Monday Message, April 14
SDSU Community,
I hope this message finds you well as we begin a short but important week at South 啵啵直播秀 State University. I want to remind everyone that Governor Larry Rhoden has graciously granted administrative leave to state employees this Friday and next Monday. I sincerely hope each of you can spend time with family, friends and loved ones and have a wonderful long weekend.
I would like to thank everyone who was able to attend last week's open forum and discussion with South 啵啵直播秀 Board of Regents Executive Director Nathan Lukkes. I truly appreciate his time, transparency and willingness to engage with our campus community. It was a meaningful and productive session that allowed us to explore the many opportunities and challenges currently facing higher education in South 啵啵直播秀.
A thoughtful discussion took place around Senate Bill 100 and the topic of firearms on campus. As you know, last week the Board of Regents shared an informational overview of the legislation to provide background and clarity. I want to assure you that as additional information becomes available and related policies are developed, we will keep our campus informed and engaged. We continue to provide one of the safest campus environments in the Midwest, and our priority will remain the safety and well-being of our students, faculty, staff and visitors.
This week also marks a significant moment in our annual university planning and budget process. On Wednesday and Thursday, the University Budget Oversight Committee will host its annual report hearings. These sessions are an essential part of our commitment to transparency, accountability and shared governance.
During the hearings, campus leaders will present budget requests, outline strategic priorities and highlight their accomplishments over the past year. These presentations shape the future financial decisions that support our academic mission and the broader goals of the university.
The hearings will take place in Woster Celebration Hall at the SDSU Foundation Lohr Building. The schedule is as follows:
- Wednesday, April 16: 8:10 a.m.-4:10 p.m.
- Thursday, April 17: 8:15-11:25 a.m.
All faculty, staff and students are welcome to attend in person . I want to thank the members of the Budget Oversight Committee for their preparation and commitment to this important process. We look forward to a productive and informative two days of discussion.
In addition to our work on campus budgets, I also want to express my appreciation to Dave Law and our Facilities and Services team. Several weeks ago, they hosted a detailed and informative presentation on campus construction and infrastructure projects scheduled for the remainder of the 2025 calendar year. These efforts help ensure that SDSU continues to be a safe, functional and first-class environment for learning, discovery and community. If you were unable to attend the presentation, , which is available for your convenience.
Thank you for everything you do to support this great university. From classrooms and labs to offices, residence halls, dining centers and beyond 鈥 you each play an essential role in our collective success. Your dedication and resilience make a difference every day, and I am truly grateful for your service and care.
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 faculty, staff 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 six SDSU students who have been named to the inaugural cohort of the Mike Huether Public Service Academy.
Selected students include Madalynn Graham, Elise Hotzler, Max Johnson, Natalie Johnson, Masume Krol and Grace Sargent.
The Mike Huether Public Service Academy, part of SDSU鈥檚 School of American and Global Studies, was announced in April 2024 with the intent to develop exceptional leaders and professionals who are committed to improving the lives of individuals, communities and societies. The program is open to students of all majors, and this year, four academic colleges are represented.
The two-year program includes curriculum in public administration, state and local government, current world issues, intercultural competence and ethics. Outside of the classroom, students engage in leadership development through the university鈥檚 LeadState program and other activities. Students will also complete a public service-focused internship of their choice.
In another extraordinary milestone, the Mike Huether Public Service Academy this spring joined the Volcker Alliance Next Generation Service Corps, a network of programs at colleges and universities across the country aimed at inspiring and preparing students to serve their communities and nation.
NextGen Service programs introduce undergraduates from all majors to public service values. Through these programs, students build practical, collaborative leadership skills, enjoy access to exclusive events and activities, and join an expansive national movement dedicated to public service and community engagement.
Thank you to the six students who have joined the academy, showing their commitment to public service and leadership now and in the future. Also, thank you to School of American and Global Studies Director Christine Garst-Santos for providing leadership for the academy, and to the program鈥檚 benefactors, SDSU alums Mike and Cindy Huether and businessman and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, whose generosity and vision will have an impact on students now and in generations to come.
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.
