Monday Message, Dec. 1
ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Community,
Greetings and welcome back from the Thanksgiving break. I hope everyone enjoyed time with family and friends, and that everyone who traveled over the long weekend was able to reach their destinations safely despite the winter weather and travel challenges.
As we return to campus, we enter the final stretch of the fall semester. Finals begin Dec. 11, and this is an important time for our students as they work diligently to finish strong. Thank you for the support you provide them — whether through teaching, advising, mentoring or simply offering an encouraging word. It makes a tremendous difference.
This week will be an active one across the university. Tomorrow at 1 p.m., many members of our campus leadership team will be watching from Pierre. This annual address offers important insight into the state’s budget priorities and what we may anticipate for higher education funding during the upcoming legislative session. We will continue to keep the campus community informed as we enter the legislative season and as more information becomes available.
I also want to offer a reminder that Jane and I will host the annual holiday party tomorrow from 3 to 5:30 p.m. in Woster Celebration Hall. We hope you can join us for an afternoon of seasonal cheer. In addition, there are still a few remaining times to reserve tomorrow and Wednesday. Please be sure to secure a time online if you wish to attend.
This weekend will also be the ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ Concert Choir's Madrigal Performances under the direction of Laura Diddle. It is certainly one of my favorite events of the year and will take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Volstorff Ballroom at the University Student Union.
Next week, I will join members of my senior leadership team at the in Sioux Falls, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday. While the agenda has not yet been released, we expect the meeting to include several notable items, and we look forward to sharing updates with you in next week’s message.
Also next week, members of the University Accessibility Task Force will begin hosting training and listening sessions to update the campus community on our progress toward meeting federal digital accessibility standards ahead of the April deadline. The team has been working diligently to expand training and enhance support across the university, and these sessions will be an important step in our collective effort to ensure ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ meets these requirements. I encourage many of you to participate. Dates and times will be shared later this week.
Finally, congratulations to our volleyball team for earning an at-large bid to the for the second consecutive year. The Jacks will face Arizona at 6:30 p.m. Friday in Stanford, California. Congratulations as well to our football team on its 41-3 victory over New Hampshire in the first round of the . The team advances to play Montana at 1 p.m. Saturday in Missoula.
Thank you for everything you do to make ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ a premier land-grant university. Let’s finish the semester strong.
Sincerely,
Barry H. Dunn
President
ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ employees, faculty and students for individual and team efforts that go Above and Beyond to make the campus community a better place.
This week’s Above and Beyond recognizes ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ’s Artificial Intelligence Working Group. The group is collaboratively working to identify how the university can best use AI in higher education and exploring innovative AI applications.
The AI Working Group will work closely with the institution’s leadership to recommend strategies that meet short-, intermediate- and long-term AI objectives.
One of the first tasks members are tackling is creating a thorough inventory of how AI is currently used on campus. The working group will continue updating this inventory to keep it current.
Their next goal is to identify appropriate applications for AI in the classroom, learning laboratories, research labs and university business operations. They will also educate and train students, faculty and staff on AI advancements and best practices, develop AI policies and guidelines and plan for future AI advancements.
This is clearly a big task, so let’s take a moment to recognize the people on the working group, including its chair, Victor Taylor, vice provost of graduate education and extended studies, and its members:
- Wendy Cradduck, assistant vice president for information technology
- Paul Kern, chief information security officer
- Brittany Fenderson, instructor with the College of Nursing
- Patrick Hales, associate professor and director of K-12 education in the School of Education, Counseling and Human Development
- Greg Heiberger, interim dean of the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College
- Malynda Mabbitt, learning designer with Instructional Design Services
- Sanku Mallik, associate dean of research with the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions
- Lora Perkins, professor in the Department of Natural Resource Management
- Kacie Richard, director in the Division of Budget and Finance
- Ellen Sandager, director of undergraduate admissions
- George Tsakiridis, senior lecturer in the School of American and Global Studies
- Kwanghee Won, associate professor in the McComish Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
A subgroup of the working group is also part of the American Association of Colleges and Universities Institute on AI Pedagogy. The institute provides webinars and mentor feedback on developing AI-based plans.
The members of that subgroup are Victor Taylor, Brittany Fenderson, Greg Heiberger, Brad Laible, Malynda Mabbitt, George Tsakiridis and Kwanghee Won.
Thank you to everyone contributing to this working group for giving your time and expertise to this massive, important topic. It’s Jackrabbits like you who lead the university into the future.
The Monday Message appears weekly during the academic year and less frequently during the summer months and holiday breaks.
Information for the Monday Message, including nominations for Above and Beyond, can be submitted online.
Student Self-Help Video Library
The Student Success NETwork has launched a centralized collection of student self-help resources through a series of short videos and reels. The self-help videos guide students through common academic tasks, providing reliable, on-demand support.
