If you are a regular reader of this section, you know the subject matter can vary significantly from column to column. Of course, the general subject is always Valley City State University and topics have ranged from such areas as new campus initiatives, construction and facilities projects, athletics, student activities, new employees, national recognitions, and a wide range of other subjects. Over the course of the next several columns, with the help of VCSU's Vice-President for Academic Affairs (Dr. Margaret Dahlberg), we will take a "continuing series" approach and introduce you to VCSU's five academic divisions. The five divisions are: Business and Information Technology (BIT); Communication Arts and Social Sciences (CASS); Fine Arts; Math, Science, and Health & Physical Education (MSHPE); and the School of Education and Graduate Studies (SEGS). In each column you will learn about the academic programs in the divisions, the faculty who teach in those areas, the career paths for graduates, the unique features of these divisions, and how the divisions fit into VCSU's overall academic mission. We begin with a focus on the Communication Arts and Social Sciences Division, commonly referred to as "CASS" on the VCSU campus. This division offers majors in English, Spanish, history, social science, psychology, human services, and professional communication, and minors in theatre and library information. Additionally, CASS works with every new freshman on campus in a number of general education courses.The Division offers several opportunities for community involvement including theatre productions and the monthly lecture series, "What in the World is Going On?," which explores current issues and national concerns in a variety of fields. In addition, community members are welcome to take evening coursework in creative writing, sociology, or history.Each year the Division publishes "The Forge," a literary magazine with poetry, prose, and visual arts created by the VCSU community. Several courses and clubs in the Division interact with the Valley City community by working on projects at the Barnes County Historical Society, and faculty collaborate with off-campus groups that help students get a sense of real-world applications of knowledge. Students in Human Services, psychology, and history often complete internships in the local area, and, of course, students in English, History, or Spanish Education student-teach in local schools.Members of the Division are active in national and international organizations. CASS faculty also serve on committees designed to enhance, improve, and evaluate learning opportunities for post-secondary students. For example, Professors Dina Petherbridge (Spanish) and Steven King (History) both serve as readers for Advanced Placement examinations. Julee Russell (English) and Dina Petherbridge work with the accrediting agency NCATE (National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) to review teacher education programs in English and Spanish. Professor Shannon VanHorn serves as the editor of a key journal in the area of professional communication. All of these experiences help the faculty members to keep abreast of changes in their disciplines.This year two CASS professors are offering travel experiences for students. In March, Jenni Lou Russi will be traveling to England with a group of students interested in theatre. In May, Dr. Steven King is leading a study tour to Greece and Rome. Additionally, Professor Dina Petherbridge regularly makes arrangements for students to study abroad and has taken students to Honduras.The faculty, students and staff of the Communication Arts and Social Sciences Division are proud and active members of the Valley City community. There's a lot going on in this division, and the Valley City community is always welcome to get involved with CASS activities!

US News and World Report recently recognized Valley City State University for the quality of its graduate online Master of Education program. As you may be aware, this is not the first recognition from US News; a few months ago VCSU was ranked as the highest-rated public regional college in the Midwest for 2012 in the annual US News "Best Colleges" rankings. However, this latest recognition for VCSU's online graduate education programs is a new recognition as this is the first year the rankings have been conducted. While rankings were compiled by US News for a variety of online graduate programs in addition to Education (such as Business, Engineering, Information Technology, and Nursing), it is worth noting that VCSU is the only college or university in North Dakota that was included within the online Master of Education rankings.In this new ranking, US News surveyed all regionally-accredited colleges and universities in the United States that offer at least one Master's level program in Education (1,053 total institutions). It further refined the list by identifying those M.Ed. programs with at least 80% of its content available online (161 institutions). Among this group, VCSU ranked nationally in approximately the top one-third in such areas as Student Services and Technology, Faculty Credentials and Training, and Student Engagement and Accreditation. Within these rankings, there are such national leaders as George Washington University, Indiana University, the University of Iowa, the University of Florida, and the University of Illinois. To be ranked among these esteemed universities is quite an accomplishment and demonstrates the high quality of online graduate education programming that has been developed right here in Valley City. However, more impressive than the other institutions with which VCSU is categorized is the affirmation this ranking confirms regarding our Master's program. After a 115-year history as an undergraduate institution, VCSU began offering graduate degrees in 2005. The Master's program has grown every year since its inception, and VCSU now has over 160 students enrolled in the program. This rapid Master's enrollment growth coupled with the new national recognition demonstrates the quality of the program and the success VCSU has had in delivering education at the graduate level. In looking further at the rankings (complete rankings at www.usnews.com/education/online-education), it is also worth noting that VCSU's tuition compares quite favorably and is lower than virtually all of the other ranked programs. Many of the students currently in VCSU's M.Ed. program are in-field teachers from throughout North Dakota. These teachers are often place-bound due to current employment and/or family situations, and this online Master of Education represents an affordable opportunity for them to enhance their education and their careers. VCSU's Master of Education program is fully accredited and offered 100% online. Available concentrations in the M.Ed. program include Teaching and Technology (with options in English Education, Elementary Education, Teaching & Learning, and Music Technology), Teaching English Language Learners, Library and Information Technologies, and Technology Education (with options in Secondary STEM Education, Elementary STEM Education, and Career & Technical Education). More information about VCSU's nationally-recognized graduate program is available at www.vcsu.edu/graduate.

