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
Through the S.D. Department of Health, Northern has secured BinaxNOW/Quidel over the counter COVID tests. These test kits are free to NSU faculty, staff and students. Students can pick up their kits at Student Affairs (Avera Student Center 222). Faculty and staff should check with their direct supervisors. Complimentary COVID testing for all South Dakotans are still available through Vault Health’s website as well. These are available for both symptomatic/asymptomatic and vaccinated/unvaccinated individuals. For additional COVID-19 information, visit northern.edu/coronavirus, covid.sd.gov or cdc.gov.
Military Veterans Affairs News
NSU Hosting American Legion Cording Ceremony: On May 4, 2022, from 6 to 7 p.m., Northern Military Veteran Affairs will host the American Legion Cording Ceremony for graduating Service Members and Veterans. The Aberdeen American Legion Post presents a red, white and blue cord to graduates honoring and celebrating dedicated service to the U.S. and Aberdeen citizens. Students wear the cords at commencement. The program is open to family, friends, and the Aberdeen community. Location is to be determined.
Enrollment Certifications: Each semester, the NSU Military Veteran Affairs staff certify enrollments for students receiving Military Tuition Assistance, South Dakota State Tuition Assistance or Veteran Education Benefits. The staff submits certifications after the census date for each term:
- 202250 Summer 1 (5 weeks) May 31-July 1 – Census Date: July 10
- 202250 Summer 2 (5 weeks) July 5-Aug. 5 – Census Date: July 15
- 202250 Summer 3 (10 weeks) May 31-Aug. 5 – Census Date: July 10
Employee Recognition Lunch
The NSU Employee Recognition lunch will take place today, April 25, starting at noon in the Avera Student Center Centennial Rooms.
Football Blood Drive
NSU Football is hosting its annual blood drive on Tuesday, April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Barnett Center. If you would like to donate, please sign up via this link.
April 26: Introduction to the Library's Electronic Resources
Join CETL as they host librarians Lynn Klundt, Maren Williams and Nicole Christiansen, who will discuss how the library’s electronic resources can support faculty and students at NSU. Topics will include:
- LibGuides – research guides created to assist faculty and students in research and information literacy.
- The Library Catalog (Primo)
- Library databases
Come enjoy some FREE snacks and interesting conversation on Tuesday, April 26, at 2 p.m. in Lib 117 or via this zoom link. Add this event to your calendar.
NSU Tutoring Center
Need help working on assignments and preparing for final exams? NSU Tutoring Services can help! Students can request appointments online or drop in for assistance (TC 148—first come, first served). Questions? Contact Vicki Evans (vicki.evans@northern.edu).
Summer Book Bingo
Looking for a summertime day trip? Armchair travel while reading in a comfy chair indoors or browsing a book in the backyard could be perfect!
Add Summer Book Bingo and you can add a challenge to your summer reading and potentially broaden your reading list.
Pick up a bingo card at the library or download one from the library’s Book Bingo Subject Guide.
Read a book from each category until you get five in a row (or a postage stamp, blackout - you decide when you win!)
You can read ebooks and audiobooks to complete the challenge, too. There's no competition involved - unless, of course, you want to enroll your friends, neighbors, or book club in the game!
Post your winning card on social media using: #NSUBookBingo, #northernstateu, #northernstatelibrary. Tag us @nsulibrarian on Instagram and Twitter.
We'd love to hear what books you've been reading!
Noon Forums
This week’s NSU Noon Forum, “The Last Lecture I’d Ever Give” with Dr. Andrew Russell, will take place at noon Wednesday, April 27, in the Williams Library Rotunda. The forum is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Dr. Art Marmorstein.
Spring Provost Update
Dr. Michael Wanous, NSU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, will be giving a Spring Provost Update at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, in JFAC 117. All are welcome to attend.
Car Show
On Thursday April 28, as part of the class History 492: The Automobile and the U.S., there will be a car show (weather permitting) in the south end of the Washington Street lot near Steele Hall. The show will run from noon until 2 p.m. and should have about 20 entrants. Everyone is invited; come and vote for your favorite vehicle!
Jazz Swing Party
The annual NSU Jazz Swing Party will be held 7-11:30 p.m. Friday, April 29. The public is invited to the event, which will take place at Aberdeen’s City Lights Event Center, 316 S. Second St. Performing will be the NSU Two O’clock Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Grant Manhart; NSU One O’clock Jazz Ensemble, directed by James McKinney; and the Citrisity Band. Doors open at 4 p.m., with dinner service available starting at 5 p.m. Prior to the dance, Brandon Heim will be teaching swing dance lessons from 6 to 7 p.m. Music and dancing begins at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for all patrons, and tickets will be available at the door. For more information, view the Facebook event or call 605-626-2497.
Piano Presentation
NSU alumna Tierra Cassens will be presenting selected piano works by featured Czech composers on Friday, April 29, at 3 p.m. in JFAC’s Berggren Recital Hall. The selected works could be described as "hidden gems" within the piano repertory, and are meant for the novice and the experienced pianist alike. The presentation will be around 30 minutes, and refreshments will be served afterward.
Attention May Graduates – Welcome to the NSU Alumni Association
The NSU Alumni Association has put together a gift for all the graduates, and will be handing them out on Wednesday, April 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Student Center Lobby. This gift will include an NSU alumni coffee mug, a certificate for a free coffee from Einstein’s during finals week, a certificate for 25 percent off one item at the NSU Team Store, 25 percent off one item at the Wolf Shoppe, an alumni pin and a few other NSU items. Please stop by the table on April 27 to get your gift!
Spring Choral Concert
The NSU Spring Choral Concert will take place at 3 p.m. May 1 in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater. The concert will feature the NSU Concert Choir, Early Musick Ensemble and Chamber Singers. Tickets for the concert are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. NSU faculty, staff and students are admitted free.
Spring Commencement
The NSU Spring Commencement ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7, in the Barnett Center. For more information, visit the Graduation and Commencement webpage.
May 11: Distinctive Dialogues with Stephen Kosslyn and HyFlex Faculty Cohort Panel
Mark your calendars! CETL will be hosting a Distinctive Dialogues event May 11 from 9 a.m. to noon with keynote speaker Stephen Kosslyn and the HyFlex Faculty Cohort panel. Kosslyn is the founder of the Active Learning Series, aiming to spread the word on highly effective pedagogy. This event will focus on Kosslyn's principles for engaging students in active learning, as well as introduce some of the HyFlex panel's original research on this topic.
Volunteers Needed for CultureFest
CultureFest Committee is looking for staff, faculty and student volunteers to plan and execute the next CultureFest Fall 2022. For more information and if you would like to be a part of this Multicultural event, please contact Dominika.Blum@northern.edu.
American Indian Circle Program
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 American Indian Circle Program would like to invite the NSU campus community to participate in our monthly Smudge the first Tuesday of every month from 12:15 to 12:30 p.m. This is a time where 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 2022 semester, we will smudge in the courtyard outside MJ 112, which is the new Circle Program student space under the Student Success Center. Everyone is welcome!
‘Be Northern’ Nominations
Do you know someone in the NSU campus community who should be featured on Northern social media? Nominate a student, faculty, staff or alum to be featured as a Be Northern on NSU Instagram and Facebook! Nominated are accepted through this online form.