget.

“With current developments underway regarding cost-cutting within various federal agencies, it has become evident that large portions of funding for numerous NDCPD programs is being paused (or soon may be completely ending). As such, these NDCPD programs may be reduced or cease to exist altogether,” Shirley said in his letter.

Shirley didn’t specify which programs were impacted directly by the cuts but disclosed that 23 NDCPD employees had been notified their positions and employment at MSU would be coming to an end. NDCPD’s programs have included postsecondary education program ASTEP, childcare and before/after school program Building Bridges, and Journey to Employment, among many others.

“This is very difficult news and our thoughts are certainly with all of the impacted employees. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done from a financial standpoint as the decisions and federal funding sources to pay these positions are entirely out of our control,” Shirley said.

Shirley stressed NDCPD will remain a vital part of the MSU Community, will continue serving its constituents, and will actively seek grant and funding opportunities to continue carrying out its work, albeit as a smaller entity.

“Our thoughts are with all of the impacted employees, and we are incredibly thankful for the wonderful work and service they have provided through NDCPD,” Shirley concluded.