Without a doubt, our winter (or lack thereof) has been one of the mildest since weather records began and will certainly be remembered for the pleasant conditions. There are pros and cons associated with such weather. After the past several winters and record snowfalls, however, I would think most of us would concur that the positives of our mild winter certainly outweigh the negatives. Of course, there are outdoor winter enthusiasts who likely would appreciate seeing more of the white stuff on the ground. For many of us, the mild weather and minimal snowfall during the past ten weeks has been a most welcome change. On a personal basis, this weather afforded me the opportunity to ice-fish on Lake Ashtabula (thanks to John Hill!) right before Christmas, and just days later play a round of golf. Golfing the day after Christmas in North Dakota is an experience I may never have again.There are many other beneficial outcomes resulting from this weather. Valley City State University has saved much in the way of resources (employee overtime, salt, sand, fuel, and general stress) by not having several feet of snow to plow and clear from campus sidewalks and streets. There has not been a single day yet this winter where we have had to contemplate closing the campus or canceling classes. This saves much in the way of headaches and angst in preparation and planning among our faculty and students. For our students who have traveled (athletic teams, clubs and organizations, individual students heading home for the Holidays, etc.) there have not been any major concerns regarding road conditions or winter weather hazards.Perhaps the most positive impact the mild start to the 2011-12 winter has had on the VCSU campus is the ability to make significant progress on the Rhoades Science Center expansion project. The project officially began on November 7, and there has rarely been a single day the past two months where progress has not been made. The ability to get a jump start on this project in late Fall 2011 coupled with the wonderful weather conditions (instead of waiting until Spring 2012 to begin), will result in the project being successfully completed a semester (or two) earlier than would normally be expected. This expedited timeline will benefit many current students and faculty, and allow VCSU to continue promoting this wonderful new facility to future VCSU students as well. All the positive attributes of our favorable conditions from Mother Nature listed above do not even address perhaps the biggest benefit of this winter. This is the first January in the past four years where my mind is not constantly contemplating what might await the campus in March and April regarding flood possibilities. I am sure our entire region would agree a respite from this particular issue has been a most welcome change. Our dry fall and mild winter with minimal snowfall should certainly create more favorable conditions in the spring months ahead.I sincerely hope you have all had an opportunity to enjoy this mild winter. Of course, as North Dakotans, we all know that our fortunes can change in an instant and the next ten weeks ahead could be a completely different story!

Actually, the Vikings have earned this honor every year since 2002-03, but this year, we received the highest score in the state and the second highest score in the 16-member Association of Independent Institutions. We think this says a lot about the quality of our student-athletes and their competitiveness both on and off the court.

VCSU entered into an articulation agreement with the North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) that allows for transfer of credits from the Associate in Applied Science degree in Technical Studies – Journeyworker Track at NDSCS to the Bachelor of Science degree in Career and Technical Education from VCSU. The agreement, the first of its kind in North Dakota, addresses some of the main obstacles adult learners face as they further their education, substantially reduces the time and cost required to earn a Bachelor's degree, and helps address private sector employment needs in North Dakota.

2011 was a big year in Viking athletics as the Viking women basketball team finished the season with a record of 23-8, its first appearance in the NAIA national tournament. In the Fall, the NAIA selected the Viking football team as a qualifier for the NAIA Football Championship Series. The Viking men finished the season with a record of 9-1.

VCSU extended a sister university agreement with the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California Sur (UABCS) in La Paz, Mexico for an additional three years, and extended it to provide for the exchange of staff members and students in non-teaching majors. Several representatives of VCSU visited UABCS in February, and VCSU hosted visitors from UABCS in April. Separately, faculty, staff, and students from VCSU have exchanged visits and study abroad experiences with the Zhejiang Economic and Trade Polytechnic (ZJETP) in Hangzhou, China.

In a major improvement to VCSU's athletic facilities, the Viking football field received a new artificial turf surface, made possible by a major contribution from Shelly Ellig, the Fargo-area businessman and philanthropist. The new surface also allows the field to be used for many other purposes including hosting games for area high-schools and other community events. Other major contributors included the Valley City/Barnes County Economic Development, the City of Valley City Visitors Committee, DuWayne Bott, Dacotah Bank, Bob and Jan Ingstad - Ingstad Family Media, AmericInn, Grotberg Electric, Leevers Super Valu, and Nodak Mutual Insurance.

Representatives from the Higher Learning Commission visited the VCSU campus as a key step in the reaccreditation process conducted once every 10 years. At the conclusion of the visit, the team announced their intention to recommend reaccreditation, commented on VCSU's pattern of success and growth in recent years, and observed that VCSU appears to be experiencing a period of "glory days."

