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The Department of Biology and Microbiology will host its annual Day of Scholars on March 31 in the Volstorff Ballroom.

This full-day event celebrates undergraduate and graduate student research, bringing together the campus community to highlight scholarship, discovery and academic achievement. The program includes oral and poster presentation competitions, as well as employer and vendor tables and student organization exhibits.

The event will also feature a keynote address by Susan Golden, Distinguished and HHMI professor and member of the National Academy of Sciences at the University of California, San Diego.

All are encouraged to attend and support �ձ�av��Ƶ student researchers.

In recognition of Financial Literacy Month, University Wellbeing will host a virtual panel titled “Level Up Your Money: College Finance” on Wednesday, April 15, from noon-1 p.m. .

The panel will feature �ձ�av��Ƶ experts:

• Kevin Fullerton, Career Services director
• Beth Vollan, Financial Aid director
• Bruce Johnson, business management instructor

Topics will include managing money while in college; understanding financial aid, loans and debt decisions; preparing for income and career transitions; building long-term financial confidence; and protecting yourself financially.

All are encouraged to attend and gain practical tools to support financial well-being.

As the spring semester enters a busy and demanding stretch, the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, in partnership with campus and community organizations, is offering a series of programs and initiatives that reflect �ձ�av��Ƶ’s commitment to safety, respect and community.

These efforts emphasize that Jacks Stand Together — to see, learn from and support one another — while fostering meaningful connections across campus.

Programming includes opportunities for conversation, reflection and engagement throughout March and April, such as Listening Lunches with campus leaders, interactive workshops on identity and belonging, bystander to UPSTANDER training, and community-focused events like the Unity Walk. Additional activities include Decorate Denim and Denim Day, which are part of Zero Discrimination Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, as well as events in partnership with the Office of Title IX and Equal Opportunity.

All are welcome to participate. These programs are designed to create space for dialogue, build understanding and strengthen the �ձ�av��Ƶ community during a critical time in the semester.

Additional events and details will continue to be shared through campus communications, including the Monday Message.

The South Dakota Art Museum is preparing for its upcoming exhibition, “America in Art,” which will be on view June 13, 2026- Jan. 2, 2027. Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, the exhibition will explore the promise and paradox of the nation’s legacy, examining the ideals, struggles, freedoms and contradictions that define it.

To help guide the curatorial direction of the exhibition, the museum is seeking input from the campus and broader community. Feedback will help ensure the exhibition reflects a wide range of perspectives and resonates with audiences.

Please consider . Your input will play an important role in shaping this meaningful exhibition.

The �ձ�av��Ƶ Alumni & Foundation recognizes a class of Distinguished Alumni each year, honoring individuals whose outstanding achievements, service and leadership have made a lasting impact in their professions, communities and at �ձ�av��Ƶ.

Honorees are nominated by members of the �ձ�av��Ƶ community and selected by a committee that considers their impact on the history of �ձ�av��Ƶ, their contributions to the state of South Dakota and their demonstrated spirit of service throughout their lives and careers. Recipients will be recognized at the 2026 Legends & Leaders banquet on the eve of Hobo Day.

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The �ձ�av��Ƶ Alumni & Foundation, in partnership with Jackrabbit Central, is hosting the .

From now through April 28, gently used Jackrabbits apparel and gear may be donated at the �ձ�av��Ƶ Alumni Center or either Jackrabbit Central location during normal business hours. Donated items will be made available for purchase at the Jacks Gear Sale on May 5, with all proceeds supporting Jack’s Cupboard and its efforts to serve �ձ�av��Ƶ students.

Please consider donating gently used �ձ�av��Ƶ gear to support this important campus resource.

The Dr. Richard Deming Fund supports student-proposed and student-led service and scholarly research projects within the Van D. and Barbara B. Fishback Honors College. Projects funded through this program include mentored service and research initiatives guided by a faculty mentor, providing meaningful opportunities for personal engagement and service to others.

Proposed projects should prioritize activities that address topics such as social justice, elevate human dignity, and reflect strong purpose, passion and impact. Collaborative projects involving multiple students and faculty mentors are encouraged.

Funding may support a student stipend, research-related expenses, service and engagement activities, as well as travel, lodging, meals and conference-related costs associated with presenting project outcomes.

The program anticipates awarding five to 10 projects, with proposed budgets of up to $10,000 per project.

�ձ�av��Ƶ’s 2026 commencement ceremonies are quickly approaching, and volunteers are needed to help ensure a memorable and successful experience for our graduates and their families and friends.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to consider volunteering their time and talents to support this important celebration. Commencement is one of the university’s most meaningful traditions, and the success of our on-campus ceremonies depends on the support and participation of the campus community.

Please take a few minutes to review how and when you may be able to assist and consider encouraging colleagues to do the same. Your participation helps create a welcoming and celebratory environment for our graduates and their guests.

To indicate your availability, please complete the . If you have questions about volunteering, please contact Regen Wiederrich

Thank you in advance for helping make �ձ�av��Ƶ’s 2026 commencement ceremonies a success.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and renowned presidential historian Jon Meacham will headline this year’s Daschle Dialogues on April 7 at First Bank & Trust Arena on the �ձ�av��Ƶ campus.

Students may reserve , and early reservations are encouraged as seating is expected to fill quickly. Free faculty and staff tickets . Tickets for the general public are available for $15, with all proceeds supporting general scholarships at �ձ�av��Ƶ.