Third Annual Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day
Third Annual Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day 鈥 The Graduate School will host its third annual Graduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Day, Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. in the Volstorff Ballroom at the University Student Union.
The event will include a featured speaker and panel, followed by graduate student poster presentations, culminating with the Graduate Student Recognition Event. The event is open to all students, faculty and staff. A complete agenda is available on sdstate.edu.
Wokini Challenge Grant
The Wokini Challenge Grant is now open for applications. The grant supports innovative projects and/or research that align with the goals and mission of the Wokini Initiative.
It is an opportunity to develop leadership opportunities for Indigenous students, develop relationships with Indigenous staff and faculty at SDSU, and enhance cultural understanding and community engagement through projects that uplift Indigenous perspectives and knowledge.
Important dates:
- Application deadline: May 30 by 5 p.m. CST
We look forward to receiving your applications and supporting impactful projects 鈥 .
SPIN
The Division of Research and Economic Development will host a presentation, Wednesday from 1-2:30 p.m., about SPINPlus, a funding search database available to faculty, staff and students. .
The presentation will cover:
- Public (federal and state government) and private (foundations) funding opportunities.
- Results are returned to the user in relevancy ranked format and can be further sorted, grouped or filtered.
- Searches can be saved for future use.
- Searches can be set up to send daily or weekly notification alerts.
The webinar will also cover designing searches, utilizing filters for narrowing results and activating automated email notifications of grants. During the presentation, questions are welcome. This session will not be recorded.
SPARC RFP
The Division of Research and Economic Development invites applications for an internal competitive planning grant to support the development of large, complex project proposals for external funding.
Proposing teams must represent at least two substantively different disciplines, and projects must align with one of SDSU鈥檚 priority research themes.
Applications may request up to $15,000 and must be submitted via InfoReady by May 30.
Lightning Talk: Course Deliver Methods
Join Continuing and Distance Education, Academic Affairs and Records and Registration as we highlight course delivery methods in a short 30-minute lightning talk.
The discussion on 鈥淥nline Synchronous vs. Asynchronous鈥 will be held April 24 from 10-10:30 a.m. .
Prairie Repertory Theatre Season Tickets
. This year marks PRT鈥檚 54th season.
SDSU faculty and staff receive a discount on all tickets purchased.
2025 Distinguished Alumni Nominations
The SDSU Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2025 Distinguished Alumni awards.
Information about the awards and the nominating process can be found on the .
Summer IDS eLearning Academies
Instructional Design will host 2025 Summer eLearning Academy in May. The academy will focus on empowering faculty to leverage the potential of generative artificial intelligence within the D2L learning environment.
Additional information and how to register is available on sdstate.edu.
Professional Staff Annual Celebration
The Professional Staff Advisory Council will host its annual celebration and award ceremony May 14 at 2:30 p.m. in Woster Celebration Hall at the SDSU Alumni Center. A social will begin at 2:30 p.m., followed by the awards at 3 p.m.
The Rising Star and Presidential 啵啵直播秀 of Excellence recipients will be announced, and those in attendance will have a chance at door prizes.
A Zoom link will be made available for those who cannot attend in person.
Go Big, Give Blue: A Month of Impact for SDSU Student Organizations
SDSU student organizations have come together for a campuswide giving challenge designed to support their initiatives, foster a culture of philanthropy and strengthen the Jackrabbits community.
Through Friday, student clubs and organizations will showcase their missions, rally support from peers, alumni and the SDSU community, and raise funds for the projects that matter most.
Through digital storytelling, collaboration and engaging challenges, participating groups are tapping into the power of philanthropy one small action at a time.
Weekly themes have been guiding clubs through creative storytelling, collaboration, action-based challenges and impact reflection. Incentives and prizes will reward student groups for engagement, participation and fundraising success.
Open to all SDSU-affiliated clubs, organizations and student-focused initiatives, each group can actively promote their fundraising efforts or support other participating organizations throughout the challenge.
The Jackrabbits Philanthropy Center is here to help. There are resources and support to provide tools, visibility and guidance to help student groups make the most of this opportunity.
Interested student organizations should contact Heidi Hopewell at the SDSU Foundation.
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 New and Recently Revised Policies.