The VCSU campus is seeing a tremendous amount of capital construction. In one major development, VCSU completed a .5 million renovation of Snoeyenbos residence hall, converting it into apartment style suites and providing several mechanical updates. This fall, we broke ground on a major expansion and renovation of the Rhoades Science Center that will increase our capacity in the sciences, improve our ability to respond to the pressing needs of North Dakota, and position the campus as a premier destination for undergraduate-based science education and research.

U.S.News has ranked VCSU on its list of "Best Colleges" every year for the last 14, but this year, VCSU was ranked as the #1 Public Regional College in the Midwest. Dr. Steven Shirley, VCSU president, said, "This remarkable accomplishment is a milestone in VCSU's history. Our students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters should all take great pride in earning this historic achievement at VCSU."

In a direct reflection of the tremendous financial support VCSU has received from alumni, friends and the business community, scholarship commitments for the 2010-11 academic year reached a new record at 57,000.

Spring semester 2011 headcount came to 1,221, an increase of 18% over the previous year's figure and the largest Spring semester enrollment since the University moved to a three semester academic year in the Summer of 1992. Growth spanned both graduate and undergraduate levels as well as every Division of the University.
VCSU also set a new all-time record for Fall semester enrollment. Final headcount of 1,384 surpassed headcount from Fall 2010 by 7.7% and the previous record set over 40 years ago. With this accomplishment, enrollment at VCSU has grown by over 40% over the past four years.

Valley City State University named Douglas Dawes to the position of vice president of Business Affairs. Dawes brings a background that combines higher education and private industry experience in finance, operations, capital budgets, human resources, information systems, facilities management, and project management. "This role oversees a number of key university functions and is central to both our day-to-day operations as well as the goals associated with long-term strategic initiatives," said Dr. Steve Shirley, president of VCSU. "We are very pleased that Mr. Dawes will bring his diverse background and breadth of experiences to this key role." As the vice president of Business Affairs, Dawes will be the chief financial officer of the University. His responsibilities will include developing and monitoring the operating and capital biennial and annual budgets, completing financial reports, developing the facilities master plan, recommending capital financing, and developing and executing strategic initiatives to further the VCSU 2015 strategic plan. He will oversee the Business Affairs staff and functions including financial services, budget, human resources, payroll, grants and contracts fiscal management, facilities services, and risk management.Dawes comes to VCSU from Utah State University (Logan, UT) where he served as the Executive Director of Business Services (Facilities). His responsibilities included managing a 2 million operating budget and managing the Facilities Business Office and key functions including payroll and capital improvement budgets. His previous experience includes the energy and contracting industries as well as five years with Ford Motor Company in various financial reporting and analysis roles. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and holds a Master of Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Brigham Young University. Dawes will begin his responsibilities in February.Valley City State University (VCSU) prepares people for life through visionary leadership and exemplary practices in teaching, learning and service. VCSU is nationally acclaimed for attracting and retaining talented individuals who advance quality learning opportunities and economic growth through technology and innovation.###

Last week, Valley City State University extended an offer that has been verbally accepted by Mr. Douglas Dawes to be VCSU's next Vice-President for Business Affairs. In this capacity, Doug will replace Ms. Trudy Sipe Collins. Following a successful five-year tenure at VCSU, Trudy left VCSU in November to accept a position as University Budget Director at Montana State University, Billings.The Vice-President for Business Affairs (VPBA) role at VCSU is critical to both the day-to-day operational activities of the institution as well as the goals associated with long-term strategic initiatives. It is a role that oversees a number of key university functions, and requires a diverse background and wide breadth of experiences to succeed. The VPBA serves as the university's chief financial officer and has responsibility for such areas as financial accounting and control services, fee payment, facilities, risk management, human resources, payroll, grants and contracts, budget preparation, purchasing, and other related areas. The VPBA also works closely with the North Dakota University System office, the State Auditor's Office, the VCSU Foundation, and assists in the preparation for legislative presentations and hearings.Mr. Dawes comes to VCSU from Utah State University in Logan, Utah where he served as Executive Director of Business Services in Facilities for the past five years. In this capacity, Doug oversaw a 2 million operating budget, and was responsible for such facilities areas as purchasing, safety, information technology, payroll, fleet rental, waste management, and recycling. He was also involved with capital construction projects, space utilization studies, budgeting and forecasting, funding requests, and contractual obligations. Prior to his tenure at Utah State, Doug was employed by Ford Motor Company where he worked on corporate financial statements and filings. Additionally, he has also worked in the energy and contracting industries, and has a wealth of budgeting and financial projection experience. Doug's mix of both private industry and public higher education career experiences should serve him well in his new role at VCSU.Doug is a native of Utah, and his degrees include a Master of Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, both from Brigham Young University. Doug and his wife, Sherith, along with their five children (Whitney, 14; Courtney, 13; Wesley, 11; Bradley, 9; and Cody, 4) are excited for the move to Valley City and to get involved in the community. The Dawes family will be moving to Valley City in early 2012, and Doug will begin employment at VCSU in early February. Please join me in welcoming the Dawes family to VCSU and into the Valley City community!

