Hotline // September 23, 2026
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- VCSU Sets 4th Consecutive Fall Enrollment Record
- “Inhabiting an Ecological In-Between” Artist Talk set for Oct. 8
- Ployhar Honor Band Returns to VCSU for 23rd Year
- VCSU Hosting Spanish Day on Oct. 14
- Communication Arts Faculty attend CSTAND Conference
- Viking Sports Update
- What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
VCSU Sets 4th Consecutive Fall Enrollment Record
Photo: Students cross the VCSU Footbridge during the 2026 Summer Vikes on Central event.
Total Headcount Rises to 1871 Students
Valley City State University has set a fall enrollment record for the fourth consecutive year, enrolling 1871 students this semester.
This year’s total includes 1723 undergraduates and 148 graduate students. The total headcount surpasses last fall’s previous record of 1827 students. Since 2016, VCSU’s enrollment has grown by 29 percent, with the university achieving new fall enrollment records in 9 of the past 10 years.
VCSU’s overall retention rate of new students from 2025 to 2026 rose to 74 percent this fall, a new school record. The retention rate of first-time, full-time students from 2025 to 2026 was also 74 percent, the school’s second highest rate ever in that retention category.
“Our faculty, staff and the community have done an incredible job of making VCSU feel like home for an increasing number of students,” said Dr. Allen Burgad, VCSU Interim President. “Strong retention rates and increasing enrollment reflect the positive experiences our students are having in the classroom and on campus.”
VCSU enrolled 322 new undergraduate students this fall, including 186 first-year students and 136 transfer students. That is the largest group of new students since 2019.
The university’s continued growth has been driven by strategic investments in campus improvements, strong institutional partnerships, and a reputation for providing quality education at an excellent value. VCSU’s scholarship program awards nearly $2 million in student aid annually, and the Forward Together Capital Campaign has been transforming the campus through major facility upgrades like the McCarthy Hall renovation, which opened in Fall 2025, and the new Tharaldson Family Athletic Center opening this winter.
VCSU has also finalized academic partnerships with several institutions over the past 24 months, expanding academic offerings to more students. One of the larger partnerships is with Bismarck State College, which has 63 students this year pursuing an education degree through VCSU’s nationally acclaimed education program.
“Through our various partnerships with other NDUS institutions, we’ve provided more opportunities for students to experience a VCSU education,” said Burgad. “We’re proud to play our role in preparing students to enter the North Dakota workforce.”
During the 2025-26 academic year, VCSU conferred a record 625 degrees and certificates. That included 297 undergraduate bachelor’s degrees – the highest number awarded since 2018-19 – and 52 master’s degrees.
VCSU 2026 Fall Enrollment
- Total Enrollment: 1871 (Fall Record)
- Undergraduate Students: 1723 (Fall Record)
- Graduate Students: 148
- New Full-Time Undergraduate Students: 322 (Largest since 2019)
- First-Year Students: 186
- Transfer Students: 136
- Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): 1135
VCSU 2026 Fall Retention
- First-Time Full-Time Students: 74.23%
- Overall Retention of new students: 73.96% (Record, up from 73.25%)
“Inhabiting an Ecological In-Between” Artist Talk set for Oct. 8
An artist talk and reception for visiting artist Katie Simmons’ show, “Inhabiting an Ecological In-Between” will take place Oct. 8. The talk will take place at 3 p.m. in the Robinson Center for the Arts Choir Room with a reception to follow in the lobby.
The exhibit is open to the public August 24 through Oct. 8 during regular gallery hours, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. A virtual exhibit will be available on the VCSU Art Department’s YouTube channel.
Simmons creates deeply textured pieces combining cloth, stitching, and images of human bodies and the natural world. Images are built in layers of ballpoint pen drawings and natural pigments extracted from plants, lichens, algae, and fungi. Pigments are allowed to react with the material with little direction, becoming partners in the making process.
Simmons brings a background in wildlife biology and experiences as an assault survivor to her creative process, investigating “death, decay, growth, and parallels between the exploitation of the natural world and female bodies.”
For more information about Katie Simmons’ artwork and process, visit https://www.katiesimmons.com.
Ployhar Honor Band Returns to VCSU for 23rd Year
Audition Materials Due by September 30
Are you a high schooler who loves band? Are you a community member who wants to support local art? Either way, you have come to the right place!
This October, the Valley City State University music department is inviting students from across the region to participate in the 23rd annual Ployhar Honor Band in honor of the timelessly influential James D. Ployhar.
