Hotline // October 1, 2025

U.S. News ranks VCSU #2 Public Regional College in the Midwest

Valley City State University has once again earned national recognition in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, securing the No. 2 spot among Public Regional Colleges in the 12-state Midwest region.

VCSU also maintained its position as the Top Public Regional College in North Dakota for the fifth consecutive year and has been named a U.S. News Best College for 28 straight years.

“We are honored to be recognized as a leader in public higher education, not only in North Dakota but across the Midwest,” said Dr. Alan LaFave, President of VCSU. “These rankings affirm what we already know: VCSU offers high-quality, student-centered experiences for all who choose to become Vikings.”

In addition to its top-tier public school rankings, VCSU climbed nine spots in the overall Regional Colleges in the Midwest category, rising to #15 out of 89 institutions—both public and private.

Notably, VCSU is one of only two public regional colleges in the Midwest to be named a Best Value School—and the only institution from North Dakota to receive this distinction. This highlights VCSU’s dedication to providing quality education at an affordable price.

The Best Value School ranking considers both academic quality and the cost of attendance. VCSU is the top Midwest public regional college in this category. In a recent student survey, 98 percent of VCSU students said their education was worth the investment.

“Our faculty and staff are committed to student success,” said Larry Brooks, Vice President for Academic Affairs. “Our efforts to keep education affordable without compromising quality continues to be recognized with rankings such as these from U.S. News.”

VCSU also earned recognition in several key categories:

• #3 Best Colleges for Veterans in the Midwest
• #17 Best Value Schools in the Midwest (up from #20)
• #57 Top Performers on Social Mobility (up from #74)

Now in its 41st year, the U.S. News rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 national colleges and universities using up to 17 measures of academic quality and place an emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating college students. To learn more about the U.S. News Best Colleges, visit https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges.

For more information about VCSU’s rankings and academic programs, visit www.vcsu.edu.

VCSU celebrates reopening of McCarthy Hall

Valley City State University officially reopened McCarthy Hall with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 26, celebrating a complete $13.5 million renovation of the building.

After a yearlong remodel, McCarthy Hall reopened to students and employees in August as the new home for VCSU’s renowned School of Education and the Department for Technology and STEM Education. The Ribbon Cutting held during Homecoming Week was the culmination of a project that modernized the building and brought first-class education spaces to VCSU’s students.

“We are so grateful for this facility and for all who have helped contribute to it,” said Alan LaFave, President of VCSU. “We finally have an updated facility that matches the quality and the reputation of our education program and the faculty. VCSU awards more undergraduate degrees in teaching than any other institution in the state, leading the way in providing this very important and critical part of the North Dakota workforce.”

Watch the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

McCarthy Hall was built in the early 1930s and initially used as a training school for prospective teachers attending VCSU. The building later housed a wide variety of VCSU courses including technology education, art and psychology.

Student speaker Delaney Vilhauer, a senior majoring in elementary education, took classes in McCarthy during her first two years and is now finishing her degree in the newly renovated space.

“My favorite part of being back in McCarthy is being connected again,” said Vilhauer, who expressed her appreciation for the renovations and the new resources available in McCarthy Hall. “We have everything we need in one place. The education community we have built here is so strong, and I’m very grateful I get to see it strengthen every day.”

“Today isn’t about just cutting a ribbon on a newly renovated building,” said Allen Burgad, Dean for the VCSU School of Education. “It’s about opening doors to even greater opportunities for our students, our faculty, and the schools we partner with. This new teacher education center will help us continue to prepare educators who go on to impact students, not only here in North Dakota, but across the country and even internationally.”

The renovation of McCarthy Hall is part of the first-ever capital campaign project at VCSU. The $13.5 million project was made possible through the generous support of donors, VCSU funds and $11.5 million allocated by the North Dakota Legislature and approved by former Gov. Doug Burgum. The bulk of the private donations came from the Holcomb and Stowman families who have deep connections to VCSU.

