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: 22 (18 students; 4 faculty/staff). Total quarantined or isolated: 72 (12 on campus; 60 off campus). (Numbers as of Nov. 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.
International Education Week
The Office of International Programs is proud to announce it will host International Education Week with a variety of cultural events. This week is in celebration of the benefits of global diversity and academic exchange programs around the world. Come join us at Lincoln Gallery in Lincoln Hall and beyond for fun and educational events and snacks.
International Education Week (IEW), Nov. 16-20, 2020, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is collaborative effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences. We are excited to see you there!
Schedule of Events
Monday, Nov. 16
Tea Time - British tea and British cookies
1 - 3 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery (ongoing)
International Greetings Class
1 - 1:30 p.m. - International Greetings Class, Lincoln Hall Gallery
2 - 2:30 p.m. - International Greetings Class, Lincoln Hall Gallery
Learn how to say greetings in many languages from international students and the staff of OIP.
Study Abroad Workshop for Faculty planning on leading a FLP
4 - 5 p.m. - Zoom Session (TBA)
Meet Julie from ISA, one of NSU’s Study Abroad Program providers, and learn how to plan and execute a successful Faculty Led Study Abroad Program.
Meditation and Healing Event
6:30 - 8 p.m. - Wolves Den
With finals around the corner “Healing” is a trending buzz word in South Korea. Music is a wonderful method to bring everyone together, provide healing, and calm nerves. Join us in the Den where there will be music and meditation session in preparation for upcoming exams.
Tuesday, Nov. 17
Tea Time - Japanese tea and snacks
1 - 3 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery (ongoing)
Japanese Language Class
1 - 1:30 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery
Join Kirika Shimmei, in an engaging Japanese class and learn about Japanese culture and customs.
Japanese Bookmark Making Class
2 - 2:30 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery
Kirika Shimmei, will teach us to write our names in Japanese and create a traditional Japanese bookmark.
Kirika Shimmei, Japan native, is NSU’s coordinator for Japan Outreach Initiative. This is her second year at NSU teaching Northern, the Aberdeen community and beyond about Japanese culture, customs and language.
Award Winning Chinese Film Night
6:30 - 9 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery
Watch “To Live" film with us. It is a Grand Prize winner at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival and recipient of the Best Foreign Language Film award at the 1995 BAFTA Awards, It is a film that is fascinating testament about ordinary human lives conducted under terrifying conditions, when one's fate could hinge on a chance remark or an instant political edict from a zealous teenager.
Wednesday, Nov. 18
Tea Time - Chinese Tea and Chinese Almond cookies
1 - 3 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery (ongoing)
Intro Chinese Language Class
1 - 1:45 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery
Come join us and learn about the Chinese language, culture and customs with Becky Nelson.
Chinese Character Craft
2 - 2:45 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery
Becky Nelson will teach us how to make a Chinese paper craft.
Becky Nelson, a South Dakota native, spend almost 9 years in China before joining OIP in May of this year. Becky’s experience and passion for international education is second to none.
Study Abroad 101
4 - 5 p.m. - Zoom Session: https://northern.zoom.us/j/94724894901
Join NSU’s graduate student, Michael Abu-Sirriya in his study abroad talk. Michael spent almost 6 years in the Middle East before coming back to Northern to pursue his master’s degree. Experience his excitement for international education and learn about Study Abroad opportunities available through Northern.
Thursday, Nov. 19
Tea Time - Russian Black Tea and Sushki Russian snack
1 - 3 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery (ongoing)
Ornaments Around the World and Traditional Polish Christmas Celebration
1 - 1:45 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery
Make ornaments with Dominika Blum and learn about Polish Christmas
Cultural Differences and Observations
2 - 2:45 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery
Join international students and OIP staff for a fun conversation about the cultural differences, customs, do’s and don’ts around the world.
Japanese Cooking Class
6 - 7 p.m. - Virtual Session with Kirika
Join Kirika for a fun Japanese cooking class. She will be demonstrating how to make Omuraisu, which is a one plate main dish. Please register for the class here so you can get the invite to join the class and get the ingredients you will need to make the dish.
