SDSU Community –
As we approach the end of the semester, I want to remind everyone that Wednesday marks the final day of fall semester exams. To our students and faculty, I encourage you to finish strong and take pride in the hard work that has brought you success during this fall semester.
Last week I noted that members of my leadership team would join me in Spearfish for the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Board of Regents meeting. I want to extend my gratitude to those who participated and contributed to advancing our university’s mission. One of the meeting's highlights was the approval of a new degree program as SDSU will offer a Bachelor of Science in healthcare systems engineering starting in fall 2025. A news release has already been shared to announce this exciting development.
This undergraduate degree, the first of its kind in the nation, will integrate engineering, computer science, data science and health sciences into a single program. It reflects our commitment to innovation, addressing workforce demands, and upholding our land-grant mission of providing access and opportunity to those that seek the benefits of higher education. This program will prepare students for emerging career fields, equipping them to meet the needs of a rapidly changing health care landscape.
The Regents also approved the expansion of the Gateway Certificate Program, which gives dual-credit students the chance to explore careers in agriculture, engineering and business while earning college credits at a reduced cost. SDSU will play an active role in these initiatives, working alongside other universities to develop and implement these programs. I want to thank everyone who contributed to making this expansion possible.
Congratulations to our Jackrabbits football team for its impressive win over Incarnate Word in the NCAA Division I Football Championship quarterfinals. This victory secures the team’s spot in the semifinals for the fifth consecutive year. SDSU will face North à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State this Saturday in Fargo, with kickoff at 11 a.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC, and we’re all behind the athletes, coaches and staff as they continue another remarkable season.
Finally, as the holiday season approaches, I want to wish everyone a joyful and restful time with family and loved ones. The Monday Message will take a short break during the holidays, but I look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new year.
Thank you for all you do to make SDSU a place of excellence and opportunity and a premier land-grant university of which we can all be proud.
Go Jacks!
Sincerely,
Barry H. Dunn, President
Above and Beyond
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University employees, faculty and students for individual and team efforts that go Above and Beyond to make the campus community a better place. This week we recognize those honored at the Celebration of Excellence on Dec. 5.
The annual Celebration of Excellence recognizes individuals and entities on campus that have shown a commitment to the core values of SDSU. This year a special emphasis was given to the values of people-centered, integrity and excellence.
Initiatives such as streamlining processes, internal audits, risk management and environmental health were highlighted at the event.
Stacey Pearson and Ashli Citterman presented a continuous improvement spotlight on the summer personnel action form process.
Paul Kern gave a presentation on the Security Operations Center as the risk management spotlight presentation.
The Lean Champions Academy training provides an opportunity for all on campus to join in the efforts of efficiency and collaboration. The next cohort, which starts in January, has limited seats available. Anyone interested in participating in the Lean Champions Academy should contact Becky Degen.
Many were recognized for their efforts to streamline processes, improve campus safety and ensure financial accuracy.
Thank you to the following for your coordination of this event and your work on these initiatives:
- Becky Degen, director of continuous improvement
- James Westcott, internal auditor
- Daniel Madigan, risk management coordinator
- Jon Andrew, manager of environmental health and safety
Additionally, thank you to the dozens of individuals, colleges, schools and departments that were recognized for their continued efforts to embody SDSU’s core values.
2024 Internal Audit Recognition
Third Party Sponsor Billing
- Ryan Hunter
- Barbara Geise
- Erica Lamster
- Karen Jastram
Board of Regents Cash Control - Cashier's Office
- Ryan Hunter
- Janette Taffe Sigler
- Heidi Nelson
- Barbara Giese
- Karen Jastram
Board of Regents Cash Control – University Bookstore
- Amber Healy
- Sherry Meersman
- Julia Gill
- Derek Peterson
Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center Box Office
- Christina Castillo
- Peyten Wiese
- David Earnest
- Mark Venhuizen
- Lindsay Borer
- Erin Staniszewski
- Sondra Patrick
- Janette Taffe Sigler
- Heidi Nelson
- Barbara Giese
The SDSU Dairy Club is selling holiday cheese boxes at the SDSU Dairy Bar through Wednesday this week. The cheeses are all made at the SDSU Davis Dairy Plant, and the proceeds are used for the club’s yearly activities. Additional information is available on sdstate.edu
Jack's Cupboard is seeking staffing volunteers during winter break. During the academic year, Jack's Cupboard is staffed by student volunteers.
