Skip to main content

Robert V. Burns Papers

Finding Aid

Download Finding Aid and Container List

Collection Summary

Identifier

UA 53.19

Title

Robert V. Burns Papers

Creator

Robert V. (Robert Vincent) "Bob" Burns

Dates

1968-2008

Extent

3.0 linear feet (3 records center boxes) photographs, electronic records

Language

English

Repository

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M. Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Access note

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Preferred Citation

Name of item . Robert V. Burns Papers. UA 53.19. South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections, Hilton M .Briggs Library, Brookings, South Dakota.

Abstract

Bob Burns was a professor of political science and director of the Honors College. This collection is composed of minutes, agenda and correspondence associated with the various committees and commissions on which he served, and a small amount on material dealing with his State Representative campaign in 1980.

Biographical Note

Robert (Bob) Burns was born in Flandreau in 1942. He is the youngest of six children of the late Joseph and Marie Burns. He developed a habit of participation and assumption of leadership roles while attending Flandreau High School. His high school leadership roles and academic success paid dividends in the form of a four year Briggs Scholarship awarded him by SDSU in mid-summer of 1960.

Bob graduated from SDSU in June of 1964 with a BS in Political Science and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the US Army through ROTC later that summer. The spring of 1964 also marked his marriage to Donna Bozied. The University of Missouri-Columbia awarded him a full ride three year National Defense Fellowship in their political science doctoral program.

Bob subsequently earned a MA (1966) and a PhD (1973) in Political Science from the University of Missouri- Columbia with the financial support of his Fellowship and Donna’s earned salary. Bob reported for active duty at Ft. Benning, Georgia as an officer in the US Army. Bob’s two year active duty time (1968-1970) included one year as an Army Captain in Vietnam. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster while serving in Vietnam.

While serving in Vietnam, Bob was invited by his undergraduate mentor, Professor Hendrickson, to join the political science faculty of SDSU for a one year term appointment. His one year term appointment was transformed into a 38 year professional life due to some fortunate circumstances and the endorsement of students, colleagues and superiors. During his tenure at SDSU he received many teaching awards including being named College of Arts and Sciences “Teacher of the Year” seven different years, Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award for Excellence in Teaching (1989), Distinguished Professor of Political Science in 1994 by the SD Board of Regents and 1995 South Dakota Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for extraordinary dedication to undergraduate teaching. He also served as department head for the Departments of Political Science and Philosophy and Religion for nearly 20 years. He served as Acting Director of the USD Farber Center from January to July, 1998 while on leave from SDSU. During the last ten years of his tenure at SDSU he served first as Director and later as the first Dean of the SDSU Honors College while continuing his teaching and department head duties. He also assumed many leadership roles on several key campus organizations during his SDSU tenure. Early in his career, his nine month teaching contract afforded him an opportunity to do summer policy research for Governors Kneip, Wollman and Janklow and serve as a Humanist- in- Residence for the SD Committee on Humanities three separate summers.

Upon his retirement in June, 2008, the SD Board of Regents honored him with the titles Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Dean Emeritus of the SDSU Honors College. He was also honored as a SDSU Distinguished Alumnus for Service to Education by the SDSU Alumni Association in 2008. He continues to be a well-known print and broadcast media commentator on South Dakota and national government, politics and legal issues. Bob has also received recognition for community service. He served on the National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education (1997-1998) and he continues service as a SD Commissioner on the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (1996-present). His belief that democracy requires active citizen engagement and a strong civil society has prompted him to serve on and sometimes lead multiple state and local civic and government boards, commissions, task forces and councils during his professional life. That service continues into retirement as evidenced by his chairing the SD Budget and Policy Institute and the SD World Affairs Council in addition to regular teaching of OLLI courses in Sioux Falls and Brookings.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into seven series:

Series 1. General records

Series 2. Academic Senate

Series 3. Brookings Railroad Safety

Series 4. NAFTA Conference

Series 5. Judicial Elections

Series 6. South Dakota Branch Reorganization

Series 7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)

Contents Note

This collection is composed of the papers of Robert V. Burns. Included are minutes, agenda and correspondence associated with the various committees and commissions on which he served, and a small amount on material dealing with his State Representative campaign in 1980. The bulk of the collection is composed of material dealing with the South Dakota Executive Branch reorganization in the early 1970s and material associated with his involvement as a commissioner on the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.).

