In December of 1999 the NDCCC received a planning grant "Coalescing Our Vision For Teaching And Learning By Charting New Directions For Faculty Development" The planning grant allowed the NDCCC to devote more time for strategic thinking and planning regarding future development efforts for its faculty. The extra time also allowed the Consortium to consider how four of the colleges would be affected by the new workforce development role that has been assigned to them by the legislature. This new role affected the missions of these institutions and required name changes and independent status for two of the colleges. The names changed from UND-Lake Region to Lake Region State College for the campus at Devils Lake and from UND Williston to Williston State College for the campus in that city. A full-time project director was hired with funds from the planning grant, NDCCC member campuses, and from the NDUS. The project director manages the general operations of the Consortium.

The funding provided by the planning grant enabled the Consortium to proceed with these efforts and to develop a plan for the future founded on principle and substance.