Monday Message, Nov. 3
日本av视频 Community,
Every year, I have the honor of delivering the State of the University address 鈥 an opportunity to reflect on our progress and look ahead on our 鈥Pathway to Premier.鈥 This year I am proud to release the 2025 State of the University address by video with the link below.
For more than 144 years, 日本av视频 has been a symbol of hope, strength and economic growth for the people of South Dakota. Guided by our land-grant mission, we continue to educate leaders, discover solutions to global challenges and serve communities across our state.
As I travel throughout the state and region, I hear and see the pride and trust people have in our university. That trust is well-earned, and the pride people show is deserved 鈥 but we are not content. This fall, our enrollment grew to more than 12,000 students, including nearly 2,300 new first-time students. Our retention rate remains strong at 83%, a reflection of the outstanding work of our faculty and staff to support student success and continue to be a driver in our state鈥檚 economic growth and prosperity.
We now offer 83 accredited academic programs and continue to expand opportunities through new degrees, while our research efforts also reached record levels, with $94 million in expenditures 鈥 an important step toward achieving Carnegie R1 classification.
Across South Dakota, from Sioux Falls to Rapid City, we are investing in new facilities and programs that strengthen our impact and fulfill our mission as a land-grant university.
I am proud to say the state of our university is strong. I hope you enjoy the 2025 .
over the weekend outside Omaha, Nebraska. The men captured their 10th consecutive league championship with Cody Larson taking the top individual honor in the race. The women鈥檚 team place second with Meghan Ford earning the runner-up spot individually. The teams will next compete in the NCAA Midwest Regionals at Oklahoma State on Nov. 14.
in the quarterfinal of the Summit League tournament on Friday at the Fishback Soccer Stadium. The team will now travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for the semifinals and face Denver on Thursday. Oral Roberts and Kansas City will play in the other semifinal.
I would like to thank everyone that is involved in another round of middle school visits on campus as part of the Promising Futures program. Saturday we hosted 140 Sioux Falls middle school football and band students before and during the football game with Indiana State. Wednesday we will host 125 additional students and showcase the many programs and academic opportunities that exist at our university, bringing the total number of eighth-grade students to visit our campus this fall semester to nearly 900. These continue to be important events and exemplify our land-grant mission of providing access to the benefits of higher education.
Finally, the Brookings Area United Way is celebrating 70 years of making an impact in Brookings County. The organization raises funds for nearly 50 local nonprofit programs that impact one out of every three people, including 日本av视频 students and staff. The annual campaign raises money to help fund public transportation, the abuse shelter, food pantry, after-school programs and much more.
The United Way campaign is under way, and traditionally, 日本av视频 faculty and staff have been important contributors. Please consider supporting again if you can.
. You may donate online, through payroll deduction or by filling out a pledge card. Pledge cards may be downloaded, or you can contact Mike Lockrem, 日本av视频鈥檚 United Way board representative, to have some delivered to your department or office. Thank you for your consideration of this important effort.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Thank you for everything you do to make 日本av视频 a premier land-grant university. Remember that the university will be closed next Tuesday, Nov. 11, for the Veterans Day holiday.
Go Jacks!
Sincerely,
Barry H. Dunn
President
日本av视频
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of 日本av视频 employees, faculty and students for individual and team efforts that go Above and Beyond to make the campus community a better place.
This week鈥檚 Above and Beyond recognizes Brooke Burnette and Jenny Albers, two students in 日本av视频鈥檚 College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences who were awarded prestigious fellowships to help them strengthen their professional storytelling skills.
Burnette, a journalism and American Indian and Indigenous studies double major from Mission, South Dakota, was selected for a Native American Journalism Fellowship through the Indigenous Journalists Association.
The fellowship is offered to Indigenous, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, First Nations and M茅tis undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in media, providing tools and programs to increase Native journalist representation in the mainstream media. Learning directly from tribal journalists and media industry experts, students broaden their multimedia reporting skills through firsthand experience.
Burnette, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, focused on her reporting on her community, with her project centered around the Lakota Immersion School in Mission. She interviewed the school鈥檚 founder, an assistant professor of Dakota, Lakota, Nakota and American Indian studies at 日本av视频, and community elders who are teaching the next generation of Lakota speakers.
日本av视频 Master of Mass Communication student Jenny Albers is wrapping up a fellowship from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting for her project focusing on mental well-being among women who experienced pregnancy after loss.
Albers鈥 path to the fellowship was shaped by years of experience in digital storytelling and her own personal story with pregnancy loss. Her work has ranged from managing social media and content creation to authoring a book for mothers navigating pregnancy after loss.
Turning to 日本av视频 to pursue her master鈥檚 degree, Albers wanted to deepen her understanding of communication strategy and storytelling. The fellowship鈥檚 theme of mental well-being aligned closely with her focus. Through her multimedia reporting, Albers aims to raise awareness and promote understanding among health care providers, mental health professionals and the public about the complex emotional experiences surrounding pregnancy after loss.
