Hotline 2.22.21
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- Spring semester growth sets new enrollment record
- NDUS OER Virtual Conference
- No Viking Goes Hungry
- COVID-19 testing to be held this week at W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
- Put Care19 Alert app to work for you
- Coronavirus update
- Viking sports update
- What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
The VCSU Hotline online newsletter is published weekly during the academic year. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. Friday. Please submit articles to jerilyn.beckman@vcsu.edu.
Spring semester growth sets new 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 growth continues a decade-long trend at VCSU as our total headcount for the spring semester has increased by 25 percent – or more than 300 students – over the past 10 years.
As I visit with business and community leaders, legislators, colleagues, and supporters in Valley City, the region, and across the state, I’m often asked, “What exactly is contributing to this continued growth at VCSU?” There is no single answer, rather it’s the combined effect of many different initiatives, a continued commitment to quality teaching, a welcoming and personalized atmosphere, a curriculum that is relevant and reflects current needs and trends in the workforce, and a continued focus on student success and the overall student experience.
Our ability to deliver quality curriculum through skilled faculty, coupled with personal learning environments and small class sizes, continues to set VCSU apart.
One important aspect of enrollment growth is retaining the students we attract as freshmen or transfers and guiding them to their goal of completing a degree. About one year ago we created a task force to examine our retention efforts and suggest areas for improvement. This group continues to meet on a regular basis to discuss specific strategies for implementation at VCSU. The success of this effort is already apparent with an increase in last year’s fall-to-spring retention rate of our first-year, full-time students pushing that figure to almost 90%. Our fall 2019 to fall 2020 overall retention percentage increased from 86.2% to 87.4%.
Our hard work in bringing students to Valley City State and helping them succeed pays off for the students, their families and for us. These numbers are an indicator of the quality teaching and learning environment on our campus, which we continually strive to improve, remaining ever mindful of our charge to provide an outstanding education and great value.
Be assured, we don’t take these increased enrollment numbers and positive trends for granted. We must always remember that these numbers aren’t just an abstract count; they represent people. They are students who have entrusted us to help provide academic, social and life skills that place them on pathways to successful careers and life after college. We appreciate the trust placed in us by the students and their families, and we pledge to continue delivering the quality education that has been a hallmark of Valley City State University for generations to come.
Go Vikings!
NDUS OER Virtual Conference
Plan to join us on March 2nd and 3rd for the NDUS Open Educational Resource (OER) Virtual Conference.
The conference is convening to share and learn about OER. Keynote sessions will focus on customizing, remixing and distributing textbooks, copyright, Z-Degrees, a crash course in Creative Commons, and open pedagogy.
Note: Registration will cap at 250 attendees.
Visit the new NDUS OER webpage for up to date information!
No Viking Goes Hungry
“No Viking Goes Hungry” is a joint effort by Sodexo food services and the residence life office to make sure no student at VCSU goes without a meal. If you or a student you know is experiencing food insecurity, you may anonymously alert the director of residence life who will make arrangements for the named student to get free meals. Every effort will be made to protect the privacy and dignity of any student in need.
If you suspect anyone in our Viking family needs help, you may share your concern anonymously at https://my.vcsu.edu/residence-life/no-viking-goes-hungry/.
COVID-19 testing events this week at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, “The Bubble”
Free COVID-19 testing events for the VCSU and Valley City communities will be held this week from 1-2 p.m. at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, “The Bubble”. Rapid and conventional testing will be offered at each event on Feb. 22 and Feb. 26.
These are WALK-IN testing events. Colder temperatures have moved operations indoors. If you wish to be tested, please park your vehicle and enter through the west entrance. Handicap parking spaces and access are available at the east entrance. Preregistration at testreg.nd.gov is encouraged; one only needs to register once.
Care19 Alert App

VCSU students and employees are strongly encouraged to download a free smartphone app, Care19 Alert, to help stop the spread of COVID-19 by notifying users of possible COVID-19 exposure while protecting their privacy with technology developed by Apple and Google.
Coronavirus Update
Stay informed about campus coronavirus information with the following resources. Click each link to learn more.
Vikings sports update
Men’s Basketball hosting playoff game
The Valley City State men’s basketball team has earned the No. 3 seed for the NSAA Postseason Tournament and will host a first round game on Tuesday night. The Vikings host No. 6 Dickinson State at 7 p.m., Tuesday at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse. The Vikings finished the regular season with a 78-69 victory at Dickinson on Friday, and now have an 18-6 overall record.
Women’s Basketball
Friday: VCSU 79, Dickinson State 63
The Viking women ended the regular season with an 8-12 overall record and earned the No. 5 seed for the NSAA Tournament. The Vikings play their first round game at No. 4 Mayville State on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Track & Field
Valley City State University won three individual conference championships and had 12 All-Conference performances during the North Star Athletic Association Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday. Alex Otto (high jump), Zachary Co (shot put) and Allyssa Weitkum (3000 meters) highlighted the day with individual conference titles during the meet in Yankton, S.D. Both the VCSU men and women took fourth place in the team competition.
Read more: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3958
Softball
Friday: VCSU 9, College of Saint Mary 0; VCSU 6, Univ. of Jamestown 0
Saturday: Morningside College 9, VCSU 1; VCSU 14, Dakota Wesleyan 0
The Viking softball team went 3-1 this past weekend at the Presentation College Dome Tournament, shutting out its opponents in all three wins. VCSU has a 6-2 overall record to start the season. The Vikings do not play again until starting conference games March 27 at Dakota State University.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 23: Men’s Basketball vs. Dickinson State, 7 p.m. (NSAA Tournament)
Feb. 23: Women’s Basketball at Mayville State, 5:30 p.m. (NSAA Tournament)
Feb. 25/27: TBA – Basketball in NSAA Tournament
March 1: Volleyball at Dickinson State University, 7 p.m.
March 3-6: Track & Field at NAIA Championships (Yankton, S.D.)
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
Monday, February 22
6:30 p.m. Valley City Lions regional meeting, Valley City Eagles Club
Tuesday, February 23
11 a.m. Online General student Recital, To watch the recital, click the link: https://youtu.be/YjuDj_1jyQY
6 p.m. VCBC Library event, Upcycled Book Page hedgehog craft on YouTube
5:30 p.m. Viking women’s basketball @ Mayville State in the first round of the NSAA basketball tournament, Mayville, N.D.
7 p.m. Viking men’s basketball vs. Dickinson State in the first round of the NSAA basketball tournament, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
Wednesday, February 24
10 a.m. VCBC Library event, Virtual story hour with live FB feed, and zoo animal magnet craft, call 845-3821 for kit
7:30 p.m. Black History Month event, black culture Wheel of Fortune, Student Center Lounge
Thursday, February 25
Purim begins at sundown
NSAA basketball tournament play
Friday, February 26
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Black History Month event, film preview of 42 (baseball legend Jackie Robinson), VCSU Cafeteria
7 p.m. Black History Month event – Movie night – 42, Froemke Auditorium
Saturday, February 27
NSAA basketball tournament play
5 to 10 p.m. Dakota Valley Fowlers Annual Banquet, Valley City Eagles Club, call 757-373-3852 for more information
Monday, March 1
noon Valley City Lions Club meeting, Valley City Eagles Club
7 p.m. Viking volleyball @ Dickinson State University, Dickinson, N.D.
Wednesday, March 3
Viking track & field @ NAIA Championships, Yankton, S.D. (March 3-6)
Go to www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.