VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSU) – Valley City State University (VCSU) will have a groundbreaking ceremony at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 9, outside of McCarthy Hall to officially mark the start of transformational work on the historic building.

McCarthy Hall will become the new home for VCSU’s nationally-recognized School of Education and Technology and STEM Education. VCSU faculty, community members and leaders in education will be available for interviews after the event. 

“This facility will help our future educators learn in an environment that enhances their experience and prepares them for their own classroom. This project will help make McCarthy Hall another gem on our campus,” President Alan LaFave said. “We are so grateful for the generous support from the North Dakota Legislature and our donors that have made this possible.”

McCarthy Hall was built in the early 1930s and was used as a training school for prospective teachers attending VCSU. When the training school was closed the building housed a wide variety of VCSU courses including technology education and psychology. The renovation of McCarthy Hall is a part of the first-ever capital campaign project at VCSU.

The $13.5 million project is made possible through the generous support of donors, VCSU funds and $11.5 million allocated by the North Dakota Legislature and approved by Gov. Doug Burgum.