When the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) met on the Valley City State University campus last month, it approved a new Bachelor of Science program in Athletic Training. This is VCSU's third new academic program approved by the SBHE during 2011. In June, the Board approved authority for VCSU to offer a Business Process Integration Management (BPIM) major, and in September the Board granted approval for VCSU to offer a new major in Medical Laboratory Science (MLS). These three academic programs will each provide new opportunities in a variety of academic fields for current and future VCSU students.The Business Process Integration Management major is designed to attract information technology and business majors interested in technology, to meet the needs of employers in the region, and to benefit distance learners from other areas. The BPIM major builds communication, problem-solving, business, collaboration and technical skills with a focus on business processes and advanced enterprise systems ensuring students are well-prepared to enter today's IT and business workforce. The BPIM major was developed by VCSU faculty based on recommendations and research found through relationships with industry, which indicates that successful graduates in Business and Information Systems need expertise in both areas, in addition to strong communication skills. The new major will require an internship so that students have experience prior to graduation and can transition seamlessly into the workforce.The addition of the Medical Laboratory Science major allows VCSU to participate in the Western College Alliance for Clinical Laboratory Scientists program, thereby helping to provide a quality career option for students who want to live and work in rural North Dakota. The MLS degree program at VCSU is a collaborative effort with the University of North Dakota as students will spend the first 3 years at VCSU taking face-to-face classes as well as online classes from UND. In the final year, students will spend a summer at UND and then move to a clinical laboratory in North Dakota for the clinical experience. This collaboration is exciting because it streamlines the process and makes it possible for students to finish this major at VCSU without having to transfer.VCSU's new Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training degree is designed for students interested in a career as a Certified Athletic Trainer. The U.S. Department of Labor reports that this career field is expected to grow 37% between 2008-18, thereby highlighting increased needs in healthcare and injury prevention fields. With the addition of this new program, VCSU will be pursuing accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). Given North Dakota's rapidly growing healthcare industry, this program will help support the state's economic development in this area. Additionally, as an accredited program, this major will maintain the quality expected of CAATE accreditation. These three new academic offerings in business and the sciences fit nicely within VCSU's mission and strategic plan for campus growth. Valley City State University looks forward to implementing these programs and curriculum in the coming months and offering these new opportunities to future VCSU students.

Prairie Business magazine selected VCSU president Dr. Steve Shirley to be included in the magazine's "40 Under 40" feature in their December issue. The feature comprises a list of top business leaders under the age of 40 who readers of the magazine say are making a difference in our region. Dr. Shirley was selected by the magazine's editorial board with assistance from Lisa Gulland-Nelson, Communications Coordinator for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation, and Dwaine Chapel, Executive Director of the Lake Area Improvement Corporation in Madison, SD. The magazine is available now, or you can read the article online at www.prairiebizmag.com.

The Valley City State University football team had a special season in 2011. The team finished with a 9-2 overall win-loss record, matching its most victories in a single season since 2001 and reaching the NAIA national playoffs for the first time in a decade. The season was filled with memorable highlights and milestones accomplished by this group of student-athletes and their coaches.The remarkable season actually began before the players showed up for the first day of practice. This is, of course, because new artificial turf was installed at Shelly Ellig Field in Summer 2011. The new turf field was beneficial to this year's team in both practice and game situations, and will be an asset for VCSU, the Athletic Department, and the football program in the years ahead to help recruit and retain the very best student-athletes. It is a first-class turf facility appreciated by our students, coaches, and fans alike. A big word of thanks goes to all of the businesses, individuals, and local entities that helped make the installation of this field a reality.As the season unfolded, there were aspects making 2011 a landmark year in the tradition-rich history of VCSU football. The team lost its opening game of the season against top-5 nationally-ranked Morningside College, and then rattled off nine consecutive victories. In the final year of the Dakota Athletic Conference, the VCSU Football team was 6-0 with home and away victories against long-time rivals Jamestown College, Dickinson State, and Mayville State. The perfect conference season secured VCSU's 26th overall conference title and the very last DAC championship. The team also had road victories in Rapid City, SD and Arlington Heights, IL (vs. South Dakota School of Mines and Robert Morris University respectively), thereby completing a perfect 5-0 away record during the regular season. VCSU was ranked #12 nationally in the final regular season coaches' poll among all 85 NAIA colleges and universities with football programs. There were individual accolades for VCSU football this season as well. The Vikings swept the major awards with senior wide receiver LeTheo Proctor being named the DAC Most Valuable Player, defensive lineman Jordan Maher chosen Most Valuable Senior, and Dennis McCulloch voted Coach of the Year. The Vikings also led the four-team conference with the most players (eight) named to the All-DAC Team. The spectacular season ended perhaps a bit more abruptly than any of the players, coaches, or fans would have liked with a first-round playoff defeat in Helena, MT against perennial power Carroll College. Carroll has won six of the last nine national NAIA titles, and has an overall record of 104-7 the past eight seasons. Their program is certainly one of the most successful at any level of college football in the nation. I traveled to Helena for the game and watched as our VCSU Vikings competed hard with great effort the entire 60 minutes; they represented our University with great class, sportsmanship, pride, and dignity. It is indeed exciting news that VCSU football is back on the national map. The program has been absent from that picture for several years, and so it is thrilling to have VCSU once again in the national conversation. I join all fans and supporters of VCSU football in saying Congratulations to all of the student-athletes, student-assistants, and coaches for a great 2011, and we cannot wait for the 2012 Season to begin! GREAT JOB and Go Vikings!Dr. Steve Shirley is President of Valley City State University

