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Hotline

Hotline 8.30.21

Aug 30, 2021

Hotline bi-weekly newsletter

This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:

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: Moving in and welcoming new Vikings

outdoor portrait of President LaFave

Greetings from Valley City State University!

These past two weeks have been energizing and exciting at VCSU! Our planning efforts and anticipation for fall semester have come to fruition – we are finally beginning our new academic year. For most educators and campuses, the return of students combined with the resumption of classes, athletic activities and campus events, is one of the most anticipated and celebrated moments of the year.

During the week of August 16-20, we welcomed new faculty and held our annual in-service activities for returning faculty and staff. It provided an opportunity to share some of the positive developments on campus over the past few months, including:

  • Considerable construction progress on the Center for the Arts
  • Newly paved parking lot and street on the east side of Rhodes Science Center and McCarthy Hall
  • New VCSU sign on the front lawn
  • Provide a budget overview
  • Renovation updates in McFarland Hall
  • Introduction of new faculty and staff
  • Residence Hall updates
  • Steamline and HVAC upgrades
  • McFarland fire alarm upgrade
  • New Student Center elevator

It was also an important time to reconnect with friends and colleagues as we discussed our VCSU’s vision: “As an innovative university, we deliver distinctive, learner-centered experiences.” This vision is at the center of all conversations we have regarding student success and continuous improvement.

Later in the week we were led through an update of the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation visit which is scheduled for September 20-21. This is the accreditation organization that examines every aspect of campus. I will provide a more detailed explanation of HLC and this visit in my next column.

At the end of the week, new freshmen began moving into residence halls and upper classmen started returning to VCSU. There was a visible flurry of activity on campus and in the community. I’ve heard numerous favorable comments from several returning students on about the campus improvements that have taken place during this summer.

Excitement and anticipation filled the air as new students began arriving, carting belongings to residence hall rooms and trying to get settled. Parents, perhaps feeling a bit unsettled in dropping off their sons and daughters as they start a new chapter here at VCSU, experienced a whole range of emotions.

Parents are placing their trust in their children as they transition to adulthood. They’re also placing their trust in us at VCSU to provide not only an education but an experience, and to protect and keep their young adults – our students – safe and well as they learn and grow. Our work is always vital and important, but you can imagine the responsibility we feel. Our continuing motto as we start this year is that we are “Better Together,” and we will have many opportunities in the days ahead to fulfill this belief.

Orienting new faculty, staff and students to Valley City is an important part of the onboarding process. Getting a feeling for the “lay of the land” and wayfinding around campus and Valley City helps acclimate the new students and staff to their new surroundings. These folks are new to our state and community. We all appreciate the warm and hospitable welcome provided by businesses and residents and look forward to continuing development of partnerships as we navigate through this exciting academic year!

If you see or meet one of our new Viking family members crossing the walking bridge to downtown, I hope you will consider greeting them, finding out a bit about their background, and welcoming them to the community!

Go Vikings!

COVID-19 Campus Information

Remember to bring a cloth mask every day.

VCSU is planning to return to a full campus experience for the fall 2021. To do this safely, we are encouraging all members of campus to get vaccinated and every member of campus to make safe decisions in regard to wearing a mask, physical distancing and hand washing.

You are valued. Get vaccinated.

See 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.

Mannie and Dockter attend North Dakota CTE Professional Development Conference

Clayton Mannie, M.Ed, assistant professor of technology, and Jason Dockter, M.Ed., assistant professor of technology, attended the North Dakota Career and Technical Educators (CTE) Professional Development Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota on August 9-10. Both then lead workshops the following day, presenting to North Dakota Middle and High School Technology and Engineering Educators.

Jason Dockter
Jason Dockter, assistant professor of technology

Dockter presented to the North Dakota Technology and Engineering Educators Association (NDTEEA) on August 11. As North Dakota’s Affiliate representative to the International Technology and Educators Association (ITEEA), Dockter discussed ITEEA’s new Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL). ITEEA’s STEL resource web page was viewed, and navigation tips provided to crossover documents that examine the relationship of the new STEL standards to all other academic standards.

Clayton Mannie
Clayton Mannie, assistant professor of technology

Mannie presented a review of the International Technology and Educators Association (ITEEA) Engineering by Design (EbD) digital curriculum for the middle school course “Technology System.” Mannie covered course layout, units, and navigation of the online course within ITEEA’s EbD-BUZZ digital portal. He reviewed the course guide, contents, hands-on design challenges, and ready-made assignments. Mannie noted that this course should enhance student creativity and design skills. Attendees concluded with a casein plastics project.

Dockter presented a review of the International Technology and Educators Association (ITEEA) Engineering by Design (EbD) digital curriculum for the high school course “Advanced Technological Applications.” Participants became familiar with each of the five units: 1) Engineering Design Graphics and Spatial Skills, 2) Cybersecurity, 3) Biotechnology, 4) Information Technology, and 5) Robotics. Participants then designed and fabricated a “Soft Robot” that functioned as a gripper. This gripper could be used for harvesting produce or as an assistive device for a person who has difficulty gripping with their hands. This challenge required the design of a 3D printed mold where a silicon mix was added and then slightly hardened to aid in the creation of a soft actuator for gripping. For this workshop, attendees were provided the 3D mold but were required to go through the remainder of the fabrication process to complete the gripper.

Viking Sports Update

Football
Aug. 26: VCSU 24, University of Jamestown 7
The VCSU football team opened the season Thursday night with a 24-7 win over rival Jamestown in the third annual VCSU Ag Bowl. Jalen Pfeifer passed for three touchdowns, and VCSU’s defense held the Jimmies to negative rushing yards. The Vikings travel to play Concordia-Moorhead on Saturday, Sept. 4
Volleyball
Aug. 27: Arizona Christian 3, VCSU 0; Lewis-Clark State College 3, VCSU 0
Aug. 28: Embry-Riddle 3, VCSU 1; Montana State-Northern 3, VCSU 1
The Viking volleyball team opened the 2021 season this weekend with a tournament in Phoenix, Ariz. VCSU is back in action Thursday and Friday at a tournament in Omaha, Neb.
Golf
VCSU’s Rory Gentzkow and Hayley Shanks are both tied for 5th after the first day of the Jimmie Invite, played Sunday in Jamestown. The second and final round of the 36-hole tournament is Monday at the Jamestown Country Club.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 30: Golf at Jimmie Invite, 9 a.m. (Jamestown, N.D.)
Sept. 2-3: Volleyball at Bellevue Invitational (Omaha, Neb.)
Sept. 4: Football at Concordia College-Moorhead, 1 p.m.

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City

What's happening on campus - in town

Tuesday, August 31

  • Noon Rotary Club, VCSU

Wednesday, September 1

  • Noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, September 2

  • 7 a.m. Optimist Club, Vicky’s Viking Room
  • 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Layers of Loss Class, virtual
  • Noon Toastmaster Club, VCSU

Monday, September 6
Labor Day holiday, VCSU campus closed

Tuesday, September 7

  • Noon Rotary Club, VCSU

Wednesday, September 8

  • Noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, September 9

  • 7 a.m. Optimist Club, Vicky’s Viking Room
  • Noon Toastmaster Club, VCSU

Friday, September 10

  • 6:15 p.m. Peggy Lee Commemorative Event, Valley City Eagles Club, contact Barnes County Historical Society for tickets at 701.845.0966

Sunday, September 12

  • Waldheim WELCA Meatball & Lefse Dinner with Bake Sale & Bazaar
  • Summer afternoons in Pioneer Park program -Stand Up Comedy Show featuring Valley City’s own Spencer Dobson

Go to https://www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.