Topics include:
- Registration and academic planning
- Tutoring and academic support services
- D2L course navigation
Videos can be accessed from:
- : From the dashboard, scroll to the bottom, then move up one section to the Student Success Hub.
- : Knowledge Base → Software and Applications → MyState → Student Success Videos.
These resources help students find answers quickly, stay on track academically and access the support they need throughout the semester.
Union Open House
The University Student Union will host an open house Dec. 4 from 4-6:30 p.m. Faculty and staff are welcome to join for a festive evening of bingo, crafts, music and celebration. The campus tradition includes students competing in a gingerbread contest, decorating cookies and comradery as we near the end of the semester.
2025 IDS Winter eLearning Accessibility Boot Camp
Instructional Design Services will host the Winter eLearning Accessibility Boot Camp during December. The boot camp is designed to help make D2L courses accessible for all ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ students.
Dates for the boot camp are:
- Dec. 9 from 9-11 a.m.
- Dec. 10 from 9-11 a.m.
- Dec. 11 from 2-4 p.m.
Individuals may attend one or all the sessions. Additional information and how to register is available on sdstate.edu.
Presidential Awards of Excellence and the Rising Star Award
The Professional Staff Advisory Council is seeking nominations for the 2025-26 Presidential Awards of Excellence and the Rising Star Award.
All nominations are due Jan. 23 at 5 p.m. is available on InsideState.
United Way Campaign
The Brookings Area United Way is celebrating 70 years of making an impact in Brookings County. The United Way raises funds for nearly 50 local nonprofits and programs that impact one out of every three people — including ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ students and staff.
From helping fund public transportation to the abuse shelter, from the food pantry to after-school programs — they have likely made a difference for you or someone you know. Please consider visiting the to learn more.
The campaign page has multiple methods for individuals to donate to show support:
- Donate online. Set up a monthly or one-time gift.
- Payroll deduction. Fill out the online form with your automatic payroll deduction. Make sure to include your employee number.
- Download a pledge card. Print out a pledge card to make a donation via personal check or cash.
As you can imagine, the need has increased in our community over the years. And now, more than ever, Brookings Area United Way is counting on your support to continue the vital programs that make our campus and the community so special.
If you have questions or would like campaign pledge cards delivered to your department, contact Mike Lockrem, ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ’s United Way board member, for assistance.
Nordic Yule Market
The South Dakota Art Museum will host the Nordic Yule Market through Jan. 10. The market is inspired by traditional Nordic and German holiday markets and includes:
- Handcrafted gifts from Nordic and local artists
- Special events including live music, sip and shop, and family-friendly activities
- Meet and greets with your favorite characters
- Free gift wrapping on select days
All purchases support museum exhibitions and programming.
Oakwood Literary Magazine Submissions
The Oakwood literary magazine is seeking submissions. Writers are asked to submit their poetry and prose as well as visual art by the Jan. 31, 2026, deadline.
Additional information is available on sdstate.edu.
Undergraduate students are invited to for consideration. The top three student entries will receive cash awards and publication in the April 2026 issue of Oakwood magazine.
Emergency Management Training
Faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in active threat and emergency management training every couple of years. The training is conducted by the University Police Department and emergency management staff. Training will be held on the following days during the upcoming academic year:
- Dec. 10
- Jan. 15
- Feb. 20
- March 11
- April 15
- May 14
In addition to the in-person training, the university has created an for faculty and staff to view.
Additional resources are available online.
The Office of Emergency Management prepares the ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ community for emergencies and coordinates response and recovery by providing a campuswide, all-hazards integration from major threat events to local emergencies. The team also manages a complete, Federal Emergency Management Agency-aligned emergency management plan and the emergency operations center and utilizes response protocols from FEMA’s National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System.
The emergency management team provides a strong connection with local and state emergency networks and fosters community resilience and leadership as part of the South Dakota Incident Management Assistance Team, which helps extend emergency readiness beyond campus.
The ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ emergency management team works with the University Police Department, risk management, Facilities and Services, Athletics, Human Resources and many others on campus to foster a robust institutional support and infrastructure.
A Christmas Celebration Dance Concert
Theatre and Dance will perform A Christmas Celebration Dance Concert, Dec. 5-6 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Oscar Larson Theatre in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are $16 for adults and $14 for senior citizens, military, ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ employees, non-ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ students and children. ÈÕ±¾avÊÓƵ students are admitted free with their student ID.
Tickets can be purchased online at sdsutheatre.org, at the north box office in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center or by calling 605-688-6045.
Updated Policies
New and updated university policies continue to be adopted and published. For the most recent updates, visit the New and Recently Revised Policies page on sdstate.edu.