Valley City's annual Christmas at St. Catherine's concert will feature the musical skills and students of two VCSU music department alumni. The annual concert, to be held this year on Thursday, December 1 at 7:30 pm at St. Catherine's Church, highlights the Christmas season through the choral music of the vocal ensembles at Valley City State University. This year two VCSU alumni, Brad Lambrecht of Alexandria, MN and Casey Behm of Wyndmere, ND will join the program. Lambrecht is the orchestral director at Jefferson High School in Alexandria where he has helped develop the orchestral program community-wide. The Rainbow Strings ensemble, which Lambrecht conducts, will accompany VCSU's Concert Choir on Sancta Maria mater Dei by W.A. Mozart at the concert. Also accompanying the Mozart selection will be Casey Behm on organ. Behm is now the instructor of music at Wyndmere School District and was a piano major at VCSU. Behm's keyboard skills will be highlighted on another selection, Cantique de Jean Racine to be performed by the Concert Choir. In addition to these selections, the Concert Choir will perform three selections by regional composers: Stars I Shall Find on a moving poem by Sara Teasdale set by David Dickau, choral conductor and composer at Minnesota State University, Mankato; I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day, by Minneapolis composer and publisher, J. David Moore; and O Little Town of Bethlehem by Minneapolis composer and choral director, Matthew Culloton. The VCSU choral ensembles have made a point, over the last ten years, to give voice to choral literature composed by the current generation of American composers. This year's St. Catherine's concert will highlight those composers with ties to the upper mid-west. The VCSU Singers are slated to perform an intense setting of the text, O Magnum Mysterium by Twin-Cities composer Robert Sieving as well as a beautiful setting of the Sara Teasdale poem, The Stars Stand up in the Air by Eric William Barnum. Barnum began his instruction and career in music at Bemidji State University. The VCSU Valkyries, a select women's ensemble, will highlight two other selections by regional composers. Let Us Sing! a Christmas song composed by Linda Tutas-Haugen of the Twin-Cities area that will be accompanied by William Sieling of Alexandria, MN on viola and VCSU music education major, Katelin Wadeson on mallet percussion. Joshua Shank, who just moved to Texas from the Minneapolis area, is the composer of another selection to be performed by the Valkyries, Three Night Songs.The three poems of this set were written by Hilda Conkling at the age of six. Christmas at St. Catherine's is directed by Dr. Leesa Levy and accompanied by Professor Jaime Namminga. The concert is free and open to the public. There will be a reception following the concert in the church basement for the members of the choirs, concert patrons, and the composers of the literature featured in the concert who are in attendance. A good-will offering will be accepted and applied to scholarship funds for students participating in the music ensembles at VCSU.

This week, Valley City State University will host the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) for its November 2011 meeting. The SBHE meets approximately eight times per year, and rotates around the state by meeting at the eleven campuses comprising the North Dakota University System (NDUS). The last time the SBHE met in Valley City was in September 2008.The SBHE is the policy-setting and advocacy body that governs North Dakota's eleven publicly supported campuses of higher education. The Board provides the leadership and governing environment to guide the eleven institutions. In addition to the college and university campuses, the SBHE also oversees such entities as the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Research Stations, the Northern Crops Institute, the North Dakota Forest Service, and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute.The State Board of Higher Education ultimately has authority for such matters as approving new academic programs and organizational units, setting budgetary priorities, prioritizing campus facility requests, appointing institutional presidents, selection and oversight of the NDUS Chancellor, and final review of institutional and program quality.The Board is comprised of eight voting members (seven citizen members each appointed to four-year terms, and an NDUS student member appointed by the Governor to a one-year term), one non-voting NDUS faculty advisor, and one non-voting NDUS staff member. The current president of the Board is Grant Shaft (Grand Forks). The current Chancellor of the University System is William Goetz. Chancellor Goetz will be retiring in 2012, and a search process is currently underway to identify his successor. As part of this process, I have been named as one of four NDUS presidents to the Chancellor Search Committee, and we began our work earlier this fall. Of note for Valley City State University during this week's SBHE meeting is an agenda item requesting approval for a new VCSU academic program. VCSU is asking the Board to approve a new Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training, and, if approved, this will be yet another new academic opportunity for current and future VCSU students looking for a career in an in-demand field. This new degree will also nicely complement a number of VCSU's initiatives within the undergraduate sciences. Additionally, the Athletic Training program will benefit from the renovation and expansion of Rhoades Science Center currently underway.Meetings of the State Board of Higher Education are open to the public. If you are interested in attending, the meetings will occur on Thursday, November 17 beginning at 8:45 am in the VCSU Student Center Skoal Room. Please help VCSU give a warm and hospitable welcome to the members of the Board, other campus presidents, NDUS office personnel, and other guests who will be in Valley City this week for the meetings.

