Jan 29th, 2018
This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles: • President’s Column: A Look at Student Demographics
• Engelhard selected for chemistry research experience in Prague
• Ernst elected NDSA governmental relations VP
• Meyers co-authors chapter on teaching music online
• 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: A Look at Student Demographics What does a VCSU student look like? If we consider a few demographic averages, she is female, white, between the ages of 18-21, and majoring in Elementary Education. But such a picture only tells part of the story. While it's true that 58 percent of our students are female, and 84 percent of our students are white, we can tell you much more about our student body.
In addition to a large percentage of white students, VCSU's top 3 ethnicities are Hispanic (4.9 percent), Black (3.9 percent), and 2 or more races (3.6 percent). Racial diversity is very important for all our students to experience, since their future colleagues and students will likely be from diverse cultures. It’s important for students to understand and accept differences, if they are to work successfully in an increasingly global economy.
The average distance that new freshmen travel to arrive at our campus is 495 miles. That number speaks to the geographic diversity on campus: while 65 percent of our students are graduates of North Dakota high schools and 12 percent come from Minnesota, the remaining 23 percent must travel from 40 other states and 10 foreign countries, including the states of Alaska, Texas, and California, and the continent of Australia. That’s a lot of miles-and significant climate change to adjust to when they reach Valley City, especially during a really cold January!
This fall, 33 percent of our new freshmen are First Generation students, which means they are the first in their family to pursue a college education. We are so proud of them (and their families) for making this investment, often with real sacrifice, in their future.
Academically, we find that many of our students are well-prepared for college. Almost 40 percent of new freshmen bring with them a dual-credit transcript with three or more credits that already count toward college graduation; many of them have taken 9-12 credits already and have almost a full semester of college completed. The average high school GPA for incoming students is 3.22; overall, 34 percent of our students receive scholarships.
Students at VCSU can choose from 39 different programs. The top 10 programs students select are Elementary Education (348 students), Business Administration (110), Master’s in Education (109), Fisheries and Wildlife (64), Physical Education (53), English Education (41), Exercise Science/Sport Management (40), Music (39), Human Services (38), and Health Science (35).
The access needs of place-bound adults have helped grow many of VCSU's programs that are offered online. In fact, 46 percent of our student body (including all of our graduate students) take courses only online, which represents quite a shift over the last decade. About one-third of our students are 25 or older, many of them working full-time and taking several classes each semester online as they work toward graduation.
What our students have in common is that they are all VCSU Vikings. But to us, there’s really not a “typical” VCSU student: every student has unique needs and goals, and we try to help each of them reach their dreams. Engelhard selected for chemistry research experience in Prague VCSU junior Casey Engelhard of Valley City has been selected for an eight-week chemistry research experience this summer in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic.
Engelhard will participate in a University of North Dakota program, “International Research Experience for Students: Interdisciplinary Environmental and Green Applications in Chemistry.”
His research will be mentored by Dr. Tomáš Brányik of the University of Chemical Technology in Prague and Dr. Evguenii Kozliak from UND.
The research project is aimed at developing a comprehensive understanding and description of adsorption mechanisms of microalgal biosorption. The study of adsorption of specific organic molecules to microalgal biomass will then enable effective application in environmental biotechnologies.
Engelhard’s research award includes a stipend, housing and travel expenses. Ernst elected NDSA governmental relations VP Niklas Ernst, VCSU Student Senate president, was elected vice president of governmental relations for the North Dakota Student Association (NDSA) by its general assembly at a meeting in Bismarck on Jan. 20.
The NDSA is the official student organization representing all 45,000 students enrolled in the 11 state-funded higher education institutions in North Dakota. Ernst will lead the organization’s governmental outreach, ensuring that all North Dakota students are well represented to appropriate state governmental entities.
While working in his new state-wide position, Ernst will continue to serve as VCSU Student Senate president. Meyers co-authors chapter on teaching music online NIcholaus Meyers, assistant professor of music, has co-authored a chapter, “Sharing Our Narratives on Developing Our Practice in Online Music Pedagogy,” in “Pedagogy Development for Teaching Online Music.”
Published by IGI Global, the book has a projected release date of May 2018. It is “a critical scholarly resource that examines the nature of teaching and learning music in the online environment at the post-secondary level.”
More information can be found online at igi-global.com/book/pedagogy-development-teaching-online-music/186879. Viking sports update Women’s Basketball
Friday: VCSU 88, Dakota State 70
Saturday: VCSU 62, Bellevue University 54
The No. 17-ranked Vikings extended their winning streak to six games with a pair of victories at home this weekend. VCSU is now 18-3 overall and 10-2 in the North Star Athletic Association.
Men’s Basketball
Friday: Dakota State 84, VCSU 79
Saturday: VCSU 66, Bellevue University 65
Alex Quist made the game-winning basket with six seconds left Saturday in VCSU’s 66-65 win over Bellevue University. After going 1-1 this weekend, the Viking men are now 9-15 overall and 3-9 in the NSAA.
Track & Field
Megan Johnson qualified for nationals in the long jump, and the Valley City State track & field team broke eight school records Saturday at the UND Open. The Vikings won one event and had seven Top 4 finishes at the large meet. For complete results and a list of school records broken, visit www.vcsuvikings.com/article/2899.php.
Upcoming Events
Feb. 2–3: Track & Field at NDSU Bison Open
Feb. 2: WBB/MBB vs. Viterbo University, 5:30/7:30 p.m. (Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night)
Feb. 3: WBB/MBB vs. Dickinson State, 3/5 p.m. What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City… Monday, January 29
Tuesday, January 30
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
8 p.m. Pete Lee, comedian, Vangstad Auditorium
Wednesday, January 31
Payday
12 noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
Thursday, February 1
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room
Friday, February 2
Groundhog Day
Viking Track and Field @ NDSU BisonOpen (Feb. 2–3), Fargo
5:30 & 7:30 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball vs. Viterbo University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
Saturday, February 3
3 and 5 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball vs. Dickinson State, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
Sunday, February 4
Monday, February 5
Tuesday, February 6
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
Wednesday, February 7
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball vs. Trinity Bible College
Thursday, February 8
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, VCSU Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room
Friday, February 9
Viking Track and field @ SDSU Indoor Classes (Feb. 9–10), Brookings, S.D.
Saturday, February 10
Viking softball @ Presentation College Dome Tournament (Feb. 10–11), Aberdeen, S.D.
3 and 5 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown
Sunday, February 11
Viking Track and field @ NSAA Indoor Multi Championships (Feb. 11–12), Jamestown
Go to www.valleycitynd.org/calendar.php to see more events happening in and around Valley City.
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