Hotline 2.9.22
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- President’s Column: A tremendous achievement
- Center for the Arts now open
- VCSU Foundation participating in Giving Hearts Day
- Returning Student Scholarship deadline approaching
- VCSU Faculty & Staff Art Exhibition opens Feb. 16
- Call for The Forge submissions
- VCSU hosts 29th Annual Emerging Leaders Competition
- Baughman attends psychology conference
- 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 tremendous achievement
Greetings from Valley City State University!
On these bitter cold days of recent weeks, we find ourselves looking forward to the return of spring. We’ve had much positive news to celebrate on campus recently highlighted by receiving official notification from the Higher Learning Commission regarding the results of our 2021 re-accreditation visit and process.
At its January meeting, the HLC’s Institutional Actions Council (IAC) reviewed our case and has continued the accreditation of Valley City State University until 2031-32. In taking this action, the IAC considered materials from the most recent evaluation and the institutional response to the evaluation findings.
This is a tremendous achievement!
In comments from the HLC site team visit to VCSU, several strengths were noted including our strong sense of community, reputation of the institution, strong state support, active engagement of the SBHE, data driven decision making, successful navigation of COVID-19, and strong shared governance. The final HLC report states, “VCSU has met all of the Criteria for Accreditation and has a healthy, forward-looking culture that uses evidence of institutional and program effectiveness to inform decisions and to make improvements.”
I wish to thank everyone who participated and contributed to this effort and its successful outcome. Special thanks to the assurance argument writing team and criterion chairs for the outstanding work in gathering data, preparing our documents and links, and leading the university through this process. Team members included Dr. Margaret Dahlberg, Dr. Katie Woehl, Dr. Anthony Dutton, Emily Dafoe, Dr. Kerry Gregoryk and Dr. Jamie Wirth.
Every standard was met, and we have no requirements for interim reporting. This successful outcome reflects the dedication and quality of our faculty, staff, and students.
This was a team effort that featured collaboration and support from our community as well. Thank you, Valley City, for your continued support of our university. The town-gown relationship is strong, and we continually look for ways to strengthen it even more. This external validation is important for the university and community as we move forward together to provide top-notch educational opportunities for our students. Thank you for helping our students feel welcome and for your continued support. We recognize and appreciate this very much.
Institutional accreditation is so important to our continued forward momentum, and we are very appreciative of all who helped us realize this outcome. This is certainly a prime example of “We All Row.”
Go Vikings!
Center for the Arts now open
Class is in session in the new Center for the Arts. Faculty, staff and students are still settling in to their new space but all are welcome to stop by and check it out!
VCSU Foundation participating in Giving Hearts Day
Support the VCSU Foundation for Giving Hearts day tomorrow, Feb. 10!
Your gift helps our students through scholarship support in addition to hosting alumni gatherings, award programs, Homecoming activities, and the alumni newsletter, The Bulletin.
Here’s how you can donate:
1. Find the VCSU Foundation donation page at app.givingheartsday.org/#/charity/383
2. Choose your amount.
3. Submit your gift!Donations can be dropped off anytime between now and 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the VCSU Foundation Office.
Returning Student Scholarship deadline approaching
The deadline for returning student scholarship applications is quickly approaching on Feb. 15!
Valley City State University awards scholarships to numerous returning students each year. The Valley City State University scholarship program is made possible only through the generous donations from alumni and friends. Students must be enrolled full-time at VCSU to be eligible for scholarships, and be taking a minimum of 3 on campus credits during the award year. Valley City State University does not award summer scholarships. Scholarship values and number of scholarships available each year can vary due to current investment rates. To see a list of the individual scholarship programs available through VCSU for current students who will be returning to VCSU, go to the following link: vcsu.academicworks.com.
VCSU Faculty & Staff Art Exhibition opens Feb. 16
The VCSU Art Department is excited to host the first exhibition in the new Center for the Arts. The biennial Faculty and Staff Art Exhibition will kick off on Feb. 14 and run through March 25.
The opening reception will take place on Feb. 16 from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Gallery and lobby area.
Live entertainment will be provided by the VCSU Jazz Ensemble and woodwind chamber music group.Angela Mircsov, art department chair and gallery director said, “The exhibition is a recognition to our faculty and staff across campus presenting the diverse talent VCSU has. We hope to bring everyone together to celebrate the opening of the Center for the Arts.”
Call for The Forge submissions
Students, staff and faculty are invited to submit entries to The Forge, VCSU’s Literary & Arts Journal.
The deadline to submit is Sunday, February 13 at 12 a.m. midnight.
Each writing entry must be submitted as a Word document. Any images must be attached in JPEG form (at least 300 dpi). Submit entries to theforge@vcsu.edu.
Participants can submit up to 5 entries total. Please include a title page with the following for each submissions: name, title of entry, category of entry. There should be no visible signatures on artworks so they can be judged anonymously.
Submissions have been in the following categories: short fiction, poetry, drama, academic/personal essay, drawing/painting, printmaking, ceramics/sculpture, photography/digital imaging.
