This week's Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President’s Column: The Class of 2022
• VCSU ranked 3rd among Midwest public regional colleges by U.S. News
• Please provide feedback on VCSU presidential candidates
• Viking I Gallery: ‘The Scopes of Color’
• Viking sports update
• What’s happening at VCSU and around Valley City…

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

President’s Column: The Class of 2022

Last Thursday evening, more than 100 students, faculty and staff participated in “Back to the City” night, crossing the footbridge together about 5:30 p.m., and heading up Central Avenue to enjoy a celebration of campus and community. For our freshmen, this was their introduction to the Valley City retail district and, for many of them, their first chance to see the wide range of shopping opportunities and services available downtown.

As we meet our new students and welcome them to their new home in Valley City, I thought I would take a few moments to introduce them to you. Most of our new freshmen are 18 years old, and therefore born in 2000. No longer “millennials,” this new generation is not yet named, although some refer to them as “iGen” or “Gen Z,” or even “Generation App.”

These proposed names bring attention to the importance of digital media for this generation—they have different ways of accessing information and communicating. They also grew up during a recession, which brings its own changes in their approach to frugality and career focus. And their sense of history is also different than the generations before them. “The 2018 Mindset List for the Class of 2022” (published annually at themindsetlist.com) provides an interesting set of reminders about the world view these students share.

With this group, for example, films have always been distributed on the Internet, and mass-market books have always been available as e-books. They have never used a spit bowl in a dentist’s office, and, for them, outer space has never been without human habitation. They have always had access to Wikipedia, and they have grown up afraid that a shooting could happen at their schools, too.

Preliminary numbers for our particular class of 2022 show a wide range of interests, with majors in Elementary Education, Business, Fisheries and Wildlife Science, and Health Science comprising almost 50 percent of the students, but including 24 other major choices among the other half of the group. There are more males than females, and about 15 percent identify with a non-white ethnic group. About 75 percent of the students are from North Dakota; 30 of these students are from Barnes County. Students traveling farthest to reach VCSU are from Alaska, California, Washington, and Texas, with international students from Canada and Japan.

Some researchers call this generation “the purpose-driven generation.” Our faculty and staff agree. Dr. Jeffrey Moser (Business Department chair), notes “an innate ability to perform in a team-based environment,” while Dr. Jonna Zinniel (Communications professor) indicates that they “bring energy and enthusiasm for authentic learning.” Kari Stricklin (Student Center director) similarly sees that “These students are ready and willing to do what is asked of them.” She says that we have “lots of energy and creative Vikings in our ship this year!”

Pete Smithhisler (VP for student affairs) is enthusiastic about the way our new students have shown interest in meaningful participation in campus activities, and he looks forward to their involvement in developing campus initiatives. “They are not shy!” he tells me. “They are genuinely interested in getting to know people. They have provided a jolt of enthusiasm to the campus community this fall that has lifted morale and spirits.”

We hope you have an opportunity to meet these newest members of our student body soon. Please join us in “welcoming them home” to VCSU and the community of Valley City.

VCSU ranked 3rd among Midwest public regional colleges by U.S. News

Valley City State University has been ranked third among Midwest public regional colleges in the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. VCSU has now been named a U.S. News “Best College” for 21 consecutive years, and the university has been ranked in the top three Midwest public regional colleges each year since 2010.

“We’re pleased to once again be ranked among the top public schools in the region,” said Margaret Dahlberg, Ph.D., VCSU interim president. “Our faculty, staff, alumni and friends take great pride in the institution, and we work together with our students to provide them a first-rate education. More than two decades as a ‘Best College’ speaks to the big picture: the community’s sustained commitment to creating distinctive, learner-centered experiences.”

Read more at www.vcsu.edu/news/10651/vcsu-ranked-3rd-among-midwest-public-regional-colleges-by-us-news.

