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.
Emerging Tech: Gamifying Education
The Northern Innovation and Startup Center—now called Thunder Labs—will host an evening of emerging tech on Feb. 27 beginning at 5 p.m. “Emerging Tech: Gamifying Education,” which is free and open to the public, will take place in the Avera Student Center Centennial Room and Mezzanine. At 5 p.m., Kaleb Dschaak, CEO of Fenworks, will share his company's startup journey and discuss the role gamifying education plays in developing a tech startup ecosystem. Attendees can try esports and drone racing for themselves with tech demonstrations from 6 to 7 p.m. Remote participation via Zoom is available at this link. For more information, visit the NSU Emerging Tech Event Page, or contact 605-626-2815 or startup@northern.edu. Follow Thunder Labs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @sdthunderlabs for updates.
ChatGPT Learning Event
The NSU Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning will sponsor a professional learning event from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, in the CETL Pedagogy Lab (Beulah Williams Library 141A). The topic will be ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence program that is poised to dramatically change teaching and learning. The event’s panel will include:
• Dr. Ben Harley, Director of The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and Professor of English
• Angela Hermansen, Instructional Designer
• Joshua Citrak, Director of Innovator Empowerment
• Eric Kline, Director of the Northern Academy
Discover how to use these technologies to differentiate instruction, create hands-on learning opportunities, write lesson plans and more. There will be time for Q&A and collaboration opportunities for those in attendance.
To register, please click this registration link. If you are unable to attend in person, the meeting will also be streamed at this Zoom link. Guests may enter the library (building #6 on this map) from the doors on the north side of the building. The Washington Street lot on the west side of campus is the closest to the library. Parking is free after 5 p.m.
Student Success Center GOLD Series
Don’t miss out on these upcoming GOLD Series events, sponsored by the Student Success Center:
• The One About Procrastination, Monday, Feb. 27, 7-8 p.m., MJ 146: Why do today what I can do tomorrow? That makes things easier, right?…WRONG! Come find out why. The NSU Student Success Center invites students to this interactive workshop to learn about ways to become a pro at fighting procrastination. We will give you strategies to combat this sneaky habit, get the most out of your time, and have a more stress-free schedule.
• The One About Procrastination (RERUN), Wednesday, March 1, 7-8 p.m., MJ 101 | Virtual: Why do today what I can do tomorrow? That makes things easier, right?…WRONG! Come find out why. The NSU Student Success Center invites students to this interactive workshop to learn about ways to become a pro at fighting procrastination. We will give you strategies to combat this sneaky habit, get the most out of your time, and have a more stress-free schedule.
GOLD Series programs stand for “Great Opportunities for Learning and Development” and are Pack Point Certified! For a complete listing of GOLD events, see the online calendar. For more information, please contact the Student Success Center at studentsuccess@northern.edu
Internship, Career Fairs
Searching for an internship or employment opportunity? Need to make new career connections? Make a plan to attend the Business, Industry, and Government Career & Internship Fair or the Teacher Career Fair on Feb. 28 in Sioux Falls. Students attending will get the chance to interact with 100+ national employers.
Seraph Brass Concert
Aberdeen Community Concert Association presents Seraph Brass, America’s top female brass quintet, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater. The event is co-sponsored by the NSU Fine Arts Department, and Northern students may attend free with a student ID. Individual concert tickets are available at Interior Design Concepts, 21 N. Main St., Aberdeen, or online at aberdeencommunityconcerts.org.
Noon Forums
The Spring 2023 Noon Forum series continues Wednesday, March 1, at noon in the Beulah Williams Library Round Room, featuring “What is your Umwelt? What Animals Teach us about Perspective,” with Chris Puglisi and Shalini Matthews. Noon Forums, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by Faculty Senate, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and the Center for Public History and Civic Engagement. Remaining topics for the semester are:
• March 8: Five Hidden but Essential Women Composers (Marla Fogderud)—Forum in LIB 117
• March 29: Northern Innovation and Startup Center (Josh Latterell)
• April 5: Five Essential Things to Know about Ukraine (Steven Usitalo)
• April 12: Chat GPT: You Ain’t ready for AI, but AI is Ready for You (Grant Manhart)
• April 19: Bullying in the Ivory Tower: What Happens in Higher Education (Bixi Qiao)
• April 26: The Good Country: A History of the Midwest (Jon Lauck)
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)
National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) will be administered at Northern this March. Your support will be critical to collecting a representative student sample. First-year and senior students will receive prompts directly from NSSE (nsse@nssesurvey.org) beginning March 1. NSSE (pronounced "nessie") provides educators with an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college. NSSE annually collects information at hundreds of four-year colleges and universities about first-year and senior students' participation in programs and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development. The results provide an estimate of how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending college. For more information, click here.
Darci Bultema Voice Studio Recital
In honor of Women’s History Month, students from the voice studio of Darci Bultema will present “The Heart of a Woman: A Celebration of Art Songs Composed by Women” on Thursday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. in Krikac Auditorium. Featured performers are: Tatum Waldrop, Natalie Miles, Chloe Carroll, Emily Palmer, Morgan Rathjen, Hope Patton, Meghan Sheets, Anya Jones, Alexis Martin and Julia Orr. Admission is free.
