Monday Message, August 7

SDSU Community –

The first Monday in August means that we are less than two weeks from move-in day and having students begin another academic year. I encourage anyone who can help with move-in day to please sign-up and volunteer. The Meet State committee has several exciting events planned for that day and needs our help. Thank you in advance!

Faculty will also be returning next week as their fall conference will be held Aug. 16 in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center. I look forward to their return to campus and hope everyone had a wonderful summer.

The SDSU Foundation will hold the seventh annual One Day for STATE, Sept. 7. One Day for STATE is one of the most exciting celebrations we have on campus each year. Money raised from the event supports academic programs, student scholarships, facility upgrades, athletic programs and much more.

Last year’s event raised more than $2.4 million from over 6,800 gifts. I hope many of you will participate. Additional information about One Day for STATE can be found below.

Also, intercollegiate athletics will host Jackrabbits employee appreciation night during the Aug. 31 football game against Western Oregon. All faculty and staff will be provided four complimentary tickets to the Thursday night game.

Kickoff for the game is 7 p.m. Details for parking and tailgating will be sent out in a future Monday Message. I hope you can join us as we celebrate last year’s national championship and look to have another great season in 2023. The Pride of the Dakotas will also return to the field and perform with new uniforms we are all excited to see.

To receive your tickets, please visit the ticket website on GoJacks.com and use the promotion code FACSTAFF23.

Finally, I would like to thank many of you for your continued work on the university’s next strategic plan: Pathway to Premier 2030. We have created a website for you to follow as the plan continues to develop.

Major initiatives are emerging along with appropriate key performance indicators of progress and success. I am excited about the progress we are making toward a robust strategic plan which will continue SDSU on a path to premier.

I encourage you to attend the State of the University, Sept. 20, as many of our goals and major initiatives will be shared in greater detail.

Thank you for everything you do to make SDSU such a wonderful place. Please have a wonderful week, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Go Jacks!

Sincerely,

Barry H. Dunn, President

Above and Beyond

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 SDSU Housing and Residential Life’s community assistants who were named to the dean’s list for the spring 2023 semester.

Housing and Residential Life had 61 community assistants, more than half of its CA team (out of 116 total), named to the dean’s list last semester. As part of the largest student-staff group on campus, their commitment to academics sets a great example for in-hall residents. This accomplishment alongside their daily work within the residential hall communities shows their dedication to one of SDSU’s core values: excellence.

Housing and Residential Life consistently emphasizes academics and encourages student staff to prioritize their studies. Residence hall directors help community assistants navigate their academic goals. Directors also advocate for their student staff during discussions of large processes such as the residential move-out that overlaps with finals week. The Housing and Residential Life team highlights the importance of academics through GPA requirements for student staff and academic success plans for staff members who are struggling to meet these expectations.

This achievement showcases the hard work of each of these community assistants. Their success in the classroom is just a portion of the impact they have on campus.

Thank you to community assistants and other Housing and Residential Life staff for going Above and Beyond as great leaders and inspiring other students as role models in your residence hall communities.

Above and Beyond

Above and Beyond

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The faculty/staff picnic will be held Aug. 15 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in Club 71 at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Please register online if you can attend. We hope to see everyone there.

The SDSU Foundation will host the seventh annual One Day for STATE, Sept. 7. One Day for STATE is a 24-hour challenge for Jackrabbits, celebrating SDSU and the impact of philanthropy.

This year’s goals include reaching 5,000 donors in 24 hours to unlock $700,000 from challenge donors. There are opportunities to support more than 110 different opportunities, including scholarships, academic programming, athletics and more.

Last year One Date for STATE raised more than $2.4 million from 6,825 gifts.

The 2023-24 Woodbine Productions schedule is now available, and tickets can be purchased online. Woodbine Productions has been bringing the finest performers to SDSU since 2006 with the intent of inspiring students and providing the Brookings community premier performances at the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.

The Office of Continuing and Distance Education has launched a new online tutoring service from Tutor.com, available to SDSU students. There is no cost to the students.

Tutor.com connects students with expert online tutors who can help with a wide variety of course subjects.

Students also have access to educational tools and study resources such as:

Study tools and lessons
Drop-off writing review
Diagnostic quizzes
Instructional videos

Students can access Tutor.com via their D2L course shell under “Help” on the course menu bar.

All SDSU students have up to 15 hours per semester allocated to them for utilizing Tutor.com, and we can provide additional hours on a case-by-case basis for students who may need additional support. While all students enrolled in an SDSU course may be able to access and utilize Tutor.com through their D2L course shells, our promotion of the service will be primarily to our online and distance learners.

Additional information for students is available on the CDE webpage and in the SDSU Virtual Student Union.

The IDS fall training schedule is available on InsideState. The eLearning applications refresher workshops and weekly webinars prepare faculty for a successful semester. Classroom tours can be requested individually to IDS. All SDSU faculty, staff and graduate teaching assistants are encouraged to attend these trainings.

Please direct your individual questions or any requests to IDS.

The Miller Wellness Center is holding a food drive for Jack's Cupboard during the month of August.

For each donation, participants receive 1% off the total price of a membership, personal training, group swim lessons or outdoor gear rentals. Each person may donate up to 15 items, and donations needed include rice, noodles, canned meats, gluten-free items, canned fruits, cereal and Hamburger Helper meals.

Items can be brought directly to the Miller Wellness Center.

Miller Wellness Center will host its first Jackrabbit Open Pickleball Tournament on Aug. 25-27.

Events to be offered include: men's and women's singles, 60-plus open doubles, men's and women's doubles, mixed doubles, and 12U open doubles in 3.0 and under, 3.5 and 4.0-plus skill divisions.

Registration is $35 for the first event and $15 for each additional event. Participants are guaranteed three games for each event in which they register. Registration will close Wednesday.

Please contact Kyle Dawson by email or at 605-688-5294 with any questions.

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 submission form.