President’s Column: McCarthy Hall Update

Photo: Work continues on the atrium connecting McCarthy Hall and McFarland Hall.  Greetings from VCSU! A return to springlike temps and positive progress on the McCarthy Hall renovation are creating a buzz of excitement around campus and the community. Today’s column will feature an update of the construction progress and a remarkable achievement by one of our education alums. I ...

President’s Column: Beat the winter doldrums with campus events

By VCSU President Alan LaFave Greetings from Valley City State University! As we enter the month of February, you may wonder how to battle the “winter blues.” Even though the weather outside is colder than desired, there are plenty of opportunities on the VCSU campus to help beat the traditional winter “doldrums” of February. These include some exciting athletic contests, ...

President’s Column: VCSU proud to play large role in local economy

By Dr. Alan LaFave Greetings from VCSU and Happy New Year to all! As we prepare for the upcoming legislative session, we know there are many items of importance that will be discussed and decided. The economic contribution of the North Dakota University System is reviewed and studied each biennium. The most recent study, released in 2023, provides data on ...

President’s Column: Reflections of gratitude for 2024 and looking forward to 2025

The days between Christmas and the beginning of the New Year give us all an opportunity to look back, reflect with gratitude on our work together and continue plans for moving ahead. I’d like to highlight just a few of the accomplishments and some reflections on the past semester. Enrollment For the first time in our history VCSU eclipsed 1800 ...

President’s Column: Celebrating achievement, resilience, and new beginnings at Commencement

Greetings from Valley City State University! As the calendar turns to December 19, 2024, the Valley City State University community will gather in Vangstad Auditorium to celebrate a special moment in the lives of our students: the Winter Commencement. It’s a time to pause, reflect, and appreciate the hard work, perseverance, and determination that has brought our graduates to this point. But more ...

President’s Column: Giving Thanks

By VCSU President Alan LaFave Greetings from Valley City State University! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times and holidays of the year. Our beautiful campus takes on another level of beauty with the recent blanket of snow, signifying the ever-changing seasons. As we focus on our plans for continued growth and quality, Thanksgiving provides an important opportunity to pause ...

President’s Column: Committed to Affordability and Attainment

Greetings from Valley City State University! Here at VCSU, we believe the pursuit and dream of attaining a four-year degree should be affordable and attainable. The cost of higher education is a significant concern and barrier to attendance for many students and their families. As tuition prices rise, finding affordable options for earning a quality degree can seem like an ...

President’s Column: Dedication to teaching and learning

Construction continues on McCarthy Hall. Windows will be installed soon and work has started on the enclosed foyer connection to McFarland Hall. Greetings from VCSU! VCSU is widely known and recognized for quality student experiences in and outside the classroom. This recognition continues to grow as evidenced by external ratings, national accreditations, graduate placement rates, increasing enrollments, and improved retention ...

President’s Column: Supportive donors, scholarship dinner, students on campus

VCSU scholarship donors Don '63 and Sandy Bauer stand for a photo with scholarship recipients Zachary St. Aubin and Kendra Odegard. Greetings from Valley City State University! Last week gave us an opportunity to gather donors and students together for our annual scholarship dinner. This is an outstanding event that allows for students and donors to connect and share their ...

President’s Column: Exciting Results in Enrollment, Rankings, and AI

Greetings from Valley City State University! Last week was very exciting for our university. Continued record enrollments, national rankings, and the hosting of the first ever North Dakota AI Conference were driving forces for an abundance of positive news. Enrollment: Annual census date enrollment data for the North Dakota University System was released on September 23, and we were extremely ...