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

Northern’s COVID-19 dashboard has been moved up on the COVID-19 webpage to make it easier to locate. To help maintain an accurate dashboard, all faculty, staff and students are asked to self-report positive cases:

• Employees to Susan Bostian (Susan.Bostian@northern.edu) and their supervisor.
• Students at this site. Students will also communicate directly with their faculty regarding class absences.

Your information will remain confidential.

We have hosted two successful COVID-19 vaccination events with strong student participation. On Friday, Aug. 27, we had 54 total participants (47 students, 4 employees and 3 community); and Sept. 17, 49 total participants (39 campus and 10 community). We are grateful to Student Affairs and Avera Health for hosting these clinics.

Our next FREE on-campus vaccination clinic will be Monday, Nov. 1:

When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Avera Student Center Centennial Rooms
What: Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer (no boosters at this time).
How: Walk in or call 605-622-5273 to schedule an appointment

The event is open to all Northern faculty, staff, students and the public (12 and older); under 18 with a legal guardian present. Per Avera Health, face coverings must be worn within the Centennial Rooms during the vaccination clinic.

Each student who elects to get vaccinated will receive $25 in Thunderbucks. (Student ID required).

The COVID-19 vaccine is now widely available in South Dakota, and Northern encourages all members of the campus community to get vaccinated if they are able. Vaccines can be scheduled at the following links:

• Aberdeen Community Health Center
• Avera
• Lewis Family Drug
• Sanford
• S.D. Department of Health Vaccine Provider Map
• Wal-Mart

For additional COVID-19 information, visit northern.edu/covid-19, covid.sd.gov or cdc.gov.

 

Notice for all State Vehicle Users

If you use state vehicles or plan to use one in the future, please be sure to read the “Vehicle Policies and Procedures” handbook prior to driving. It can be found online at this link on the right side of the page, or copies are available in Becky Gilbert’s office in Facilities Management. After you read it, you need to sign the “Vehicle Rules and Regulation Form” and turn it in to Gilbert. This is also online under the policies and procedures handbook. If you have questions, contact Gilbert. Also, when you use state vehicles, please remember they need to be returned full of gas and clean, both inside and outside. The Voyager card that is with the keys can be used for a car wash. Of course, in the winter if the vehicle is parked outside, please don’t wash it.

 

PBL Meeting

Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) will have their next meeting on Monday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. in Lincoln Hall 224. Students from all majors are welcome to attend!

 

American Indian Circle Program

The American Indian Circle Program would like to invite the campus community to come and participate in our monthly Smudge at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, on the campus green outside of Spafford Hall. Northern is dedicated to the recognition of tribal traditions and ceremonies that complement the holistic well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native students. On 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. All are welcome! 

 

Welcome to the Silent Book Club!

This isn’t your regular book club. No set books to read (that's the "silent" part), no pressure to share or discuss. Never worry if you haven't finished the book. No judgment.

The Silent Book Club model means we are not all reading the same book at the same pace. There is no homework and no pressure to lead or contribute to a discussion. We introduce our books and ourselves at the start of the meeting and then we dive into reading for an hour.

Simply bring yourself and whatever you're currently reading (we don't care about genres or formats, anything goes!) All readers are welcome—even e-readers.

While some silent reading parties have a strict ‘No Talking!’ rule, no one will be shushed or shamed at Silent Book Club. The Silent Book Club is about community. Everyone is welcome, and anyone can join.

Please consider joining if you are unable to find time and space to just enjoy a book. That's it! No pressure whatsoever.

The Silent Book Club meets the first Tuesday of every month from 4 to 5 p.m.

Next meeting on the Campus Green is Oct. 5, 2021, at 4 p.m. Inclement weather? Meet in the library Round Room.

For additional information, contact Nicole.Christiansen@northern.edu. Hosted by Williams Library.

 

SDBOR Meets Oct. 6-7

The South Dakota Board of Regents will meet in Rapid City and via Zoom on Oct. 6-7.  The meetings will be webcast through sd.net and can be accessed via Zoom:

• Oct. 6 Zoom Access Information: ​​​​​​Dial: 669-900-6833; Webinar ID: 913 6262 9475
• Oct. 7 Zoom Access Information:​ ​​​Dial: 669-900-6833 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Webinar ID: 935 0951 0914

Learn more about agenda items here.

 

‘Indian Horse’ Movie Showing and Panel Discussion Oct. 6

In honor of Native American Day, the Native American Student Association along with Multicultural Student Affairs is showing a film called “Indian Horse.” The movie centers on Saul Indian Horse, a First Nations boy from Ontario who survives the residential school system and becomes a talented ice hockey player. But his difficult past interferes with his life and the film explores Saul's journey to self-awareness and self-acceptance.  There will be an informal discussion after the showing. All are welcome! The event will take place Wednesday, Oct. 6, 6:30-9 p.m. in the JFAC Blue Room. Pizza and soda will be provided!

