Hotline // January 14, 2026

Campus Listening Sessions on January 21 for VCSU President Search

The North Dakota University System (NDUS) is looking for the next president to lead Valley City State University (VCSU). Campus stakeholders will be asked to provide input on the search process during listening sessions scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21, at VCSU.

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. – Skoal Room, Memorial Student Center

1:00 to 2:00 p.m. – Skoal Room, Memorial Student Center

2:00 to 3:00 p.m. – Virtual Teams Meeting (https://vcsu.news/listeningsession)

The listening sessions are open to all campus stakeholders including students, employees, alumni and community members. In addition to the scheduled listening sessions, stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback on desired leadership qualities through an anonymous survey, which is open from Jan. 14 through Jan. 22.

Link to VCSU presidential search survey: https://vcsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3ydZrUqFUN5HF2u

Co-chairing the VCSU Presidential Search Committee are State Board of Higher Education (SBHE) Vice Chair D.J. Campbell and VCSU Vice President for Business Affairs Erica Buchholz.

“Together, Campbell and Buchholz will guide the committee in identifying and selecting the next president of Valley City State University. Their combined leadership and commitment to VCSU’s mission will ensure a thorough inclusive, and forward-looking search process,” said SBHE Chair Kevin Black.

The committee is scheduled to meet on Jan. 26, 2026, to discuss the feedback from the listening sessions and use that information to create a profile for advertising the leadership position.

About Valley City State University
Valley City State University, a member of the North Dakota University System, is a student-focused institution committed to academic excellence and innovation. Founded in 1890 and located in Valley City, North Dakota, VCSU offers more than 65 undergraduate programs and graduate degrees. Known for its nationally recognized teacher education program and small class sizes, VCSU prepares students for success through hands-on experiences and strong faculty support. Learn more at www.vcsu.edu.

About NDUS
The North Dakota University System is a unified system of higher education governed by the State Board of Higher Education. Organized in 1990, the system includes two research universities, four regional universities and five community colleges.

The mission of the State Board of Higher Education and the Commissioner of the North Dakota University System is to unleash the potential of higher education in the state to enhance the quality of life, and the social and economic vitality of all served by its public colleges and universities.

Learning with AI: VCSU's Vision for Education

By Jerry Rostad, VCSU Director of Special Projects

Artificial intelligence has vividly captured public attention. It’s routinely characterized as either a looming threat or a technological miracle. Or both. Valley City State University launched the AI Institute for Teaching and Learning this past fall to prepare students for a future in which AI is woven into every profession, while ensuring that the human element remains at the center of education.

When we launched the AI Institute, one of our first steps was to survey faculty, students, and staff to understand their current attitudes toward AI. What emerged from the anonymous surveys was neither fear nor blind enthusiasm, but something much more promising: a campus community willing to approach AI with curiosity, caution, and a shared commitment to preserving the core of what education is about.

Across the campus, respondents generally leaned positively about AI’s potential, although each group identified different concerns and hopes. About half the faculty expressed optimism about AI as a learning and productivity tool. Equally, a significant minority of faculty remained skeptical, citing worries about academic integrity, the erosion of critical thinking, and uncertainty about long‑term impacts on creativity.

Staff responses showed a similar balance. They expressed an openness to AI for brainstorming, writing, and research while pairing concerns around privacy, accuracy, and over-reliance.

Students indicated they are experimenting with AI, using it to help edit, plan, or clarify ideas while recognizing potential limits and risks.

This gentle mix of optimism and caution from the faculty, staff and students is exactly where a learning community should be.

One of the clearest themes that emerged from the surveys is the emphasis that AI may support learning but it cannot replace it. Faculty worry that students might bypass the cognitive effort necessary for true education. Students worry about misinformation, accuracy, and unclear policy expectations. Staff worry about privacy and the importance of human judgment. These concerns are not signals to halt AI. Rather, they are evidence of a campus prepared to engage with AI ethically and deliberately.

What may be most encouraging is how consistently students, faculty, and staff all affirm the enduring importance of human skills. When asked what competencies matter most for the future workforce, respondents overwhelmingly highlighted communication, creativity, leadership, ethical judgment, and analytical thinking. Technical skills like AI still matter, but no one argued that AI expertise outweighs the timeless foundations of an educated mind. In fact, the surveys suggested the opposite. As AI becomes more present in our work and daily lives, the uniquely human abilities to interpret, question, imagine, and connect become even more essential.