Last week, Valley City State University hosted a team of five visitors on campus. These guests comprised the evaluation site visit team sent by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The HLC is one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States, and it has responsibility for accreditation of colleges and universities in 19 states (including North Dakota). This evaluation visit is part of the once-per-decade review process in which VCSU is accredited. Accreditation by the HLC is an exhaustive process that includes a thorough review of campus. The process closely examines a wide range of areas including academic and student programs, finances, faculty, student learner assessment, strategic planning, and our relationships with the community and external entities. During the site visit, VCSU demonstrated to the evaluation team our competence in five broad criteria required by the HLC: standards relating to mission and integrity; planning for the future; student learning and effective teaching; acquisition, discovery, and application of knowledge; and engagement and service to our constituents.The five-member site visit team included faculty and administrators affiliated with other regional universities including Winona State, the University of South Dakota, Minnesota State-Moorhead, Bemidji State, and Purdue. This skilled evaluation team is specially trained by the HLC and, as such, they bring their knowledge and experiences in higher education to the review process. The visit also represents an opportunity for continuous improvement in which VCSU can glean new recommendations and best practices to improve and strengthen our teaching and learning environment. In short, accreditation helps assure educational quality by encouraging data-gathering, analysis, assessment, reflection, and planning across the campus.Accreditation also helps the federal government ensure compliance with federal programs, since the Department of Education has directed the regional accreditation bodies (i.e. the HLC) to review every university's compliance with various regulations designed to protect students' consumer rights and physical safety. VCSU must meet the guidelines in order to continue being eligible to provide federally funded financial aid support to students. Additionally, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education requires all eleven North Dakota University System colleges and universities to maintain HLC accreditation.By all accounts, we had a very successful accreditation visit by the HLC team last week. This visit, and the accompanying self-study document we prepared in advance, represented over two years worth of preparations by countless members of VCSU's faculty and staff. Therefore, it was encouraging to hear the team's positive and affirming reactions during their exit interview at the end of last week's visit. We will now await their final, formal report and recommendations. There will undoubtedly be a number of recommendations and actions we can take to strengthen the overall academic environment at VCSU, and we look forward to taking those steps in the months and years ahead. However, we also expect recommendation by the site visit team of a full accreditation renewal for VCSU, and see this as yet another external validation of the high-quality educational setting currently in place on campus.

The VCSU Foundation has announced that Alison Kasowski will be joining the staff in the Advancement Office effective December 1, 2011. She will serve as Assistant Director of Annual Giving with specific responsibilities in the area of the V-500 Scholarship Program and other annual fund initiatives. Kasowski a graduate of VCSU, has previously worked in the VCSU Enrollment Services Office for the past three years as an Admission Counselor. According to Larry Robinson, Executive Director of University Advancement, 'We are pleased that Alison will be joining our team. She brings with her a passion for Valley City State University and a successful tenure in the Enrollment Services Office. She will be a major asset to the Advancement staff.' Alison and her husband Josh reside in Valley City and are the parents of a son, Gray.

Valley City State University has again been named a Five Star Champions of Character institution by our national athletic affiliation, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). This designation by the NAIA is awarded to recognize the many accomplishments of student-athletes, both in and outside the competitive arena. The Five Star award specifically honors university athletic programs focused on the NAIA's five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership. We are proud of the rich history and positive impact the athletic programs and student-athletes have had at VCSU, and this newest designation is yet another important chapter in that history. NAIA colleges and universities complete an annual "Scorecard" to evaluate the success of their student-athletes based on the following: character training; conduct in competition; academic focus; character recognition; and character promotion. These scores recognize such attributes as sportsmanship and community outreach activities. Institutions are also awarded points based on student-athletes' overall grade point averages as well as other initiatives that emphasize the core values and character-driven focus of the NAIA. In the final, year-end 2010-11 Champions of Character rankings released earlier this month, VCSU finished in the top 10% among all of the approximately 270 colleges and universities that comprise the NAIA.Approximately 250 students at VCSU are involved with intercollegiate athletics – think for a moment how different the campus and Valley City community would be without the contributions these 250 students make to our region.VCSU student-athletes participate in community service projects throughout the year. These activities include door-to-door solicitations for the annual United Way Campaign, helping with Ruckus at the Rec, volunteering with local elementary students, clearing snow from fire hydrants in the winter, and bell-ringing for the Salvation Army. Our student-athletes are also involved with many various athletic camps during the summer that benefit area youth campers. Of course, VCSU student-athletes (along with all of our students) have also played a key role during recent spring flood fighting efforts in the past few years. They have been instrumental with the time, determination, and muscle they have lent toward the overall efforts. The student contributions have helped ensure Valley City and our region has been successful with these battles. VCSU coaching staffs set priorities and expectations with their student-athletes. These priorities extend far beyond the playing field and court, so the coaches also deserve credit for this Champions of Character accomplishment and national recognition of VCSU's athletic programs. We are truly performing at the very highest levels within the entire NAIA, and all of our fans and supporters should take great pride in this recognition.If you have not yet attended a VCSU sporting event this year, I hope you will take the opportunity to do so in the coming weeks. Our student-athletes certainly appreciate the crowd support and look forward to having you in the stands to cheer them on. Go Vikings!

