Hotline 10.11.21
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- President’s Column: A visit from the Higher Learning Commission
- Blunck named Staff Member of the Quarter
- Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day today
- COVID-19 Campus Information
- Viking Sports Update
- What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
The VCSU Hotline online newsletter is published weekly during the school year. The deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. Friday. Please submit articles to jerilyn.beckman@vcsu.edu.
President's Column: A visit from the Higher Learning Commission

The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) was formed in 1895 as the North Central Association. This is a voluntary association of diverse institutions with a common purpose: the continuing improvement of higher education. The HLC is one of six regional accreditors in the United States. Its mission is to “advance the common good through quality assurance of higher education as the leader in equitable, transformative and trusted accreditation in the service of students and member institutions.”
VCSU is part of the open pathway review process, which occurs in a ten-year cycle. The cycle includes an assurance review in year four, a quality initiative in years five through nine and a comprehensive evaluation in year ten.
Our on-site evaluation as part of the comprehensive evaluation took place on campus September 20-21. Before the visit, we submitted a comprehensive assurance argument addressing five different criteria. These criteria are the standards of quality by which HLC determines whether an institution merits accreditation or reaffirmation of accreditation.
- Criterion 1. Mission
- Criterion 2. Integrity: Ethical and Responsible Conduct
- Criterion 3. Teaching and Learning: Quality, Resources and Support
- Criterion 4. Teaching and Learning: Evaluation and Improvement
- Criterion 5. Institutional Effectiveness, Resources and Planning
VCSU prepared for this review in a thorough and thoughtful manner with input and guidance from the entire campus community. Faculty, staff, and student participation provided critically important details and information for the report. Our campus community also met with the HLC visit team during open forums on campus.
We had excellent participation in the open forums, and the writing team and criterion chairs for the assurance argument did a tremendous job in gathering data, preparing our documents, and leading the university through this process. Special thanks to Dr. Margaret Dahlberg, Dr. Katie Woehl, Dr. Anthony Dutton, Emily Dafoe, Dr. Kerry Gregoryk and Dr. Jamie Wirth.
During the exit interview, the HLC site visit team identified several strengths at VCSU. They noted our strong sense of community, reputation of the institution, strong state support, active engagement of the State Board of Higher Education, data-driven decision making, successful navigation of Covid, and strong shared governance. We will not receive our final written report for several weeks, we are thankful to all for their participation and feedback.
Once we receive our written report, we will be providing another update on our path toward re-accreditation with HLC.
Go Vikings!
“Accreditation” is review of the quality of higher education institutions and programs. In the United States, accreditation is a major way that students, families, government officials, and the press know that an institution or program provides a quality education.
—Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Blunck named Staff Member of the Quarter

Will Blunck, network administrator, was recently named Staff Member of the Quarter.
His nomination read, “I can’t imagine what we’d do without Will on our team. He has been working tirelessly to upgrade all the classrooms and now, in addition to his regular duties, is facilitating the classroom and office needs for completion of the new Center for the Arts which involves coordinating many needs with many faculty/staff. He does his work with a great attitude and a smile on his face, and some days I know that has to be hard when equipment doesn’t arrive or is wrong when it arrives. I know just how much work he handles since his purchasing card typically has more than 20 items and the documentation is over a 40 page .pdf! I’ll put him up against any other employee on our campus these last six months.”
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day today

The VCSU Native American Club invites you to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day!
Monday, Oct. 11
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free Indigenous Peoples Day Posters
Native Language Buttons For Sale in the Student Center
1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Indigenous Peoples Day Coloring Book Pages & Reservation Dogs on Hulu, Center for Equity and Inclusion (McFarland 131)
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Learn to make Native American beaded wristlet lanyard. All supplies and instructions are provided. Center for Equity and Inclusion (McFarland 131)
COVID-19 Campus Information

Not feeling well? City County Health has you covered with weekly testing events for the community.
- WHAT: COVID Testing
- WHEN: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
- WHERE: Rec Center, 140 4th St SW, Valley City
- TIME: 12:30-2:30 p.m.
Vaccines
See other locations where you can get a vaccine
Free vaccines are available in many locations. Find a location, choose the vaccine you prefer and get your free COVID vaccine. All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to get their COVID vaccination.
Viking Sports Update
Football
Oct. 2: VCSU 49, Mayville State 0
The No. 19-ranked Viking football team recorded a shutout on Saturday, winning 49-0 against Mayville State in the VCSU Homecoming game. VCSU is now 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the North Star Athletic Association.
Volleyball
Oct. 2: Bellevue University 3, VCSU 0
Oct. 3: VCSU 3, Dakota State 2
Viking Volleyball split a pair of road matches this weekend, losing at No. 8 Bellevue but bouncing back with a 3-2 win at Dakota State. The Vikings have a 6-13 overall record and are 3-2 in conference play.
Baseball
Sept. 29: Dickinson State 12, VCSU 0; VCSU 10, Dickinson 8
Oct. 3: VCSU 24, Jamestown 4
VCSU Baseball exploded for 21 hits and 24 runs on Sunday during a 24-4 win at Jamestown. The Vikings improve to 6-1 overall this season.
Golf
Valley City State University golfers Rory Gentzkow, Jocelyn Braunberger and Hayley Shanks each placed in the Top 5 after competing in the 36-hole UMary Fall Invite on Sept. 26-27 at Hawktree Golf Club in Bismarck. Read more at http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/4151
Upcoming Events
Oct. 4: Baseball vs. Mayville State, 5:30 p.m. (Valley City)
Oct. 6: Volleyball vs. Mayville State, 7 p.m. (Valley City)
Oct. 8: Cross Country at Jamestown Invite, 4 p.m. (Jamestown, N.D.)
Oct. 9: Volleyball vs. Presentation College, 3 p.m. (Valley City)
Oct. 9: Football at Presentation College, 6 p.m. (Aberdeen, S.D.)
Oct. 10: Softball Scrimmages vs. NDSCS, 1 p.m. (Valley City)
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City
Ongoing
Anika Hsiung Schneider art exhibition, Yellow Colander, White Walls, McCarthy 3rd Floor gallery
- 12:30-2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center
- 4-6 p.m. Farmers Market, Rosebud parking lot
- 7 p.m. Explore the future of VCPS facilities, Hi-Liner Activity Center
Tuesday, Oct. 12
- 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Chili Cook Off (hosted by Staff Senate), Vangstad 005 and 007
- Noon Rotary Club, VCSU
Wednesday, Oct. 13
- Noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
- Noon-2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center
- 7 p.m. Explore the future of VCPS facilities, Hi-Liner Activity Center
Thursday, Oct. 14
- 7 a.m. Optimist Club, Vicky’s Viking Room
- 4-6 p.m. Farmers Market, Rosebud parking lot
Friday, Oct. 15
- Noon-2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center
- 6-8 p.m. Rock ‘n Bowl (for family and small kids), VC Bowling
- 9 p.m. – midnight Rock ‘n Bowl (all ages), VC Bowling
Oct. 16-30
CHI Mercy Health Foundation Oktoberfest – virtual silent auction; more information at https://www.mercyhospitalvalleycity.org/oktoberfest/
Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.