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.
Campus Enrollment Forums
Campus enrollment forums will be held at noon and 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 28, in Krikac Auditorium. President Schnoor and Justin Fraase will present initial actions of the Enrollment Management Council, the upcoming partnership with EAB, and current enrollment metrics and figures. Please bring your questions, feedback and ideas.
WAVE Podcast Giveaway
The WAVE Podcast is hosting a giveaway on their Instagram page! You could win $50 in local business gift cards and student motivation essentials. In order to enter, visit @thewavepodcastnsu on Instagram and follow the instructions on their post! You can also listen to Episode 5.5 - The Unmotivated Mini on all streaming platforms by visiting linktr.ee/nsuthewave.
Skyfactor Campus Climate Survey
The Skyfactor Campus Climate Survey will be administered at Northern beginning TODAY (Feb. 28) through March 16, 2022. All benefits-eligible employees and degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate students will receive an invitation in their e-mail to participate in this voluntary survey. Employees should watch for an e-mail from Brenda Mammenga and complete your survey by March 16. All responses are anonymous and cannot be identified. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
The Skyfactor Campus Climate Survey was first administered at Northern in spring 2020. The 2022 survey will allow us to gather additional data on our campus climate and to track changes over time. The insights gained from this climate survey will be utilized by the President’s Campus Culture and Climate Taskforce to provide actionable recommendations to the Executive Team to enhance campus culture and climate for all. We need your help promoting this survey to students and your colleagues. A representative sample will paint a more accurate picture of our campus climate and allow for impactful recommendations.
Spring 2022 Noon Forums
Noon Forums continue throughout the semester at noon most Wednesdays in the Williams Library Rotunda. Noon Forums are free and open to the public. Upcoming topics are as follows:
- March 2: “Laughing in Church? Christian Clowning,” Dr. Liz Sills
- March 23: Forum at 2 p.m. by guest artist Oda Hjertine Voltersvik
- March 30: “Five Essential Women’s History Month Films,” Dr. Kristi Brownfield
- April 6: “How to Run and Why,” Logan Manhart, Brian Bengs and others
- April 13: “Do Comics Rot Your Brain? Using Sequential Art in the Classroom,” Dr. Kane Anderson
- April 20: “Five Essential Songs and Mantras,” Dr. Pam Monaghan-Geernaert and others
- April 27: “The Last Lecture I’d Ever Give,” Dr. Andrew Russell
For more information, contact Dr. Art Marmorstein at 605-626-2608 or art.marmorstein@northern.edu.
Cracker Barrel
Legislative Cracker Barrel sessions for 2022 will be held in the Kessler’s Champions Club in the NSU Barnett Center. Cracker barrels, which are open to the public, will take place 10 a.m.-noon on the following Saturday morning: March 5, 2022. To stay informed during the session and track bills in the S.D. Legislature, use this link.
Midterm Refresh! Roadmap to Finishing the Semester Strong
Classes not going the way you expected? Need to make the most of the rest of the semester? The NSU Student Success Center invites students to this interactive workshop to learn about ways to help finish the semester strong! Students will come away with practical and applicable strategies to create a gameplan for the rest of the semester. Topics will include planning and organization, time management, study skills, utilizing campus resources, and self-care. This workshop will take place Monday, March 7, from noon to 12:45 p.m. in TC 162 (Student Success Conference Room). Please feel free to bring your lunch or a snack during this event! For questions about this workshop or if you would like to set up your own individual academic coaching appointment, please contact the Student Achievement Specialist at brandon.pokarney@northern.edu.
Student Focus Groups
The Williams Library is looking for student feedback:
- Who: Undergraduate and graduate students.
- What: Library Focus Groups
- When: Tuesday, March 8, at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.
- Where: Library Room 117
The library will be offering munchies and coffee along with a chance to win one of two $25 Amazon gift cards! Interested? Email reference@northern.edu; use subject line, “Focus Group”; and indicate which session you want to attend!
March 9: Snackchat – Building Resiliency with Michael Skyles
Join CETL host, Michael Skyles, on Wednesday, March 9, at 4 p.m. in MJ 201 for a conversation on how faculty and staff can help students build resiliency. Light snacks will be provided. If you are unable to join in person, please join via Zoom. Add this event to your calendar.
