A lifetime of giving…

As you likely know, VCSU is embarking on its first ever capital campaign for the benefit of our students, campus and community. The campaign has already seen excellent early success with gifts and pledges of nearly $2 million. One of our significant early gifts came from Valley City resident, Ray Braun. The following article is a reprint from the April ...

Excellence in Elementary Education Tradition

Greetings from Valley City State University! Good news is always a pleasure to share, and the recent top national ranking of our elementary education program is worth noting. The VCSU elementary education program was recently recognized by Study.com as the top elementary education program in the nation! Yes – best in the nation! What a tremendous tribute this is to ...

Transitioning to a new normal

Greetings from Valley City State University! It was almost exactly one year ago – March 20, 2020 – that we made the decision to deliver academic instruction online for the remainder of the spring semester. This was the week following spring break and, while difficult, it was the correct decision to make for the health, safety and welfare of our ...

“Success, the result of a collective effort”

A recap of the House Appropriations Committee budget presentation On Wednesday, March 10, I had the privilege of representing VCSU in our budget appropriations presentation to the House Appropriations Committee. Other VCSU representatives who joined me and provided testimony that day were Student Senate President Angeline Gannon, Vice President for Business Affairs Wesley Wintch, and VCSU Foundation Executive Director Larry ...

Student leadership exemplified…

One of the best perks of being a university president is the opportunity to see students thrive, succeed, and lead. Angeline Gannon, a junior from Bismarck, checks all three of those boxes. She serves with distinction as the president of the VCSU student senate and is highly respected by her peers and colleagues across the entire North Dakota Student Association. ...

Spring Semester Sets Enrollment Record

Greetings from Valley City State University! This past week we were very pleased to announce another record-breaking semester of enrollment. Our recent total headcount of 1,632 students and 1,501 undergrads represents our sixth straight year of record enrollment in the spring semester. Additionally, our undergraduate institutional FTE (full-time equivalent) increased to 1,068 and the total FTE increased to 1,119. The ...

Presenting to the Senate

It was my privilege to represent VCSU during our Senate Appropriations Committee presentation in Bismarck on January 19. This was a tremendous opportunity for us to share some of the successes of the past biennium and our planning efforts for the future. Here are a few highlights from that presentation: Continued national recognition from U.S. News and World Report; VCSU ...

Capital campaign update – inclusions

We are excited to embark on the first ever capital campaign for Valley City State University! Our plan is to raise $25 million for the benefit of the students and institution. Our mission to provide our students the best possible experience in the classroom and in athletic competition continues, but as I’ve mentioned before, we’ve outgrown our athletic and student ...

2020 Year End Column

2020 has certainly been a year the world will remember – with great moments and difficulties alike. At VCSU, 2020 was no different. We faced the challenge of dealing with COVID-19 and delivering quality education during a pandemic, but also experienced milestones and achievements that all contribute to a year we won’t forget. Beginning in March, our campus shifted to ...

Accomplishment recognized…

Commencement is a time of reflection on the past, celebration of the present, and anticipation of the future. This past week we had the privilege of recognizing 95 graduates at our 6th Annual Winter Commencement Exercises. The experiences of our graduates have been shaped by numerous people, programs and opportunities throughout their time at VCSU. Faculty, staff, coaches, peers and ...