North Dakota State College of Science honored numerous employees at the annual Employee Recognition Program on April 27, 2018. Faculty and staff members were named recipients of the College’s Excellence in Teaching Award and Excellence in Service Award as well as the College’s annual LIFE and Steeple awards for the 2017-2018 academic year.

The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes instructors who, among other outstanding characteristics, demonstrate competence and sincere interest in their subjects, present material in a suitable, well-integrated fashion and encourage participation from students. Selection criteria include student evaluations, feedback and deliberations by a selection committee comprised of faculty members and students. This year’s recipients were chosen from a group of more than 40 nominees. The honorees are:

• Larissa Gilbertson: Associate Professor, Academic Services Center
• Char Schuler: Assistant Professor, Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Jane Krump: Professor/Department Chair, Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Jeri Christiansen: Associate Professor, Nursing

The Excellence in Service Award recognizes employees who consistently go above and beyond every day and exemplify the College’s values of learning, integrity, flexibility and excellence. Nominations are open to those serving in the professional, office support, technical, paraprofessional, trades and service positions that are not on probationary status with recipients chosen by the President and Vice Presidents. The honorees are:

• Billie Jo Hendrickson: Building Services Supervisor, Facilities Management
• John Lesch: ITS Service Desk Specialist, Information Technology Services
• Shannon Dyrness: Administrative Secretary, Distance Education
• Vince Plummer: Personal Counselor, Student Health and Counseling Services

This year’s LIFE award recognized Network and Information Technology Security Coordinator Chris Kelsen. The award is presented to an individual, employee group or committee for developing and implementing an action plan for Strategic Planning or Academic Quality Improvement Project goals. Kelsen was recognized for his work in a number of important Information Technology Services efforts that have significantly improved the technology services that support the success of NDSCS students and employees. Chris led an extensive upgrade of the College's data network, including upgrading network hardware and implementing network routing. This was completed on a live network and Kelsen handled unexpected challenges with flexibility, professionalism and creative thinking.

This year’s Steeple award was presented to the NSF ATE North Dakota Weld Grant. The recipients included Welding Technology faculty Clint Gilbertson, Joel Johnson, Vance Harthun, Lee Larson and Mitch Van Vleet. The Steeple award stands for “Climbing New Heights” and is presented to an individual, employee group or committee for new and innovative methods to accomplish their role on campus. With the grant, NDSCS will prepare pathways for North Dakota secondary Career and Technical Education (CTE) schools to articulate Welding education at NDSCS, and ultimately increase the number of skilled welding employees in the industry. NDSCS will develop common curriculum, teacher training, assessment and industry credentials for participating North Dakota CTE welding programs.

April is Occupational Therapy Month, recognizing those who work in the industry that helps people perform everyday activities through therapeutic techniques. The NDSCS Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is celebrating Occupational Therapy Month by bringing awareness to the occupation.

Occupational Therapy Assistants provide treatment under a physician’s order and are supervised by an Occupational Therapist. Occupational therapy might be required for a variety of reasons, including a traumatic accident, mental health issues, a stroke or a lifelong condition such as cerebral palsy. Occupational Therapy Assistants help patients live as independently as possible by teaching them ways to perform daily tasks and routines.

The NDSCS Occupational Therapy Assistant program offers a two-year Associate in Applied Science degree. Students complete three semesters of academic coursework and one semester of full-time clinical experience in various facilities. The program has been fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education of the American Occupational Therapy Association since 1972. Occupational Therapy Assistant students participate in a number of activities that provide hands-on experience during their time at NDSCS, including teaching handwriting to elementary school students and working with residents in nursing homes. Students also recently hosted a CarFit event, where they completed a 12-point checklist to ensure that individuals fit their vehicle properly for maximum comfort and safety.

According to the June 2017 U.S. News and World Report, OTAs rank number one of the 19 Best Jobs for Community College Graduates. The demand for Occupational Therapy services is great as baby boomers are aging, medical advances are prolonging life and health reform is driving more patients into the helping arms of OTAs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the profession will grow by 29 percent by 2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. 

Individuals interested in the NDSCS Occupational Therapy Assistant program can learn more online at ndscs.edu/ota. The program is still accepting applications for the Fall 2018 semester. To learn more about Occupational Therapy, visit aota.org or join in the conversation on social media by using #OccupationalTherapyMonth.

North Dakota State College of Science students now have the opportunity to receive advanced metrology training as part of their education, thanks to the installation of $1.5 million in equipment, and national training certification earned by Manufacturing department faculty.

The NDSCS Manufacturing department has installed metrology equipment that allows for automated measurement and inspection of manufactured products, as well as equipment for manual measurement training. The equipment includes:
• ZEISS DuraMax Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) with CALYPSO software and accessories
• Snap-on Starrett® NC3 precision measurement certification kit
• Haas Wireless Intuitive Probing System (WIPS)
• ZEISS, Phillips Precision and Rayco CMM tooling and metrology accessories

In addition to the new equipment, three NDSCS instructors have completed accredited coursework to earn certification through the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). The new metrology curriculum has been incorporated into the College’s manufacturing programs including Precision Machining Technology, Welding Technology, and Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics Technology. In addition, all students in transportation-related programs take a manufacturing course that uses this equipment in the study of metrology.

This training initiative was made possible thanks to $1.297 in donated CALYPSO software and a $100,000 equipment discount from ZEISS, a $22,000 equipment discount from Snap-on Starrett, and a $183,000 Workforce Enhancement Grant from the North Dakota Department of Commerce.

“A big highlight of this initiative is the equipment that provides an automated method of inspecting manufactured products. This is a method that many ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certified manufacturers use,” said NDSCS Manufacturing Department Chair Steve Johnson. “At the same time, we also added equipment that allows advanced training in manual measurement methods.”

The North Dakota State College of Science Performing Arts Department will present its spring play, Charlotte’s Web, at 7:00 p.m. on March 27 and 28 in the Bremer Bank Theatre in the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center on the NDSCS campus in Wahpeton. Admission at the door is $5 for adults, and $1 for students.

Charlotte’s Web is based on the story by E.B. White, and dramatized by Joseph Robinette.

The bands from Wahpeton High School and Breckenridge (Minn.) High School will join the band from North Dakota State College of Science to perform a free concert on Tuesday, February 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Harry Stern and Ella Stern Cultural Center on the NDSCS campus in Wahpeton.

Throughout the day, the bands will work together with guest conductor Dr. Warren Olfert from North Dakota State University. The bands will perform a wide variety of music during the evening’s concert.

“This is a great opportunity for students to work with a different teacher than they normally do, as well as to play in a larger band,” said Dr. Adam Hollingsworth, NDSCS Director of Bands. “We invite the community to come to the concert and hear what our local students have been working on.”