ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University is now a full member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) following a recent vote of the council’s Board of Directors.
“Full membership provides national recognition that Northern is providing transformative education through an integrated curriculum in the liberal arts—including the humanities and fine arts, natural and social sciences, and mathematics—commensurate with that offered by North America’s finest private colleges,” said NSU President Dr. Neal Schnoor.
Northern now joins the ranks of prominent COPLAC members such as Truman State University (Missouri), University of Illinois-Springfield and University of North Carolina-Asheville.
“Membership affirms NSU’s commitment to high-quality academics and preparing students with 21st century critical thinking, problem solving and communications skills that are in high demand across all career sectors and graduate academic programs,” said Regent Jim Thares.
In addition to national recognition, membership will provide Northern students, faculty and staff many educational opportunities. COPLAC organizes and administers member collaborations, including professional development opportunities for faculty and staff, and hosts regional undergraduate research conferences, where students present the results of senior-year scholarly and creative projects. A web-based undergraduate research journal, Metamorphosis, showcases exceptional student work at all 30 member institutions.
“This highly competitive recognition for Northern State University is representative of the excellent work NSU engages in to ensure that the university, its students, and the campus community are positioned for excellence,” said Brian L. Maher, the South Dakota Board of Regents’ executive director and CEO.
Northern was first admitted to COPLAC as a provisional member in 2020. A site visit was conducted in fall 2021, and the COPLAC Board of Directors approved full membership in January 2022.
About COPLAC
Established in 1987, the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) consists of 30 member campuses across 26 states and one Canadian province, representing a distinguished sector in higher education. COPLAC campuses are small-to-medium sized (800-7,000 students) recognized for both student access and rigor in core and academic curricula.
About Northern State University
Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.