Welcome to the NSU News Update - providing information on events happening on campus or involving NSU students, staff and faculty.
To submit a news item, send it via email to NSUNews@northern.edu by 5 p.m. Thursday of the week before the announcement should run.
COVID-19 News
- Current Self-Reported Case Count: Total active cases: 3 (3 students; 0 faculty/staff). Total students quarantined or isolated: 5 (0 on campus; 5 off campus). (Numbers as of April 23, 2021; please note: those in quarantine/isolation aren’t necessarily confirmed or symptomatic cases)
- Mask Level: NSU is at Level 3, which requires face coverings in all public indoor spaces on campus. Learn more about the SDBOR Face Covering Protocol here.
- Webpage Updates: Northern has updated its COVID-19 Webpage, now including various FAQs for students, faculty and staff.
- Requesting Supplies: To request COVID-19 supplies from NSU Facilities, please work with your supervisor to determine the proposed needs for your entire department and submit an order using this online form.
Tickets for Commencement
Ticket information for NSU Spring Commencement has been sent to graduation applicants via email from NSU Commencement Coordinator. Please check your email for further information regarding tickets.
NSU Mobile App
Be sure to download the just-released latest version of Northern's mobile app, featuring bug fixes, compatibility updates and NSU's new branding. There are three ways to update NSU mobile:
- Your update may take place automatically. Check settings to ensure you have version 5.5.0.
- You may receive a notification - simply respond to update the app.
- Or, download the new app version from:
For assistance, contact the Support Desk at 2283 or help@northern.edu.
Upcoming Instructional Technology Session
Instructional Technology Services (ITS) will be hosting a session on how to practically start using Ally, including information from faculty that have already been using it. Please join us in MJ 203 or via Zoom on the following day: Tuesday, April 27, at 3:30 p.m.
International Student Gala
The International Student Gala is coming up on Wednesday, April 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Centennial Rooms. This event will be a celebration of our international students and the graduating seniors, complete with food and music! If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Stephen Deduck at stephen.deduck@northern.edu as soon as possible. Due to limited room capacity, once slots fill up, no further guests may attend. The event is open to all!
NSU Greenhouse Plant Sale
The NSU Greenhouse Plant Sale will be Thursday, April 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and Friday, April 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. We’re clearing out the greenhouses for the summer! Geraniums, small succulents and other miscellaneous plants are available. Cash or check only.
'Stress-Free Walk-A-Thon'
NSU AWAREwolves is hosting a 'Stress-Free Walk-A-Thon' on May 1 with over six other NSU clubs! This will begin outside the Student Center at 10 a.m. with a check-in process where students will receive FREE T-SHIRTS. The walk will begin at 11 a.m. and end at 2 p.m. outside the Student Center again. Once returning, there will be snacks and outdoor games for students to relax with after walking. From 2:30 to 4 p.m., there will be an hour of mindfulness to raise awareness of mental health before finals, then multiple prize drawings. In case of bad weather, the events will be moved to the Barnett Center in Wachs Arena.
‘The Last Five Years’
Northern Theatre will present “The Last Five Years” in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Black Box Theater. This two-person, non-linear musical by Jason Robert Brown serves as the Senior Project for Theatre majors Judah McKinley and Morgan Wilson. The show is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 30, and on Saturday, May 1—free of charge and masks required. Arrive early as seating is limited.
Annual Enrollment Reminder
Just a reminder for all benefits eligible staff: Annual enrollment for your insurance is right around the corner – May 3-17. You should be receiving regular emails and mailings at home from the South Dakota Bureau of Human Resources regarding the changes to the plans this year. All staff will be required to log into the annual enrollment site in May to enroll in your benefits as your current elections will not roll over due to the significant changes to the plans. Please log into the benefits website here for further information and updates.
Distinguished Alumni Luncheon
Northern State University’s Distinguished Alumni will be honored at a luncheon at noon Friday, May 7, at the Dakota Event Center. This event is rescheduled from last spring and will honor the 2020 NSU Distinguished Alumni: William Deng, James Hess, James Klein, John Lopez and Joe Senger. To purchase tickets and RSVP for the luncheon, please call the NSU Foundation at 605-626-2550.
