This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President's Column: Student Senate president Ernst shares his thoughts
• VCSU faculty and staff giving opportunities
• Our pageant winner, Hailie Wilds
• CTS sponsors HEUG conference on PeopleSoft in Minot Oct. 11-12
• Whitney's work featured in Plains Art Museum
• Viking Sports Update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

The VCSU Hotline! online newsletter is published every Monday during the academic year. Deadline to submit articles (photos encouraged) is 3 p.m. the Friday before publication.

President's Column: Student Senate president Ernst shares his thoughts

The VCSU campus is thriving! Following a very busy summer of preparation and progress, we enthusiastically welcomed back our faculty and our students. We enjoyed a multitude of social and learning activities designed to foster an environment where every student and all employees are valued and know that they drive our vision: “As an innovative university, we deliver distinctive, learner-centered experiences.”

VCSU is an exciting place to live, work, and learn. As we move from start-up mode to a new yet familiar rhythm of the semester, I find myself reflecting on our new students, faculty, and staff as well as our new leaders—familiar faces in new roles. Though there are many from whom I draw inspiration and feel such gratitude for driving our collective success, there is one person in particular who “knocked my socks off” during Welcome Week—Niklas Ernst, our Student Senate president.

Niklas is a senior social science major from Kronshagen, Germany. In addition to leading Student Senate, he’s run track, served as an R.A. and Learning to Live mentor, and done a research project and presented the results at the Council on Undergraduate Research’s Posters on the Hill event in Washington, D.C.

During Welcome Week, Niklas was invited to address two gatherings: the faculty and staff at our campus-wide welcome back meeting, and our new students on their first night on campus.

Addressing the faculty and staff, Niklas introduced the Student Senate leadership team and shared their goals for the year. He ended with these thoughts: “I will conclude in thanking all of you for your hard work and commitment in challenging times. I know the last year has not been easy for you, our institution, and higher education in general. …I want to stress that…we greatly appreciate the daily work you do for us students. The fact that every one of you has taken on extra tasks to make things work does not go unnoticed. On behalf of our student body, I thank you for your continued commitment to VCSU and our students.”

And to our new students, Niklas highlighted six things he wished he would have known when he started college:

“This is your chance to start over. There won’t be many of these opportunities in life, but right now you have the chance to start fresh. You are in a new environment surrounded by people you don’t know and who don’t know you. If there are things in your life you want to change, now is the time. Today you can start becoming the person you want to be.

“Start getting involved on campus right away. Don’t wait to settle in, and don’t push things off. Don’t wait a year or two to take advantage of the many opportunities that VCSU offers. Become active and join clubs and organizations in the first couple of weeks.

“Read your emails. I can’t stress it enough, but if you don’t, you might not survive the first year at VCSU. Emails are our official means of communication, so make sure to read and communicate through them. I understand that it might not be the most fancy communication tool, but the chances that your professor will remind you of a deadline via Snapchat are slim to none.

“Ask questions. There are two components to that. Ask questions if you don’t know something because it’s the only way to learn and to enhance your knowledge. But also, don’t just ask questions; question things. Be critical and don’t accept the status quo; challenge it.

“Find yourself a mentor. A mentor can be anyone on campus—a coach, a faculty member, or even an upperclassman. I can tell you from my own experience that having a mentor is one of the most powerful and influential relationships you can have.

“Realize that college is temporary. There will be moments in your college career in which you wish you could live this life forever. I certainly have times where I wish I could stay at VCSU forever. I hate to break it to you, but there is a life after college. Realizing that is key for precisely two reasons. It will make you prepare for life after college, and it will make you want to enjoy your time here even more.

“I will conclude by saying what should be self-evident; however, it still needs to be said. Class of 2021, no matter your race, religion, gender/sexual orientation, immigration status or national origin, we welcome you to Valley City State University and are proud to have you on campus. It is on all of us to create an environment which is inclusive, tolerant, and safe for all. I am convinced that we will do just that.”

Are your socks still on? Well done, Niklas!

He was poised, eloquent, sincere, and on point with a positive reflection on who we are as a university. I am so proud of Niklas and the messages he delivered. Those unifying, value-centered statements are exactly why it is a great day to be a Viking!

VCSU faculty and staff giving opportunities

Student success is a big part of who we are at Valley City State University. In fact, it is our highest priority. From move-in day until they walk across the graduation stage, our focus is on their success. The VCSU Foundation & Alumni office is proud of our faculty and staff members for committing themselves to this principle and giving so much to our Viking family.

With that in mind, it’s time to remind our Viking family that we have a variety of giving opportunities. Last year, faculty and staff reached 88 percent participation and raised over $91,000 in scholarship support for our students! Those figures are a true testament to our culture; we really do put our students first.

You are a big part of this institution and a major reason why we are able to recruit and retain quality students. We encourage you to join us in making a donation to help support students at VCSU. An investment in education has the best returns. If you are not currently giving, please consider joining our team. Stop by the Foundation Office and see how easy it is to become a member via payroll deduction. Remember, every gift helps, no matter how big or how small.

Our pageant winner, Hailie Wilds

VCSU student Hailie Wilds was crowned Miss North Dakota United States in March and went on to compete at the national Miss United States pageant in Orlando, Fla., in June.

As titleholder, Hailie does a variety of volunteer activities and is looking for more ways to represent her title (and VCSU) throughout the community.

Let Hailie know if you have ideas regarding representation opportunities (crown and sash included!).

CTS sponsors HEUG conference on PeopleSoft in Minot Oct. 11-12

NDUS’s Core Technology Services is sponsoring a Higher Ed Users Group conference on PeopleSoft applications in Minot on Oct. 11-12. The two-day conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Riverside Convention Center.

