SDSU Community –
As we welcome a chilly December morning, I want to thank and acknowledge the tremendous effort that everyone has put in as we approach the end of the semester. Finals begin this Thursday, and I know our students, faculty and staff are working tirelessly to ensure a strong finish. Please encourage our students stay focused and remember to take care of themselves during this busy time and put yourselves in the best position to complete this semester on a high note.
This week will also be a busy one for university leadership. I, along with others from my senior leadership team, will attend the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Board of Regents meeting on Wednesday and Thursday at Black Hills State University. , and one key item for South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University is our pursuit of support for a new degree program. This initiative represents a step forward for SDSU as we continue to innovate and expand our academic offerings to meet the evolving needs of our students and society.
Health care systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field that integrates engineering, computer science, data science and health sciences. It focuses on developing and utilizing technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to enhance human health and well-being. This program will position SDSU at the forefront of addressing critical challenges in health care and prepare our graduates for impactful careers in this growing field. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who worked diligently to bring this proposal forward.
On Sunday, Jane and I attended the Yuletide Concert at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. There were three performances which were all extremely well attended with proud family members, community members and SDSU staff and students. There were 275 students who performed and joined by 25 other faculty, professional and student musicians to provide a wonderful kickoff to this holiday season. Congratulations to the students on their beautiful performances and our many thanks to Drs. Diddle and Robinette for their outstanding creativity and leadership.
I want to congratulate our Jackrabbits football team on its impressive 35-18 victory over Montana in the FCS playoffs. We look forward to cheering on the Jacks this Saturday as they host Incarnate Word at 11 a.m. in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium for the quarterfinals. Let’s fill the stadium with yellow and blue and show our support as we continue a quest for a third straight national championship.
Congratulations to our Volleyball team for its very successful season and their representation in the NCAA tournament last Friday afternoon.
As we navigate these busy days, let us not lose sight of the incredible community we have here at SDSU. Together, we are achieving great things and setting the stage for even more accomplishments in the future. Thank you for your commitment to excellence and for making SDSU a place where innovation, determination and community thrive.
Good luck to all our students during finals and 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 academic advisors for their continuous support of students.
Academic advisors play an integral role in supporting student success at SDSU. Through assisting students as they register for classes, connecting students with other campus resources and preparing students for graduation and life beyond SDSU, academic advisors provide an essential service to students.
Advising support goes beyond degree planning to support various aspects of the student experience, often helping students engage in and outside the classroom and providing strategies or information to help students meet their academic performance or well-being goals.
Supporting the over 12,000 students at SDSU takes a team. Between the First Year Advising Center, Office of Continuing and Distance Education, faculty advisors and professional advisors in academic colleges, departments and schools, our students are supported throughout their journey.
Thank you to all academic advisors at SDSU for your unwavering support of students and for going above and beyond making the student experience at SDSU positive.
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 Dec. 19, 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.
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. .
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 .