Hotline // September 27, 2023
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- VCSU selected as top public regional college in North Dakota and a Best Value School by U.S. News and World Report
- President’s Column: Welcome to new staff on campus
- VCSU Alpha Lambda Delta Chapter Receives National Recognition
- ‘Why Trust Science?’ public lecture to take place Oct. 4
- Choral Showcase set for Oct. 6
- ‘Eso, Eso’ art exhibit on display through Oct. 6
- Cats, Consent & Cookies set for Oct. 9 & 12
- 3rd Annual Haunted Library set for Oct. 13 & 14
- VCSU Green Dot training session opportunity
- Shatter the Silence in October
- Viking sports update
- What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…
VCSU selected as top public regional college in North Dakota and a Best Value School by U.S. News and World Report
26th consecutive year VCSU has been ranked by the publication
Valley City, ND – Valley City State University (VCSU) today announced it has been ranked as the top regional public college in North Dakota for the third consecutive year by U.S. News and World Report.
The 2024 U.S. News Best Colleges report was released this morning. VCSU has been ranked for 26 consecutive years. This year, VCSU was also ranked as a Best Value School, a Top Performer on Social Mobility, and a Best College for Veterans.
“We are proud to offer a high-quality experience for every student that calls VCSU home,” VCSU President Alan LaFave said. “Our top-notch faculty and staff have created an environment that helps every student excel, and this external rating confirms those efforts are successful. We are grateful to everyone in the community, our alumni, and beyond who has supported VCSU and helped continue our tradition of excellence.”
“I’m extremely excited to see that we continue to be a Best Value School,” LaFave said. “VCSU has made deliberate, sustainable efforts to keep the cost of an education affordable for students and families. This year we have frozen tuition, housing rates are locked at the first-year rate for any student staying on campus multiple years, and we have reduced our technology fee in the last five years. This is a priority for our campus as we continue to work toward greater student success.”
The report is based on retention, graduation rates, outcomes, peer reviews, measures of student excellence, and the educational expenditure per student.
“We have excellent faculty committed to helping students succeed every day,” Vice President for Academic Affairs Larry Brooks said. “This ranking is another affirmation that a degree from VCSU is a mark of quality. It’s great to see the efforts we have been making to keep education high-quality and affordable have been recognized.”
VCSU was recognized for being a Top Performer in regards to social mobility, which assesses how well schools graduated economically disadvantaged students.
“We are helping students who may not have the financial resources in place to attend a larger, more costly institution. VCSU offers a quality, fully-accredited education that can spur a student on to a successful career in a variety of fields,” Executive Director for Advancement Cory Anderson said. “We are grateful for everyone that continues to support scholarships for our students.”
VCSU was ranked No. 2 in the Midwest category of public regional colleges. The Midwest region includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas.
For more information about the rankings visit USnews.com/best-colleges. To arrange an interview about VCSU, contact Tammy Jo Anderson Taft by emailing TammyJo.Taft@vcsu.edu, or calling 701-845-7227.
President's Column: Welcome to new staff on campus
In addition to the new faculty I introduced previously, we also have new staff members. Although they’re not typically in the classroom, these individuals often have much direct contact with students and contribute greatly to making a VCSU education what it is for our students and their families.
Joining the staff at VCSU are the following individuals who assume a variety of roles, from coaching to the Facilities Services office to Graduate Studies and more.
Each person on this list plays a key part in providing our students with the coaching, services and facilities needed to succeed here in Valley City. We are proud to have them on the VCSU team. Go Vikings!
![]() | Seth Auka, Maintenance & Grounds |
![]() | Ryan Boll, Maintenance & Carpenter |
![]() | Riley Griffith, Building Services |
![]() | Morgan Hopewell, Office Manager |
![]() | Zachary Baasch, Building Services |
![]() | Paul MacArthur, Building Security |
![]() | Kris Bruckerhoff, Director for Online Teaching & Learning |
![]() | Kelsie Schaack, Accounting Assistant |
![]() | Sara Schmuhl, Mental Health Counselor |
![]() | Christopher Kennedy, Graduate Program Coordinator |
![]() | Jacob Olson, Library Associate |
![]() | Hannah Beebe, Research & Instruction Librarian |
![]() | Heide Beierle, Administrative Assistant |
![]() | Laken Chase, Student Records Specialist |
![]() | Mitchell Silkman, Video Production Manager |
![]() | Brady Matheny, Admissions Specialist |
![]() | Toni Siedel, Admissions Specialist |
![]() | Kay Vinje, Admissions Specialist |
![]() | Taylor Sargent, Admissions Specialist |
![]() | Steven Olson, Director for Athletic Development & Game Management |
![]() | Michelle Meiklejohn, Head Volleyball Coach |
![]() | Jayden Wilson, Assistant Volleyball Coach |
![]() | Alec DeMaria, Head Baseball Coach |
![]() | Jonathon Thornhill, Assistant Baseball Coach |
![]() | Vance Christianson, Assistant Softball Coach |
![]() | Ethan Postler, Assistant Football Coach |
Jodi Combs, Assistant Track & Field Coach | |
![]() | Demetrios Hospidales, Asst. Athletic Trainer |
![]() | Michael Westberg, Asst. Athletic Trainer |
![]() | William Rakowski, Strength & Conditioning |
![]() | Louis Leon, Grad Asst., Track and Field Coach |
![]() | Riley Perryman, Grad Asst., Softball Coach |
![]() | Cameron Pitts, Grad Asst., Baseball Coach |
VCSU Alpha Lambda Delta Chapter Receives National Recognition
The VCSU chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta has received the Delta Gold award in recognition of its recruitment and membership efforts during the 2022-23 academic year. Last spring, 16 students accepted membership into the chapter, which is co-advised by Emily Fenster, Ph.D., department chair and associate professor for social science, and Kaleen Peterson, J.D., director for student academic services.
