Monday Message, Nov. 24
SDSU Community,
As we enter this season of gratitude, I hope each of you can find time to rest, recharge and enjoy moments during this Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends. Campus will be closed Thursday and Friday in observance of the holiday, and I encourage everyone to enjoy the time away as we begin the final stretch of the fall semester when we return next week.
Even with a quiet week, it is important for our campus community to know that my leadership team and I continue to closely monitor the rapidly changing landscape of higher education. These are still unprecedented times for universities across the nation, and we remain focused on keeping our campus informed about developments that may affect SDSU.
Last week, I attended our regular Council of Presidents meeting with the executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents and my fellow presidents from across the system. We had productive and candid conversations about both state and national issues impacting higher education. These discussions help guide our planning and ensure SDSU is positioned to respond proactively as we head into our legislative season in the new year.
Provost Dennis Hedge and I met with leaders of the Professional Staff Advisory Council, the Students’ Association and the Faculty Senate in recent days. We value these monthly meetings with the executive committees, as well as our semester meetings with the broader governance groups. Additionally, members of my leadership team have spoken with these important groups at their regular meetings as requested throughout the fall. These conversations strengthen collaboration and ensure we are all listening to each other and working together to support our land-grant mission and help our faculty, students and staff remain successful.
Next week, Vice President for Research and Economic Development Daniel Scholl and College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences Dean Joseph Cassady will be in Washington, D.C., meeting with our congressional delegation. These visits remain essential as we advocate for SDSU’s priorities and maintain strong federal partnerships.
On the student front, I want to extend my appreciation to the students in the School of Communication and Journalism for inviting me to join them during a weekly taping of “” Collegian Media has expanded significantly this year, adding a newscast to its award-winning newspaper, website and KSDJ radio station. The newscast was nominated for Best College Newscast last year by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Upper Midwest Region — an impressive accomplishment that reflects the innovation and commitment of our students and faculty. Thank you for allowing me to take part in this production.
Finally, I want to wish our volleyball team success as it hosts the for the first time in program history. Our women will take on North Dakota State at 6 p.m. this evening in the second semifinal. Congratulations as well to our football team for qualifying for the for the 14th consecutive year. The Jacks will host New Hampshire on Saturday at noon in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium.
As we look ahead, please remember that Jane and I invite you to the annual holiday party on Dec. 2 from 3-5:30 p.m. in Woster Celebration Hall. We hope to see you there.
Thank you for everything you do. Have a wonderful week and a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Go Jacks!
Sincerely,
Barry H. Dunn
President
South Dakota State University
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of South Dakota 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’s Above and Beyond recognizes Chi Chapter, South Dakota State University’s branch of the Kappa Epsilon national pharmacy fraternal organization. The chapter was recognized with the Rose Chapter Award for excellence in outstanding community service and professional involvement at Kappa Epsilon’s national convention in Lexington, Kentucky, this summer.
The organization’s mission is to unite pharmacy students, faculty and alumni dedicated to empowering its members to achieve personal and professional competence, to develop leaders within the profession and community, and to provide professional and philanthropic services.
SDSU’s Chi Chapter has actively supported Kappa Epsilon’s breast cancer awareness initiative for more than a decade. Over the years, chapter members have participated in wellness fairs and Relay for Life as well as created and distributed breast cancer support baskets for chemotherapy patients.
Currently, Chi Chapter is working to deepen its involvement in Brookings while also strengthening support networks among chapter members. They have actively been providing care packages to the Brookings domestic abuse shelter, Margo’s Place. Chapter members also gather regularly for community-building activities, such as bowling or making tie blankets, which are then shared with residents of a local nursing home.
The Rose Chapter Award is presented to chapters that consistently show dedication to Kappa Epsilon’s standards and responsibilities, including outstanding community service and professionalism. This year, only seven out of 37 chapters nationwide earned the Rose Chapter Award. This marks the second time the SDSU chapter has received the honor, reflecting the dedication of its members and advisers while reinforcing the chapter’s ongoing commitment to growth, leadership and service within the profession of pharmacy.
