This week’s Hotline! includes the following articles:

• President’s Column: Presenting to the House
• Emerging Leaders Competition to be held on campus on Wednesday
• STEM Education Center staff members present at NESC In-service
• 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: Presenting to the House

Alan D. LaFave, D.M.A.

Greetings from the President’s Office at Valley City State University!

After being on the job for a little over a month, I have much good news and activity to report. I’ve learned a great deal regarding processes and needs of the university, but most important, the dynamic role VCSU plays in the community of Valley City and the outstanding collaboration that exists between so many entities here.

I wish to begin by thanking everyone from the university, community and region for your kindness, hospitality, and welcoming comments. It truly is great to be a Viking, and my confidence in the future of Valley City State University continues to strengthen and grow with each passing day.

Tuesday, January 16, was a tremendous opportunity for VCSU to share with the House Appropriations Committee some of our successes from the past year and planning efforts for the future. Here are a few highlights from that presentation:

• Continued national recognition from U.S. News and World Report; VCSU has been ranked among the Top 3 “Public Regional Colleges in the Midwest” continuously since 2010 and has been a U.S. News “Best College” for 21 consecutive years!
  
• Recognition as one of 25 “Hidden Gems of the Midwest” by the Online Schools Center, joining other institutions such as the University of North Dakota, Augustana University in South Dakota, St. Olaf and Gustavus Adolphus in Minnesota, Grinnell and Luther in Iowa, Beloit and Lawrence in Wisconsin, Wheaton in Illinois, and Oberlin in Ohio.
  
• Continued enrollment growth to 1,547 for Fall 2018, with almost two-thirds of our student body coming from North Dakota.
  
• $687,000 raised for VCSU student scholarships through the Higher Education Challenge Grant Fund.
  
• A record 2018 scholarship allocation of $1,623,000 through the VCSU Foundation!
  
• Several examples of high-impact educational practices, including faculty-mentored student research, hands-on work in our music production and recording studio, the substitute teacher program, and internships and career readiness initiatives.
  
• Preparing teachers for North Dakota, with more than 1,400 alumni teachers and administrators serving 333 schools and education units in 157 communities throughout the state.
  
• VCSU’s tremendous economic impact in the community and region, estimated at $104.6 million in FY2017.
  
• Investments in infrastructure, including our new Heat Plant with its ribbon cutting last April and continued progress toward adding an activated carbon plant.
  
• The continued need for investment in a new Communication and Fine Arts Building to replace Foss Hall, to address life safety issues and consolidate programs in multiple disciplines.
  
• Testimony from Autumn Johnson, Student Senate president; Paige Fettig, alumna and teacher in Bismarck; Kirsten Baesler, alumna and state school superintendent; Julee Russell, faculty; and Wesley Wintch, vice president for business affairs.

I would also like to recognize the outstanding community support we enjoyed at the hearing. I was astounded at the visible display of supporters in the room from local officials and community representatives, along with VCSU students, faculty and our administrative leadership team. This truly exemplifies the “We All Row” descriptor of our outstanding university. With collaboration like this, we can look forward to wonderful times ahead!

So, what’s on the horizon? I’ve been visiting with several academic and student affairs units on campus to help understand structures, strengths, weaknesses and needs within each of these areas. This “listening and learning” tour has been very beneficial and will continue until all departments have been visited. But that’s just the beginning of our important work together as we continue to identify and develop strategies for us to move forward in providing an innovative, high-quality, student-centered experience at Valley City State.

I will be traveling with the VCSU Foundation from January 31 to February 3 as we reach out and reconnect with our alumni in the great state of Arizona. I look forward to meeting all of you and working with you to make our institution the envy of all—and not such a “hidden gem”—in higher education, well known throughout this part of the country for our excellence and innovative practices.

Go Vikings!

Emerging Leaders Competition to be held on campus on Wednesday

The 27th annual VCSU Emerging Leaders Competition will be held on campus Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m..

Competing in a variety of business education events will be 500 students representing 25 high schools, with 30 volunteers from the community and VCSU serving as event judges.

The opening ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. in Vangstad Auditorium. The schedule includes test events in Froemke Auditorium in Foss Hall from 9:45 a.m.-noon, role-play events in Graichen Gym from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and activities in the Student Center from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Quiz Bowl will be held in Vangstad Auditiorium from noon-1 p.m., followed by the keynote presentation from Megan (Schmidt) Zarbano ’08, area businessperson and a 2018 recipient of VCSU’s Young Alumni Achievement Award, also in Vangstad. The awards ceremony will be held after the keynote presentation in Vangstad, with the day-long competition concluding about 2 p.m.

Coordinating the events is the Emerging Leaders Competition committee, including Charlene Stenson and Erin Heide from Enrollment Services; faculty members Jeff Moser, Ph.D., and Amber Aberle, Ed.D.; staff member LaDonna Anderson; and VCSU DECA chapter president Mikayla Gustafson.

More information can be found at busdept.vcsu.edu/bitday/emerging-leaders-competition-day.

STEM Education Center staff members present at NESC In-service

VCSU’s Great Plains STEM Education Center (GPSEC) presented at the Northeast Education Services Cooperative (NESC) Regional Winter In-Service held Jan. 21 at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake. More than 500 K-12 teachers participated in the event.

Gary Ketterling, Ph.D., GPSEC coordinator, delivered a morning breakout session to elementary teachers on the use of Picture Perfect Science/STEM Lessons in the classroom. This award-winning curriculum from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) combines science and STEM principles with reading via children’s picture books and engineering design challenges.

