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 (1 students; 2 faculty/staff). Total students quarantined or isolated: 9 (5 on campus; 4 off campus). (Numbers as of March 18, 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.
Instructional Technology Training
Instructional Technology is offering the following trainings in MJ203 and via Zoom. The intended audience for both trainings is faculty.
· Monday, March 22, at 1 p.m. - Classroom Engagement w/ Solstice
· Wednesday, March 31, at 2 p.m. - Mobile Apps for Faculty
For more information on upcoming trainings, please see our training schedule. To register, please see our registration form.
GiveNDay is March 24
Northern State University’s first-ever GiveNDay will take place on Wednesday, March 24, beginning at 9 a.m.! This 24-hour giving day event is designed to inspire all supporters of Northern to come together to provide essential funding to all areas across the university. Also known as #OneDayOnePack, the event’s goal is to receive support from 200 donors in 24 hours. As more people give, the impact increases – unlocking challenges that provide additional funds once milestones are met. Become an Ambassador: Are YOU one of NSU’s most passionate supporters? We need your help spreading the word about GiveNDay. Take part in the excitement - sign up to become a GiveNDay Ambassador here! For more information, please visit this GiveNDay webpage.
PBL Meeting
Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) will have their next meeting on Wednesday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m. in Lincoln Hall Room 224. The organization will vote on their 2021-22 PBL officers at this meeting.
School Supply Collection
The SPED 460: Family Systems and Professional Collaboration class has created a project to help the Aberdeen community as part of our service learning! We are collecting new school supplies and books for the Aberdeen area Head Start. If you would like to donate, please place items such as new crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, glue, construction paper, children's books, Kleenex or Ziploc bags in the designated box in Gerber 145. If you would like to purchase a Scholastic book that is delivered right to the Head Start organization, please click this link (select “shop as a parent”)! We will be collecting items until March 25, 2021. Please contact Jessica Vogel, jessica.j.vogel@northern.edu, with questions.
Two Virtual Fairs
Students: Register now for the B.I.G. Career and Internship Fair and the South Dakota Teacher Career Fair. These two career fairs will take place virtually on Thursday, March 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Candidates can register for free HERE! For more information or to prepare, please contact NSU Career Services.
Upcoming CETL Program
Thursday, March 25, at 2 p.m., visiting scholar, Dr. Stephanie Kerschbaum, will lead an interactive discussion on disability in the classroom in LIB 117, where attendees will enjoy a free nacho bar. Dr. Kerschbaum is an Associate Professor of English at the University of Delaware; her work focuses on theories of difference and disability. If you plan to attend the event in person, please send your RSVP to CETL@northern.edu. You can also attend via Zoom (Passcode 236eLBP).
Student Webinar
Through the Healthy Homes Partnership, students are invited to participate in a free, one-hour webinar that focuses on actions students can take in their residence to maintain or improve indoor air quality for optimum respiratory health. The webinar will be offered on the following dates and times (Central Time): March 29 at noon and 6 p.m.; April 1 at 6 p.m.; April 5 at noon; April 9 at noon; April 12 at 6 p.m.; April 20 at noon; and April 22 at 6 p.m. Students are asked to register for the webinar at this link.
Aberdeen Area and NSU Job Fair
The 2021 Aberdeen Area and NSU Job Fair will take place 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, in the Barnett Center. NSU Career Services is partnering with Hub City Radio, SD Job Services/Department of Labor, and the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce on the event to bring a comprehensive career fair to Aberdeen. This fair is a way for employers to promote their organization, professional internships, and part-time, full-time and temporary employment opportunities available in the region to both students and community job seekers. Employers are encouraged to register through this online form by Monday, April 5. For more information, email careerservices@northern.edu or call 605-626-3007.
‘Pirates of Penzance’
The School of Fine Arts will present the "The Pirates of Penzance" in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Jewett Theater. This staged concert production combines the talents of the Aberdeen University-Civic Symphony, NSU Opera and NSU Theatre. Performances will run at 7:30 p.m. nightly on April 9 and 10. A classic comedic operetta from the famous duo of Gilbert and Sullivan, “The Pirates of Penzance” is the spirited story of a young duty-bound pirate named Frederic falling in love with Mabel, the charming daughter of the Major-General. What follows is a humorous musical collision of bumbling pirates, strong-willed daughters and none-too-serious police. Due to COVID-19, admission is free to all 2020-21 School of Fine Arts events. Limited seating is available; passes will be distributed at the door on a first come, first served basis. Masks are required for all patrons, and attendees are asked to follow appropriate social-distancing protocols.
‘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. On Wednesday, April 14, artist Jerry Fogg will be in the JFAC Gallery from 4-5 p.m. to discuss his work and artistic process. During this time, drum group T’a Bloka Ska will be in the JFAC lobby performing songs. This event is free and open to the public. Masks are required for all patrons, and attendees are asked to follow appropriate social-distancing protocols. 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.
Native Art and Sound Event
Northern is hosting a native art and sound event on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Johnson Fine Arts Center Gallery and lobby. Artist Jerry Fogg will be discussing his artwork, “Native Soul Art: 11 Degrees of Tatanka,” which is currently on display in the JFAC Galley. Drum group T’a Bloka Ska will be performing songs in the JFAC lobby area as well. This event is sponsored by the Native American Student Association, American Indian Circle Program, Multicultural Student Affairs and Northern Art Galleries. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. Masks are required for all patrons, and attendees are asked to follow appropriate social-distancing protocols.
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.
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!
NSU W.A.V.E. Student Organization
NSU Students: NSU W.A.V.E., or Wolves for Advocacy, Volunteerism and Engagement, is in the process of becoming NSU's newest student organization, and we are looking for students interested in becoming members and helping us with various volunteer opportunities on campus and in Aberdeen, as well as hosting programs and events on campus. Membership is open to all NSU students. If you are interested, please enter your name in the Google Form linked here and you will receive more information in your NSU email.
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
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.
Staff Member’s Book at Wolf Shoppe
NSU staff member Elissa Dickey has written a novel, “The Speed of Light,” which releases Monday, March 1, from Lake Union Publishing. The book is now available at the NSU Wolf Shoppe at a 20 percent discount, for a cost of $11.96 plus tax.
Wolves Athletics
Stay up to date with NSU Wolves news on the athletics webpage.