Student_Affairs_Annual_Report_2021

STUDENT AFFAIRS 4 ANNUAL REPORT There will be few years that will compare to the 2020-2021 academic year. A global pandemic; tensions and anger across the country in the wake of the murder of George Floyd; not to mention increased competition for a shrinking generation of college students, HLC assurance argument work, Senate Bill 55 (a state-wide task force examining possible program and administrative efficiencies and cost effectiveness), and growing concern for increasing student debt. Despite these challenges, Student Affairs had one of the most productive and successful years in recent memory. This annual report will highlight the creation of the Student Affairs Strategic Action Plan (2021- 2025), our response and success supporting students through the COVID-19 global pandemic, our re-branding of Prevention Services, the return of Disability Services to Student Affairs, and our successful participation in Northern’s first-ever GiveNday. We are extremely proud of all the work accomplished in year one of our Strategic Action Plan. The heart of this annual report will share our progress to date. We also proudly highlight our teams’ contributions across campus and within our community. We hope you will also enjoy learning more about two graduating students who inspired our work and remind us of the power of engagement within higher education. We are excited to move forward in a post-pandemic world and look forward to making additional contributions to our Campus of Distinction. Go Wolves! Sean Blackburn Dean of Students Message from the Dean of Students Students History of Northern Sean Blackburn Dean of Students In fall 2020, Northern State University enrolled 3,431 students and saw slight growth in headcount for the year. The university particularly saw growth in graduate students, and it experienced its fifth consecutive year with a freshman to sophomore retention rate above 73 percent. While most NSU students are from South Dakota and surrounding states, Northern draws students from all over the country and the world. NSU continues to attract an increasing number of high- achieving students, particularly to its growing honors program. Students have numerous opportunities to work side by side with faculty on undergraduate research projects. Northern is also committed to non-traditional and first generation student success. Students see Northern as a nurturing university with low student/faculty ratios (average class size of 17) and personalized student/faculty interactions. Students see Northern as a welcoming university with a community feel, with dedicated professors who care about their ability to succeed in life (Presidential Search Website). Northern Normal and Industrial School was established by the South Dakota Legislature in 1901 in response to the need for an institution of higher education to serve northern South Dakota. The original curriculum emphasized the industrial arts and teacher preparation, but as the school grew, the curriculum gradually evolved in other directions to fulfill the changing needs of the community. In 1964, the institution became Northern State College, the new name reflecting the school’s expansion and diversification, and in 1989 the name was changed to Northern State University (Employee Handbook, 2019).