The winter break hours for Jack's Cupboard are Fridays from 2-5 p.m. These hours will be for Dec. 27, Jan. 3 and Jan. 10.
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Questions may be directed to advisors Sloane Bertke or Keri Pappas.
The Professional Staff Advisory Council is now accepting nominations for the 2024-25 award cycle for the Presidential à£à£Ö±²¥Ðãs of Excellence and the Rising Star à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã.
Six award recipients will be selected for the Presidential à£à£Ö±²¥Ðãs of Excellence, one in each category of the professional staff classifications. Each recipient will be provided with a plaque and a monetary award of $3,000 courtesy of the Office of the President. The categories include academics, athletics, business administration and facility management, extension and outreach, research and student affairs.
For the Rising Star à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã​, one recipient will be selected, which includes a monetary award of $1,500 supported by the Offices of the Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs.
The deadline for submission is Jan. 31. .
The Brookings Area United Way supports nearly 50 programs and partners that serve Brookings County residents of every stage of life, including students attending SDSU.
The United in Purpose campaign is aiming to raise more than $1 million to support various organizations in the community, including the food pantry, Habitat for Humanity, Mental Health Coalition, the Delta Dental Van Program, Brookings Backpack Project, Salvation Army and more.
SDSU employees have a strong history of supporting the United Way. Interested employees or consider a payroll deduction option by .
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The campaign continues through Dec. 31.
Briggs Library will hold its annual holiday party Thursday, from 2-4 p.m. The event is hosted by the faculty and staff of Briggs Library, the Office of International Affairs, the Center for Professional Enrichment and Teaching Excellence, and the Writing Center. Anyone is invited to come and enjoy food and beverages with colleagues in a festive atmosphere.
Federal concerns over unmanned aerial vehicles or systems, commonly referred to as drones, manufactured or assembled outside of the United States have led to promulgations of federal law and regulations restricting or prohibiting the purchase and use of select UAS on federally funded projects because they present a national security risk.
Additional information can be found on the Unmanned Aircraft Systems webpage on state.edu.
Any new purchases of UAS or modifications to the current inventory must be communicated to the program director of research integrity and compliance. If you have questions, please email Keiji Horikoshi or call 605-688-4027.
Instructional Design Services will host the Winter D2L Bootcamp to prepare faculty for spring 2025 D2L classes. The training sessions are designed to update faculty on the latest D2L tools and strategies to create engaging, effective and accessible online learning experiences for students.
Instructional Design Serves will host training seminars during the spring 2025 semester.
The trainings will include online community building, accessible eLearning and teaching in the generative AI era. Some featured workshops include the D2L accessibility checker (Panorama) and the newly added D2L gradebook feature allowing instructors to publish grades directly to Banner.
These workshops, eLearning applications, weekly webinars and Online Teaching Certification Program will help prepare for successful teaching in spring 2025.
All SDSU faculty, academic staff and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to attend these training sessions. .
The Office of Academic Affairs and the Division of Research and Economic Development jointly invite proposals to the RSCA Challenge Fund for FY26. This seed grant supports the growth of sponsored research, scholarship and creative activity (RSCA) at South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University. SDSU faculty and professional staff are eligible to apply individually or in teams. The full request for applications is available on the RSCA Committee page on InsideState.
Proposals are due Feb. 3 at 5 p.m. CST.
Effective today, faculty and staff are encouraged to seek guidance from the program director of research integrity and compliance when planning travel to comprehensively sanctioned countries, before completing the Out-of-State Travel Request Form.
This step is crucial to ensure compliance with federal law and to prevent involvement in activities or collaborations that may require an export or authorization from the Office of Foreign Asset Control.
Additional and important information can be found on the Export Compliance webpage on state.edu. Questions may be directed to Keiji Horikoshi, director of research integrity and compliance.
The South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Art Museum Holiday Sale continues with 10% discounts throughout the museum’s gift store and 20% off for museum members. .
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.
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 through the .