A study of the governance and financing of three school district junior colleges and educational centers operated by state-supported institutions of higher education in North Dakota was conducted to determine the current status of these institutions with recommendations for future development. The three institutions were Bismarck Junior College, Lake Region Junior College, and the University of North Dakota--Williston Center. Interviews were conducted with persons at both state and institutional levels. The study report is divided into five sections: (1) an overview of postsecondary education in North Dakota, including information about state agencies as well as educational institutions; (2) a summary of legislation related to the development of school district junior colleges and educational centers; (3) detailed information about the institutions themselves with emphasis on existing patterns of governance and financing; (4) alternatives for the future as reflected in structures and procedures used by other states; and (5) conclusions and recommendations. Supplemental statements on the state of community colleges in North Dakota are provided by Eugene Lehrmann (Wisconsin Board for Vocational, Technical, and Adult Education), Ben Morton (West Virginia Board of Regents), John Mundt (Washington State Board for Community College Education), and Herbert Hengst (Center for Studies in Higher Education, Oklahoma). Appendices contain the proposal for the study, excerpts from the North Dakota education code, recommendations from a previous study, and a bibliography. (Author/MB)