College of Arts and Sciences Newsletter | 7 STUDENT ENGAGEMENT & SERVICE NSU nursing students hit the ground running in their first year, demonstrating a strong commitment to professional development and community service. The NSU Student Nurses Association (SNA) has been very active including events such as organizing a Trunk-or-Treat event in October, a stethoscope beading activity with Sanford Health in November, a donut delivery to construction workers in December and a visit to Conklin Clinics in February. SNA also participated in several on-campus events and joined efforts to host a blood drive on campus. Students also represented NSU Nursing at Christmoose with the Chamber, the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce’s signature holiday event featuring the popular moose races. Beyond campus, students embraced service-learning and volunteerism throughout the year. Nursing students sent Christmas cards to area nursing homes and volunteered at the 40&8 Fundraiser Evening. The SNA is also looking forward to participating in “Goalball” with the SD School for the Blind and Visually Impaired this spring. Through the First-Year Seminar course, our pre-nursing students provided fluoride varnish applications to area elementary students, combining early clinical skill-building with meaningful community health service. COMMUNITY OUTREACH & RECRUITMENT The Department of Nursing invested heavily in pipeline development and community engagement throughout the year, building connections with future students and the broader community. Recruitment efforts included Scrubs Camps held in Aberdeen and Huron, introducing high school students to nursing careers through hands-on activities and healthcare experiences. The department also participated in Camp Med for area youth and partnered with the NSU Science Department to offer Anatomy & Nursing Day tours, where visiting students explored healthcare education firsthand— including a cadaver lab experience with the Science department and simulation event with nursing. Additionally, the department supported a South Dakota HOSA training event, teaching students how to insert nasogastric tubes. Faculty and staff also volunteered to serve meals alongside the Salvation Army for Thanksgiving. Students and faculty maintained a strong presence at community and campus events, including the Gypsy Days Parade, Brown County Fair, NSU Move-In Days, the NSU Involvement Fair, the fall Career & Internship Fair, the Chamber Block Party, the Youth Career Expo and the first-ever “Chili ‘N with NSU Nursing” tailgating event. The department also engaged with area educators through a High School Teachers Back-to-School Workshop and an Area Counselors Conference. NSU Nursing also sponsored lunch for the Avera CNA training event and will be hosting some exciting events with SD AHEC in April including a board meeting in the new BHIC building and a Disaster Training event for all pre-health & counseling students in addition to community healthcare & EMS trainees. LOOKING AHEAD: 2026–2027 The Department of Nursing enters its second year with strong momentum and several key milestones on the horizon. The CCNE accreditation site visit is scheduled for fall 2026, a defining moment for the program. The first graduating cohort is anticipated in spring 2027, marking a historic achievement for NSU. Enrollment will continue to grow with the admission of third and fourth cohorts and the department is expanding its clinical partnerships and community engagement. The faculty team is also growing: three new faculty members started in fall 2026, one additional hire joined in February 2026 and another hire is anticipated. This growth positions the department to continue delivering an exceptional nursing education and to meet the healthcare workforce needs of the region. The first cohort of nursing students pose with nursing faculty and staff after the nursing induction ceremony in September 2025. These students received their maroon coats, marking their official initiation into the nursing program. The maroon coat symbolizes their first clinical coat, a symbol of their entry into the profession.
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