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: 43 (41 students; 2 faculty/staff). Total quarantined or isolated: 118 (44 on campus; 74 off campus). (Numbers as of Sept. 6, 2020; 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.
Labor Day Reminder
Please remember that Labor Day (today, Sept. 7) is a day of classes and a day of work for all employees. The holiday will be recognized, instead, on Dec. 28. Employees must use the regular leave process if they want to be gone.
Make Your Voice Heard, Wolves!
Northern State SAAC is encouraging all students to register to vote and participate in the 2020 election. SAAC representatives will be available in the Barnett Center main hallway today, Sept. 7, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. to assist their peers in registering. Participants will receive an “I Registered to Vote” sticker to help spread the word on the importance of participating in local, state, and federal elections. More information can be found at https://nsuwolves.com/vote.
Flu Shot Clinic
A flu shot clinic for all benefits-eligible staff and covered dependents is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Avera Student Center Centennial rooms. More information can be found in the Benefits Newsletter from the state in the coming weeks. Please bring your state Dakota Care ID to your appointment.
Job Openings at NSU
Just a reminder that NSU posts all current job openings at the SDBOR website. Remember to check out the site for opportunities around campus!
Free Online Tutoring Sessions
The NSU Tutoring Center offers free online sessions to any Northern student for all general education classes and most upper-level classes. The sessions are conducted through 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
Campus Recycling
NSU Recycling has resumed. Bins for plastic bottles and aluminum cans have been set up around campus. Please rinse all bottles and keep the caps on to limit the mess. We cannot currently recycle anything sticky, so please throw or rinse any frozen drink containers and sugary pop bottles. Questions? Contact Julie.Schroer@northern.edu or 605-626-3430.
American Indian Circle Program Cultural Education Time
Northern State University 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 in Spafford 106 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 fall 2020 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 NSU campus community to come and participate in our monthly Smudge. Everyone is welcome!
Community Spotlight: Salvation Army Student Day
Students: Friday is Student Day at The Salvation Army! Please feel free to stop by The Salvation Army, 1003 Sixth Ave. S.W., every Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. for free produce and bread donated from local gardeners, farmers and grocers in Aberdeen. Just bring your student ID and fill a plastic bag with your favorite healthy snacks. (First come, first served basis.)
Student Government Association Elections
Elections for Student Government Association are fast approaching, and YOU could be in the next Senate! Become a student leader on campus and make a difference. SGA is in charge of allocating funds to NSU's clubs and organizations. It also serves as the official voice of the students whose influence can affect the decisions of the school, the legislature and the governor. Elections shall take place Sept. 21-23. Based on your major, you can run for Senator from the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Fine Arts, College of Professional Studies, or Graduate Studies. Other available Senator positions include Freshman, At-Large and International Students. To run, email Interim President Patrick Minihan at patrick.minihan@wolves.northern.edu with your name and the position you would like to run for by September 4th. You may also reach out to Patrick with any questions.
Check Your NSU Mailbox
Students living on-campus: Remember to check your NSU mailbox in the lower level of the Avera Student Center! If you don’t know your box number and combination, stop at the post office window and someone will help you.
Archives Reading Room Appointments
Access to the Library’s Archives Reading Room is now by appointment only. To make an appointment, email stephanie.cossette@northern.edu or call 605-626-7771.
NSU to Celebrate Constitution Day
NSU will celebrate Constitution Day on Thursday, Sept. 17, which commemorates the Sept. 17, 1787, signing of the United States Constitution. For more information about Constitution Day at NSU, contact Dr. Ric Dias at ric.dias@northern.edu. Visit NSU Constitution Day to find information such as Constitution Fun Facts and an interactive quiz.
Parade, Hall of Fame Banquet Updates
This year’s NSU Gypsy Day Parade has been canceled, and the NSU Hall of Fame Banquet will be postponed until 2021, as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 virus. The 2020 Hall of Fame inductees include Jacob Hamik; Carlton Hupke; Adam Kampsen; Amanda (Madden) Mahlke; Kevin Ratzsch; and Brenda and Jim Fuller, former NSU track and field coaches. The decisions were made after careful consideration, involving discussions with state and local health care officials, and factoring in the recent suspension of competition through 2020 due to COVID-19. On-campus homecoming activities will still be held the week of Sept. 21, following SDBOR and CDC guidelines. The NSU baseball golf outing scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25, will continue as scheduled. For more information, visit the homecoming webpage or contact the NSU Student Affairs office at 605-626-3007.
Common Read
Chris Arnade, author of “Dignity: Seeking Respect in Backrow America,” will deliver the NSU Larry and Julie Poeppel Family Common Read Lecture at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Johnson Fine Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The book is available for purchase on the Wolf Shoppe website under “Trade Books” for $18.95.
Message from Tech Services
NET Services is committed to providing the best service to the campus community and doing our part to keep everyone safe. In alignment with NSU’s COVID-19 response, Tech Services will now be assisting customers at our Support Desk window by appointment only.
To book an appointment with Tech Services:
- Click here to visit our Support Desk Bookings page
- If prompted, log in with your NSU credentials
- Select the service you require and a day/time that is convenient for you
- Add your name, email, and a short description of the issue you wish to meet about
- Click Book to submit your request
Currently the exterior Tech Center doors are locked as are the doors immediately outside of the Support Desk area. When your appointment time nears, one of our Tech Services team members will meet you at the North entrance to allow you access. We will be wearing our masks and ask that you do as well.
We look forward to meeting with you!
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.
Password Expiration Reminders
NSU Net Services is implementing password expiration reminders. Beginning four days prior to your password expiration date (which happens every six months), you will receive a daily email with instructions on how to change your password. You must be registered with Northern’s self-service password reset service in order to reset your password without contacting the Support Desk. If you are not registered, and your password expires after Support Desk hours, you may lose access to many services including D2L, Banner, Zoom, Microsoft O365, Library databases and campus WiFi until the next business day. If you have not registered for the self-service password reset service, please visit the Password Reset Page and select the Register or Change Info option.
Upcoming Wolves Events
Stay up to date with NSU Wolves news on the athletics webpage.