Friday, Nov. 20
Tea Time - Chinese Black Tea with Baklava
1 - 3 p.m. - Lincoln Hall (ongoing)
Korean Language Class
1 - 1:30 p.m. - Lincoln Hall Gallery
Join Doyeon, our exchange student from South Korea, in engaging Korean class and learn about Korean culture and customs.
Experiences Living and Working Abroad
2 - 3 p.m. - Zoom Session: https://northern.zoom.us/j/94724894901
Michael Abu-Sirriya and Stephen Deduck will share their experiences working and living abroad in the Middle East and Russia. Stephen Deduck studied abroad in Russia and also got his masters degree there before joining NSU last month.
Diversity Presentation with Sheridan Blanford
The NSU Athletics Council on Community, Culture and Social Justice, in conjunction with the university’s office for Multicultural Student Affairs, will welcome Sheridan Blanford of INcompass Excellence on Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. for a presentation on Leading through Diversity and Inclusion Allyship. Blanford’s presentation will be streamed for students, faculty and staff on the Barnett Center video board. Blanford will cover the topics of becoming an inclusive thought leader, leadership through a lens of diversity and inclusion, race and allyship, and the history of racism. A question and answer session will take place at the end of the presentation, with attendees able to ask their questions through an anonymous online service called Mentimeter. Question service links will be provided at the beginning of the presentation. Members of the campus community who are in quarantine and would like to attend virtually should contact Ashley Gauer at ashley.gauer@northern.edu for more information. Sheridan Blanford is the founder and CEO of INcompass Excellence, where she serves as a chief strategist for all diversity, equity, and inclusion matters for companies, organizations and departments, deploying strategies that institute inclusive organizational culture. To learn more, click here.
Plan Ahead to Return Rental Books on Time
Students: If you rented books from the NSU Wolf Shoppe this fall, please note that they must returned to the bookstore by Dec. 16, 2020. With the altered semester schedule, on-campus instruction is ending at Thanksgiving break, so we ask that you please make a plan now to ensure your rentals are returned on time. To return rentals, you may:
- Drop them off at the Wolf Shoppe 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Mail them to: NSU Wolf Shoppe, 1200 S. Jay St, Aberdeen, SD 57401. Be sure to choose a shipping method that will get them in the store by Dec. 16.
Any rentals not received by the Dec. 16 date will be billed to you.
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, which 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. 9. For more information on how students can apply for this award, please visit northern.edu/undergraduate-research. For questions, contact NSU’s Undergraduate Research Coordinator at andrew.russell@northern.edu.
NSU’s First Generation Celebration is Wednesday, Nov. 11.
NSU recognizes and celebrates all students, faculty, and staff who are the first in their families to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Specific events include:
- Student Center Tabling
- Student Center Mall | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Stop by to grab your Frist Generation College Student Sticker and enter to win prizes
- First Generation Faculty and Alumni Panel
- Centennial Rooms | 6:15 p.m.
- Hear from first generation NSU faculty and staff members and recent first generation NSU grads; prizes will be drawn!
- First Generation Celebration Game Night sponsored by the TRIO Scholar Association
- Centennial Rooms | 7-9 p.m.
- Join us for fun games and snacks
Check out the NSU TRIO SSS Social media pages for first generation college student highlights all week!
COVID-19 Mass Testing Events Scheduled for Aberdeen, other S.D. Communities
The South Dakota Department of Health, in partnership with the South Dakota National Guard and Office of Emergency Management, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will provide drive-thru COVID-19 testing in 10 South Dakota communities over the next two weeks.
These events are open to the public and testing will come at no charge to the individual receiving the test. Testing will be offered in Aberdeen, Chamberlain, Custer, Madison, Martin, Mobridge, Pierre, Spearfish, Watertown, and Yankton.
Aberdeen’s testing will take place at the Fairgrounds, 400 24th Ave. N.W., on the following dates:
- Nov. 12 and 13, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Nov. 14, 8 a.m.-noon
The complete list of dates and times when testing will be available in each community is posted on the State COVID-19 website.
Pre-registration is required to secure a testing time. Register by going to the website. After registering, individuals will receive an appointment and a test voucher that must be printed and brought to the testing site. People without appointments will only be tested if time slots are not full.
