Hotline // June 7, 2023
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
VCSU School of Education and Graduate Studies Reaccredited Through 2030
Valley City State University’s (VCSU) School of Education and Graduate Studies has been reaccredited through 2030 by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).
The accreditation process requires a comprehensive evaluation of the curriculum and field experiences. This includes reviewing the teaching and content knowledge, skills, and dispositions for teacher candidates to successfully enter the profession. VCSU demonstrated quality assurance and evidence that teacher candidates, completers, and the teacher education program are meeting the state and CAEP standards. The process included a self-study report from VCSU, followed by feedback from the CAEP team, and a virtual site visit by a CAEP team with representatives from five different states. VCSU successfully met each standard. The next CAEP accreditation site visit will be during the 2029-2030 school year.
“Our School of Education has one of the best teacher preparation programs in the nation. The program is exceptional, and we are extremely proud of our faculty and staff who have dedicated their careers to preparing future teachers,” VCSU President Dr. Alan LaFave said. “Reaccreditation from CAEP without any areas for improvement or stipulations reaffirms the quality of our education program.”
“We are thrilled to receive this reaccreditation as it solidifies our standing as one of the highest-quality education programs in the nation,” Dean for the School of Education Dr. Allen Burgad said. “The CAEP reaccreditation process highlights our priorities of helping students succeed in the classroom every day. Thank you to Dr. Al Olson, Dr. Jim Boe, and the VCSU faculty, staff, and community stakeholders who participated in the accreditation process. Their efforts and commitment were significant in the success of our review.”
“This reaccreditation, paired with the movement toward transforming McCarthy Hall are two critical pieces in our work to meet teacher workforce needs,” President LaFave said. “This is an exciting time for our campus.”
The programs included in this accreditation cycle include Art Education, Biology Education, Business Education, Chemistry Education, Elementary Education, English Education, Health Education, Mathematics Education, Music Education, Physical Education, Social Studies Education, Technology Education and VCSU’s Master of Arts in Teaching.
For more information about the School of Education contact Dr. Burgad at allen.burgad@vcsu.edu or by calling 701-845-7184. To schedule an interview, contact Tammy Jo Anderson Taft at tammyjo.taft@vcsu.edu or by calling 701-845-7227.
SBHE to meet at VCSU for June meeting
Valley City State University welcomes the State Board of Higher Education for their monthly meeting on June 27. The agenda can be viewed at https://ndus.edu/sbhe-overview/agendas-minutes-videos/ as it becomes available.
The State Board of Higher Education is the policy-setting and advocacy body for the North Dakota University System and the governing body for North Dakota’s 11 publicly supported colleges and universities.
VCSU group travels to Argentina
Fourteen adventurous individuals, associated with Valley City State University, with a variety of experience, skillsets, and interests recently joined together on a service-learning trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The group focused on learning about different cultures and understanding programming and resources that minimize violence in relationships.
Each day was filled with cultural activities and educational programming. The group learned about five different groups working with a variety of organizations. Through meetings and tours, the group learned resources provided to Argentinian citizens by private, city, national, and international organizations.
Highlights of the trip included attending a soccer match where the home team, San Lorenzo, won 2-0, followed by a spread of food while learning about national legislation aimed at protecting partners of players of professional sports from violence. After the game, the VCSU group had an opportunity to go on the field.
The travelers also traveled to Colonia, Uruguay. They toured world-famous locations including Recoleta Cemetery, the city of Tigre by boat with some of the most diverse islands in the world. This included historic Catholic churches and government buildings including La Casa Rosada (The Pink House) which is the Argentine equivalent to the White House.
There were plenty of opportunities to try local foods including milanesa and choripan, ride the Buenos Aries Underground, locally known as Subte, attend a tango performance and even test their own skills while taking a tango dance class. Participants also enjoyed the social norm of drinking mate, a South American caffeine-rich infused herbal drink. Some purchased their own containers to continue the tradition after they returned home.
VCSU’s Global Exploration Club is planning to explore Peru in March of 2024 and Spain in 2025.
View the full photo gallery at https://www.vcsu.edu/vcsu-group-travels-to-argentina/
Pommerer receives ‘Difference Maker’ award
Susan Pommerer, facilities services, recently received the “Difference Maker” award. She was nominated by the Administrative Assistants. 
Her nomination read, “Susan Pommerer, our facilities worker, has been a trooper at the new Center for the Arts (CFA) building this past year as we all got acquainted in our new space. She has taken on every event in the CFA to make sure everything is always ready to go – even with our last-minute surprises! She keeps the building immaculate and takes pride in her work. The art and music departments are lucky to have her here to help us out and keep us on task and looking sharp for guests! Thank you, Susan, for all you do for us – it’s greatly appreciated!”
VCSU Hosts NDUS Traveling Exhibition
Valley City State University is hosting an art exhibition representing the cultural heritage of North Dakota. The show incorporates work from 24 different artists from multiple entities within the North Dakota University System (NDUS). The show has been traveling around the state this Spring and Fall.
The NDUS traveling show will be in the VCSU Center for the Arts Gallery through June 27. A reception was held Wednesday, May 10, in the CFA lobby.
The exhibition was organized by Angela Mircsov, assistant professor for art and department chair. This show began as an idea after COVID-19 to bring back collaboration among visual art departments. In total five of the institutions are participating: Bismarck State College, Candeska Cinka Community College, North Dakota State University, Minot State University, and Valley City State University.
Each participating institution has students and faculty exhibiting what cultural heritage means to them. The exhibition will make its final travel to North Dakota State University in the Fall of 2023.
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
Find out what’s happening in the community on the Valley City Community Calendar: https://www.valleycitycalendar.com/
Find out what’s happening at the VCSU Center for the Arts: https://www.vcsu.edu/center-for-the-arts/fine-arts-calendar/