Series 1. General records.

The General series is composed of some course material, a vita, Remnant Trust committee material, and a file associated with Burns run for State Representative in 1980. Included are course materials, publications, clippings, committee minutes, and a photograph.

Series 2. Academic Senate.

The Academic Senate series is composed of South Dakota State University Academic Senate agendas, and minutes from 1982-1983 and 1995-1996. Folders include minutes, agendas, and extraneous material provided to senate members for each meeting.

Series 3. Brookings Railroad Safety.

The Brookings Railroad Safety series is composed of a small amount of material dealing the railroad safety in Brookings, South Dakota. Included are minutes and a report.

Series 4. NAFTA Conference.

The NAFTA Conference series is composed of material dealing with the Canadian/United States Agricultural Trade Issues Emerging form NAFTA conference arranged by Dr. Burns through a grant from the Canadian Studies Conference Grant Program in 2000. Included is correspondence with participants, and government officials, publications, publicity, talking points, conference proceedings, and a copy of South Dakota governor William Janklow's keynote speech.

Series 5. Judicial Elections.

The Judicial Elections series is composed of a small amount of material dealing with judicial elections in South Dakota.

Series 6. South Dakota Branch Reorganization.

The South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization series is composed of material dealing with the reorganization of the South Dakota Executive Branch in the early 1970s. Included are materials associated with the Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization on which Dr. Burns served. This material is composed of correspondence, meeting minutes, staff documents and recommendations, reports, news releases, and a slide presentation.

Series 7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.).

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.) series is composed of materials associated with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education on which Dr. Burns served as a commissioner. Folders include meeting agenda books and publications of the commission.

