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Northern State University

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
1200 S. Jay St.
Avera Student Center Room 213
Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401
Phone
(605) 626-2544
Email address
admissions@northern.edu
School Information
"Northern State University will provide diverse academic, civic, social and cultural opportunities that prepare students through the liberal arts, professional education and E-learning for their future endeavors, while also enriching the local and regional community" (Source: https://www.northern.edu/about/office-president/mission). Founded in 1901, the school has a total undergraduate enrollment of nearly 3,000 students and a student to faculty ratio of 18 to 1. NSU offers 59 majors, 46 minors, and 6 pre-professional programs.
General Information
NSU has committed to anti-racism and DEI in its policies and decisions. The school offers events, programming, and resources related to these topics. In addition, NSU has created a Twitter handle for the Council on Community, Culture, and Social Justice. Students athletes and staff will be trained on DEI. See developments below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • In 2020, NSU announced that the school will "increase the recruitment and retention of minority and underrepresented student-athletes and athletics department staff at Northern."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • In 2020, NSU announced that the school will "educate and train Northern student-athletes and athletics department staff on the topics of diversity, inclusion, and cultural intelligence."
Political Actions and Support for Anti-Racism
  • In 2020, NSU announced the school will "enforce the institution’s commitment to the NCAA Presidential Pledge to Promote Diversity and Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Athletics."
  • On March 3, 2021, NSU announced, "the Wolves basketball players decided to kneel before their games during the National Anthem. They’ve received support from around campus, and especially their teammates - the entire men’s basketball team wore 'End Racism' shirts at a recent game."
Program and Research Funding
  • The Director of Admissions received a grant award to attend the Upswell conference in Chicago in 2019, which is "an annual event that connects people across the country in public and private sectors who are seeking to bridge the gap in terms of diversity, equity, and inclusion."
Resources
  • In 2020, NSU announced that the school will "serve as a liaison to campus diversity and inclusion offices, organizations, and professionals."
  • NSU offers numerous resources on DEI.
  • NSU has a Twitter account for its Council on Community, Culture, and Social Justice.
  • NSU's Multicultural Student Affairs offers events and programming as part of NSU's goal to create "an increasingly diverse, engaged, inclusive, and welcoming culture to support all students, faculty, and staff."
  • NSU's Multicultural Student Affairs houses several cultural and ethnic organizations, such as the Asian Student Association, the International Student Association, and the Native American Student Association.
Symbolic Actions
  • In 2020, NSU announced, "Northern State Athletics created the Athletics Council on Community, Culture and Social Justice as a department-wide effort to help advance the University's commitment to anti-racism, social justice and equality."
  • NSU is committed to "building a culture of inclusion, belonging, and collegiality that respects diversity in knowledge, culture, and world view."
  • On June 4, 2020, NSU released a statement in response to the death of George Floyd, stating, "At Northern State University, we stand against racial injustice and violence."
  • Wanting to raise awareness on racism and inequality, NSU student-athletes Tommy Chatman and Jaylen Robinson decided to kneel before their games during the National Anthem. They’ve received support from around campus and the entire men’s basketball team wore “End Racism” shirts at a game in August 2022.
Last updated January 25th, 2024
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