In the afternoon session, Jamie Wirth, Ph.D., GPSEC director, presented to middle and high school teachers on Building Math, a STEM-based math curriculum from the Boston Museum of Science that integrates algebraic reasoning with engineering design.

“Both the morning and afternoon sessions were a tremendous success,” said Wirth. “The teachers responded very well to the presentations and showed an eagerness for implementing in their classrooms.”

Viking sports update

Women’s Basketball
Friday: Presentation College 56, VCSU 53
Saturday: VCSU 78, Dickinson State 65
The Viking women’s basketball team posted a 1-1 record this week, including a 78-65 victory against Dickinson State. Valley City State is now 10-10 overall and 7-2 in the NSAA. The Vikings are tied for first in the NSAA with Mayville State and Bellevue.

Men’s Basketball
Friday: Presentation College 83, VCSU 76
Saturday: Dickinson State 84, VCSU 72
The Viking men dropped a pair of conference games this weekend. VCSU is now 5-15 overall and 2-7 in the NSAA.

Track & Field
Valley City State’s track and field athletes competed at the UND Indoor Open on Saturday. Complete results can be found at www.vcsuvikings.com/stats/2018-19/Track_&_Field/2019_UND_Indoor_Open_CompiledResults.pdf.

Upcoming Events
Feb. 1-2: Track & Field at NDSU Bison Open
Feb. 1: WBB/MBB at Bellevue University, 5:30/7:30 p.m.
Feb. 2: WBB/MBB at Dakota State University, 3/5 p.m.
Feb. 5: Men’s Basketball vs. Trinity Bible College, 7 p.m.

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

Monday, January 28
8 a.m.-4 p.m. VCSU Office Supply and Clothing Swap, Student Center Lower Level Conference Room
ON THE MOVE Activities:
11:30 a.m. Walk Away the Pounds, Hi-Liner Activity Center
1-4 p.m. free admission at B-Fit 24/7
7:00-8:30 p.m. Introduction to Pickleball, Rec Center

Tuesday, January 29
8 a.m.-4 p.m. VCSU Office Supply and Clothing Swap, Student Center Lower Level Conference Room
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center Student Senate Room
ON THE MOVE Activities:
11:30 a.m. Walk Away the Pounds, Hi-Liner Activity Center
1-4 p.m. free admission at B-Fit 24/7
5-7 p.m. Gaukler Family Wellness Center tours

Wednesday, January 30
Emerging Leaders Competition event on campus
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club
ON THE MOVE Activities:
Walk It Wednesday, Gaukler Family Wellness Center
1-4 p.m. free admission at B-Fit 24/7
4:30 p.m. Cycling, Gaukler Family Wellness Center (call 845-3294)

Thursday, January 31
Pay Day
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
noon Preparing for a Career Fair presentation, Student Center Norway Room
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room
ON THE MOVE Activities:
11:30 a.m. Walk Away the Pounds, Hi-Liner Activity Center
1-4 p.m. free admission at B-Fit 24/7

Friday, February 1
Viking track and field @ NDSU Bison Open
5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball @ Bellevue University, Bellevue, Neb.
ON THE MOVE Activities:
Freebie Friday, Gaukler Family Wellness Center
1-4 p.m. free admission at B-Fit 24/7

Saturday, February 2
Groundhog Day
Viking track and field @ NDSU Bison Open
3 and 5 p.m. Viking women’s and men’s basketball @ Dakota State University, Madison, S.D.

Sunday, February 3
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sodexo Sunday brunch, Student Center Cafeteria

Monday, February 4

Tuesday, February 5
Chinese New Year
12:05 p.m. Rotary, Student Center Student Senate Room
1-4 p.m. Agriculture, Business, Humanities and Social Science Expo, Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.
7 p.m. Viking men’s basketball vs. Trinity Bible College, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Wednesday, February 6
Aviation, Business, and Liberal Arts Fair, UND Student Wellness Center, Grand Forks, N.D.
10 a.m.-2 p.m. Engineering, Design, Science, and Technology Expo, Fargodome, Fargo, N.D.
11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Knitting Day, Allen Memorial Library
noon Kiwanis, Valley City Town & Country Club

Thursday, February 7
7 a.m. Optimists, Vicky’s Viking Room
11 a.m.-3 p.m. Computer Science, Engineering & Technology Fair, UND Student Wellness Center, Grand Forks, N.D.
noon Toastmasters, Student Center Norway Room
1-2:30 p.m. Job Fair & Open House, Newman Signs, 1606 6th Avenue SW, Jamestown, N.D.
8:30–10:30 p.m. Vikings for Christ, Student Center Skoal Room

Friday, February 8
Viking Softball @ Presentation College Dome Tournament, Aberdeen, S.D.
Viking women’s and men’s indoor track and field @ SDSU Indoor Classic, Brookings, S.D.
5:30 p.m. Viking women’s basketball vs. Viterbo University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
7:30 p.m. Viking men’s basketball vs. Viterbo University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Saturday, February 9
Viking softball @ Presentation College Dome Tournament, Aberdeen, S.D.
Viking women’s and men’s indoor track and field @ SDSU Indoor Classic, Brookings, S.D.
Valley City Parks and Recreation Youth Basketball Tournament
3 p.m. Viking women’s basketball vs. Waldorf University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse
5 p.m. Viking men’s basketball vs. Waldorf University, W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse

Sunday, February 10

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