Monday Message, March 10
SDSU Community,
Today marks the first day of spring break on campus, and with it comes a glimpse of springtime weather in Brookings. I hope this week provides everyone an opportunity to recharge, catch up on projects and prepare for the final two months of the academic year. Commencement will be here before we know it, and we are excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating students alongside their families and friends.
With most of our students away from campus, it will undoubtedly be a quieter week. However, there is still much to recognize, especially given the outstanding performances of our athletics teams over the past week.
Congratulations to our women鈥檚 basketball team for capturing its third consecutive Summit League Tournament Championship over the weekend at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls. The team鈥檚 continued dedication and hard work was evident throughout the tournament, and Jackrabbit Nation is incredibly proud of the athletes鈥 accomplishment. Next will be the NCAA Women鈥檚 Basketball Tournament, where they will learn their destination and first-round opponent during Sunday鈥檚 Selection Show. We look forward to cheering them on as they continue their season on the national stage.
I also want to extend congratulations to our Jackrabbits wrestling team for an impressive third-place finish at the Big 12 Conference Championships this past weekend. It was a tremendous showing for our student-athletes and coaching staff, with seven wrestlers qualifying for the NCAA Championships. There remains a possibility for a couple additional at-large bids to be awarded, and we wish them all the best as they prepare for the national tournament later this month.
SDSU's Civil Service Advisory Council will host their annual mass meeting this Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Club 71. I strongly encourage all Civil Service employees to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to attend and celebrate the great work you do each day.
Just a reminder that Thursday, our Facilities and Services team will host a virtual information session via Zoom to share updates on upcoming construction projects. It is a great opportunity for members of our campus community to learn more about planned improvements and the potential impact they may have during the summer months. Additional details, including the Zoom link, are provided below. I encourage anyone interested to join the session and stay informed about the future of our campus.
This week is also the final full week of the South 啵啵直播秀 Legislative Session in Pierre. There is still significant work to be done, particularly in finalizing the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Our team continues to monitor discussions and developments that could impact South 啵啵直播秀 State University and higher education in our state. We remain hopeful for a budget that helps support the continued success of our university and provides the greatest opportunities for our students, faculty and staff. I appreciate the work of our state leaders and the South 啵啵直播秀 Board of Regents in advocating for higher education priorities during this session.
I hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable week, whether you are traveling, spending time with loved ones, or simply catching up on work. Thank you for all that you do to make South 啵啵直播秀 State University a premier land-grant institution, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back to campus next week as we continue our journey toward a successful conclusion to the academic year.
Go Jacks!
Barry H. Dunn
President, South 啵啵直播秀 State University
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of South 啵啵直播秀 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 faculty honored at this year鈥檚 Celebration of Faculty Excellence and those who make this annual event possible.
The SDSU Celebration of Faculty Excellence recognized more than two-dozen faculty members, researchers and scientists on Feb. 18. The event honored faculty members in the university's colleges for outstanding research, teaching and service.
This is an exciting time of the year that serves as an opportunity to celebrate the incredible work of our faculty across campus.
Before the evening banquet, four faculty presented Sewrey lectures in the categories of creative and fine arts, research and scholarship, teaching and learning, and service. This year鈥檚 lecturers included: Elizabeth Robinson, Allison Barry, Nicholas Uilk and Marina Hendricks. Kristi Cammack delivered the David Fee Memorial Lecture, "Sustainability 鈥 A Look Through the Lens of a Rancher.鈥
SDSU students Claire Booth, Alex Strawn and Jacob Stevens presented a creative selection from the play 鈥淔uddy Meers,鈥 directed by Jim Wood, professor of theatre, during the event.
SDSU recognized individual faculty members for their service and commitment to the mission of the university including Aritra Banerjee, Robert Watrel, Amber Jensen, Julie Walker, Adam Hoppe, Sanjeev Anand, Ekaterina Koromyslova, Judy Vondruska, Maneesha Mohan, Kristin Lenertz-Kersey, Jamie Folsom, Sunish Sehgal, Luz Kirschner, Donna Flint, Jihong Cole-Dai, Leda Cempellin, Allison Barry, Semhar Michael, Nicholas Butzin, Theresa Garren-Grubbs and Jordan Baye.
View the full list of awards, recipients and presenters.
Congratulations to all of the award recipients and presenters, and thank you to everyone who worked to make this event possible.
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.
2025 Distinguished Alumni Nominations
The SDSU Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2025 Distinguished Alumni awards. .
LeadState Nominations
The Office of Student Union and Activities is seeking nominations for LeadState, a semester-long program for sophomore students that will take place during the fall 2025 semester. The program helps students identify and build on their leadership strengths, identify and lead with values, be a catalyst for social change, connect with campus and community leaders, and engage in community service.
Faculty and staff who have students they would like to nominate for LeadState should send each student鈥檚 name, student ID number and email address to Seth Daughters by April 4.
Campus Projects Presentation
The campus community is invited to join an Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Dave Law, facilities and services director of project management, will share the project map and discuss the ongoing and upcoming construction projects around campus.
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions via the chat function during the presentation. The presentation will focus on upcoming work around campus, impacts in and around buildings, road closures, as well as other interesting and impactful project-related information.
SDSU Admissions Ambassador Selection
The Office of Admissions is currently taking applications for 2025-26 Admissions Ambassadors.