VCSU hosts 29th Annual Emerging Leaders Competition
Davies High School DECA and FBLA members The VCSU DECA chapter and advisor along with the ELC Day planning committee, hosted the 29th Annual Emerging Leaders Competition on campus on Wednesday, Jan. 26.
VCSU DECA students (pictured L to R): Gina Burtness, advisor Amber Aberle, Jennifer Keller, Kiara Radke and Ryan Orner The welcome ceremony included a range of special guests who welcomed high school students and advisors to the event. North Dakota Career and Technology State Supervisors Kevin Reisenauer with DECA, Jessica DeVaal with FBLA, and Tracy Becker with Skills USA were presented with special service awards during the opening ceremony. They gave a special greeting to the audience and served as competition event coordinators for the day. Other special guests included: Gina Burtness; VCSU DECA president; Madison Yoder, VCSU Student Senate president; Erin Klingenberg, vice president for student affairs; and Alan LaFave, VCSU President.
The event brought in about 325 high school students and advisors from 18 schools and about 30 volunteers. High school students competed in a variety of events including 10 testing events, 23 individual and team role-play participation events, and a quiz bowl competition. Top 3 in each event and 1st and 2nd place quiz bowl teams received awards. Fargo Davies High School captured the overall top school traveling award.
In order to make this day a success over 30 community members, VCSU faculty, staff and students volunteered their time to proctor tests, judge events, or help with tabulation.
The VCSU Emerging Leaders Committee includes Amber Aberle, assistant professor for education; Rick Ross, associate professor for career and technical education and technology; Erin Heide, assistant director for enrollment services. VCSU DECA officers include Gina Burtness, Jennifer Keller, Ryan Orner, and Kiara Radke and advisor Amber Aberle.
Baughman attends psychology conference
Kiersten Baughman, associate professor for social science, attended the first ever “Coast to Coast” Teaching Introductory Psychology conference virtually on Jan. 21. The day began with a presentation from Dr. David Myers, one of the most prolific textbook authors, who described several important findings from psychological studies across time. He shared surprising results that both do and do not seem to be supported by evidence, emphasizing the important role of replication in the field. The day progressed into several teaching demos including how to be inclusive in small but noticeable ways in classrooms of various sizes.Viking Sports Update
Women’s Basketball
Feb. 4: VCSU 73, Waldorf University 53
Feb. 5: Viterbo University 93, VCSU 75
The Viking women split a pair of basketball games this weekend, picking up a 20-point victory over Waldorf on Friday. Valley City State now has a 9-12 overall record and is tied for fourth in the North Star Athletic Association standings with a 6-5 conference record.Men’s Basketball
Feb. 4: VCSU 76, Waldorf University 56
Feb. 5: Viterbo University 89, VCSU 66
Valley City State’s men’s basketball team went 1-1 this weekend, including a dominating 76-56 win over Waldorf. VCSU is now 14-10 overall. The Vikings are sixth in the NSAA standings with a 5-6 conference record.Softball
Feb. 4: Minnesota-Crookston 16, VCSU 10
Feb. 5: VCSU 4, U-Mary 3; Minot State 9, VCSU 1
Feb. 6: VCSU 16, Dakota Wesleyan 0
The Valley City State softball team opened its season with a 2-2 record this past weekend at the Minot State Dome Tournament. The Vikings picked up victories against University of Mary and Dakota Wesleyan.Track & Field
Valley City State’s track and field athletes had eight Top 10 finishes at the large Bison Open this weekend, hosted by North Dakota State University. Read more: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/4300Upcoming Events
Feb. 11: Softball at PC Dome Tournament, 10 a.m./12 p.m. (Aberdeen, S.D.)
Feb. 11: Track & Field at Jamestown Dual, 3 p.m. (Jamestown, N.D.)
Feb. 11: WBB/MBB at Bellevue University, 5:30/7:30 p.m. (Bellevue, Neb.)
Feb. 12: Softball at PC Dome Tournament, 10 a.m./2 p.m. (Aberdeen, S.D.)
Feb. 12: WBB/MBB at Dakota State University, 3/5 p.m. (Madison, S.D.)What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
Ongoing
MWF: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. COVID Community Testing event, Rec Center (no testing Feb. 21 due to holiday)
This Week
Wednesday, Feb. 9
7:30 p.m. Zuzu African Acrobats, Vangstad AuditoriumSaturday, Feb. 12
1-3 p.m. Barnes on the Move Outdoor Adventure Day, start at the information booth at Jefferson ElementarySave the date
Wednesday, March 2
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. VCSU Wellness Fair, VCSU Student CenterCommunity Club meetings
- Kiwanis – Wednesdays at noon, Valley City Town & Country Club
- Optimist Club – Thursdays at 7 a.m., Vicky’s Viking Room
- Rotary Club – Tuesdays at noon, VCSU
- Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals – 2nd Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., Our Saviors Lutheran Church
- Barnes County Wildlife Federation – 2nd Wednesday of the month
- Grief Journeys for Adults Support Group – meet virtually, call Hospice at 701-845-1781 to take part
Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.