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
Northern, in partnership with Avera Health, will sponsor an on-campus vaccination clinic on Friday, Sept. 17:
When: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Avera Student Center Centennial Rooms
What: Both Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccinations will be available
How: Walk in or call 605-622-5273 to schedule an appointment
The event is open to all Northern faculty, staff, and students (12 and older). Those under 18 must have a legal guardian present. Per Avera Health, face coverings must be worn within the Centennial Rooms during the vaccination clinic. Each student who elects to get vaccinated will receive $25 in Thunderbucks. (Student ID required).
NSU/Aberdeen Women's Choir
It's not too late! Tuesday, Sept. 7, is the last day new members can join the NSU/Aberdeen Women's Choir. Come be part of the vision for a wonderful ensemble that combines the talent and abilities of NSU university students and the greater Aberdeen community. No experience necessary. Dr. van Gent's hope is that this inaugural semester of the ensemble will grow into a strong, well-established choir for many years to come. Come sing with us! Email Dr. van Gent for more information!
Sept. 7: Promotion and Tenure Event
Join CETL for a discussion on the promotion and tenure process on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 3:30 in MJ 201. Members of the Promotion and Tenure committee will be there to answer your questions. FREE snacks will be provided to those who attend in person. If you are unable to attend in person, please join via this zoom link.
Intramurals Update
- The Corn Hole Tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 8, starts at 5 p.m. on the campus green (between Great Plains East and West).
- The Three Point Contest on Sept. 12 starts at 5 p.m. in Dacotah Hall.
- Registration: The deadline for intramurals is Sept. 25 at midnight. Register your team at this link.
- The Madden Tournament is Sunday, Sept. 19. Register at this link.
International Programs – Gypsy Day Parade
Do you have a connection to your heritage and its culture? Do you want to represent it in the NSU Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 2? Join the Office of International Programs as we march through Aberdeen representing the great diversity of our international students and community. Joining us in the parade; you may carry a flag or represent your culture in some other way. If you are interested, please complete this survey. Contact Stephen Deduck at stephen.deduck@northern.edu if you have any questions.
Howling Wolves
This month’s prize is an AMAZON FIRE STICK!!!
How to Earn Points
All regular season home competitions are worth 10 points. Some games are worth 20 points and are promoted as “Double Howling Wolves Points” games. If you attend two or more separate athletic events in the same day (i.e. football and volleyball) then you will receive an additional 5 points for that day. Double-header events (i.e. basketball, baseball, and softball) are worth 10 points throughout the entirety of the doubleheader.
All points reset each month allowing for a new opportunity each month to win the monthly prize.
All home athletic events are FREE for NSU Students who have a valid student ticket so there is no required cost to be a part of the Howling Wolves.
All Howling Wolves members are highly encouraged to sit in the designated Student Section at all home athletic events. Become an active member of the Howling Wolves Student Fan Club and help us defend our territory! GO WOLVES!!
**Points earned while working Wolves athletic events are excluded
**Points and events are subject to change without notice
**Playoff games and exhibitions are excluded unless noted otherwise
Expecations of Howling Wolves Members
- Have your student ticket at games to earn points
- Stand together in the Howling Wolves Student Section
- Cheer loud and make noise
- Stand up, clap, and sing along with the NSU Fight Song
- Stay for the entirety of the game
Where to Get Points
Get your tickets and check out upcoming events for this month by creating an account and snagging your tickets by clicking HERE
Contact Information
For questions or more information please email howlingwolves@northern.edu.
Wolves Ticket Information
Faculty and staff have two package options available. Package details are as follows:
Faculty/Staff – General Admission: $150ea
- One (1) General Admission ticket to all home events.
- Limit two (2) per employee.
Faculty/Staff – Reserved FB, Gen Admission: $250ea
- One (1) Reserved ticket to football.
- Chairback seat in section 200 or 210
- One (1) General Admission ticket to all other home events.
- Limit two (2) per employee.
For more information about NSU Wolves tickets, please contact Austin Hieb at austin.hieb@northern.edu or 605-228-9514.
Regional Sports Complex Ribbon Cutting
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held for the NSU Regional Sports Complex, which includes Dacotah Bank Stadium and Koehler Hall of Fame Softball Field. The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10. Attendees should use the northwest entrance of Dacotah Bank Stadium.