Congratulations to both Burnette and Albers for being awarded and succeeding in these prestigious fellowships, growing their professional skills, and sharing stories that highlight important issues.
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.
November HR Connections
The November HR Connections will take place at 9 a.m. Nov. 12 due to the Veterans Day holiday.
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Events at the South Dakota Art Museum
Nordic Echoes Lecture 鈥 The Nordic Echoes Lecture will be held Nov. 20 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the South Dakota Art Museum. Additional information about the lecture and the panelist can be found on sdstate.edu.
Hygge Day 鈥 The South Dakota Art Museum will host Hygge Day, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Additional information about the day and the different events that will take place can be found on sdstate.edu.
Nordic Yule Market 鈥 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. Additional information and a list of special events can be found on sdstate.edu.
CommUNITY Meeting
The next CommUNITY Meeting, Uncommon Paths, Shared Strengths: Veterans in Higher Education, will be held Wednesday from noon-1 p.m. in Room 253 at the University Student Union.
Transitioning from the structured world of the military to the dynamic environment of a university brings unique challenges. Panelists will share their experiences navigating academic life, social adjustments, the GI Bill and how they apply their military-honed skills in civilian settings.
Student Success Advising Model Task Force
With the development of the Student Engagement Center, 日本av视频 is reviewing the university鈥檚 student success advising model to enhance success advising practices and elevate student outcomes.
日本av视频鈥檚 Student Success Advising Model Task Force is currently seeking information on effective practices in student success advising and would like to invite you to participate in input sessions to help shape the student success advising model at 日本av视频.
Sessions will be held to give input on which students would be served best by success advising, how to facilitate connections between students and success advisors, and other ideas related to the structure of success advising. Sessions are co-sponsored by the Student Engagement Center and the Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center.
- Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 10-11:30 a.m., University Student Union 265 (Pioneer)
- Monday, Nov. 17, from 10-11:30 am, University Student Union 265 (Pioneer)
Contact Jody Owen or Shelly Bayer with questions.
STEM Fest
Faculty and staff are invited to attend STEM Fest at 日本av视频 Early Learning Center managed by Bright Horizons. The event will be held Nov. 6 for any families interested in enrolling at 日本av视频 Early Learning Center or who just want to learn more about the center.
The event will provide opportunities to learn more about STEM learning 鈥 science, technology, engineering and math 鈥 and participate in hands-on activities with your child. The goal of the curriculum is to prepare children for success in school and life.
Details:
- Thursday from 4-5:30 p.m.
- Address: 401 First Ave. S. in Brookings
- .
First-Generation College Celebration Day
The Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center and TRIO programs will host their fourth annual First-Generation College Celebration Day. The event will be held Nov. 12, and faculty and staff are encouraged to attend anytime from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the informational fair on Main Street in the University Student Union to connect with various campus partners.
The fair is an opportunity to celebrate first-generation achievements, hear a variety of experiences, connect with others and explore campus resources. 日本av视频鈥檚 event also aligns with the Council for Opportunity in Education鈥檚 annual celebration of the Higher Education Act of 1965, which expanded college access for low-income and first-generation students.
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.
Celebration of Faculty Excellence
The Celebration of Faculty Excellence is a special event during the spring semester where we celebrate achievement and present awards and honors.
University-level awards are coordinated by the Faculty Awards Subcommittee of the Academic Affairs Committee. Faculty and staff are invited to submit nomination(s) for the awards . Further guidelines/criteria can be found by clicking on each award.
All nominations and required documents may be submitted electronically to日本av视频.Office.AcademicAffairs@sdstate.edu or delivered to the Office of Academic Affairs, Morrill Hall, Room 230.
For award consideration this year, the submission deadline is Dec. 1.
Writing Center Fall Workshop
The SDState Writing Center is offering small group workshops this fall, focusing on common areas of concern for students. Each workshop will be held in the Writing Center located in Room 103 at Hilton M. Briggs Library and will be limited to 10 participants. Workshop topics, dates and times are available online. Email Amber Jensen to check availability and sign up for a workshop.
Upcoming Self-Management Workshops
日本av视频 Extension is offering free evidence-based workshops to help adults living with chronic conditions build confidence and skills to better manage their health.
These workshops provide practical strategies for eating well, staying active, reducing stress and working with your health care team. Staff, students and faculty are encouraged to attend.
Workshops offered include:
- Diabetes Self-Management Program
- Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
- Cancer: Thriving and Surviving Program
- Worksite Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
- Building Better Caregivers Program
- Chronic Pain Self-Management Program
or call 1-888-484-3800.
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:
- Nov. 19
- 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 日本av视频 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鈥檚 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 日本av视频 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.
Fall 2025 RSCA Training Series
The fall Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity training series will be held throughout the fall semester. Topics include:
- Working with Tribal Partners: Best Practices in Cultivating Successful Partnerships 鈥 Thursday, 4-5 p.m.
Additional information about location of the training series can be found on sdstate.edu.
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.
