A brief Monday Message welcomes the first full week of December. This also happens to be the last full week of classes before we look to finals, which begin next week on Thursday. This is an important time to focus on finishing strong, and I know our campus community is ready to tackle the challenges ahead with determination and spirit.
As a reminder tomorrow Jane and I invite you all to take a well-deserved break and to enjoy some holiday cheer at the SDSU Holiday Party. The event will take place from 3-5:30 p.m. in Woster Celebration Hall at the Lohr Building. It is an opportunity for us to come together to celebrate the season, enjoy great company and reflect on the accomplishments of the semester. Please also take advantage of the . Each employee may bring up to six guests for the preview. It will be a wonderful event to enjoy with your family and friends!
This week also marks an important step in selecting the next leader for the College of Natural Sciences. Finalists for the dean’s position will be on campus beginning today. This is a vital role in our university, and I encourage everyone to take part in the candidate forums, share your feedback and help shape the future of this college.
Our Jackrabbits athletic teams continue to shine on the national stage. Congratulations to the women’s volleyball team . . It is the program’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2007.
This week our Jackrabbits football team will return to the field when they host Montana Saturday at 1 p.m. in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium for the second round of the . The game is a rematch of last year’s national championship game and an opportunity to showcase the incredible energy of Jackrabbit Nation.
As we approach the end of the semester, I want to encourage everyone to end on a high note. There are many activities and exciting events going on, so let's collectively keep the enthusiasm up and finish strong.
Thank you for your hard work, and as always, 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 the volunteers and organizers of Jack’s Cupboard.
Jack's Cupboard is a free, on-campus food pantry in Ben Reifel Hall with the goal of alleviating food insecurity among students by providing food and personal care items to Jackrabbits who need them.
The student organization overseeing the effort has 12 student volunteers who work weekly to help make Jack’s Cupboard successful and ensure services are reaching students experiencing food insecurity. The group meets biweekly to discuss upcoming events, recent donations and ways to continue the success of Jack’s Cupboard.
The pantry’s first Thanksgiving meal distribution was Nov. 18. Jack’s Cupboard provided students with 93 Thanksgiving meals that included turkey breasts, pumpkin pie, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes, stuffing, cornbread mix and fresh produce such as onions, apples, carrots and potatoes.
The Pack the Pantry event was held Nov. 22, when 3,832 items were donated.
The pantry is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. and is staffed by a rotation of two to three volunteers in one-hour shifts. Student volunteers also assist with restocking on Thursdays.
On average, Jack’s Cupboard serves 140 students per week. Through a partnership with Feeding South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã, which started in March, nearly 8,000 pounds of food has been received by Jack’s Cupboard.
The committee is currently planning more events for the spring semester.
Thank you to all who have supported Jack’s Cupboard through volunteering or donations. This is an important service for students at SDSU, and your support is valuable to ensuring the success of Jack’s Cupboard.
Thank you to Jack’s Cupboard advisers Sloane Bertke and Keri Pappas for your coordination of this service.
Thank you also to the student members of Jack’s Cupboard, Emma Stalboerger, KaSandra Pappas, Olivia Husmann, Paige Snell, Kay Arntson Madeline Boie, Ashlyn Beyer, Abdul Hassanien, Ellie Cain, Hannah Barrett, Lucy Mehlhaff and Bidhi Kasu.
For assisting Jack’s Cupboard as needed, thank you to Jennifer Novotny, Kim Grieve, Shelly Bayer, Becky Peterson, Michaela Willis and Deb Gulbranson, as well as Sodexo, Facilities and Services and the SDSU Foundation.
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.
Jackrabbit Central will host its annual sale Thursday for faculty and staff and Friday for the public. Most items in the store will be 30% off. Some exclusions may apply.
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.
The South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University Alumni Association is holding a Jacks Virtual 5K T-shirt design contest. . The winner will receive a $100 gift card to Jackrabbit Central.
The deadline to enter is Dec. 16.
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 has begun with 10% discounts throughout the museum’s gift store, and 20% off for museum members. .
The SDSU School of Performing Arts will present A Christmas Celebration Dance Concert Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Performances will be held in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. Ticket information can be found on sdstate.edu.
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 .