Band members will be selected by an audition process described below, and will come together on October 22 for rehearsals at the Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts. The group will showcase their hard work in a performance open to the public on Friday, October 23 at 5 p.m. Any student in 8th-12th grade in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana are encouraged to audition!
This year we are excited to welcome as our guest conductor Mr. Dustin Moe, who is currently serving his 17th year directing bands at Washburn Public Schools.
How do I audition?
Live auditions will be held in select locations – contact Jerrold Heide (jerrold.heide@vcsu.edu or 701-845-7375) for information about how to host or participate in live auditions.
Auditioning Online:
Each student’s audition should be recorded and submitted as an .mp3 file. Once labeled with the name of the student, the instrument, and the high school they attend, files should be emailed directly to Professor Jerrold Heide or saved to a cloud storage system (such as Google Drive or OneDrive) and shared with him at Jerrold.heide@vcsu.edu.
Along with a complete audition recording, each student (or director) must fill out the required entry form for their audition. The form can be accessed at this link.
The information collected will be confidential and used for VCSU Ployhar event purposes only.
Additional information about audition content, rehearsal schedules, and what to expect can be found at this link.
2026 Ployhar Honor Band Schedule-at-a-Glance:
Thursday, October 22
- 12:30 p.m. – Registration
- 1:00 p.m. – Rehearsals begin
- 6:00 p.m. – Rehearsals conclude for Day 1
Friday, October 23
- 9:00 a.m. – Rehearsals resume for Day 2
- 5:00 p.m. – Concert in CFA Performance Hall
We are honored to carry out the legacy of James D. Ployhar through the annual honor band, and we hope that you will be a part of this special event. Whether you are a student or a supportive spectator, we look forward to seeing you in the auditorium next month!
VCSU Hosting Spanish Day on Oct. 14
Photo: VCSU faculty Luis Betancur speaks to students during a Spanish Day activity related to Alebrijes, which are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of mythical creatures.
Valley City State University will host area high school students and classes for its annual Spanish Day on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
Hosted by VCSU’s Language and Literature Department, the event immerses students in the Spanish language and the cultures of Spanish-speaking countries through engaging, hands-on activities. Participants will:
- Explore contemporary slang from across the Spanish-speaking world
- Learn about diverse cultural traditions
- Hear music from popular Hispanic artists
- Create imaginative, culture-inspired crafts
About 100 high school students from Valley City High School, Central Cass High School and Lisbon High School are expected to attend the event.
Students will also have opportunities to learn more about VCSU and its academic offerings in Spanish. VCSU offers majors in Spanish and Spanish Education, as well as a Spanish minor and a Spanish certificate.
Area high school teachers looking to bring a class to Spanish Day can contact VCSU faculty Luis Betancur at luis.betancur@vcsu.edu.
Spanish Day is one of several special hands-on visit days that VCSU hosts throughout the year. Other specific academic visit days for high school students feature VCSU programs such as music, art and teacher education.
Communication Arts Faculty attend CSTAND Conference
Communication Arts faculty presented at the Communication, Speech and Theater Association of North Dakota (CSTAND) conference in Bismarck last weekend. Shannon VanHorn, Ph.D., Jenni Lou Russi, M.F.A., and Tammy Jo Taft, M.S., presented and chaired presentations about classroom alignment, student engagement, dialect and classroom activities.
The annual conference brings together speech coaches, teachers, theater directors and congress and debate coaches from across the state with representatives from high school, college and industry. This year marks the 40th year of the organization.
Emily Helsper, a VCSU student and speech team member, was also honored with a CSTAND scholarship at the conference.
Viking Sports Update
FOOTBALL
The Viking Football nearly came all the way back from a 20-point first half deficit but fell just short in a 46-39 loss to Eastern Oregon on homecoming. The Vikings hit the road to Redding, Calif. for a meeting with Simpson University this Saturday. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
VCSU volleyball split their Frontier Conference match this week. Friday, they defeated Rocky Mountain College in a five-set thriller. Tuesday, they dropped a three-set match to Carroll College. The Vikings are on the road this weekend with matches at Dakota State on Friday and at Bellevue on Saturday.
GOLF
It was a great week for the Valley City State golfers. Sadie Neustel took first at Dickinson State and at Fergus Falls. Owen Haase led the men in both meets, winning at Fergus Falls and taking second in Dickinson. Neustel continued her strong season in Detroit Lakes and Nick Meisch was solid on the men’s side.
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
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/