Simply, AI cannot cultivate wisdom or character. Those responsibilities remain ours. In that sense, AI challenges universities not to dilute their purpose, but to recommit to it.

The creation of VCSU’s AI Institute is not about chasing trends or replacing traditional education. It is about preparing students for a world where AI will be present. It is about supporting faculty and staff as they explore how AI might improve teaching, enhance services, or streamline routine tasks. And, it is about ensuring that as we adopt new technologies, we do so with the integrity, thoughtfulness, and human focus that define this institution.

While public debates about AI often seem polarized, VCSU’s internal conversation offers something more constructive: nuance. VCSU is choosing a future in which innovation serves learning, not replaces it. Where tools support human judgment rather than overshadow it. Where students graduate not only familiar with emerging technologies but grounded in deeper habits of inquiry and understanding.

AI will continue to evolve and so will our classrooms. Yet curiosity, knowledge, critical thinking, and the human capacity to grow will remain unchanged. The heart of education. Valley City State University believes AI is not a threat to that mission, it is an invitation to renew it.

ITEEA Names VCSU a STEM School of Excellence

Assistant Professor Clayton Mannie recognized as Emerging Leader

Valley City State University has been named a 2025-26 STEM School of Excellence, and assistant professor Clayton Mannie was recognized as an Emerging Leader by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA).

This is the second consecutive year that VCSU has received the ITEEA recognition, which honors outstanding schools that have demonstrated a commitment to providing a robust integrative STEM education program.

Schools receiving the award have undergone a rigorous application process, showcasing their exemplary STEM programs and best practices. VCSU was one of just seven universities nationwide to receive the STEM School of Excellence designation.

“This recognition reflects the commitment, innovation, and collaborative efforts of our faculty, staff, and students in advancing STEM education at VCSU,” said Peder Gjovik, Chair of the Department of Technology and STEM Education. “Being named a STEM School of Excellence by ITEEA is a tremendous honor and underscores our dedication to meeting the highest standards in technology and engineering education.”

VCSU offers a Bachelor of Science in technology education and has STEM certificates for both elementary and secondary educators. VCSU is also home to the Great Plains STEM Education Center and the INSTEM (Indians into STEM) program. INSTEM annually brings Native American students to campus for week-long STEM academies in the summer. Other STEM-related initiatives on campus include use of the VCSU Planetarium for K-12 classes and community presentations, and VCSU’s annual Marketplace for Kids event, where elementary and middle school students explore a wide variety of careers through fun experiments and presentations.

Clayton Mannie, assistant professor for technology and STEM Education, is one of seven outstanding teachers nationwide to receive the Emerging Leader recognition from ITEEA.

Mannie earned a VCSU bachelor’s degree in technology education in 2006 and then finished a VCSU master’s degree in technology education in 2016. He returned to campus in 2020 as an assistant professor in the technology department.

VCSU and Mannie will officially receive the awards in March at the ITEEA 88^th annual conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

About ITEEA

ITEEA’s STEM School of Excellence recognition underscores the importance of STEM education in today’s rapidly evolving world and highlights the critical role that schools play in nurturing the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. ITEEA (www.iteea.org) is the professional organization for technology, innovation, design, and engineering educators. Its mission is to advance technological and engineering capabilities for all by nurturing professionalism, growth, and opportunities in the education community. ITEEA strengthens the profession through leadership, professional development, membership services, publications, and classroom activities.

VCSU Hosts 4th Annual Marketplace for Kids

Photo: Students watch Rex, a canine officer with the border patrol, do a demonstration during the Marketplace for Kids event.

Valley City State University hosted its fourth annual Marketplace for Kids Education Day on Tuesday, January 8.

An estimated 400 elementary and junior high students from six different school districts attended the event. Schools represented at the event included Valley City Washington Elementary, Milnor Public School, Barnes County North, Kulm Public School, Carrington Elementary and Litchville-Marion Public School.

Marketplace for Kids is designed to promote entrepreneurship and career awareness among 3^rd-8^th graders. VCSU hosts one of the several education days put on across the state by the Marketplace for Kids organization.

