Hotline // March 13, 2024

President's Column: Prioritizing Affordability

Greetings from VCSU!

As I pen this article, spring break is winding down, the outstanding community event – the annual North Dakota Winter Show – is in full swing, athletic teams are competing in Arizona, Florida, and South Dakota (indoor track and field national championships), and we are preparing to host our annual scholarship auction!

Prioritizing affordability has been a focal point of conversation and driving force in our recruitment and retention efforts for decades at Valley City State University. With rising costs of tuition across the nation, coupled with high student loan debt, we continue to strive to deliver a college degree that is both affordable and attainable. As a result, we recently announced our renewed pledge –  Viking Promise – as a continuous effort to alleviate the cost of tuition through financial aid and scholarship support.

Did you know that 95% of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Western Undergraduate Exchange, and Midwest Student Exchange Program students who are Pell Eligible have their tuition fully covered thanks to financial aid, scholarships, and talent-based awards? Students from these twenty states who are full Pell eligible will have full-time tuition (12-13 credits) covered at VCSU for the 2024-25 academic year. This is made possible by the outstanding scholarship support provided by our alumni, supporters, and friends. This year we will award nearly $2 million in scholarships to our students. These are real dollars, not tuition discounts, made possible through the generous support of our alumni, donors, and friends.

Another important area of affordability is in residence life. Our “Stay and Save” program locks in the freshman year room cost and guarantees that those rates will not increase if the student chooses to remain on campus in subsequent years. The savings associated with this program are significant and provide families with the assurance that those costs will not increase.

We recognize these are challenging times for students, parents, and families as they navigate a FAFSA (federal financial aid) process that is still unresolved, impacting students and universities across the nation. Our pledge is to continue providing outstanding quality at a price point that helps students attain their higher education goals in a timely and affordable manner. I believe the focused efforts listed above, coupled with one of the lowest tuition rates in North Dakota, are helping students and contributing to the growth of our outstanding institution.

Viking Softball and Baseball have been on the road during this past week. Softball competed at the Tucson Invitational Games and baseball had a series of games in Florida. Additionally, congratulations to Jaiden Peraza for earning All-American honors and taking fourth place in high jump at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Brookings, SD. Peraza, a sophomore from Kindred, ND, successfully cleared the bar at 2.05 meters (6 feet, 8.75 inches) to take fourth place out of 30 competitors from around the nation. We look forward to welcoming these teams and athletes back to North Dakota and following them, along with track and field and golf throughout the spring schedules.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you to attend the 29^th annual VCSU scholarship auction on Friday, April 26 at the Valley City Eagles Club. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with a buffet dinner at 6:00 p.m. followed by the live auction at 7:00 p.m. The theme for this year’s auction is “Get Groovy Vikings” and is sure to be a fun-filled, festive, and celebratory time!

The Silent Auction is virtual again this year. Bidding starts Monday, April 22th at 10 a.m. and ends Friday, April 26th at 8:30 p.m. To join in the fun, you will need to download the Handbid App, create an account and search for our auction “VCSU Scholarship Auction 2024”. If you participated in our 2023 silent auction, you’ve already created an account. Use your same username and password (there is an option to reset password if needed). All proceeds from this event go toward student scholarships. For tickets or more information, contact the VCSU Foundation Office at (701) 845-7203.

Go Vikings!

VCSU’s Planetarium presents Solar System & All About Stars

VCSU’s Planetarium presents Solar System & All about stars! on March 16 at 1 p.m. The planetarium is located in the Rhoades Science Center Room 309. The show is free and open to the public.

Valley City State University is home to the only planetarium in North Dakota. Rhoades Science Center houses a Spitz 512 planetarium with a 24-foot domed ceiling and 50 reclining seats.

Each semester, VCSU students produce a new show to be used in the Planetarium. Shows range from basic astronomy to exploring how Lewis and Clark used the night sky to aid in their exploration of North America.

For more information about the VCSU Planetarium contact Wes Anderson, 701-845-0966.

Viking Fish Fry set for March 15

The annual Viking Fish Fry will be held Friday, March 15, at the Valley City Eagles Club.

Presented by the VCSU Booster Board, the Viking Fish Fry helps raise money for athletic scholarships at VCSU. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door that night. The meal will run from 5-7 p.m. and includes fried fish, potatoes, coleslaw, garlic toast and a dessert. The Booster Board will also be conducting meat raffles throughout the event.