First, a sincere word of thanks to everyone who participated in VCSU's Homecoming activities last week. The Athletic Hall of Fame Banquet, Alumni Honors Breakfast, Homecoming Parade, athletic events, and alumni socials were all well-attended and a great way to connect with VCSU alumni and friends as well as recognize various achievements. It is enjoyable visiting with so many friends and honoring alumni for their service, accomplishments, and contributions made during college and professional careers. Our current students also kept busy with a full schedule of entertaining activities – the campus was abuzz with energy all week! In reflecting a bit more about Homecoming, it is an appropriate time to review VCSU's future alumni by considering this year's student enrollment. Valley City State University recently announced its Fall 2011 total student enrollment has now reached an all-time record enrollment. Simply put, VCSU is educating more students this fall than at any time in the 120+ year history of the institution. Overall headcount this fall is 1,384 students, an increase of nearly 8% over last fall's 1,285 enrolled students. To further highlight the growth, consider that there are 402 more students taking VCSU classes this year compared to the Fall 2007 headcount of 982. This represents an overall growth in students of 41% during just the past four years. This is the greatest increase in overall students among any of the 11 campuses of the North Dakota University System during this timeframe. An exciting factor to note within this growth is that it is campus-wide; the growth is spread across a multitude of departments and divisions, demonstrating the effort and dedication of VCSU's faculty and staff throughout campus. The total student headcount includes both undergraduate and graduate students at VCSU. I am pleased to note that our graduate student numbers set a record enrollment for the seventh straight year. There are now 157 Master's students enrolled at VCSU (representing 11% of our overall student population). Another important measurement is the number of students living in VCSU's residence halls. This fall there are 347 students living on-campus in the residence halls, which is a 6.4% increase over Fall 2010 and the most residential students at VCSU since 1999. For the second straight year, VCSU also welcomed an incoming freshmen class of new students in excess of 200 students. This is the first time in nearly twenty years that the campus has welcomed back-to-back freshmen classes of over 200 students. As you know, freshmen are the students who ultimately become sophomores, juniors, and seniors; in addition to pursuing their educational goals, they live on-campus, use the dining services and other student facilities, add to student life, enhance the community, support our local businesses, fulfill part-time employment opportunities in the community, etc. Therefore, it is imperative, both as a University and as a City, that we continue focusing on this important segment. VCSU has implemented a number of initiatives to attract new freshmen to campus and they are succeeding. New academic programs, new marketing and recruiting initiatives, new intercollegiate athletic programs, and other activities have all been implemented to grow our freshmen student enrollment during the past several years, and it is so heartening to see these strategic initiatives resulting in success.

Last week, U.S. News released its annual Best Colleges rankings. Valley City State University was ranked as the #1 Public Regional College in the Midwest for 2012. This marks the 14th consecutive year VCSU has been ranked among the top institutions by U.S. News in our category, and the first time VCSU has ever achieved the #1 ranking. First, a few points of clarification about the ranking methodology and VCSU's category. The Midwest region is comprised of 12 states: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio. The "Colleges" category is comprised of institutions that focus primarily on undergraduate education and grant fewer than half of their degrees in liberal arts disciplines. The schools in this category also draw the majority of their students from within their surrounding geographic region (hence the term "Regional"). There are a total of 97 colleges and universities that were ranked in the Midwest Regional Colleges category, and of these, 83 are private institutions while 14 are public schools like VCSU. Therefore, among institutions with a similar profile and mission to VCSU in the 12-state Midwest region, VCSU ranked #1 among the 14 public colleges and universities. The students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters of VCSU, along with the entire community, can be proud of this recognition. There are a number of important criteria that go into the overall ranking, including: freshmen retention rate, graduation rate, average class sizes, student/faculty ratio, percentage of faculty who are full-time, average ACT/SAT scores, freshmen in the top 25% of their class, acceptance rate, average alumni giving rate, and peer assessment. These are all important indicators that help demonstrate the quality of the educational environment at VCSU.Aside from the obvious satisfaction in being ranked #1 (moving up from the #2 ranking each of the past two years and the #4 ranking three years ago), it is also worth emphasizing that VCSU has been named to the U.S. News list for 14 straight years. That represents a wonderful level of consistency and speaks to the strong academic tradition at VCSU.As U.S. News states, "...the editors of U.S. News believe that students and their families should have as much information as possible about the comparative merits of the educational programs at America's colleges and universities. The data we gather on America's colleges - and the rankings of the schools that arise from these data - serve as an objective guide by which students and their parents can compare the academic quality of schools."Rankings such as the U.S. News Best Colleges list are neither a perfect system nor an exact science, but they can be one of several very important factors used by prospective students and their families in making college selection decisions. VCSU is proud to be ranked #1 out of 14 similar public institutions in the Midwest, and we will convey this information in future campus promotional materials. This is a great way to begin the 2011-12 academic year, and the entire campus is excited about the year ahead!

