Welcome
The Northern State University Student Handbook includes information about services, administrative policies and procedures, and other helpful material about NSU. This handbook has been developed for your use by the Student Affairs Office and funded by student activity fees. It is the responsibility of every student to be aware of current policies. Other helpful resources include the Graduate and Undergraduate Catalog and the Residence Life Handbook. Questions about these policies, or other information should be directed to the Dean of Student Affairs, NSU Student Center Room 201, 605-626-2530. Since the policies, programs, and services contained herein are subject to continuous review and evaluation, the University reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice.
Letter from the President
Welcome to Northern State University! I hope that you are ready for some of the best years of your life. I write this because we stand ready to provide you with both a great education and leadership development and social opportunities that are the very finest possible. Our goal is to help you develop into the person you want to be – so that you can embark on a great career and give back to your community as well. And, of course, we want to help you in making friends that will be with you for the remainder of your life.
I invite you to embrace all of the opportunities afforded to you at Northern. Please take advantage of the outstanding faculty here – they love to teach and you’ll see that on a daily basis. But they also are excellent in providing individual advice and counsel. Their credentials and experiences are tremendous. Seek out their insights and get to know them – they will help and assist you in countless ways.
I encourage you to enjoy Northern Wolves athletics as well. The pride and spirit of the Wolves is contagious. Try to participate in an athletic event or two by being the best fan possible. I think you’ll greatly enjoy the experience. I also urge you to participate in clubs, intramural sports, student government, or even take on a work study position, if possible. All of these experiences will enrich your time here at NSU. In essence, I urge you to embrace all that Northern has to offer. The more you take advantage of the whole university experience, the better you will succeed and excel both today, tomorrow, and well into the future.
This campus has a deep and rich diversity in the overall study body. As our world becomes less and less distant, from border to border, I believe you’ll learn a great deal about how other cultures exist and function by sharing your experiences with others. Take time to share your background and thoughts with colleagues here from other continents. Get to know their thoughts and insights too. By living in a diverse setting you will be preparing yourself for the global economy that you will be working in just a few years from now.
Finally, I extend my best wishes to you for a rich, full, and rewarding Northern experience. My greatest hope is that you will feel that you can truly be yourself here – that you have selected the right academic home – and that you are comfortable as a member of this great Northern Family. By being yourself here you are making Northern a newer, better, more refreshed place! As we so often say: “Be You, Be Us. Be Northern.”
James M. Smith
President
Letter from the Vice President of Student Affairs
On behalf of the staff of the Division of Student Affairs, welcome to Northern State University. We may be somewhat biased but we feel that your choice is a good one. NSU has over a hundred years of helping students to succeed in meeting their educational goals. We are confident that we will help you also to be successful.
We can only help though. It’s up to you to attend class, work hard, and to apply yourself to the required tasks. Those don’t guarantee success but they surely are necessary to be successful. The university will be different from high school. No one is going to force you to go to class—or even to get up in the morning let alone work hard. But we will give you extra help and assistance when you need it. That’s a promise.
However, university life is more than just hard work and study. Mostly it is about the people you meet and the new friends you make. Having met a considerable number of alumni from 10, 20, 30, 40, and even 50 or more years ago the one significant memory of NSU that keeps popping up is that of the friends they made at NSU. (NSU had a few other names over the years—they’ll be on the test.) Next are memories of their classmates and university staff.
For you to have those same kinds of memories it will be essential that you get involved in the activities and to participate in the events. Go to concerts and plays. Attend visiting lectures and programs. Go to dances and athletic events. Get involved in student government. Take part in Gypsy Days. Do it all with the new friends you meet and you’ll have great times at NSU—and wonderful memories as an alum.
The Northern State University Planner is provided to aid you in keeping both your class schedules and assignments in order and to help you organize the important part—your social life. Also included are the offices and phone numbers of the programs and people available to help you. And lastly, the student policies and procedures that govern your life as a student at Northern State University.
Remember: work hard, get involved, and have fun—you owe it to yourself.
Rhoda Smith
Vie President of Student Affairs
Mission Statement
The primary purpose of Northern State University, at Aberdeen in Brown County...is the preparation of elementary and secondary teachers, and a secondary purpose is to offer preprofessional, one-year and two-year terminal and junior college programs. Four-year degrees other than in education and graduate work may be authorized by the Board of Regents. (SDCL 13-59-1)
Purpose
NSU is a University dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in the liberal arts and in graduate and professional education. Its distinctiveness in its pursuit of mission derives from its coeducational and residential character; its size and location; and its role as a public, state-sponsored University.
Vision
NSU will be a nationally-recognized, student-centered institution committed to academic and extracurricular excellence, providing high quality programs, cutting-edge technology, and global learning opportunities in a beautiful Midwestern setting.
Values
Connect
· Highest ethical integrity in all we do
· A commitment to responsible stewardship.