Please provide feedback on VCSU presidential candidates

Just a reminder to provide feedback on the VCSU presidential candidates after you attend the various sessions with the candidates Monday–Wednesday, Sept. 10–12.

You can do that online by using the survey form at vcsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bjaCShBJS0KUauF (note that you will need to complete and submit a separate survey form for each candidate you review).

Paper copies of the survey will also be available at the sessions, along with reminder cards with a bit.ly URL and QR code to get you to the survey link above. You may return the paper feedback forms to the Foundation Office (McFarland 212) this week.

The search committee will meet on Thursday morning, Sept. 13, so please complete all feedback forms (online survey and paper) shortly after the last candidate sessions on Wednesday, Sept. 12.

Viking I Gallery: ‘The Scopes of Color’

“The Scopes of Color,” by Angela Mircsov will be showcased in the Viking I Gallery at the Memorial Student Center, Aug. 2018–Oct. 2018. The show is focused on her investigation of nature and how color evokes an emotion in us through our experiences. Enjoy the colorful artwork!

If you have any questions about the artwork, please contact Angela Mircsov in McCarthy 361.

Viking Sports Update

Football
Saturday: VCSU 48, Minnesota-Morris
The VCSU football team led 34-0 after the first quarter as the Vikings rolled to a 48-0 win over Minnesota-Morris at the inaugural VCSU Ag Bowl. Valley City State is now 1-2 overall and next host Mayvllle State on Sept. 22.

Volleyball
Wednesday: VCSU 3, Concordia-Moorhead 0
Friday: VCSU 3, Saint Benedict 1
Saturday: VCSU 3, Concordia-Moorhead 1; VCSU 3, Simpson College 0
The Viking volleyball squad posted a perfect 4-0 record this week against NCAA Division III teams. VCSU is now 6-6 overall and hosts Dickinson State on Wednesday night to start conference play.

Cross Country
The 2018 cross country season started Friday night for VCSU. The Viking women placed third and the men took sixth at the MSU-Moorhead Twilight Meet.
Women’s recap: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3103
Men’s recap: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/article/3104

Golf
The VCSU men’s golf team placed fourth out of seven teams at the Cobber Fall Invite played Sunday and Monday in Detroit Lakes, Minn. Cameron Rall tied for eighth place as the top VCSU finisher.
Complete results: http://www.vcsuvikings.com/stats/2018-19/Golf/18mg02.htm

Upcoming Events
Sept. 12: Volleyball vs. Dickinson State, 7 p.m.
Sept. 16–17: Golf @ Jamestown Country Club
Sept. 18: Volleyball vs. University of Jamestown, 7 p.m.

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

Monday, September 10

Tuesday, September 11
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW

Wednesday, September 12
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
7 p.m. Viking volleyball vs. Dickinson State University, Graichen Gymnasium

Thursday, September 13
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, September 14
Payday
Viking JV volleyball @ NDSCS JV tournament, Wahpeton, N.D. (September 14–15)

Saturday, September 15
1 p.m. Viking softball vs. Lake Region State College, VCSU softball complex

Sunday, September 16
Viking golf @ Jamestown Fall Classic, Jamestown Country Club, Jamestown, N.D. (September 16–17)
Viking softball @ Morningside Tournament, Sioux City, Iowa

Monday, September 17

Tuesday, September 18
12:05 p.m. Rotary, VFW
5 and 7 p.m. Viking JV volleyball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D.

Wednesday, September 19
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
6 p.m. Viking baseball @ University of Jamestown, Jamestown, N.D.

Thursday, September 20
Viking golf @ Cougar Invitational, Pomme De Terre Golf Club, Morris, Minn.
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, September 21
7 p.m. Viking Volleyball vs. Dakota State University, Graichen Gymnasium

Saturday, September 22
Viking cross country @ Roy Griak Invitational – 6K Race
11 a.m. Viking volleyball vs. Bellevue University, Graichen Gymnasium
2 p.m. Viking football vs. Mayville State University

Sunday, September 23

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