 

Noon Forums

Noon Forums, which are free and open to the public, will continue throughout the semester at noon most Wednesdays in the library. Remaining topics are as follows:

• Oct. 6: Remembering the Roma (Steven Usitalo)
• Oct. 13: Lessons from my 90-year-old Grandfather (Grant Manhart)
• Oct. 20: Wolves Roaming the World (Dominika Blum, Becky Nelson, and Stephen Deduck)
• Oct. 27: COVID and the Irrational (Ken Blanchard)
• Nov. 3: Lessons from a Military Veteran and Veteran Students (Ron Brownie)
• Nov. 10: Frodo Lives! (Peter Ramey)
• Nov. 17: Our Eroding Democracy (Brian Bengs)
• Dec. 1: The Last Lecture I’d Ever Give (Jeff Bartel)

 

Faculty Training for Online Teaching

Danette Long, Northern’s Instructional Designer, will run the Faculty Training for Online Teaching course multiple times in October and November in an effort to provide faculty in need of this training time to complete all three sessions.  Please note, per NSU Policy 2.1.8 Faculty Training for Online Teaching, “Any current faculty who have not completed Northern’s Faculty Training for Online Teaching course have until Dec. 15, 2021 to complete the training course.”

Danette is trying to make the course available at a variety of days and times this semester to accommodate varied schedules. Course completion includes live attendance for each of the three one-hour sessions. Sessions are not recorded. You may attend any of the session dates/times as long as you attend an instance of all three sessions. See the table below for available times:

Zoom Link is the same for all Sessions Meeting ID: 980 0954 3909   Pass: cCAT1e	Date       Time	Date       Time	Date       Time	Date       Time
Session 1 - Online Teaching Overview & SDBOR/Northern Documents	Wed Oct 6 10:00 - 11:00	Thu Oct 14 3:00 - 4:00	Fri Oct 22 1:00-2:00	Mon Nov 15 2:00 - 3:00
Session 2 - Instructor Presence & Community of Inquiry	Wed Oct 13 10:00 - 11:00	Thu Oct 21 3:00 - 4:00	Fri Oct 29 1:00-2:00	Mon Nov 22 2:00 - 3:00
Session 3 - LMS Implementation for Online	Wed Oct 20 10:00 - 11:00	Thu Oct 28 3:00 - 4:00	Fri Nov 05 1:00-2:00	Mon Nov 29 2:00 - 3:00

At the conclusion of this training, you will receive a certificate indicating you have completed the Faculty Training for Online Teaching course and your name will be forwarded to OCE and other NSU leadership. Please feel free to reach out to danette.long@northern.edu with any questions you might have.

 

Wolf Talks

TRIO Student Support Services is holding the Wolf Talks speaker series in conjunction with the fall 2021 Common Read selection, “Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century,” edited by Alice Wong. The dates and topics are:

• Oct. 6: Kendra Gottsleben will discuss her personal story of self-advocacy and her ambition to be a helpful resource to support individuals who have severe or life-threatening illnesses or disabilities.
• Nov. 17: Join Archie Messersmith-Bunting and his If Everyone is “Fine” – What’s Wrong with Me? talk as he discusses the science behind your feelings, discover new ways to express what you are feeling, and learn important questions to ask when you are worried someone in your life might not be “fine.”

All Wolf Talks will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. For more information, email Victoria.Garrett@northern.edu.

 

Beyond the Binary with Cil Winton

Cil Winton (they/them) left the campus of Northern State University 11 years ago with a different name, different hair and a different identity. Formally known as Celia Westphal, playing basketball under Coach Fredrickson from 2003 to 2007, they are back on campus to share their story from Beyond the Binary and finding their true authentic self in honor of LGBTQ+ History Month and National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11). The event will be 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, in the Avera Student Center Centennial Rooms. LGBTQ+ and Allies Social to follow in the Multicultural Student Affairs Lounge; sponsored by Multicultural Student Affairs.

 

‘We are the Virinca Trio’ Concert

Northern State University will host a faculty concert that serves as the official introduction to The Virinca Trio. “We are the Virinca Trio” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, on the Jewett Stage in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. All are welcome to attend this free concert. The recital program contains a variety of works showcasing the individual and collaborative talents of the Virinca Trio, a South Dakota-based trio featuring Drs. Darci Bultema, soprano, Audrey Miller, clarinet, and Philip Everingham, piano. The recital program features the Virinca Trio’s most recent commission, entitled “Poppies in the Cemetery” by composer Jonathan Bailey Holland. Also on the program are two selections from “She Loves,” composed by NSU professor and Aberdeen University Community Symphony’s maestro Dr. Christopher Stanichar. Rounding out the recital program are works by Aaron Copland, Jaime León, and Carlos Guastavino.

 

Grim Reaper Week

Grim Reaper Week is an event put on by AWAREwolves during the week of Oct. 11-15 that aims to shed light and awareness onto the issue of driving under the influence of alcohol. We are looking for individuals who are willing to share their personal stories regarding this issue and its impact on everyone involved - victims, survivors, families, friends and even complete strangers. If you are willing to share your story, please email kayla.jensen@wolves.northern.edu. This is open to all members of the NSU community. 