Testing locations will use a self-administered nasal swab for specimen collection that allows individuals to swab their own nose, supervised by trained medical staff. Results are delivered within 3-5 business days. Individuals being tested will receive an email notification when results are available and can log on to the website to view and print laboratory results.
While awaiting results, individuals who have been tested should follow CDC guidelines and take steps to help prevent the virus from spreading to people in their home and community.
CEC Tabling
Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) will be tabling in the Student Center on Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everyone is invited to stop by and pick up a card to send a positive message to someone else to celebrate World Kindness Day.
Little Wolves Track and Field Championships
NSU Wolves Track and Field will host the Little Wolves Track and Field Championships on Friday, Nov. 13. Competition begins at 6 p.m. with registration taking place 5-6 p.m. in the main hallway. The Little Wolves Championships is open to boys and girls through the sixth grade, competing in the shot put, javelin, long jump, 55, 200, 400 and 800. Cost is $20 per participant with unlimited event entries. Medals will be handed out to the top three finishers. For more information, click here.
NSU Choral Holiday Concert
The NSU Choral Holiday Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Jewett Theater. The concert will include performances by the NSU Concert Choir, Chamber Singers and Early Musick Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Timothy Woods. Due to COVID-19, admission is free to all 2020-21 NSU School of Fine Arts events. Limited seating is available; passes will be distributed at the door on a first come, first served basis. Masks are required for all patrons, and attendees are asked to follow appropriate social-distancing protocols. The concert will also be livestreamed on the NSU Music Department Facebook page.
3D Modeling Workshop
Williams Library is hosting a 3D modeling workshop via zoom at 4 p.m. Nov. 18. Learn the basics of 3D modeling and how it applies to 3D printing. The event is free for all NSU students, staff and faculty. To attend, please register by Nov. 13 by contacting Lynn Klundt at Lynn.Klundt@northern.edu.
Winter Commencement
Northern will hold an in-person winter commencement ceremony, open to all 2020 NSU graduates, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in the Barnett Center. Only graduating students, along with faculty and select staff, will be allowed inside the Barnett Center for the ceremony. For parents, friends and loved ones, the event will be live streamed through the NSU Facebook page and locally through cable channel 12. Attendees at the ceremony will also be required to wear masks, as mandated by the S.D. Board of Regents. Participants will also be appropriately spaced throughout the Barnett Center.
Volunteer Opportunity: Bell Ringing
New bell-ringing availability and second site available: The Salvation Army’s Walmart stand is now available as early as Saturday, Nov. 21. Act now to pick what could be the warmest weekend at the busiest location. Walmart Pharmacy entrance is also available! Sign up now online here, and help to “Rescue Christmas” for the most vulnerable in our community.
‘Thrift Style’ exhibition at NSU Williams Library
A nationally touring exhibition is now open in NSU Williams Library. “Thrift Style” explores the reuse of feed sacks to make clothing and other household objects and illuminates how the “upcycling” of these bags mutually benefitted 20th-century consumers and businesses. With 41 works from patterns to garments, it serves as an example of past ingenuity that can inform today’s efforts towards sustainability. This exhibit is hosted by the South Dakota Germans from Russia Cultural Center, which is also located in Williams Library. The exhibition is organized by the Historic Costume and Textile Museum and the Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, both at Kansas State University, and ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance. The exhibit, which will be on display at Williams Library through Nov. 30, is free and open for public viewing from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. To accommodate appropriate social distancing, groups of 10 or fewer are able to view the exhibit at one time. Please note that masks are required. For more information, call 605-626-7770.
2020 Fall Faculty and Staff Trainings
Instructional Technology Services is holding faculty and staff training sessions in October and November that cover a variety of technology topics. Please check out the schedule, then register for any sessions that interest you!
Northern Lights is now taking submissions for the 2021 issue of Northern Lights. Students can submit their stories, poetry, art, creative nonfiction, photography, original essays, short films and songs to northernlights@northern.edu or message us on Facebook! Accepted submissions will be included in our Literary Magazine that is released in March 2021. Please submit all written works as a Word document (.docx) or a PDF (.pdf), and any artworks as a JPEG (.jpeg) or JPG (.jpg) file. Submissions are open until Dec. 31, 2020. If you have any questions, contact our president, Madi Filber, madi.filber@wolves.northern.edu, and she can answer any questions concerning how to submit or other questions.
