STUDENT AFFAIRS 7 ANNUAL REPORT BUILDING THE FUTURE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS: A STRATEGIC VISION FOR 2025–30 The development of Northern State University’s Student Affairs Strategic Plan (2025–30) represents a multiyear journey of reflection, collaboration and forward-thinking. While the formal planning process was launched in summer 2024, the foundation was laid much earlier—in August 2020—during the implementation of the previous strategic plan. Over the years, ideas were tested, refined and adapted to meet the evolving needs of students and the broader campus community. The 2024 Student Affairs Staff Retreat, held at Agtegra Cooperative, marked a pivotal moment. Staff came together to reaffirm the division’s mission, vision and values—and to commit to a more transparent and inclusive planning process. A strategic framework from Ruffalo Noel Levitz (RNL) was adopted to guide the work, emphasizing data-informed decisionmaking, clear performance indicators and broad campus engagement. In February 2025, a campus-wide survey invited students, faculty and staff to share their perspectives on the future of Student Affairs. Questions focused on communication, engagement and new program ideas. The survey was promoted through shared governance meetings and received strong participation, ensuring that the voices of the campus community were central to the plan’s development. By spring, a draft of the plan was ready for review. A series of one-on-one meetings and group presentations followed, engaging leadership teams, student organizations and shared governance in a comprehensive vetting process. This collaborative approach ensured that the final plan reflected the diverse needs and aspirations of the Northern community. The result is a strategic plan that is both timely and visionary—one that positions Student Affairs to support student success in meaningful and measurable ways over the next five years. 500+ STUDENTS TRAINED IN QPR: A MILESTONE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AT NORTHERN November 2024 — Over the past four years, Student Affairs and Counseling Services at Northern State University have led a campuswide effort to strengthen mental health awareness and reduce the stigma around seeking help. A cornerstone of this initiative has been training students, faculty and staff in QPR—Question, Persuade, Refer — a nationally recognized suicide prevention program. This fall, Counseling Services proudly achieved Key Result 67 of the 2021–2025 Student Affairs Strategic Plan: training more than 500 students in QPR. As of November, 546 students have completed the program — gaining the skills to recognize signs of crisis, offer support and connect peers with appropriate resources. “These students are now ambassadors for mental health on our campus,” said Kelly Weismantel, director of counseling services. “They’re equipped not only to help others, but to foster a culture where mental wellness is prioritized and help-seeking is normalized.” QPR is often described as the mental health equivalent of CPR. It’s a practical, evidence-based intervention designed to help individuals respond effectively to someone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis. Participants learn how to: • Ask the right questions • Persuade someone to seek help • Refer them to appropriate care Each participant receives a certificate upon completion, but the real impact lies in the ripple effect—creating a safer, more supportive campus community. This milestone reflects Northern’s ongoing commitment to student well-being and the power of peer support in preventing crises before they escalate.
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