Meacham is widely regarded as one of America’s leading public intellectuals. His work includes biographies of George H.W. Bush, Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, along with best-selling titles such as “And There Was Light,” “The Soul of America” and “His Truth Is Marching On.” His most recent book, “American Struggle,” covers a wide spectrum of history, from 1619 to the 21st century. He serves as a distinguished visiting professor at Vanderbilt University and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. In 2024, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal.

The Daschle Dialogues is the public component of the Thomas A. Daschle Congressional Research Study. Senator Daschle, a 1969 �ձ�av��Ƶ graduate, served in Congress for 26 years, including leadership roles as both Majority and Minority Leader in the U.S. Senate.

For additional information about the event, please contact the �ձ�av��Ƶ Alumni & Foundation at 605-697-7475.

Faculty, researchers and staff are invited to participate in an upcoming workshop titled “University Participation in SBIR/STTR: Pre-Submission to Post-Award.” The session will explore key considerations for universities during the development of an SBIR/STTR proposal and after an award has been received.

The training webinar will be presented by BBC Entrepreneurial Training & Consulting and will focus on the university perspective when navigating Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer opportunities.

Date: Thursday, April 23

Time: 12-1:30 p.m. CT (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT)

Participants may attend in person at locations across South Dakota or join virtually. South Dakota Biotech will sponsor lunch at all in-person locations.

In-Person Locations (registration required by April 9):

• Sioux Falls: Discovery District, Conference Room 104, 4600 Nobel St.
• Rapid City: Vanderboom Laboratory for Entrepreneurial Research (V-Lab), Room 109, 501 E. St. Joseph St.
• Aberdeen: Barnett Center, Kessler’s Champion Club, 1200 S. Jay St.
• Brookings: University Student Union, Dakota A and C, 1421 Student Union Lane
• Vermillion: Slagle Hall, Room 107, 414 E. Clark St.

Virtual Option: Registration is open through April 23. Please see the registration links online secure your spot.

Faculty members interested in developing compelling proposals for external funding and building connections with potential collaborators across disciplines are invited to the 2026 Grant Camp hosted by the Division of Research, May 18-21. The event will be held in the Pioneer Room (SSU 265) in the University Student Union.

Grant Camp is designed to demystify the grant application process for �ձ�av��Ƶ researchers. While the program is particularly beneficial for early-career faculty, seasoned researchers seeking greater familiarity with external funding opportunities are also encouraged to apply. The program is open to research-active faculty in all disciplines and at all ranks, regardless of tenure status.

Participants must:

• Be research-active
• Commit to attending the sessions (May 18-21, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
• Agree to submit a proposal for external funding by the end of the 2026-27 academic year

Applications may be submitted through InfoReady by April 6: .

Registration is now open for Student Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day, which will be held Tuesday, April 14, in the University Student Union. The new event merges the events formerly known as Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day and Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day into one daylong event celebrating and promoting student involvement in research and creative activity at �ձ�av��Ƶ. The schedule and more information about the event can be found on the Student Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day website.

All students enrolled at �ձ�av��Ƶ are encouraged to participate. There are separate registration forms for the undergraduate and graduate poster showcases, and those links can be found on sdstate.edu along with an agenda of events. Both events are limited to the first 100 students who register.

LeadState is proud to partner with the Mike Huether Public Service Academy, a nationally networked program housed in the School of American and Global Studies. The academy is a selective, cohort-based program that prepares exceptional leaders with the passion to solve problems and serve something larger than themselves.

LeadState provides the leadership development foundation for Mike Huether Public Service Academy scholars, while academy students bring their public service focus and commitment to the LeadState cohort. Faculty who have any current first-year or second-year students who may be interested in LeadState should invite them to participate. Please be selective in your nominations and consider those who would truly benefit from this program. To nominate students, please send each student's name, student ID number and email address to Seth Daughters by Thursday, April 2.

To learn more about LeadState, please visit sdstate.edu. For more information about the Huether Public Service Academy, contact Jon Ruff.

In celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States, the �ձ�av��Ƶ School of Performing Arts will host “Sousa in South Dakota: A Symposium” on April 10-11.

This two-day event will honor the life and legacy of composer and conductor John Philip Sousa (1854-1932), an American icon best known for “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” the national march of the United States.

The symposium will highlight Sousa’s lasting influence on American music and culture, offering opportunities for learning, engagement and appreciation of his work. Additional information is available online.

�ձ�av��Ƶ has completed a review of the Hobo Dough program and its payment service partnerships. As part of this evaluation, �ձ�av��Ƶ will discontinue the off-campus merchant portion of the Hobo Dough program, effective May 15.

What is not changing

The Hobo Dough program will continue to operate on campus. Students, faculty and staff may still use Hobo Dough at all participating �ձ�av��Ƶ locations, including dining services, vending, printing, Jackrabbit Central and other campus services. On-campus functionality remains unchanged.

What is changing

After May 15, Hobo Dough will no longer be accepted at off-campus businesses. �ձ�av��Ƶ is working directly with participating merchants to ensure a smooth transition.

Why this change is happening

This update reflects �ձ�av��Ƶ’s efforts to streamline payment services, adapt to current usage trends and ensure program resources best support campus needs.

Questions

For additional information, please contact Card Services at 605-688-6943.

Thank you for your understanding as we implement this change.

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.