CTS invites attendance from all NDUS professionals who use Campus Solutions Student Information System, Financials, and HRMS applications in PeopleSoft—and related software—in functional capabilities.

Cost is $90 until Sept. 30 and $100 after that. Registration costs include lunch both days and breakfast the second day of the conference.

Single-day registration is available for FIN and Institutional Research members only.

More information is available at inside.ndus.edu/usergroups/NDHEUG/SitePages/Home.aspx.

To register, visit epayment.ndus.nodak.edu/C22800_ustores/web/store_main.jsp?STOREID=332&SINGLESTORE=true.

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Holiday Inn Riverside (phone 701-852-2504); use code NDU when registering.

Contact Ashley Hanson (ashley.a.hanson@ndus.edu, 701-777-0765) or Tom McNaughton (thomas.mcnaughton@ndus.edu, 701-777-0766) with questions.

Whitney's work featured at Plains Art Museum

The recent work of Linda Whitney, professor emeritus of art, will be featured in an upcoming exhibition series at the Plains Art Museum, Fargo, N.D.

The series, "Mothers of Invention," celebrates Midwest female artists whose work deserves greater critical review and elevated art museum audiences. Whitney's exhibition, "Regalia," will be on display Sept. 14 to Jan. 13 in the Fred J. Donath Memorial Gallery of the museum. A reception will be held Oct. 6 from 6-8 p.m.

Much of Whitney’s work is inspired by the vast and diverse art forms within pow wow dancing. The making of an outfit is a labor of love, often taking many days or months to create, and there are embedded values and meanings within.

Whitney’s regalia-adorned work serves the purpose to elevate, bring forth joy, and pay respect to the vibrant, complex, alive, and contemporary Native people.

Viking sports update

Volleyball
Tuesday: University of Mary 3, VCSU 1
Wednesday: VCSU 3, Concordia College 0
The Viking volleyball team posted a 1-1 record this week against NCAA competition. VCSU is now 5-5 overall and opens conference play Saturday, Sept. 16, at Presentation College.

Football
Saturday: Hastings College 47, VCSU 9
The Viking football team is now 1-2 overall after dropping a road contest at Hastings College. VCSU hosts rival University of Jamestown on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Cross Country
VCSU’s cross country teams opened the 2017 season Friday night with a strong showing at the MSUM Dragon Twilight Meet. Dennis Gonzalez led all Viking runners with an 11th-place finish. VCSU’s men took fourth and the Viking women placed eighth as a team. View complete results at www.vcsuvikings.com/article/2736.php.

Golf
The Viking golf teams are currently in Dickinson for the DSU Invite. VCSU’s men lead the meet after day one, and Jared Lentz is in first place after shooting an even-par opening round. VCSU’s women are in second place, and Nicole Heinitz is in second place individually for the Vikings. Day two of the meet is Monday.

Upcoming Events
Sept. 11: Golf @ Dickinson State Invite
Sept. 12: Baseball vs. Mayville State, 6 p.m.
Sept. 16: Football vs. University of Jamestown, 1 p.m.
Sept. 16: Volleyball @ Presentation College, 1 p.m.
Sept. 17-18: Golf @ Jamestown Fall Class

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

Monday, September 11
Patriot Day
Viking Golf at Dickinson State Invitational, Dickinson, N.D. (Day 2)
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot

Tuesday, September 12
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
6 p.m. Viking baseball vs. Mayville State University, Charlie Brown Field

Wednesday, September 13
noon Kiwanis, VC Town & Country Club

Thursday, September 14
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Norway Room
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot
5:30-8 p.m. Cruise the Valley, Central Avenue in Valley City
8:30-10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, September 15
Payday

Saturday, September 16
Viking softball @ North Dakota State University, Fargo, N.D.
1 p.m. Viking football vs. University of Jamestown, VCSU Shelly Ellig Field at Lokken Stadium (TV coverage on BEK Prime)
1 p.m. Viking volleyball @ Presentation College, Aberdeen S.D.
5 p.m. Community Extravaganza on Central

Sunday, September 17
Viking golf at Jamestown Fall Classic, Jamestown (Day 1)

Monday, September 18
Viking golf at Jamestown Fall Classic, Jamestown (Day 2)
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot
7 p.m. Viking Football vs. Barnes County Sheriff’s Deputies, Silent Auction (proceeds to BC Sheriff’s Deputies Programs)
9 p.m. VCAB-sponsored Bookstore BINGO!

Tuesday, September 19
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, September 20
Muharram begins at sundown
Rosh Hashanah beings at sundown
noon Kiwanis, VC Town & Country Club
6 p.m. Viking baseball @ University of Jamestown

Thursday, September 21
Viking golf @ University of Minnesota–Morris Cougar Invitational, Morris, Minn.
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Norway Room
4 p.m. Farmers Market, Shopko parking lot
7 p.m. Viking volleyball @ Grace University, Omaha, Neb.
8:30-10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, September 22
First day of autumn
6:30 p.m. Viking volleyball @ Bellevue University, Omaha, Neb.

Saturday, September 23
Viking cross country @ Ray Griak Invitational, St. Paul, Minn.
Viking baseball @ NSAA tournament, Fargo, N.D. (Sept. 23-24)
Viking softball @ University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D.
1:30 p.m. Viking volleyball @ Dakota State University, Madison, S.D.

Sunday, September 24
Viking golf NSAA Conference Tournament, Bully Pulpit Golf Course, Medora, N.D. (Day 1)
Viking softball vs. University of Jamestown, VCSU softball complex

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