INSTEM program to expand to Native students across the state this summer

The program exposes Native American students to science, technology, engineering and math focused curriculum.

Students travel to La Paz

VCSU students Gretchen Mangan, Elizabeth Gazeley, and Maddie Schwartz embarked on an adventurous journey during Spring Break, accompanied by Luis Alejandro Betancur, assistant professor for Spanish, to the rich landscapes of La Paz, Mexico.

Their time in Mexico included exciting activities such as swimming with sea lions, enjoying and cooking authentic cuisine, walking along the iconic Malecón, and forming relationships with students from the Technological University of La Paz. “Sharing this memorable adventure was truly an enriching experience for all involved,” said Betancur.

Auka named ‘Difference Maker’

Seth Auka, maintenance and grounds tech for facilities services, was selected as the “Difference Maker” for March. He was nominated by the President’s Office, Foundation Office, and Academic Affairs Office.

Auka’s nomination read, “Seth is fairly new to VCSU, but he has made quite an impression on anyone he has worked with so far. His pleasant, courteous manner adds to the fantastic work he does for the campus. Seth is very organized and works hard to please. He completes work quickly and is always sure to leave the space cleaned up and looking better than it had previously. Seth takes initiative for other things he sees needing attention. He is conscientious, self-motivated, and even keeps a list of things that he can do to fill time between other projects. Seth takes pride in his work, and we are proud to recognize him for the difference he makes at VCSU every day!”

Thank you for all you do for VCSU and for being a “Difference Maker,” Seth!

Russi sound designer for Lobby Hero

Jenni Lou Russi, associate professor for communication arts, designed sound for Lobby Hero at Theatre B in Moorhead, Minn. As the sound designer, Russi created a 40-minute, five-track, seven-speaker, immersive Manhattan-based preshow sound scape in addition to sound cues during the show. Russi is the former VCSU theater director and currently teaches communication and theatre classes on campus. She directs, designs (costumes, sound, set), and acts for regional theaters.

VCSU offers free tax preparation

Valley City State University (VCSU) students will offer free tax return preparation clinics for low-to-moderate income taxpayers from Monday, Feb. 5 to Monday, April 15. This is a basic tax service for qualified taxpayers with income less than $64,000 per year. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offered by VCSU’s Department of Business.

The clinics begin on Monday, Feb. 5, and will be located on VCSU’s campus in McFarland 122. Walk-ins and appointments are accepted. Appointments can be made online at www.vcsu.edu/vita.

The clinics include face-to-face meetings between students and the tax filer to complete their return. The returns are then reviewed by a faculty member. Filers should bring a government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license to the appointment. A married couple filing jointly will need photo identification for both the husband and the wife.

“These clinics offer a service for our community and provide students and faculty the chance to work together as a team,” said Brenda Tyre, chair of the VCSU Department of Business. “We are happy to coordinate these clinics to give students the opportunity to develop strong leadership, tax law knowledge, and communication skills. Every student volunteer working in the clinic has passed a tax preparation and code of standards exam to ensure returns are prepared accurately, maintain privacy, and ensure all personal information is secure.”

Dates available on Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. include:

Dates available on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. include:

There will be no clinic hours on the following holidays:

• Monday, April 1

To schedule an appointment, visit www.vcsu.edu/vita/ or contact the Department of Business at (701) 845-7508.

Viking sports update

Baseball
The VCSU baseball team is set to open conference play this weekend with a four-game series at Bellevue University. The Vikings (8-13 overall record) will play doubleheaders against Bellevue on Friday and Saturday in Bellevue, Neb.

Softball
Viking Softball (8-12 overall record) will begin conference play this weekend with a four-game series against Bellevue University. The doubleheaders have been moved up one day to Friday and Saturday to take advantage of nicer weather in Bellevue, Neb.

Upcoming Events
March 15: Baseball at Bellevue University, 1/4 p.m. (Bellevue, Neb.)
March 15: Softball at Bellevue University, 2/4 p.m. (Bellevue, Neb.)
March 16: Baseball at Bellevue University, 12/3 p.m. (Bellevue, Neb.)
March 16: Softball at Bellevue University, 12/2 p.m. (Bellevue, Neb.)

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/