“We get to watch the reactions on the kids’ faces, and they’re excited all day long,” Marketplace for Kids Executive Director Robert Heitkamp said. “They’re getting to see entrepreneurship, and it might be their first look at a career. We’ve got Border Patrol here, and everything from drones to nursing.”

Chief Keisha Plaza was one of the members of the Border Patrol team that made the trip from the Pembina Port of Entry.

“We are showcasing one of our tools that we use for inspection at the border, which is our K9 program and our K9 handler,” Plaza explained. Her session included students asking about how Rex, the K9 officer, was trained and how he works to identify illegal substances.

The students asked great questions and many lined up to give Rex a friendly pat.

“We are here today because we want to bring attention to the kids of who we are and what we do,” she explained. “Hopefully to create that spark for the future that can lead to a career.”

Students had opportunities to take part in more than 20 different classes that featured projects, experiments and presentations from area professionals representing numerous careers and industries. Sessions ranged from “Experiments with Electricity” to “Unlock Your Coding Potential” and “Career Paths in Aviation.”

Valley City native and current VCSU student Alyssa Thomsen was a featured speaker at the event. A young entrepreneur, Thomsen is pursuing a degree in marketing at VCSU while running her own photography business and working part-time jobs for both VCSU and Valley City Public Schools.

The event also included a Hall of Great Ideas for students to showcase projects and ideas they developed.

Heitkamp said the Marketplace for Kids organization has been operating in North Dakota for 31 years and is expanding into Montana this year. Anyone interested in helping with the events can learn more about possibly joining an advisory leadership team in local areas or attending an event to present at www.marketplaceforkids.org.

Photo: Students at the Marketplace for Kids browse projects from other students in the Hall of Great Ideas. 

Faculty & Staff Art Exhibit Opens Jan. 20

Photo: Pieces from the last VCSU Faculty and Staff Exhibit are shown on display in 2024.

Valley City State University’s Center for the Arts Gallery presents the Biennial Faculty and Staff Exhibit, featuring creative work in crafts, painting, photography, quilting, and more.

The exhibit opens for public viewing Tuesday, January 20, and runs through February 13. All pieces on display are created by VCSU faculty and staff.

The Center for the Arts Gallery is located inside the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts. The Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and by appointment.

A public reception with light refreshments is scheduled from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 4. In case of inclement weather, the reception will be rescheduled for February 11.

Boll named Staff Member of the Quarter

Ryan Boll, facilities services, recently received the award for Staff Member of the Quarter.

His nomination read, in part, “This fall, Ryan used his valuable free time and talents to build a new parade float for VCSU. Ryan was involved in many of the conversations leading up to the new parade float, as he serves on Staff Senate and is part of the Campus and Community Committee. He enthusiastically took on the Viking ship rebuild as a passion project—never expecting praise, recognition, or pay. Ryan spent dozens of hours and his own materials creating a ship that our campus can be proud of and used in parades for years to come. He even took it upon himself to honor Deb Feuerherm in the naming of the ship, once again, showing his humble nature. Ryan’s ability to use his talents and skills to benefit others, his can-do attitude, and his positive spirit are just a few of the reasons he’s so deserving of this award. His love for his job and VCSU is evident, and you’ll rarely see Ryan without a smile on his face while working. VCSU is lucky to have him!”

Another nomination stated, “Ryan exemplifies dedication, creativity, and campus pride through his extraordinary contributions to our community. Over the last 6 months, Ryan generously donated more than 60 hours of his own time to design, construct, and decorate the campus’s new Viking ship parade float. This project was not part of his regular duties—it was a labor of love that showcased his craftsmanship and commitment to enhancing campus spirit. His work transformed what started as a simple idea into a stunning centerpiece that represents our Viking Pride and adds a new energy to both campus and the community. The float’s intricate design and attention to detail were widely praised by students, staff, and community members alike. Beyond the technical skill, Ryan’s willingness to go above and beyond demonstrates the values we strive to uphold: innovation, collaboration, and engagement. Ryan truly embodies what “We All Row” means. His selfless contribution deserves recognition through the Staff Member of the Quarter award.

Another nomination read, “Ryan is the definition of what it means to be a Viking. He goes above in beyond in not only quality of work, but also in his interpersonal skills. His passion to make VCSU the best place it can be for everyone is inspiring and contagious.”