Laren Holcomb, son of Linda Holcomb who taught at VCSU for over 30 years, spoke Friday on behalf of the families.

“My mother loved her students, they held a special place in her heart,” he said. “My family often gets a chance to meet her former students throughout our daily lives, and we hear how much her former students loved her too. Four generations of my family have passed through VCSU. It truly is a special place for my family, and we are extremely excited to see all the wonderful improvements through the campus now and coming in the future.”

Members of the Holcomb/Stowman Families check out Linda’s Literacy Library, named after longtime VCSU professor Linda Holcomb.

About the Project

The remodel of McCarthy Hall was headed by PCL Construction and designed by Foss Architecture and Interiors. The project took about 12 months to complete and was finished on time and under budget.

“The ribbon cutting at McCarthy Hall marks a proud milestone for PCL Construction,” said Trent Johnson, vice president and district manager for PCL’s Midwest operations. “Leading the renovation of this historic building was an honor, as we transformed it into a vibrant, modern space for VCSU’s School of Education. Collaborating closely with university partners, we preserved its legacy while enhancing functionality and connectivity. This space is built for the future, where educators will be inspired, and innovation will thrive.”

“During the design of the McCarthy Hall Renovation, Foss Architecture & Interiors celebrated its 125th anniversary—a milestone that made the project especially meaningful,” said Adam Peterson, architect and principal at Foss Architecture. “Just as VCSU has been preparing educators for over 125 years, our firm has been shaping the built environment for generations of students. To bring these two legacies together in one project was an incredible honor, and it reflects our shared commitment to creating inspiring, future-focused learning spaces that continue to serve students for decades to come.”

About Valley City State University

Valley City State University is a member of the North Dakota University System and located in Valley City, N.D. VCSU offers more than 65 areas of study and is the leading North Dakota university in preparing K-12 teachers. Learn more at www.vcsu.edu.

About PCL Construction

PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $7 billion USD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com

Gable receives ‘Difference Maker’ award

Matt Gable, head softball coach, recently received the “Difference Maker Award” for September. He was nominated by the Athletics Department.

His nomination read, “Matt is a great representative for our coaching staff for the pride and effort that he puts into everything he is involved with. If you walk into the softball team’s team room, you will see the amount of pride that he takes and instills in his team on how to take care of your facility. Matt takes on the responsibility of maintaining his softball facility and spends lots of extra hours on the field to make sure their softball field is as pristine as it can be. He’s always willing to volunteer to take on extra responsibilities and then will make sure the follow through is done the right way. He brings a positive attitude with everything that he is involved with and I’m not sure I’ve seen him have a bad day at VCSU.”

Congratulations, Matt!

Halvorsen and Reep receive recognition for their research at the Dakota History Conference

In April 2025, Preston Halvorsen and Grace Reep, both history education majors, presented papers at the annual Dakota History Conference in Sioux Falls, S.D. Both students were the recipients of the Western Studies Student Endowed Award. The award carries a cash prize as well as recognition. Halvorsen’s paper was titled, “The 99th Infantry Battalion: Separate Norwegian Americans Fight to Liberate Norway”. Reep’s paper was titled, “Herman Stern, Holocaust Rescuer: Bent Twigs Growing into Straight Trees”.

Over the last ten years, seven students from VCSU have received recognition and cash awards for their research at the conference.

Mircsov participates in National Council of Arts Administrators Conference

Angela Mircsov, associate professor for art, participated in the National Council of Arts Administrators’ 52nd Annual Conference, Collective Futures, held in Detroit, Mich., from Sept. 24-26.

The conference addressed shared responsibilities in the management of creative resources, pedagogical strategies and innovation. Mircsov delivered a presentation analyzing the impact of her 2024-2025 fellowship on her administrative effectiveness. She hopes to apply this experience to the department and the institution as a whole.

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...

August 18 – October 23
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Do You Feel What I Feel art exhibit, Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery

October 8
Spanish Day at VCSU

October 10-12
VCSU Family Weekend

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/