· Development of human, intellectual, cultural, financial, and environmental resources
Enable
· Teamwork, cooperation and mutual respect in an environment that is diverse in knowledge, culture, and world view.
· Striving to deliver seamless, student-centered, and experience-rich educational opportunities.
Educate
· Expanding research and teaching to issue of importance to our community, state and region.
· Assuring academic rigor and the highest standards of excellence in all intellectual inquiry.
Principles
Highest Standards
· Academic Rigor
· Intellectual Inquiry
· Experience-Rich
Engaged Learning
· Evidence-Based
· High Integrity
· Global Experience
Stewardship
· Responsible
· Efficient
· Beneficial Partnerships
Scholarship
Public Service
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Services are offered through the following approved centers and organizational units: South Dakota International Business Center; Small Business Institute; Professional Development School; Environmental Education Center; Reading, Writing, and Mathematics Centers; Elementary and Secondary Science Teaching Center; University Speech and Hearing Clinic; Northern State University Press; University Art Galleries; Center for Statewide E-learning.
Continuing Education
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Continuing education opportunities, outreach, and public service to the state, region, nation, and internationally in concert with the approved programmatic authorization listed above.
Off-Campus Delivery
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Off-campus delivery is provided throughout the state in designated mission areas, particularly through the Capital University Center in Pierre and Cheyenne River Community College in Eagle Butte. An emphasis in electronic and computer delivery has enhanced the sites and numbers of students served through off-campus delivery.
The Institution and Campus
The South Dakota State Legislature established Northern State University in 1901 in response to the need for an institution of higher education to serve the northern region of the state. Originally known as a teacher’s college, Northern State University is now a comprehensive, multi-purpose institution serving the needs of over 2300 students.
The Northern State University campus, one of the most beautiful in the Midwest, includes 20 buildings. Among them are the Johnson Fine Arts Center which includes a 1,000-seat theater, the Berggren Recital Hall, and a lecture auditorium.
The Beulah Williams Library houses NSU’s collection of 210,000 books, archives, the Harriet Montgomery Water Resources Collection, and other publications. It is a partial federal document depository and receives all publications of the United States Office of Education. It is a full depository for South Dakota public documents.
NSU's facilities are modern and well maintained. The outdoor facilities include a 12-court tennis complex on the east side of campus and a 15 acre complex for baseball located north of town. The football field and track is located on the southeast side of town.
Clark Swisher Activities Complex includes a 6,000-seat football arena, Swisher Field, and an artificial surface outdoor track. Recent additions to the complex include a new $50,000 computer operated scoreboard for football and a lighted and paved parking lot for the football stadium, a track and field facility. The baseball team, plays at Fossum Field, located in northeast Aberdeen, The golf squads can choose from among two courses in the surrounding areas. Lee Park Golf Course and Moccasin Creek Country Club. The softball team utilizes Moccasin Creek Softball Complex, which features four diamonds, and is located just blocks from campus. Jerde Field, home to NSU soccer, is located on the east side of campus and is situated next to the tennis courts. The location is ideal for students and athletes to cheer on the Wolves. In 1987, NSU athletics moved into the Barnett Center, a multipurpose facility on the southeast corner of campus. The Barnet Center includes a swimming pool, raquetball courts, wrestling room, weight room, training room, auxiliary gym, eight locker rooms, classrooms and offices. The main arena, Wachs Arena, contains a 160-meter indoor track and a wooden basketball court. The Barnett Center, which seats 8,000 people is utilized for State Tournaments and community events. Wachs Arena is home to the NSU volleyball, wrestling, indoor track & field, and basketball teams. The women's swim team practices in the Barnett Center, but competes at the Aberdeen Family YMCA.
The NSU Student Center houses the offices of Residence Life, Student Activities, Health Services, the Counseling Center, Multicultural Center, Disability Services, the Career Planning Center and Placement, Campus Security, the Wolves Den dining services and Java City, the University Bookstore, and the Post Office. Thunder’s Lair offers a place for students and staff to relax during the day, and a place to dance to the latest music at night. As the core of the NSU campus community, the NSU Student Center offers social, recreational, extra and co-curricular activities; meeting rooms; and student organization offices.
The University Bookstore sells textbooks, instructional supplies, books for extracurricular reading, leisure and recreational items, and sundries. Personal checks may be cashed at the Bookstore for up to $25.00.
The NSU Technology Center is one of the most attractive and best equipped in the state. Located in center campus as a northern addition to the Mewaldt-Jensen Building, the Technology Center houses three general use computer labs, two video production studios and editing suites, a cyber lounge, two smart classrooms, a conference room with multimedia presentation capabilities, offices for NET Services staff and Arts and Sciences faculty, and the NSU Help Center. The Help Center provides free technical assistance to faculty, staff and students. A centrally located, lighted courtyard with perennial plantings, brick walkways, a fountain, and benches provides an open air sanctuary where people can socialize and hold special events. The entire Technology Center and courtyard have wireless Internet access.