President’s Column: Student-Focused and Learning-Centered Begins with People
By Allen Burgad, Interim President
During my short time serving as Interim President at Valley City State University, I have had the opportunity to spend time and learn from many members of our campus community. Through those conversations, I quickly connected with the importance of our core values, which include:
- Student-Focused: Placing students at the center of all decisions
- Innovative: Trying new things to create the future
- Learning-Centered: Developing a culture of lifelong learning
- Collaborative: Working together to advance the university’s mission
- Engaged: Actively participating in the work of the university
I began reflecting more deeply on our first value, student-focused, and how we elevate this value through our daily actions as an institution. It quickly became clear during my many meetings and conversations with faculty and staff that student focus is not simply a statement at VCSU. It is a deeply embedded value that guides the work we do every day.
Our society is constantly changing. Many would argue that these changes are driven by technology and innovation. Yet throughout these changes, one constant remains: the importance of people and relationships in helping organizations reach their mission and goals.
Recently, I reflected on a message from Simon Sinek’s book “Leaders Eat Last.” Sinek emphasizes that successful organizations do more than focus on results. They create working and learning environments where people feel valued, trusted, and supported. When organizations place people at the center, collaboration grows, innovation flourishes, and individuals invest more deeply in the mission.
Our commitment to being student-focused and learning-centered begins with people. It begins with the faculty and staff who serve students each day, the alumni who carry forward the values of this institution, and the legacy of individuals who have shaped the culture of Valley City State University. Our faculty mentor students not only academically but also guide them as they grow socially. Our staff provide support that helps students navigate challenges and pursue opportunities. These relationships matter. They are often the difference between a student simply attending college and truly belonging to a community.
The strength of VCSU has always been rooted in these relationships. For more than a century, generations of faculty and staff have invested in students, helping build the culture that defines the university today. Many of those individuals are no longer on campus, yet their influence continues to shape our students’ experiences and the work we do each day. Conversations with VCSU alumni consistently highlight the mentors who encouraged them and helped shape the paths they pursued after leaving campus.
The future of VCSU will continue to be built by the people who believe in its mission, including our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners. By continuing to invest in one another, we ensure that Valley City State University remains a place where students learn, grow, and prepare to make a difference in the world.
At its heart, being student-focused and learning-centered begins with people, and that has long been VCSU’s strength. When I reflect on my own time as a student and the individuals who helped shape my journey, I am reminded of something simple but powerful. It was not always what they said, but that they took the time to say it.