Alpha Lambda Delta is a national honor society for freshmen which honors high academic achievement in the first year of college. The purpose of the organization as stated in the constitution is to “encourage superior academic achievement among students in their first year in institutions of higher education, to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard of learning, and to assist students in recognizing and developing meaningful goals for their roles in society.” Eligible students will receive email notifications in the spring semester and are welcome to chat with Emily or Kaleen if they have any questions.
‘Why Trust Science?’ public lecture to take place Oct. 4
Why Trust Science? presented by Dr. Naomi Oreskes, world-renowned Harvard professor, will take place Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Performance Hall. The lecture is open to the public and will cover topics like CO2 storage, climate change, COVID vaccines, and more.
The event is sponsored by What in the World Is Going On? and Dr. Gilbert Kuipers, retired VCSU faculty member.
Choral Showcase set for Oct. 6
The VCSU Music Department presents the Choral Showcase on Friday, October 6. The concert will take place in the Center for the Arts Performance Hall at 7:30 p.m.
Admission is free and the community is invited to attend.
‘Eso, Eso’ art exhibit on display through Oct. 6
Join us for the VCSU Art Gallery’s first exhibition of the 2023-24 school year, featuring “Eso, Eso” by visiting artist Wendy Eggerman. Wendy is a talented potter from St. Paul, Minn. whose work focuses on straightforward forms with layered, somewhat chaotic, surfaces. Her art is a reflection of her experiences navigating the world as a Mexican-Scandinavian woman.
The exhibition will run from Aug. 21 through Oct. 6. There will also be a virtual walk-through of the exhibition. Additionally, the artist talk will take place on Sept. 21 at 3:30 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Choir Room (Room 177). A reception will follow in the Center for the Arts Lobby until 5:30 pm.
Cats, Consent & Cookies set for Oct. 9 & 12
All are welcome to come learn about consent, hang out with cats, have a cookie or two, and share their Green Dots on Monday, Oct. 9 from 2-4 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 12 from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in Allen Memorial Library.
Cats, Consent and Cookies will be an opportunity to support Domestic Violence Awareness month as a joint event sponsored by Allen Memorial Library, Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals (SVFA) and VCSU Green Dot.
3rd Annual Haunted Library set for Oct. 13 & 14
VCSU’s Global Exploration Club is currently planning the 3rd annual Haunted Library event to be held Friday, Oct. 13 and Saturday, Oct. 14 from 6 p.m. – midnight. Admission is $5 and proceeds will support the Global Exploration Club as they reach out to awareness and education concerning Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in South America.
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer during the event in any way, please contact club president Tony Bertolino at anthony.bertolino@vcsu.edu.
VCSU Green Dot training session opportunity
VCSU Green Dot invites all employees to RSVP for an upcoming Green Dot training session to be held in the library on Monday, Oct. 9 from 2-4:30 p.m. A calendar invite will be sent out, and the Green Dot team encourages anyone interested to accept the invitation. Whether you’ve attended a training in the past or not, this training is an opportunity to explore the 3 Ds in an interactive, high-energy environment.
Shatter the Silence in October
Shatter the Silence will be an opportunity for all of campus to support Domestic Violence Awareness month throughout the entire month of October. A donation box will be set up in the Student Center to place donations to the Abused Persons Outreach Center (APOC). Their most urgent needs are new bed pillows, paper towels, toilet paper, shampoo and conditioner and laundry detergent.
Viking sports update
Football wins Double OT Thriller
The VCSU Football team defeated Mayville State 24-21 in double overtime on Saturday, delivering a victory on Viking Homecoming. Andrew Nielsen made a 24-yard field goal in the second overtime and then VCSU’s defense stopped the Comets to secure the win. The Vikings are now 3-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play. VCSU hosts Dickinson State on Saturday at 3 p.m.
In front of more than 600 fans at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, the VCSU Volleyball team swept Mayville State last Thursday, winning 25-22, 25-14, 28-26. It was VCSU’s fifth consecutive victory in straight sets. The Vikings are now 14-3 overall and 2-0 in conference play. Sadie Hansen earned her fourth consecutive NSAA Setter of the Week award. Valley City State hosts Nov. 6-ranked Viterbo University on Friday. First serve is at 6 p.m. from VCSU’s Graichen Gym.
Baseball
The VCSU Baseball team wraps up the fall season with two more home games this week, hosting University of Jamestown on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m., and then hosting Mayville State on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 2 p.m.
Upcoming Events
Sept. 27: Baseball vs. Jamestown, 6 p.m. (Charlie Brown Field)
Sept. 29: Cross Country at U-Mary Invite (Bismarck, N.D.)
Sept. 29: Golf at M-State Dual (Village Green GC, Moorhead, Minn.)
Sept. 29: Volleyball vs. Viterbo University, 6 p.m. (Graichen Gym)
Sept. 30: Volleyball vs. Waldorf University, 11 a.m. (Graichen Gym)
Sept. 30: Football vs. Dickinson State, 3 p.m. (Lokken Stadium)
Oct. 1: Softball vs. Lake Region/MN-Morris, 11 a.m. (Scrimmage, VCSU Softball Complex)
Oct. 1: Baseball vs. Mayville State, 2 p.m. (Charlie Brown Field)
Oct. 2-3: Golf at Marauder Fall Invite (Hawktree GC, Bismarck, N.D.)
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
Find out what’s happening at VCSU: https://www.vcsu.edu/news-events/
Find out what’s happening in the community on the Valley City Community Calendar: https://www.valleycitycalendar.com/