CAB’s Annual 9/11 Blood Drive
The CAB annual 9/11 Blood Drive will be 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 10 in the Avera Student Center Centennial Rooms. 2021 is the 20th Anniversary of the Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. It was after this horrible event in our history that CAB joined organizations across the country in coordinating blood drives to support the survivors of 9/11. During the first two days after the attack, 1.5 million units of blood were donated nationwide. CAB has continued hosting annual 9/11 blood drives to honor the lives lost, the first responders who served, and the survivors who will never forget that day. Today, every three seconds someone will receive a blood transfusion and it is made possible by volunteer blood donors! Visit Vitalant’s website to schedule your blood donation.
Multicultural Lounge Office Hours
The Athletics Council on Community, Culture, and Social Justice (CCSJ) and Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA) will be hosting weekly Office Hours in the Multicultural Lounge, Avera Student Center 201, on Wednesdays from 8 to 10 a.m. for the fall semester. This is an opportunity to build community at Northern. Come meet the student leaders of CCSJ and MSA, learn about their programs and events, let us know what you’d like to see on campus, and share your experiences on campus.
Student Affairs Annual Report
The Student Affairs 2020-2021 Annual Report is available here. A progress report on the Student Affairs Strategic Action Plan (2021-2025) is the heart of the annual report. We also proudly highlight our teams’ contributions across campus and hope you will enjoy learning about two outstanding recent graduates. We are also soliciting feedback on our Strategic Action Plan as we move into year two. If you have suggestions, please share them through this online form.
Welcome to the Silent Book Club!
This isn’t your regular book club. No set books to read (that's the "silent" part), no pressure to share or discuss. Never worry if you haven't finished the book. No judgment.
The Silent Book Club model means we are not all reading the same book at the same pace. There is no homework and no pressure to lead or contribute to a discussion. We introduce our books and ourselves at the start of the meeting and then we dive into reading for an hour.
Simply bring yourself and whatever you're currently reading. (We don't care about genres or formats, anything goes!) All readers are welcome—even e-readers.
While some silent reading parties have a strict ‘No Talking!’ rule, no one will be shushed or shamed at Silent Book Club. The Silent Book Club is about community. Everyone is welcome, and anyone can join. Please consider joining if you are unable to find time and space to just enjoy a book. That's it! No pressure whatsoever.
The Silent Book Club meets the first Tuesday of every month from 4 to 5 p.m. First meeting is on the Campus Green Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. Inclement weather? Meet in the library Round Room. For additional information, contact Nicole.Christiansen@northern.edu. Hosted by Williams Library.
Parking Considerations
When parking on area streets, please be considerate of the neighborhood and abide by all parking policies and rules. Vehicles that are illegally parked on city streets may be ticketed or even towed by the Aberdeen Police Department.
Campus parking permits are also still available for purchase. Ticketing on campus will begin at 8 a.m. Sept. 7. Northern’s two types of permits are:
Gray Permit: This permit costs $135 for the year and allows you to park in any lot except the visitor lot at the northwest corner of the Johnson Fine Arts Center and the visitor spots in the Washington Street lot. You can purchase this permit online here and pick it up at the Parking Office on the second floor of the Physical Plant the day after submitting your payment online.
Orange Permit: This permit costs $81 for the year and allows you to park in any parking lot except the Washington Street lots, Steele Hall/Great Plains West lot and the visitor lot by the Johnson Fine Arts Center. You can purchase this permit online here and pick it up at the Parking Office on the second floor of the Physical Plant the day after submitting your payment online.
You are encouraged to purchase your permit online. Permits may also be purchased in person at the Physical Plant, though cash or check is required. When purchasing your permit either online or in person, your license plate number is required.
Residents of Wolves Memorial Suites and Great Plains West who have reserved their permits through the Residence Life office need to go there to pick them up and pay for them.
Game-Day Parking Rules: Neither parking permit will be valid in campus parking lots around the stadium during home football games. Vehicles must be removed from these lots as follows:
- Herret Street parking lot: by noon the Friday before a Saturday game.
- Barnett Center, JFAC lots: by 5:15 p.m. the Friday before a Saturday game.
Violators will be towed at the owner’s expense. The football games are Sept. 11 and 25, Oct. 2 and 16, and Nov. 6.
The NSU Tutoring Center
The NSU Tutoring Center is now located on the first floor of the library and offers free one-on-one assistance for all non-math general education classes and many upper level courses. Our tutors are recommended by faculty members and go through a rigorous semester-long training process. Students can stop by on a walk-in basis or email (nsututoringcenter@northern.edu) to make an appointment. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, with evening hours coming soon. If you have questions about the Center, please contact Vicki Evans, director, at vicki.evans@northern.edu.
The Math Help Center
The Math Help Center is also located on the first floor of the library and provides free help to general education mathematics students on a walk-in basis (no appointments needed). Tutors are available Mondays through Thursdays from noon until 8 pm, Fridays from noon until 4 pm, and Sundays from 4 pm until 8 pm. Hours will be adjusted during holiday weekends. If you have questions about the Center, please contact Melanie Jacobson, director, at melanie.jacobson@northern.edu.