Rogelstad named ‘Difference Maker’

Todd Rogelstad, bookstore manager, was recently named the “Difference Maker” for January. He was nominated by the Student Center staff.

His nomination read, “Todd is extremely busy this time of year. Between book buy back and a new semester starting, he puts in a lot of after work and weekend hours to get books ready for the new semester. But, most importantly, Todd can always put a smile on a student’s face and make their day a little brighter.”

Viking Sports Update

Weekend games to be played at the Jamestown Civic Center
VCSU Basketball will host its home games this weekend at the Jamestown Civic Center on Saturday, Jan. 17, and Sunday, Jan. 18, following water damage to VCSU’s court due to a mechanical failure. The weekend schedule is as follows. Saturday, January 17^th, Valley City State will play Dickinson State at the Civic Center. Women will tipoff at 5:00 p.m., the men will tipoff at 7:00 p.m. The Vikings’ games with Bismarck State will be played on Sunday, January 18^th at the Civic Center. Women will tipoff at 2:00 p.m. and the Men will tipoff at 4:00 p.m. Watch for ticket information on vcsuvikings.com, the Vikings athletics Facebook, X and Instagram accounts.

Men’s Basketball
The Viking Men’s basketball team went to Montana for a pair of games against two ranked teams. (RV) Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana on Friday and #15 Carroll College in Helena, Montana on Saturday. The Vikings played hard both games and nearly upset Carroll College on Saturday. Vikings drop road game to Rocky Mountain College. Vikings nearly upset #15 Carroll College on the road. The Vikings are back home for the next two weeks.

Women’s Basketball
The Viking Women’s team had a very tough test this weekend with games at #17 Rocky Mountain on Friday and at #24 Carroll College on Saturday. The played hard against to very good teams but could not come up with any wins. Vikings fall on the road to Rocky Mountain College. Vikings fall short against #24 Carroll College.

The Passing of a Hall of Famer
Valley City State University mourns the passing of Darrell Anderson, former Athletic Director and men’s basketball coach, whose leadership and dedication helped shape Viking athletics for nearly two decades. He was 87 years old.

Darrell served VCSU with distinction for 18 years, impacting the university as a coach, administrator, and mentor. During his tenure, Viking teams earned three conference championships in men’s basketball, five consecutive NDCAC titles in tennis, and a conference championship in golf. His influence extended far beyond competition, as he played a key role in establishing the Vikings Booster Club Board of Directors, the VCSU Coaches Hall of Fame, and early athletic training programs.

Anderson’s basketball teams won conference titles in 1979-80, 1980-81, and 1981-82. Tennis championships won 1979, 80, 81, 82, and 83. The golf championship came in 1979. He was inducted into the Viking Hall of Fame in 2006.

Known for his steady leadership and genuine care for student-athletes, Darrell believed deeply in the power of athletics to teach discipline, teamwork, and character. His legacy lives on through the countless students, coaches, and colleagues he guided along the way.

Dr. Alan Olson, a Professor and Assessment Coordinator in the Department of Education at VCSU, played basketball and baseball at VCSU from 1980-84. Olson said this about his former coach, “Darrell Anderson was an outstanding person, teacher, coach, and athletic director. He set high expectations. Coach Anderson was an excellent strategist who taught basketball skills in meticulous detail and demanded disciplined execution of fundamentals, plays, and defenses as a team.” Olson continues “Darrell Anderson was an outstanding role model who positively influenced many VCSU student-athletes and future coaches. His influence on teachers and coaches continues to benefit players and teams today.”

Olson coached basketball while Anderson was the athletic director. Olson said, “I remain grateful to have learned valuable lessons about coaching and life from Coach Darrell Anderson and Coach Jim Dew.”

The VCSU community extends its heartfelt sympathy to Darrell’s family and all who were fortunate to know him. We honor his life, service, and lasting impact on Valley City State University.

Track and Field
The Viking Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams are back in action this weekend after a month-long break. VCSU will compete at the Bison Team Cup in Fargo at the Shelly Ellig Indoor Track and Field facility on the campus of North Dakota State University on Saturday.

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...

January 21
Campus Listening Sessions for VCSU President Search

Find out what’s happening at VCSU: https://www.vcsu.edu/news-events/

Find out what’s happening in the community: https://www.valleycitycalendar.com/