2000One of the most exciting developments in this first decade of the new millennium was the development of two new athletic venues. The football team's new home became the Alerus Center, which was built by the city of Grand Forks. The hockey team moved into the $100 million Ralph Engelstad Arena, the best hockey facility in the country. It was built by Ralph Engelstad, a wealthy alumnus and former goalie for UND.

The North Dakota Legislature formed the Higher Education Roundtable in 2000. This interim legislative committee recommended that higher education work on more initiatives that would lead to state economic development, and UND, already active in that arena, became even more so.