Mar 15, 2021
This week’s Hotline includes the following articles:
- President’s Column: “Success is the result of a collective effort”
- Post spring break COVID testing encouraged
- Mobile food pantry rescheduled for March 17
- All Priority Groups in Phases 1A, 1B, 1C Eligible to be Vaccinated in Barnes County
- 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 firstname.lastname@example.org.
President's Column: “Success is the result of a collective effort”
A recap of the House Appropriations Committee budget presentation
On Wednesday, March 10, I had the privilege of representing VCSU in our budget appropriations presentation to the House Appropriations Committee. Other VCSU representatives who joined me and provided testimony that day were Student Senate President Angeline Gannon, Vice President for Business Affairs Wesley Wintch, and VCSU Foundation Executive Director Larry Robinson.
Our budget presentation focused on the past, present and future of VCSU, with particular attention on student academic success, student applied research and accolades, outstanding faculty and staff contributions, continued enrollment growth, cooperation and collaboration with community agencies in Valley City and Barnes County, and our plans for the future.
Near the end of our presentation I was asked by one of the committee members if we have been able to identify why VCSU continues to experience such outstanding success and growth. My answer was that we do, indeed, have these discussions across campus regularly – in faculty, staff and student meetings, departmental meetings, cabinet meetings, foundation meetings, and in conversations with our constituents. There is no one singular action or strategic enrollment focus that has resulted in our success. Rather, the combination of several initiatives continues to propel us forward.
Here are a few of the facts and initiatives helping to place VCSU in a leadership position in our state and region:
- VCSU has been ranked as one of the “Best Colleges” by U.S. News for 23 consecutive years and was named the “Most Beautiful Campus in North Dakota” by Buzzfeed.
- Initially created as a “normal” school, we have a 130-year record of providing highly qualified educators to the state of North Dakota with 1,438 alumni currently teaching IN 157 North Dakota communities.
- We have added academic programs in the areas of sound production and digital design, and we have other high demand programs in various stages of development and approval.
- We’ve created new initiatives such as the Rural School Partner Benefit Program, which helps North Dakota rural schools attract and retain their teacher workforce.
- Our reputation and success as innovators with technology strengthened our position and ability to respond to the demand for online instruction during the Covid pandemic.
- We provide our students with high-quality educational experiences and engaging co-curricular activities.
- Our athletic conference was one of only a few conferences in the nation to move forward with a full slate of fall and spring athletics.
- Almost 70 percent of our students are from North Dakota.
- Our enrollment/recruitment management team meets weekly to strategically develop plans for sustaining and growing our student population.
- In 2019, VCSU had the highest retention rate (73%) of all the 4-year regional institutions in North Dakota. This is so very important for enrollment stability.
- VCSU remains one of the most affordable universities in North Dakota and the Midwest, and we continuously look for opportunities to keep the cost of a university education attainable. We decreased the student technology fee by 10 percent in 2019 and haven’t incurred any additional increases since then, and our room rates were kept even for Fall 2020.
- With the use of Open Educational Resources, VCSU students have saved more than $1.5 million in textbook costs since spring semester 2016.
- We’ve had success implementing three-year programs. Seventeen students who completed graduation requirements in less than four years were recognized at the spring 2020 commencement ceremony.
- Collaboration with the community and the Valley City/Barnes County Economic Development Corporation continues in the area of providing salesforce training and emerging educational needs to help efforts in job creation and workforce needs.
- We have three successful academic centers, including the Prairie Waters Education and Research Center, Don Mugan CTE Leadership Center, and Great Plains STEM Education Center.
- Our highly active and supportive VCSU Foundation provided a record $1.86 million in student scholarship support in 2020-21.
- During our presentation, we shared several high impact practice success stories of our students and programs in fisheries and wildlife, computer science and software engineering, recording technology, 2020 emergency substitute teacher program, and internships and career readiness.
- Finally, our “Forward Together” campaign to raise $25 million in private donations is underway and will address current and future capital needs for our campus and students.
As you can see, the success of the university is a direct result of intentional strategic planning and the collective efforts of many. We are incredibly grateful to our faculty and staff for their commitment to our students and mission, and to our students and their families for choosing VCSU as the place to pursue their dreams and aspirations. This is, indeed, the best time to be a Viking!
Post spring break COVID testing encouraged
VCSU employees who are traveling over spring break are highly encouraged to get a COVID test upon their return. In addition, all students who live in the residence halls that leave campus for spring break are required to test upon return.
