FARGO – Next week marks the beginning of a new academic year at North Dakota State University, and it just so happens that one of President David Cook’s favorite campus traditions also takes place.

“On the first day of class, all new students come through the gates. It’s a great moment to get to know them and give them a high-five,” Cook said.

Cook, who is just beginning his third year at the helm of NDSU, said the beginning of the academic year is perhaps his favorite time of year because the energy on campus noticeably changes.

For the WDAY+ series “Off the Record,” Cook sat down with Drew Trafton to talk about his daily life, including what life is like on campus.

In this preview clip, Cook also gives an update on his wife Katie’s battle with breast cancer and how the couple has perceived the positive response from the community.

“The people in this community, and by that I mean the state and the region, have really supported us,” Cook said. “There have been a lot of prayers being put out to us, and I’m telling you, we can feel that and we appreciate it. And we’re becoming better people because of it. Just seeing everyone openly reaching out to us, sometimes we feel a little guilty. I think, ‘Boy, who didn’t I help when they needed help?’ And so we’ve learned from this together. There’s still a ways to go, but she’s doing a great job and we’re working pretty hard to get through this.”

You can watch the full episode on WDAY+.

Drew has been visiting homes in North Dakota and west-central Minnesota for WDAY since 2013.