Chi Chapter has more than 50 members at SDSU, and chapter leadership who have been instrumental in achieving its mission are President Kelsey Pickart, Past Vice President Carson Carruthers, Treasurer Brooklyn Nepodal and Vice President Emily Williford. Scout Forbes-Hurd, assistant professor and continuing education and experiential education coordinator for the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, is the chapter’s adviser.
Congratulations to chapter leaders and members for going Above and Beyond to make a difference in the community, representing SDSU well and bringing home this prestigious national award.
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.
Student Self-Help Video Library
The Student Success NETwork has launched a centralized collection of student self-help resources through a series of short videos and reels. The self-help videos guide students through common academic tasks, providing reliable, on-demand support.
Topics include:
- Registration and academic planning
- Tutoring and academic support services
- D2L course navigation
Videos can be accessed from:
- MyState: From the dashboard, scroll to the bottom, then move up one section to the Student Success Hub.
- help.sdstate.edu: Knowledge Base → Software and Applications → MyState → Student Success Videos
These resources help students find answers quickly, stay on track academically, and access the support they need throughout the semester.
Union Open House
The University Student Union will host an open house Dec. 4 from 4-6:30 p.m. Faculty and staff are welcome to join for a festive evening of bingo, crafts, music and celebration. The campus tradition includes students competing in a gingerbread contest, decorating cookies and comradery as we near the end of the semester.
2025 IDS Winter eLearning Accessibility Boot Camp
Instructional Design Services will host the Winter eLearning Accessibility Boot Camp during December. The boot camp is designed to help make D2L courses accessible for all SDSU students.
Dates for the boot camp are:
- Dec. 9 from 9-11 a.m.
- Dec. 10 from 9-11 a.m.
- Dec. 11 from 2-4 p.m.
Individuals may attend one or all the sessions. Additional information and how to register is available on sdstate.edu.
Presidential Awards of Excellence and the Rising Star Award
The Professional Staff Advisory Council is seeking nominations for the 2025-26 Presidential Awards of Excellence and the Rising Star Award.
All nominations are due Jan. 23 at 5 p.m. .
United Way Campaign
The Brookings Area United Way is celebrating 70 years of making an impact in Brookings County. The United Way raises funds for nearly 50 local nonprofits and programs that impact one out of every three people — including SDSU students and staff.
From helping fund public transportation to the abuse shelter, from the food pantry to after school programs — they have likely made a difference for you or someone you know. Please consider visiting to learn more.
The campaign page has multiple methods for individuals to donate to show support:
- Donate online. Set up a monthly or one-time gift.
- Payroll deduction. Fill out the online form with your automatic payroll deduction. Make sure to include your employee number.
- Download a pledge card. Print out a pledge card to make a donation via personal check or cash.
As you can imagine, the need has increased in our community over the years. And now, more than ever, Brookings Area United Way is counting on your support to continue the vital programs that make our campus and the community so special.
If you have questions or would like campaign pledge cards delivered to your department, contact Mike Lockrem, SDSU’s United Way board member, for assistance.
Nordic Yule Market
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.
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.
Undergraduate students are invited to submit their creative poetry and prose for consideration. The top three student entries will receive cash awards and publication in the April 2026 issue of Oakwood magazine. .
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 SDSU.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 ֱ 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.
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:
- 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 SDSU 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’s 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 SDSU 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.
A Christmas Celebration Dance Concert
Theatre and Dance will perform A Christmas Celebration Dance Concert, Dec. 5-6 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Oscar Larson Theatre in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.
Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for senior citizens, military, SDSU employees, and non-SDSU students and children. SDSU students are admitted free with their student ID.
Tickets can be purchased online at sdsutheatre.org, at the north box office in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center or by calling 605-688-6045.
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.