 

Pheasants Forever Informational Meeting

Join representatives from local and regional Pheasant Forever chapters to learn more about creating a Northern Chapter, Pheasants Forever student organization. Pheasants Forever's mission is to conserve pheasants, quail, and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and conservation advocacy. The event, sponsored by Student Involvement and Leadership, will take place Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Avera Student Center Mezzanine.

 

Accessibility Panel Discussion: Universal Design for Learning & D2L Ally   

Join CETL on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 3:30 p.m. in MJ 203 to discuss accessibility with Jason Henslee, Doris Stusiak and Jess Vogel. The panel will discuss Universal Design for Learning, its principles, and how Blackboard Ally can help you make your courses more accessible. Stop by for FREE snacks or join via this zoom link. All are welcome!

 

SDBOR Outreach Session

The South Dakota Board of Regents will hold outreach sessions to update campus communities and local legislators about the Senate Bill 55 Task Force process and recommendations. The meeting on the NSU campus will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in Johnson Fine Arts Center Room 117. Representatives of the Board of Regents, its staff, and public university presidents will be on hand to visit with area residents. The public is invited to attend. The task force takes its name from a bill approved by the 2020 South Dakota Legislature, which directed the Board of Regents to create a task force to study the operations and functions of higher education institutions under the regents’ control.

 

What?! A Party for Research?

The library is hosting a Research Party on Wednesday, Oct. 13. Join the librarians for assistance with upcoming research papers or projects. All students are welcome. Get assistance with primary sources, citations, topic development, research and more! Bring your questions to library room 117 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13. For additional information, contact reference@northern.edu. The event is hosted by Williams Library.

 

2021 Common Read

Northern’s fall 2021 Common Read book will be “Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century,” by Alice Wong. Wong will deliver the 2021 NSU Larry and Julie Poeppel Family Common Read Lecture at 7 p.m. Oct. 13. Attendees are invited to gather in the Johnson Fine Arts Center’s Jewett Theater to listen to Wong, who will present live via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. Students may order copies of the book through Akademos when they order their fall textbooks. The book is also available for purchase at the NSU Wolf Shoppe for $12.95 (plus tax). Read more here!

 

Artist Reception in JFAC Gallery

From Oct. 14 to Nov. 30, 2021, the work of artist Dwayne Wilcox will be on display in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Gallery. Wilcox currently resides in Rapid City, South Dakota, and is a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe. He is best known and celebrated for his Ledger Art, a term for predominately Plains Indian narrative drawing or painting on paper or cloth. Wilcox uses humor and recognizable aspects of contemporary culture to convey a message or narrative. Each is reflective, personal, and tells a story. Paintings by Wilcox will also be featured in this exhibition. Wilcox’s paintings are dynamic, with striking colors and engaging imagery. A reception for Wilcox will be held Thursday, Oct. 14, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the JFAC Gallery. The event is free and open to the public.

 

Aberdeen Area and NSU Job Fair                                                  

The Aberdeen Area and NSU Job Fair will be held Wednesday, Oct. 20, on the Northern campus. The event, which is open to the public, will take place 11 a.m.-3 p.m. in the NSU Barnett Center. Employers may register online at this link. Registration cost is $175, and the deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 15. For more information, contact Pence at maggie.pence@northern.edu.

 

Northern Theatre presents ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’

The NSU Theatre Program will present the musical "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Jewett Theater. Performances will run at 7:30 p.m. nightly Oct. 21-23 and at 3 p.m. on Oct. 24. In this hilarious musical version of the famous film, two conmen attempt to put one over on more than a few ladies. “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is set in the French Riviera where the charming swindler Lawrence takes a rough American grifter named Freddy as his apprentice in the art of the con. But when they both find themselves chasing the “Soap Queen of America”—the alluring if clumsy Christine—they may have met their match! All tickets to “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” are general admission and will be available at the door. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for senior citizens and NSU faculty/staff. Students will be admitted for free. Payment will be cash or check only; debit or credit cards will not be accepted. There will be no advance or online ticket sales. For more information, contact the NSU School of Fine Arts at 605-626-2497.

 

Northern Edge Award

The Northern Edge Award is a new funding opportunity that started in spring 2020. This award was designed to augment existing funding sources for undergraduate scholarship 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 process is more streamlined, but still requires a budget detail and narrative. The application deadline this semester is 5 p.m. Nov. 12. For more information on how students can apply for this award, please visit www.northern.edu/undergraduate-research. For questions, contact NSU’s Undergraduate Research Coordinator at andrew.russell@northern.edu.

 

CETL Pedagogy Grants

CETL is excited to offer its annual Pedagogy Grants once again. We will be awarding three grants of up to $1,000 to faculty and staff who are improving instruction at Northern through active learning, high-impact pedagogies, and community-oriented projects! Applications are due Friday, Nov. 12. See the attached document here for more details. If you have any questions, feel free to email CETL, Ben Harley, or Danette Long. We can't wait to see what ideas you have for innovating learning at Northern.