The NSU Supplemental Instruction
The NSU Supplemental Instruction program (SI) is a free, non-remedial program which encourages collaborative learning for students enrolled in academically challenging courses. Students participating in SI receive support through regularly scheduled, out-of-class, peer-facilitated sessions. Supplemental instruction helps students learn subject-specific study strategies and better understand course material. Faculty can request SI in their courses by emailing nsusi@northern.edu. If you have any questions, please contact Tabitha DeVoss, SI Coordinator, at nsusi@northern.edu.
Faculty Showcase Recital
The NSU School of Fine Arts will hold its annual Faculty Showcase Recital on Thursday, Sept. 16. The showcase will be held in the Johnson Fine Arts Center Harvey and Cynthia Jewett Theater, beginning at 7:30 p.m. and featuring an array of solo and chamber performances by the talented NSU music faculty. The event is free of charge, though donations will be accepted for the music scholarship fund. The public is welcome. For more information about the showcase recital, please contact Laura Haar at Laura.Haar@northern.edu.
Tech Services Request System
Northern Technology Services utilizes an online work request system to assign and track requests for technical assistance. If you need assistance, please visit https://support.northern.edu and log on using your Northern credentials. Based on the ticket type, the request will automatically be routed to the appropriate department and staff member. This system will allow us to manage our workload in an efficient and effective manner and provide us valuable data related to the services we provide and guide us in future decision making. We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to providing you support!
Greenhouse and Recycling
Dr. Jodie Ramsay is now the manager of the MJ and JSC greenhouses. Please contact her at 605-626-3384 or Jodie.Ramsay@northern.edu with any questions related to the greenhouses or the plant sale (held once or twice per year). For questions related to plastic recycling or to report bins that are full, please contact Kelly Pulis, biology lab manager, at 605-626-3437 or Kelly.Pulis@northern.edu. Please note: aluminum cans can be placed into the same bins as plastic bottles. Student workers sort and process all recycling from the bins, so please make their job easier by dumping out any remaining liquid before placing items into the bins.
Registrar/Financial Aid Move
The NSU Financial Aid and Registrar’s offices have moved from Dacotah Hall 103 to the Jewett Science Center 209A through the end of September. Financial Aid can be reached at 605-626-2640 or finaid@northern.edu, and the Registrar’s Office can be reached at 605-626-2012 or records@northern.edu.
Gypsy Day Parade is Oct. 2
Gypsy Day 2021 is Saturday, Oct. 2, with the 105th annual parade that morning in downtown Aberdeen. Parade registration is now open, as of 8 a.m. June 1, at this link. Entrants will decorate their float based on the theme, and a panel of judges comprised of Northern and community leaders will present awards in various categories. Homecoming week takes place Sept. 27-Oct. 2, with the theme of “Wolves of the Galaxy.” The week’s festivities will also include coronation of a queen and marshal. This year, the annual Gypsy Day football game will be played in the brand new Dacotah Bank Stadium, part of the Regional Sports Complex opening this fall on the NSU campus. For ticket information, visit nsuwolves.com. For more information, visit the NSU homecoming webpage or contact the NSU Student Affairs office at 605-626-3007.
SDBOR Outreach Session
The South Dakota Board of Regents will hold outreach sessions to update campus communities and local legislators about the Senate Bill 55 Task Force process and recommendations. The meeting on the NSU campus will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, in Johnson Fine Arts Center Room 117. Representatives of the Board of Regents, its staff, and public university presidents will be on hand to visit with area residents. The public is invited to attend. The task force takes its name from a bill approved by the 2020 South Dakota Legislature, which directed the Board of Regents to create a task force to study the operations and functions of higher education institutions under the regents’ control.
2021 Common Read
Northern’s fall 2021 Common Read book will be “Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century,” by Alice Wong. Wong will deliver the 2021 NSU Larry and Julie Poeppel Family Common Read Lecture at 7 p.m. Oct. 13. Attendees are invited to gather in the Johnson Fine Arts Center’s Jewett Theater to listen to Wong, who will present live via Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. Students may order copies of the book through Akademos when they order their fall textbooks. The book is also available for purchase at the NSU Wolf Shoppe for $12.95 (plus tax). Read more here!
Name Tag Orders
NSU Communications and Marketing orders name tags for employees once a month. To request a name tag for the next campus-wide order, fill out this online form.
Wolves Athletics
Stay up to date with NSU Wolves news on the athletics webpage.