Talk:Valley City State University

Information needs updating

A few notes where information could be updated

1) Second paragraph of the top area.

- Currently says "VCSU offers over 80 undergraduate programs and an online Master of Education degree program." Should say "VCSU offers more than 65 undergraduate programs and multiple online graduate programs including a Master of Education, Master of Arts in Teaching and Master of Science in Business Information Systems degrees." Reference: https://www.vcsu.edu/about-vcsu/

2) In the box of quick information

- Students are currently listed as 1,452. The correct number is 1,658 https://www.vcsu.edu/vcsu-enrolls-4th-largest-freshman-class-in-school-history-and-sees-growth-in-on-campus-student-population/ Tammyjoanderson.taft (talk) 20:37, 2 July 2023 (UTC)

Additional Information - Presidents

Presidents

VCSU has had 15 different presidents since the founding of the school. The following individuals served as presidents of the school and later University. Source; https://www.vcsu.edu/about-vcsu/who-we-are/history/

- James W. Sifton (1890 – 1892)

- George A. McFarland (1892 – 1918) During McFarland's tenure, the school grew from 35 students to 1,343 students.

- Carlos Eben Allen (1918 – 1936)

- Joachim Frederick Weltzin III (1936 – 1938)

- James Emery Cox (1938 – 1942)

- Eugene Henry Kleinpell (1942 – 1946)

- Roscoe Leonard Lokken (1946 – 1970)

- Howard Coburn Rose (1970 – 1974)

- Ted DeVries (1974 – 1982)

- Charles B. House (1982 – 1993)

- Ellen-Earle Chaffee (1993 – 2008) During Dr. Chaffee's tenure, VCSU became one of the first "laptop universities" in the United states by offering laptops to every faculty and student.

- Steven W. Shirley (2008 -2014)

- Tisa A. Mason (2014 – 2017)

- Margaret Dahlberg (Interim President July 2014-December 2014, December 2017-December 2018)

- Alan D. LaFave (2018 – Present) Tammyjoanderson.taft (talk) 20:48, 2 July 2023 (UTC)

Additional Information

CAMPUS

The campus of Valley City State is 55 acres in Valley City, ND. The campus has a forested hillside on the south and the Sheyenne River on the north. It has been listed as the most beautiful campus in North Dakota. Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/hannahloewentheil/most-beautiful-college-in-every-state

There are several notable buildings on campus. https://www.vcsu.edu/about-vcsu/campus-facilities/

McFarland Hall

McFarland Hall was built in 1892 at a cost of $26, 220. It was built of red brick and included the library, assembly room, cloakroom and educational spaces. The building also had space for a training school that housed kindergarten students through high school. This gave students attending Valley City Normal School the opportunity to student teach without leaving campus. This was one of the first schools in the region to offer practice teaching for future teachers.

Rhoades Science Center

The Science center was renovated in 2013 and includes North Dakota's only planetarium.

Vangstad Auditorium

Vangstad Auditorium was built in 1902 for $40,000. There are several unique parts of this building including the auditorium that has a dome ceiling, stained glass windows, statues and an organ. The building was renamed in 1971 to honor Lena and Thilda Vangstad, long-time faculty at VCSU. It was renovated in 2016 to create space for business offices and classrooms. https://www.newsdakota.com/2016/05/05/vcsu-to-hold-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-on-vangstad-auditorium-may-5th/

Center for the Fine Arts

In 2022, VCSU opened the $32 million Center for the Fine Arts on campus. The Music and Art departments are housed in the building and the space includes various labs and a performance hall.

Footbridge

There is a footbridge that spans the Sheyenne River that leads to the front door of the university. The bridge connects campus with the city of Valley City. Originally, the bridge was built out of wood in 1892 to connect the Normal School with town. In 1901, a suspension bridge was built and cost $1,940. In 1992, a teenager attempted to drive a car across the bridge and damaged the decking, beams, cable ancors and railing. The bridge was restored and reinforced and brick planters now sit at both entrances to prevent a similar situation.

W.E. "Bill" Osmon Fieldhouse

The W. E. Osmon Building for Physical Education was named on October 15, 1983 and is also known as "The Bubble." This building houses the basketball and other athletic programs on campus. Bill Osmon graduated from VCSU in 1942 and served as athletic director at teh school from 1947 to 1982. Source: https://www.inforum.com/obituaries/w-e-bill-osmon

Tammyjoanderson.taft (talk) 21:11, 2 July 2023 (UTC)

Foot bridge photo

The footbridge connects the city and the University. The original footbridge was built in 1892. For many of us that attended Valley City State University - we crossed the footbridge to and from the University daily. The bridge is a much loved icon of the university and the city. A good photo of the bridge is probably of the walls or offices of many alumni of the university. An article about Valley City State University certainly should contain a photo of this bridge. Richard N Horne (talk) 19:05, 10 August 2023 (UTC)