Hotline // September 3, 2025

President's Column: New Year Brings New Energy To Campus

By Alan LaFave, VCSU President

Greetings from Valley City State University!

The start of a new academic year is upon us, and the energy on campus these past few weeks has been electric — a perfect blend of anticipation, new beginnings, and deep-rooted Viking pride.

New students moved into their residence halls on August 22, after new faculty and staff were welcomed on August 19. VCSU residence assistants, student mentors, faculty and staff all stepped up to welcome families and make our new students feel at home through their first few days on campus. We greatly appreciate all the volunteers – including numerous student-athletes – who helped move students into the residence halls, and our student mentors who assisted with the Viking Voyage activities.

Viking Voyage, VCSU’s version of Welcome Weekend for new students, gave our newest Vikings a genuine sense of belonging. They learned their way around campus and experienced some VCSU traditions, but they also built relationships and established support systems. Whether it was a high-five from a peer mentor, a warm smile from faculty and staff, or the buzz around campus during events, the message was clear: you are welcome here, and you matter.

I’ve enjoyed meeting so many new faces, watching returning students reconnect and first-years begin to carve out their own place in the VCSU story. From spirited games to late-night laughter and new friendships, the campus came alive in the best way. The feeling wasn’t just excitement — it was momentum.

And that momentum is only growing. Here are a few events driving that momentum this fall:

• The College Tour
  September 8 – 12, 2025
  Adding to the excitement this fall, The College Tour TV show will be on campus the week of September 8–12, capturing the personal stories of VCSU students and alumni. The College Tour is a nationally known series streaming on Amazon Prime. VCSU’s episode will highlight 10 current and former students and showcase what makes our campus community so special — the impact, value, and personal growth that define the Viking experience.
• Summer Vikes on Central
  Thursday, September 11, 2025
  And mark your calendars for Summer Vikes on Central on Thursday, September 11 — a favorite annual tradition that brings the VCSU family and the Valley City community together. The event begins with our campus community walking across the footbridge linking VCSU to the downtown business district — a symbolic and festive kickoff to an evening of music, food, games, and Viking spirit.
• McCarthy Hall Ribbon Cutting
  Friday, September 26, 2025, 1:00 p.m.
  We’re thrilled to celebrate the re-opening of McCarthy Hall – the new home for VCSU’s School of Education and the Department of Technology and STEM Education. This newly renovated space is designed to elevate teaching and technical learning for generations to come. The cutting-edge facility reflects VCSU’s commitment to innovation, academic excellence, and student success. Our ceremony will honor the people and purpose behind this transformed building.
• Frontier Athletic Conference Membership
  This fall also marks the beginning of an exciting new era for Viking Athletics as we officially join the Frontier Conference! With a new schedule, an expanded number of conference opponents, and opportunities to compete on a broader geographic level, there’s a renewed sense of pride and anticipation among our student-athletes and fans. Be sure to catch the action and support our teams as they take on this new challenge.

So, here’s to what lies ahead — fresh starts, new spaces, national spotlights, spirited celebrations, and athletic excellence. The 2025 academic year is already shaping up to be one for the books, and we can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

Go Vikings!

VCSU to be featured on The College Tour

Valley City State University will be featured on an upcoming episode of The College Tour, a national TV series streaming on Amazon Prime.

The College Tour will be on VCSU’s campus September 8-12 filming the university and its 10 students and alumni who are profiled in the episode. VCSU is the first North Dakota school to be featured by The College Tour.

“We are excited about this opportunity to showcase VCSU in the national spotlight,” said Alan LaFave, president of VCSU. “Our 10 students and many employees at both VCSU and The College Tour have worked hard over the past few months preparing for this episode that will promote VCSU through the stories of real students and alumni.”

The College Tour is an Amazon Prime TV series brought to life by some of Hollywood’s most renowned producers. Created and hosted by Alex Boylan, a former winner of The Amazing Race, the series was inspired by his niece’s journey to find the perfect college. The College Tour is available to stream for free on The College Tour app and website, which reaches over 60,000 high school counselors nationwide.