Career Services Workshop Series
Career Services has also created a workshop series that will be available via Zoom to help prepare for this exciting event! These workshops include:
- Elevator Pitch and Networking Preparation
- Interview and Job Fair Preparation
- How to Use the Virtual Job Fair System
The dates, times, and Zoom links for these workshops can be found on the Career Services' Facebook page or on Wolf Work, (see 'Career Events', 'Career Workshops’). To learn more, or for assistance preparing for this event, please contact Career Services at 605-626-3007 or careerservices@northern.edu!
Community Boards
Students, faculty and staff: Do you serve on a community board or committee? We’re compiling a list of all members of the NSU campus community who serve on a board at the local, regional, statewide or national level. Please let us know by emailing communications@northern.edu.
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!
NSU Intramural Waiver Forms
NSU’s Intramural department is dedicated to providing the best and safest experience possible for all staff, faculty and registered students at Northern State University. In an effort to limit person-to-person contact, all Intramural and Fitness Center waiver forms will be processed electronically this year.
The online waiver serves two functions:
1) To grant swipe access to the fitness center in Barnett Center, and
2) To grant swipe access to the Dacotah Hall gym and the Athletic and Recreation Fields.
Waivers from prior semesters have been deactivated to ensure electronic submissions are gathered for every individual. All faculty, staff and students must complete the online waiver before access is granted or reinstated for previous users. Paper forms will NOT be accepted.
NSU ID cards are required for swipe access. If you do not have a card, please contact Jessica Beilke in the Finance Office to schedule an appointment to get one. The first ID issued to students is free; replacement IDs are $15 each. You must schedule an appointment - walk-ins will not be accepted. Contact Jessica at jessica.beilke@northern.edu or 605-626-2516.
Please understand that access will not be immediate. It may take 2-3 business days for your card to be activated, so be sure to submit early! Access the waiver here.
All indoor use will require face coverings, and maximum capacities will be enforced for each space in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. At this time, face coverings will be required in all spaces.
Intramural leagues are starting soon! Keep an eye out for flyers across campus or sign up on IMLeagues.com. For more information or to access and fill out the digital waiver or hours, please visit the NSU Intramural website.
Dacotah Hall Open Hours:
- Monday-Friday: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. and 6-10 pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wolves Team Store on Facebook
The Wolves Nike Team Store has a new Facebook Page! Search NSU Wolves Team Store or click this link to like the page and keep updated on store specials (in-store and online), new inventory, pop-up shops, and everyone's favorite the #WOOTD (Wolves Outfit of the Day)! And don’t forget you can also follow us on Twitter by searching @NSUWolves_Store. Go Wolves!
Exponent Moving Online
The Exponent is doing their part to eliminate surface spread of COVID-19 by moving issues solely online for fall and spring semester. New issues are released Thursdays bi-weekly at exponentnsu.wordpress.com.
Student Events Calendar and Virtual Events List
Looking for a way to stay connected during this strange social distancing time? Need a way to stay active? Just need a break from studying and Zooming? In quarantine and looking for things to do? Check out the Student Events Calendar or the Virtual Events list! The calendar has everything from student club meetings, Supplemental Instruction, Intramural Open Gyms, CAB events, service projects, and more! Or, check out the Virtual Events list to tour a world-renowned museum, visit a national park, or host a Hulu watch party with friends. As Brené Brown says, “Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” So, stay connected, Wolves. We’re in this together.
- Download the NSU Mobile App to have the list of Student Events at your fingertips:
- Student Events Calendar
- Virtual Events
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!
Community Spotlight: St. Mary’s Catholic Church
St. Mary’s Catholic Church has a food pantry and would like to make sure that any students who are food-insufficient know about it. It is a no-questions-asked program. Students call the church office and request food help. The phone number is 605-229-4422. There will be a box of food assembled with their name on it and placed in the common area of the church, and the student drops by to get it. St. Mary’s is one of many churches and organizations in the Aberdeen community committed to helping our students.
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.)
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
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.
Wolves Athletics
Stay up to date with NSU Wolves news on the athletics webpage.