Spring Commencement
NSU will hold an in-person spring commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 8, in the Barnett Center. Guests will be welcome, with each participating graduate receiving four tickets to use for family and friends. Masks will be required per S.D. Board of Regents policy, and attendees will be appropriately spaced throughout the Barnett Center. To accommodate graduates with more than four guests, alternate viewing sites will be made available on campus in the Johnson Fine Arts Center, and commencement will be live-streamed. For loved ones unable to attend, the ceremony will be live streamed through the Northern State University Facebook page, the NSU Graduation and Commencement page, and locally through cable channel 12.
From: Danette Long, Instructional Designer
Hello, wonderful people! Please Save the Date – Tuesday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for Distinctive Dialogues (DD), and plan on attending this half-day conference for NSU Faculty. The program is coming along, with a keynote on hosting difficult conversations in the classroom and some technology highlights to include using Nearpod (it’s like a free and more powerful version of MentiMeter) and VR technologies in the classroom. Now, I am looking for faculty who would like to host a round table discussion on a topic of their choice. The topic can be related to research or pedagogy, your choice. Did you try something new this year that you think others might enjoy? Have you read/conducted some interesting research that you would like to share with your colleagues? Do you just enjoy having stimulating conversations with your colleagues, but never seem to have the time? Well, then attending DD is for you! I just need two things from you. 1) Save the date, and 2) Consider hosting a round table discussion. Contact Danette.long@northern.edu to participate.
Women’s Choir
Northern students and the greater Aberdeen community are invited to participate in the NSU/Aberdeen Women's Choir, which will be directed by Dr. Wendy van Gent. This fall, the NSU/Aberdeen Women's Choir will meet on Tuesdays from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Choir Room. This ensemble will feature multiple genres with choral literature about and by women. All treble voices are welcome. For more information, contact Dr. van Gent at wendy.vangent@northern.edu.
‘Native Soul Art’ Exhibit
Jerry Fogg’s “Native Soul Art: 11 Degrees of Tatanka” will be on display until May 14 in the JFAC Gallery. Jerry Fogg, an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe (Ihanktowan Nakota Sioux Oyate), uses various materials to create unique works of art that tell a story. “Foggma” is the name Fogg has given his distinct mixed media style and approach. Every piece is one-of-a-kind, and never reproduced.
American Indian Circle Program Cultural Education Time
NSU is dedicated to the recognition of tribal traditions and ceremonies that complement the holistic well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native students. The first Tuesday of every month from 12:15-12:30 p.m., we come together and have cultural education time to talk about what smudging is, the importance it symbolizes in Indigenous culture and a time of reflection. For the spring 2021 semester we ask that you mask up and meet on the campus green in front of Spafford so that there can be social distancing. The American Indian Circle Program would like to invite the campus community to come and participate in our monthly Smudge. Everyone is welcome!
Online Tutoring Sessions
The NSU Tutoring Center offers free online sessions to any Northern student for all general education courses and most upper-level courses. The sessions are conducted via Zoom, which allows real-time interaction between students and tutors. For more information or to set up an online tutoring session, students can email nsututoringcenter@northern.edu
Salvation Army College Day
College Day is every Wednesday afternoon at the Salvation Army Community Corps Center (not the Thrift Store), 1003 Sixth Ave S.W. Free food is available from 1 to 5 p.m. Students can bring their own bags, or grocery sacks are available on the donation table. Enter the east side of the building and the receptionist will direct students to the donation table
Employee Assistance Plan
Benefits eligible staff: Please keep in mind that your benefits plans include free use of our Employee Assistance Plan. Every eligible staff member has five free visits available with a counselor. If you need assistance, please utilize this wonderful benefit, found at this link; the password is southdakota.
Name Tag Orders
NSU Communications and Marketing orders name tags for employees once a month. To request a name tag for the next campus-wide order, fill out this online form.
Wolves Athletics
Stay up to date with NSU Wolves news on the athletics webpage.