Key Words

Brookings Railroad Safety Committee

Burns, Robert Vincent, 1942-

Executive departments -- South Dakota -- Reorganization

Railroads -- South Dakota -- Brookings -- Safety measures -- Planning

South Dakota -- Politics and government

South Dakota Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention

South Dakota State University -- Academic Senate

South Dakota. Citizens Commission on Executive Reorganization

Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education

Container List

View container list on Open Prairie

Robert V. Burns Papers Container List. UA 53.19

SeriesBoxFolderDescriptionDate(s)
1. General11Civil Rights and Liberties course1996
1. General12Collected material (publication, clippings, articles, print, photograph)1969
1. General13Honor College, Council of Mentors (application)undated
1. General14Remnant Trust committee2003
1. General15Retirement congratulations2008
1. General16State Representative campaign1980
1. General17Vitaundated
2. Academic Senate18Conference of Senates-Constitutionundated
2. Academic Senate110Meeting agendas, minutes, etc.1995
2. Academic Senate111Meeting agendas, minutes, etc.1995
2. Academic Senate112Meeting agendas, minutes, etc.1996
2. Academic Senate113Meeting agendas, minutes, etc.1996
2. Academic Senate19Meeting agendas, minutes, etc.1982-1983
3. Brookings Railroad Safety114Brookings, Railroad Safety Committee minutes2007
3. Brookings Railroad Safety115Report of the Brookings Mayor's Ad Hoc Committee on the DM&E Rail Proposal1998
3. Brookings Railroad Safety116Review of Laws Related to Community Rights and Railroads2002
4. NAFTA Conference117Academics and producers (letters, facsimiles)2000-2001
4. NAFTA Conference118Canadian scholars1999-2000
4. NAFTA Conference119Canadian Studies Conference Grant Program1999-2001
4. NAFTA Conference120Conference packet2000
4. NAFTA Conference121Conference proceedings2000
4. NAFTA Conference122Conference publications (banquet tickets, brochure, program)2000
4. NAFTA Conference123Government officials (letters, facsimiles)2000
4. NAFTA Conference124Governor William Janklow's keynote speech2000
4. NAFTA Conference125Governors, Premiers, and Ministers (letters, facsimiles, background information)2000
4. NAFTA Conference126Invitations (letters, facsimiles)2000
4. NAFTA Conference127Publicity2000
4. NAFTA Conference128Talking points1999-2000
5. Judicial Elections129Judicial Qualifications Commission, State of South Dakota, 2006 Election School2006
5. Judicial Elections130South Dakota Special Committee on Judicial Election Campaign Intervention, 2006 Final Report2006
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization21Achieving Responsive Government; a report of the South Dakota Citizens Commission on Executive Reorganization1972
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization22Administrative Organization of South Dakota State Government1972
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization23Background materials1971
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization24Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Correspondence1971
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization25Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Correspondence1972
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization26Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Interview report1971
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization27Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Legislation1972-1973
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization28Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Minutes1971-1973
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization29Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Staff documents1971
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization210Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Staff documents1972
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization211Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Staff memos and correspondence1971-1973
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization212Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Staff recommendation1971
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization213Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization: Testimony and statements1972
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization214Clippings1971-1973
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization215Collected research1968
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization216Game, Fish and Parks reorganization1971
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization217Informal contacts and observations1971-1972
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization218Integration of planning and budgeting in the States; a report prepared for the National Governor's Conference1969
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization219Legislator's handbook; The Administrative Organization of South Dakota State Government1969
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization220Legislator's handbook; The Administrative Organization of South Dakota State Government1971
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization221News releases1971-1973
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization222Plan for Responsive Government in South Dakota; a report of the Citizen's Commission on Executive Reorganization1973
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization223Reorganization in the States; The Council of State Governments1972
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization224Responsive Government in the State of South Dakota; recommendations to the Governor from the Federal Technical Assistance Program1971
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization225Slide presentation1972 circa
6. South Dakota Executive Branch Reorganization226State Executive Reorganization, 1967-1967; The Council of State Governments1969
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)31Accelerated Learning Options: Moving the Needle on Access and Success; a study of state and institutional policies and practices June 20062006
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)32Changing Directions: Integrating Higher Education Financial Aid and Financing Policy; case studies from the Changing Direction technical assistance states February 20082008
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)33Changing Directions: Integrating Higher Education Financial Aid and Financing Policy; strategies for improving student success in postsecondary education January 20072007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)34Changing Directions: Integrating Higher Education Financial Aid and Financing Policy; thinking outside the box: policy strategies for readiness, access and success2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)36Commission Meeting (Agenda Book covers only)2003-2004
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)39Commission Meeting (Denver, Colorado)2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)37Commission Meeting (Juneau, Alaska)2005
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)310Commission Meeting (Rapid City, South Dakota)2008
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)38Commission Meeting (Whitefish, Montana)2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)35Commissioner handbook2004
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)311Consolidated Financial Statements2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)312History of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education; the first forty years by Frank C. Abbott2004
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)313Inventory of Rural Health Practice Incentives in the Western WICHE States2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)314Knocking at the College Door; projections of high school graduates by state and race/ethnicity 1992-2022, March 20082007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)315More Student Success, a systemic solution (State Higher Education Executive Officers)2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)316Professional Student Exchange Program: Administrative manual1998
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)317Regional Fact Book for Higher Education in the West1996
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)318SEP: Student Exchange Program; the statistical report, 2006-20072007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)319State Scholars Initiative; year two (2007) evaluation reports (CD-ROM)2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)320Vocabulary System of Accountability; summary and background materials (College Portrait, Voluntary System of Accountability)2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)321W.I.C.H.E. Issue Analysis and Research Committee (CD-ROM)2007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)322W.U.E.: Western Undergraduate Exchange, enrollment report, Fall 20062007
7. Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (W.I.C.H.E.)323W.U.E.: Western Undergraduate Exchange, enrollment report, Fall 20072008

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers without restrictions. The materials in the Archives do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Researchers conducting extensive research are asked to make an advance appointment to access archival material. Please call or e-mail prior to visiting the collection and indicate as much detail as possible about a particular topic and intended use.

South Dakota State University supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted as a result of their fragile condition or by contractual agreements with donors.

Copyright note

Copyright restrictions apply in different ways to different materials. Many of the documents and other historical materials in the Archives are in the public domain and may be reproduced and used in any way. There are other materials in the Archive carrying a copyright interest and must be used according to the provisions of Title 17 of the U.S. Code. The Archive issues a warning concerning copyright restrictions to every researcher who requests copies of documents. Although the copyright law is under constant redefinition in the courts, it is ultimately the responsibility of the researcher to properly use copyrighted material.

Arranged and Described by

Crystal J. Gamradt, Archivist, 2008 June 28.