Spring Jazz Concert
The NSU Music Department will present the “Winging it with Jazz” Spring Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m. March 10 in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Jewett Theater. The concert will feature the 2 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dr. Grant Manhart, and the 1 O’Clock Jazz Ensemble, directed by James McKinney. Music will be performed by NSU students and guest artists, featuring music made famous by Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Chuck Mangione and others. Tickets for the event will cost $10 at door or $5 for senior citizens. NSU students are admitted free. For more information, contact the NSU School of Fine Arts at 605-626-2497.
Undergraduate Competitive Research Grant
Northern State University is now accepting applications for the 2022 Undergraduate Competitive Research Grant. Students can receive up to $2,500 toward their independent research project for the academic year. To increase research engagement across campus, our new format now creates an option for multiple awardees. Students from all majors and disciplines are encouraged to apply. Applicants must design a formal research project under the mentorship of a faculty member. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. Friday, March 11. For details on how to apply, please download the “Request for Proposal” by visiting myNSU -> Academics -> Undergraduate Research. For questions, please contact our undergraduate research coordinator at andrew.russell@northern.edu.
Northern Edge Award
Do you need funding for a research project, exhibit or academic performance? The Northern Edge Award is available to fund both undergraduate and graduate research projects at NSU. It is especially intended to aid student projects in under-represented disciplines and/or projects that may not be eligible/competitive for other funding opportunities on campus (i.e., student travel grants, or the Competitive Research Grant). Faculty-mentored projects may receive up to $1,000 that can be used for traditional research expenses or discipline-specific costs such as travel for performances/exhibits. The application deadline is March 11 at 5 p.m. For more information on how students can apply for this award, please visit this link. For questions, contact NSU’s Undergraduate Research Coordinator: andrew.russell@northern.edu.
March 24: Faculty Rights with Nathan Lukkes
NSU News: CETL will host special guest speaker Nathan Lukkes, South Dakota Board of Regents General Counsel, who will discuss faculty rights within academic freedom, recording, and freedom in learning. This event will take place Thursday, March 24, at 3 p.m. in MJ 201 or via this zoom link. Add this event to your calendar.
3D Modeling
Learn the basics of 3D modeling and how it applies to 3D printing at the Basic 3D Modeling TinkerCad Workshop, at 4 p.m. March 24 in Beulah Williams Library. Everyone that attends the workshop will be able to create a free print for themselves. The event is free to NSU students, staff and faculty. For more information, contact Lynn Klundt at Lynn.Klundt@northern.edu.
Northern Lights Launch Party
The annual Northern Lights launch party is set for March 30, 2022, at 6 p.m. in the Lincoln Art Gallery (LH 115). Print issues will be available for purchase (cash or check accepted) at the launch party and afterward by contacting current President Madi Filber via email at madi.filber@wolves.northern.edu, who can also answer any questions via email. All students, faculty, staff and community members are welcome!
GiveNDay is Coming! April 6-7, 2022
The Northern State Foundation is excited to host our second annual day of giving, GiveNDay, on April 6, 2022! This 24-hour challenge is designed to inspire all supporters of Northern to come together as we work to provide funding across the university. Last year was a huge success as our community raised $193,000 from over 1,200 donors. Also known as #OneDayOnePack, this year’s goal is to receive support from 1,800 donors in 24 hours.
If you would like your campus-sponsored organization represented, please contact Aimee at the Foundation by March 1, 2022. You can email Aimee at aimee.burmester@northern.edu.
We need your help! We are looking for students, faculty or alumni to represent their school, department, organization or team as Ambassadors. As Ambassadors, you have the opportunity to share your love of NSU with your family and friends via social media, and potentially earn rewards while doing it! Interested? Reach out to the Foundation at nsualumni@northern.edu.
Research, Scholarship and Creativity Forum
The annual NSU Research, Scholarship and Creativity Forum is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, in the Beulah Williams Library. All students participating in scholarly activity are invited to participate. Submissions of abstracts are due April 1. For more information about presenting your scholarly activity and submitting abstracts, visit this webpage or email Dr. Andrew Russell.
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!
Attention Spring Graduates