Admissions Ambassadors are hired to represent and promote SDSU to prospective students and their families, as well as the public. They are critical to the successful recruitment of students to SDSU. Ambassadors are often the first, and possibly the only, student that a prospective student and their family may meet during the college search process. The public will form lasting impressions about SDSU based on the information Ambassadors provide.
Admissions Ambassadors are selected through a competitive application and selection process. Positions are offered to current SDSU students who will have completed at least one year as a full-time college student at SDSU when they start their position.
Information sessions (Enrollment Services Center):
Wednesday 鈥 4-5 p.m.
March 20 鈥 3-4 p.m.
Application reviews begin March 21 with interviews scheduled for March 25-26.
Jumpstart Your Wellness
SDSU students, alumni and friends are invited to join the SDSU Alumni Association for the third annual Jumpstart Your Wellness event. The event includes three educational presentations to help you take the next step in a wellness journey.
The event will be held April 10 at 5:30 p.m. in Woster Celebration Hall. .
AISA's Annual Wetu Wacipi | Spring Powwow
The American Indian Student Association is looking for volunteers to help with the annual Wetu Wacipi, known as the spring powwow. Volunteers will be given a free shirt or a free Indian taco. .
Graduate Student Appreciation Week
Graduate Student Appreciation Week is being celebrated April 7-11. The purpose of this week is to celebrate and emphasize the contributions, impact and value of our graduate and professional students.
It is a time to celebrate graduate students all over campus, including posting videos, student spotlights and student giveaways on social media. There will also be a table in the student union, April 7 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., to highlight and celebrate our students.
Nepal Night
The Nepalese Student Association will host 鈥淣epal Night: Namaste Nepal,鈥 April 6. It is the first time in five years the event will be held. Guest will enjoy an enchanting evening showcasing Nepal's vibrant cultural heritage through traditional performances and authentic Nepalese cuisine prepared with ancestral recipes.
Experience the rhythm of Himalayan dances, savor complex flavors of homeland dishes, and be immersed in the rich tapestry of Nepalese culture.
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Ombuds 鈥 Communication Importance in Cohesive Team Building
The Ombuds office in collaboration with the Access, Opportunity and Belonging Committee would like to invite the campus community to learn more about building cohesive teams through communication. Josh Westwick, director of the School of Communication and Journalism, and Shelly Bayer, director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility, will lead the discussion.
Each speaker will talk about the importance of communication and intercultural awareness as part of team building. The event will be held March 25 from noon-1 p.m. in the Hobo Day Gallery at the University Student Union. .
Professional Advisor 啵啵直播秀s
Nominations are now open for SDSU鈥檚 Professional Advisor 啵啵直播秀s. Nominations are being accepted for the Professional Advisor 啵啵直播秀 for Excellence in Advising (two-plus years of experience) or the Emerging Professional in Advising 啵啵直播秀 (one to four years of experience). Any professional academic advisor or student success advisor who meets the is eligible. Details about the award, including the nomination process, selection criteria and a link to the nomination form can be found on the .
Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday. The recipients will be recognized at an awards ceremony in May.
Questions may be directed to Jody Owen.
Summer Term Compensation Open Forums
Continuing and Distance Education, Academic Affairs and Human Resources are hosting an open forum for departments, schools and faculty regarding summer term compensation.
Nine- and 10-month faculty who may be teaching, conducting research and providing service during the summer term are invited to join us to learn about summer term compensation, related processes and important dates.
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March 19 鈥 Summer term faculty open forum from 1:30-2:30 p.m., University Student Union Room 169, Campanile and Hobo Day Gallery (A and B).
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China Night
The Chinese Students and Scholars Association will host China Night March 23 at 6 p.m. at the Dacotah Bank Center. The event features authentic Chinese food and cultural performances, including a lion dance, a fashion show, instrumental music, vocal selections and much more.
Dinner includes chongqing spicy chicken, cumin beef, fried dumplings, mapo tofu, red bean paste sesame balls, three delights of the earth and white rice. .
Wellness Center Free Access
SDSU employees and their families will have free access to the Miller Wellness Center recreation and fitness areas through March 16. Employees must present employee ID at check in.
Eastern Science and Engineering Fair Judges
The Eastern South 啵啵直播秀 Science and Engineering Fair will be held March 25 in Club 71 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. The event invites middle and high school students to campus to showcase their research. The success of the event depends on a group of judges helping interview students for a variety of awards and prizes.
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The majority of the judging occurs from 9-11:30 a.m., with judges training starting at 8:15 a.m. Some judges are also needed for the Grand 啵啵直播秀s from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. If you are interested in serving as a Grand 啵啵直播秀s judge, please email Brad Blaha. Grand 啵啵直播秀s judges generally have judging experience and an interest in a broad range of subjects.
Faculty who work with undergraduate students that may be interested in helping serve as volunteers . Colleges and departments interested in sponsoring an award should email Brad Blaha.
Jacks Virtual 5K
The South 啵啵直播秀 State Alumni Association will host the Jacks Virtual 5K to benefit Jack鈥檚 Cupboard, SDSU's free on-campus food pantry for students experiencing food insecurity, during the month of April. A virtual 5K is a race that can be run or walked from any location, any day or any time that you choose during the month of April. Additional information about the event and how to enter is available on the .
IDS Spring 2025 Training Schedule
Instructional Design Services 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 the 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. .
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.