Two testing events will be offered. The first will take place Monday, March 22 at The Bubble from 1 to 2 p.m. Rapid and conventional tests will be available and no registration is required if you have previously tested at a community event. The second event will take place on Tuesday, March 23 in the Student Center Skoal Room from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a VCSU event and preregistration is required at the following link: https://nddoh-testreg-prod.powerappsportals.us/covid-19-screening/?eventid=
Mobile food pantry rescheduled for March 17
The Great Plains Food Bank mobile food pantry is rescheduled for Wednesday, March 17 from 12:15 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Epworth United Methodist Church in Valley City. Clients will line up in the gravel parking lot at Lokken stadium and drive through the distribution line. Anyone in need of food assistance is welcome!
For more information or to volunteer contact Anna Johnson, regional services manager at email@example.com or 701.361.1004.
All Priority Groups in Phases 1A, 1B, 1C Eligible to be Vaccinated in Barnes County
City-County Health District (CCHD) is currently vaccinating all priority groups in Phases 1A, 1B and 1C of North Dakota’s COVID-19 vaccination plan. Barnes County residents or those employed in Barnes County are encouraged to be vaccinated.
Essential workers in Phase 1C are currently eligible. CCHD encourages the public to consider whether they are an essential worker, and that they vaccinate as soon as possible. Agriculture, Higher Ed. Staff and Faculty, Manufacturing, Food/Grocery, Media, Critical Tradesmen, Transportation, Energy, Business/Finance, Government, Water, Hardware/Supply, K-12/Child Care Workers and more, are currently eligible.
“There is a broad definition for ‘essential’ and many Barnes County residents don’t realize they’re eligible now,” said Theresa Will, Administrator for CCHD. “We want to invite those employed in Barnes County to be vaccinated right away,” she added.
Essential workers are those who conduct a range of operations and services that are essential to continue critical infrastructure operations. Critical infrastructure is a large, umbrella term encompassing sectors from energy to defense and agriculture. Essential workers are designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, specifically the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
There are vaccination clinics planned for Wednesday, March 17th at CCHD. Those who wish to be vaccinated by City-County Health District must register for an appointment by visiting www.citycountyhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine. Those in need of clinic registration support are encouraged to call CCHD at 701-845-8518.
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 March 15 and March 19.
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.
Find more information or download the app here.
Stay informed about campus coronavirus information with the following resources. Click each link to learn more.
Vikings sports update
March 9: University of Jamestown 3, VCSU 0
March 12: Dakota State 3, VCSU 0
March 13: Bellevue University 3, VCSU 0
The Viking volleyball team is now 4-15 overall and 3-7 in conference play. Valley City State hosts Mayville State on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
March 12: Mount Marty 9, VCSU 3; Mount Marty 4, VCSU 3
March 13: Mount Marty 7, VCSU 1; Mount Marty 9, VCSU 5
The VCSU baseball team is now 5-12 overall this season. VCSU’s game on March 16 at Dickinson State has been cancelled due to weather. The Vikings are scheduled to play games in Bellevue, Neb., this weekend.
The VCSU softball team has added a home doubleheader to its schedule for this weekend. The Vikings will host Doane College for games at 12/2 p.m. on Saturday, March 20.
March 17: Volleyball vs. Mayville State, 6 p.m.
March 19: Volleyball vs. Presentation College, 6 p.m.
March 20: Softball vs. Doane University, 12/2 p.m.
March 20-21: Baseball at Bellevue Triangular (Bellevue, Neb.)
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...
Monday, March 15
“What in the World Are You Reading?” zoom event – Go to https://zoom.us/join, enter Meeting ID 970 1995 7314 and Enter Passcode FBpPw2
noon Valley City Lions Club meeting, Valley City Eagles Club
1 to 2 p.m. COVID testing event, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
Tuesday, March 16
6 p.m. VCBC Public Library make and take St. Patrick’s Day bracelet. Call 845-3821 for kit.
Wednesday, March 17
City County Health Covid vaccination clinic. Register at www.citycountyhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine
10 a.m. VCBC Public Library virtual story hour and St. Patrick’s puppet craft on YouTube. Call 845-3821 for kit.
12:15 p.m. Great Plains Food Bank mobile food pantry perishable food program, Epworth Untied Methodist Church parking lot
6 p.m. Viking Volleyball Vs. Mayville State, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
Thursday, March 18
5:30 p.m. VCBC Public Library virtual library card meeting. For Zoom link email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Friday, March 19
6 p.m. Viking volleyball vs. Presentation College, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
1 to 2 p.m. COVID testing event, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
7 p.m. Sons of Norway meeting, Valley City Eagles Club
Saturday, March 20
noon and 2 p.m. Viking softball vs. Doane University
Viking baseball at Bellevue Triangular, Bellevue, Neb.
Go to www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.