As we move forward with the Fall 2011 semester and a new academic year at Valley City State University, it is a fitting time to discuss the importance of scholarship support for VCSU students. You may have noticed some signs around town in residential yards or in front of businesses that state, "Support the Vikings, Help Row the Ship." The signs were created as a show of support for VCSU Viking Athletics and our student-athletes, but the language obviously has a much broader meaning. The term "Vikings" ultimately refers to all VCSU students, and it is indeed important that as a community we truly do "Support the Vikings."As the VCSU Century Club and V-500 scholarship drives are now beginning for the 2011-12 year, I would like to thank those of you who participate in one or both of these annual scholarship drives, and encourage those of you who have not yet participated to please consider doing so.With the forthcoming 0.3 million Rhoades Science Center renovation/expansion, the recently completed renovation of Snoeyenbos Residence Hall, and the installation of the new artificial turf at Ellig Field, it is an exciting time on the VCSU campus. Additionally, VCSU is on the verge of potentially breaking all-time enrollment records this fall meaning there are more students taking more classes from VCSU than ever before. That means there are more students living in the residence halls and getting a great education at VCSU. This also means there are more students in the Valley City community supporting our local businesses and organizations. As Valley City State University works to continue attracting the very best and brightest students to the campus and our community, we will continue to rely on scholarship dollars to assist in those efforts. Prospective and new students repeatedly indicate that the availability of scholarships and financial assistance are one of the greatest influencers in their decision to attend VCSU. Your support in these efforts is absolutely critical and so appreciated in helping move VCSU forward on its successful path. There are few gifts as important as those that help individuals fulfill their educational goals, and your scholarship contributions do just that.One of the absolute best attributes about VCSU is the long-standing, solid relationship existing between VCSU and the Valley City community. It is the proverbial "win-wi" partnership that benefits both the University and the Region. Thanks to everyone throughout the area who helps make this such a strong and successful partnership, and thanks for everything you have done and continue doing to "Help Row the Ship and Support the Vikings!"

With the beginning of a new academic calendar, it is again time to introduce the new full-time faculty who will be teaching at VCSU this year. Two years ago we introduced six new full-time faculty members and last year we introduced five new faculty. This year, VCSU welcomes five new teaching faculty as we begin the 2011-12 year: J. Gregory Brister, Philip Deger, Elizabeth Bue Maher, Jorge Variego, and Casey Williams.Dr. Greg Brister will serve as an assistant professor of English Composition in the Division of Communication Arts and Social Science. Greg earned his doctorate in English from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS and his Master's in English from St. Cloud State University. Professor Brister's experience includes teaching composition, literature, and writing at St. Cloud State, St. John's University (MN), and the University of Kansas.Philip Deger will be an assistant professor of Human Resource Management in the Division of Business and Information Technology. Philip holds undergraduate and Master's degrees from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. Professor Deger has teaching experience in a wide variety of Human Resources subjects at the University of Minnesota, the University of Minnesota, Morris, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, and Anoka Technical College.Elizabeth Bue Maher has been hired as an Elementary Education Generalist instructor in the School of Education and Graduate Studies. Beth has a Master's degree in Education from North Dakota State University, and is currently pursuing her doctorate in education through NDSU. She has been an elementary teacher in the Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton (MN) School District the past eight years, and earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from VCSU through our partnership with NDSU.Dr. Jorge Variego will be an assistant professor of Music Theory/Composition/Woodwinds in the Division of Fine Arts. Dr. Variego earned his doctorate from the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, and a Master of Music from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jorge has teaching experience at several universities, and earned his Bachelor's degree from National University in Rosario, Argentina.Dr. Casey Williams will be an assistant professor of Fisheries and Biology in the Division of Math, Science, Health, and Physical Education. Dr. Williams earned his PhD and Master's in Aquatic Resources from Texas State University-San Marcos. During the past year, Professor Williams completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Utah Water Research Laboratory at Utah State University. Casey earned his Bachelor's degree in Biology from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana.We are pleased to welcome these five new full-time faculty members to Valley City and the VCSU campus. Please help me in welcoming these individuals, along with all new VCSU employees and students, to Valley City as we begin the 2011-12 academic year.