Northern Fort Playhouse
The Northern Fort Playhouse is a collaboration between the Northern State University School of Fine Arts and Fort Sisseton Commission, giving Northern theatre students, alumni and guest professionals additional acting and theatre production experiences. The Playhouse is looking for someone to construct the sets for the 2023 season. If you or someone you know would be interested in set construction, please contact Stacy Bauer at stacy.bauer@northern.edu or 605-626-2521. Auditions for the 2023 productions will be announced soon.
Student Organization Award Nominations
Student Organization Award Nominations for the South Dakota Board of Regents are due Friday, March 3. Selected organizations are publicly recognized at the March Board of Regents meeting here at Northern, receive a plaque and additional recognition on campus. Please submit nominations on the attached form(s) to Megan Frewaldt (Megan.Frewaldt@northern.edu) or Suite 222, Avera Student Center, by 5 p.m. March 3 in the following categories:
• Award for Academic Excellence
• Community Service Award
• Award for Organizational Leadership
MSA & uNity Dinner
The MSA & uNity Dinner has been postponed until Thursday, March 2, during lunch. The lunch will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Wolves Den in the Avera Student Center for $8.25 (plus tax) cash/credit or meal plan. Multicultural Student Affairs, the uNity Club, and Dining Services will host a traditional food event for students, faculty, and staff to celebrate Black History Month. After collecting menu-item requests, MSA and the uNity Club, collaborated with Sodexo Dining head chef, Ray Ladewig, to prepare a delicious meal, knowing that good food brings everyone together.
Mobile Market and Pantry
The next Mobile Market and Pantry will be Tuesday, March 7, 2-4 p.m. in the Avera Student Center Mall. With only a PACK PASS (student ID), you may receive free pantry items, produce and pastries. Hosted in partnership with the Salvation Army of Aberdeen.
Prescription Medication Takeback
Prescription Medication Takeback, a partnership between Campus Safety and Aberdeen Police Department, will be Tuesday, March 7, 11 a.m.-noon, in the Avera Student Center Mall. More than half of the people who misuse prescription medications obtain them from a friend or family member. Safely disposing of prescriptions that you no longer need is the easiest way to keep others safe. This event will provide an opportunity for students, faculty, staff, and community members who have accumulated unneeded prescription medications to dispose of them in a safe, confidential way. Officer Angela Senger will be present to receive and dispose of medications. Dispose RX packets will also be available for safe disposal of medications at home.
Tools to Reduce Cheating; Thursday, March 9, 3 p.m., MJ 340
Join Instructional Technology Services and CETL for a discussion on technological and pedagogical tools that can help discourage cheating.
ALICE Active Shooter Training
ALICE Active Shooter Training will be Tuesday, March 21, 2-3 p.m., and Wednesday, March 22, 9-10 a.m., in the JFAC Berggren Recital Hall (181). The training provides tangible skills and techniques to help protect yourself, your students and colleagues in an active shooter situation. While violence on campus is rare, preparation improves response time, limits loss and improves overall campus safety. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate. Hosted by the Aberdeen Police Department and Campus Safety, this informative and interactive training will improve your confidence responding in an active shooter situation.
AUCS Concert
The Aberdeen University/Civic Symphony concert featuring special guests, The Texas Tenors, is now set for Tuesday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Jewett Theater. The event will also feature the winners of the NSU Concerto/Aria Competition: Megan Dockter, a clarinetist from Watertown, and Eli Houdyshell, a tenor from Pierre. Previous ticket sales will be honored. Tickets are also available for purchase at the JFAC Box Office on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from noon-2 p.m. Cost is $25 for adult general admission, $15 for seniors and NSU faculty/staff, and $10 for all students. Cash or check only will be accepted.
Senior Art Show
“Form and Function,” the senior art show for NSU student Kai Brisk, will take place March 20-31. The opening reception will be 6:30-8 p.m. March 24 in the JFAC Gallery.
ACCESS Northern to Launch in April
Student Accessibility Services is excited to announce the launch of a new, fully ADA compliant platform called ACCESS Northern. This platform manages reasonable academic and non-academic accommodations and aims to improve the experience and access for both students and faculty.
• ACCESS Northern will allow students to seamlessly submit electronic accommodation documents and requests; connect with note-takers, schedule exams and more.
• ACCESS Northern will provide faculty a more efficient tool to assist in providing students their ADA mandated accommodations. Faculty will be able to receive (and look up) approved accommodations for their enrolled students and have a secure space to upload and receive exam information. The platform is scheduled for launch this April.
GiveNDay is Coming! April 5-6, 2023
The Northern State Foundation is excited to host our third annual day of giving, GiveNDay, on April 5, 2023! This 24-hour challenge is designed to inspire all supporters of Northern to come together as we work to provide funding across the university.
Last year was a huge success as our community raised $330,000 from over 1,800 donors. Also known as #OneDayOnePack, this year’s goal is to receive support from 2,500 donors in 24 hours.
We need your help! We are looking for students, faculty or alumni to represent their school, department, organization or team as Ambassadors. As Ambassadors, you have the opportunity to share your love of NSU with your family and friends via social media, and potentially earn rewards while doing it! Interested? Reach out to the Foundation at nsualumni@northern.edu.
Spring 2023 Graduation Apparel
Attention Spring 2023 Graduates: Graduation apparel will be available for purchase on the website listed below until April 2, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Click on these links to purchase:
• Purchase graduation apparel here.
• Purchase graduation announcements here.