The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for Northern State University's academic integrity. The provost and vice president for academic affairs is the chief academic officer for the university, and the person to whom the deans and directors of the academic support units report. The Office of Academic Affairs oversees undergraduate, graduate and professional education at Northern, which offers programs at the certificate, associate, baccalaureate, and masters levels within four academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the School of Education, and the School of Fine Arts.

The provost works closely with all deans to ensure that Northern recruits and retains exceptional faculty and offers high-quality academic programs.

Northern is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Northern is also an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

NSU Accreditations

Northern also is home to the Center of Excellence in International Business (CEIB), developed in 1997 to increase economic opportunities for Northern students and South Dakota business people by driving international business and facilitating enterprise creation and expansion. The CEIB is internationally accredited by the Network of International Business Schools.

Northern also hosts the Center for Statewide E-learning. Since the late Gov. Bill Janklow spearheaded its creation in 2001, the center has reached countless students through delivery of DDN and online high school courses. The center has delivered courses that students in rural areas would otherwise have no opportunity to take, including advanced placement courses.