Historic McCarthy Hall to be Transformed into VCSU’s School of Education
$11.5 million approved by the State of North Dakota for the Project
Valley City, ND – Valley City State University (VCSU) will receive $11.5 million from the State of North Dakota to transform historic McCarthy Hall into a new home for the VCSU School of Education. The funding was included in the recently endorsed House Bill 1003. The project will be completed with a combination of state funds and support from Forward Together Capital Campaign.
“This is a huge step for our campus. The renovation of McCarthy Hall into the School of Education will have a powerful positive impact on campus for many years,” President Alan LaFave said. “This funding builds upon our momentum and ensures we have the highest-quality program for the teachers of tomorrow. We are grateful to the legislators and governor who supported this effort.”
The project will renovate the old lab school that was originally built in 1930. The space will include contemporary classroom areas and technology labs, student workspaces and updated instructional technology. The project also addresses mechanical, HVAC and electrical system upgrades.
“We are excited to see this project come to life and create a state-of-the-art space for our future educators,” School of Education Dean Allen Burgad said. “We are preparing students to be ready to teach and these updates will help ensure every future teacher is equipped with the skills and experience they need. The updated classrooms in McCarthy Hall will help our students focus on content and pedagogy in a high-tech, comfortable environment.”
“Becoming an educator requires social connection, space for creativity and the capacity for growth. The renovation to McCarthy Hall will allow our students to experience that together,” Burgad said.
McCarthy Hall has been evaluated structurally and phases of design have been completed. The project is estimated to be complete before the next legislative session and is estimated to cost $13.5 million. The remainder of the project will be supported through the Forward Together capital campaign.
For more information about the Forward Together Capital Campaign, contact the VCSU Foundation office at 701-845-7203 or email email@example.com. For more information about the School of Education or to arrange an interview contact Tammy Jo Anderson Taft by emailing firstname.lastname@example.org, or calling 701-845-7227.
Baughman publishes journal article
Kiersten Baughman, Ph.D., professor for social science, recently published an open-access journal article based on her research studies titled Romantic Attraction and Insensitivity to Aggressive Cues Among Honor-Oriented Women.
Valley City State University is hosting an art exhibition representing the cultural heritage of North Dakota. The show incorporates work from 24 different artists from multiple entities within the North Dakota University System (NDUS). The show has been traveling around the state this Spring and Fall.
The NDUS traveling show will be in the VCSU Center for the Arts Gallery through June 27. A reception was held Wednesday, May 10, in the CFA lobby.
The exhibition was organized by Angela Mircsov, assistant professor for art and department chair. This show began as an idea after COVID-19 to bring back collaboration among visual art departments. In total five of the institutions are participating: Bismarck State College, Candeska Cinka Community College, North Dakota State University, Minot State University, and Valley City State University.
Each participating institution has students and faculty exhibiting what cultural heritage means to them. The exhibition will make its final travel to North Dakota State University in the Fall of 2023.
Viking Sports Update
Track & Field
VCSU student-athletes Kendra Odegard, Taylor Sargent and Jaiden Peraza are competing at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships this week in Marion, Ind. Odegard (women’s javelin) competes Wednesday night while Sargent (women’s 100 hurdles) and Peraza (men’s high jump) compete in their events on Thursday.
VCSU Athletics hosting Summer Camps
The VCSU athletic department expects more than 1,000 high school students to be on campus this summer during a busy camps season. VCSU is hosting football, basketball and volleyball camps this summer, starting with a girl basketball team camp on June 4. For a complete listing of our summer athletic camps visit the website: https://vcsuvikings.com/sports/2023/1/26/54_133192468871818199.aspx
What's happening at VCSU and around Valley City...