For more information about VCSU or to arrange an interview, contact Mark Potts at mark.m.potts@vcsu.edu or 701-845-7228.

Alex Boylan, pictured, is a creator and the host of The College Tour.

2025 Summer Vikes on Central Set for Sept. 11

Valley City State University and the Valley City community will come together for a night of live music, fun games and delicious street food on Thursday, Sept. 11, in downtown Valley City.

The 4^th annual Summer Vikes on Central welcomes incoming and current VCSU students to Valley City and introduces them to local businesses and community members in a fun and relaxing atmosphere on Valley City’s Central Avenue.

The event features live music by 2 Weeks Notice – a Midwest cover band playing an infectious blend of country, rock, and pop tunes. Summer Vikes on Central also features numerous food and beverage vendors, a dunk tank, inflatable games, activities and booths set up by local businesses and organizations.

The VCSU freshmen class will join President LaFave at the VCSU footbridge before the event. From there, the VCSU Marching Band will lead the group downtown to join the community celebration. All current VCSU students and members of the campus community are invited to meet at the footbridge at 5:30 p.m. for the march to downtown.

Summer Vikes on Central is a free public event for all ages. The community is encouraged to attend and join VCSU students in the last downtown party of the summer.

Businesses are encouraged to set up a booth where they can provide information, freebies, drawings, games, giveaways or college student discounts. Those interested can sign up at https://www.valleycitytourism.com/summernights

The annual event is part of the Summer Nights on Central schedule, which is a series of street dance events held each summer on Central Avenue in downtown Valley City. The events all feature live music, late night shopping, food and beverage vendors and more. Booths and vendors open at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 11 and live music begins at 6 p.m.

Summer Vikes on Central – Schedule of Events

• 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. – Shopping Happy Hour
  Support your local businesses. Head out on the town and shop at your favorite Valley City stores or visit somewhere new.
• 5:30 p.m. – Campus community meets at VCSU Footbridge
  VCSU participants will be led downtown by the VCSU Marching Band!
• 5:30 p.m. – Vendors Open on Central Avenue
  Delicious food vendors open at 5:30 p.m. and will be ready to serve you some amazing meals!
• 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.–  Street dance featuring 2 Weeks Notice
  Hailing from Fargo, N.D., this dynamic trio of brothers has been shaking up the Midwest music scene since 2012 with their infectious blend of country, rock, and pop tunes.

VCSU Wins Summer Reading Challenge Against UJ

This summer marked the third VCSU vs UJ reading challenge hosted by the Allen Memorial Library and the Raugust Library. After a full summer of reading, VCSU beat the Jimmies by 195 points! 96 members of the campus community read a total of 1,124 books and submitted them to get points for the Vikings.

Shoutout to our top 10 readers: Clarissa Z., Dianna V., Jacob C., Kim W., Aurora B., Erica B., Katie W., Kim H., Tony D. & Heather K.! To celebrate our win, the Allen Memorial Library will be hosting a Summer Reading Challenge wrap-up party on Thursday, September 4 from noon to 4 p.m. The event is open house style and all are welcome. There will be mocktails, treats and book themed games.

Vikings host Augsburg in 7th Annual Ag Bowl

The 7^th Annual Ag Bowl is set for Thursday, September 4 as the Valley City State University Vikings host Augsburg University at Dacotah Bank Field at Lokken Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m.

Read more at vcsuvikings.com

What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...

August 18 – October 23
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Do You Feel What I Feel art exhibit, Larry J. Robinson Center for the Arts Gallery

September 11
11 a.m. VCSU Convocation, McFarland Lawn
5:30-9 p.m. Summer Vikes on Central

September 21
1-3 p.m. Clean the Sheyenne, required registration at Chautauqua Park

September 26
1 p.m. McCarthy Hall Ribbon Cutting

Find out what’s happening at VCSU: https://www.vcsu.edu/news-events/

Find out what’s happening in the community: https://www.valleycitycalendar.com/