Monday Message, August 18
SDSU Community,
As we begin another academic year at South ֱ State University, I want to take this opportunity to welcome all our new employees to SDSU and our faculty back to campus for another academic year. Thank you for the work you do to inspire, challenge and educate our students.
The opening weeks of the fall semester are among the most important and transformative moments in the life of our university. They bring with them a sense of excitement, renewal and responsibility as thousands of students return to campus and, for many, step onto it for the very first time.
This Friday marks the start of Meet State and our move-in weekend. The entire campus community will welcome a new freshman class — students who are about to embark on one of the most significant journeys of their lives. For many of them, this will be the first time they are away from home, their families and their familiar routines. They will experience emotions ranging from enthusiasm and joy to uncertainty and anxiety. It is during these early weeks that we, as a community, play a crucial role in helping them navigate this transition successfully.
Classes begin next Monday, and with them, the rhythm of the semester will quickly take shape. Our students will begin forming the habits and connections that will carry them not only through their first semester, but ultimately through their college careers. Research consistently shows that the first weeks of college are pivotal in determining a student’s long-term success. Patterns of engagement — both academic and social — established now will shape the trajectory of their entire experience.
To support our students, particularly those in their first year, SDSU has many resources in place. One important effort during the early days of the semester is the Yellow, Blue and You initiative coordinated through Student Affairs and Activities. This initiative is grounded in research demonstrating that early engagement fosters stronger academic performance and a sense of belonging. The program is designed to help students establish positive academic habits, build social connections and feel anchored within the Jackrabbits community.
Through Yellow, Blue and You, students are encouraged to participate in events, explore opportunities outside the classroom and connect with the wide array of services available to them. Each of these touchpoints helps transform the uncertainty of transition into a foundation of success. I ask that you join me in sharing information about these events with our new students whenever possible. A calendar of activities is available online, and consistent communication will continue throughout the semester. If you are hosting an event that would be helpful to students, I encourage you to contact Cody Burggraff so it can be included on the schedule and promoted widely.
All of us play an important role in welcoming our students to campus and this work is a community effort. Every conversation with a student, every classroom moment and every informal interaction on campus carries the potential to make a difference. A brief word of encouragement or a recommendation to attend a campus event may seem small in the moment, but for a first-year student, it can be the gesture that helps them to be successful at SDSU. Thank you in advance for everything you do, both inside and outside of the classroom, to help our students feel welcome and supported.
The weeks ahead will be busy not only with move-in and the start of classes, but also with opportunities to gather and celebrate as a university community. Tomorrow, we look forward to seeing many of you at the at Club 71 in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. This annual event is a time to reconnect with colleagues and share in the anticipation of another year of achievement and growth.
Later this week, on Thursday evening, SDSU will once again serve as a sponsor for in Brookings. It is an opportunity to showcase the strong relationship between our university and the community, with live music, local vendors and plenty of SDSU spirit. It is a wonderful way to connect with friends and neighbors while celebrating the vibrant partnership that makes Brookings such a special place to live and learn. Next week will be and the first home football game. Lost of excitement in the air.
As we launch this new academic year, I am filled with the energy, expertise and dedication you bring to our university. Everyone's commitment to our land-grant mission of providing access to the benefits of higher education continues to shape SDSU into the premier land-grant institution we aspire to be and serves as a catalyst to make our state and region a better place to live for everyone. All of us have the privilege of welcoming a new generation of Jackrabbits and guiding them on their journey toward a college degree.
Let’s make the most of these opening weeks. Let’s be present, supportive and encouraging as our students take their first steps into a future full of promise. I know that, with your help, this will be another exciting and productive year at South ֱ State University.
Thank you, once again, for all you do to make SDSU a special place. I look forward to working alongside you as we begin this important new chapter together.
Let’s have a great week and an even greater year.
Go Jacks!
Barry H. Dunn
President
South ֱ State University
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of South ֱ 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 Papua New Guinea Student Association and its members’ recent efforts to plan and carry out a beautification project on campus.
About 50 students from the association took part in the campus cleanup on the evening of July 27. Members collected trash from parking lots and streets and around buildings and trash compactors.
One of the newest groups on campus, the Papua New Guinea Student Association was founded in February 2025. Members decided to work together to take part in a summer project to gain hands-on experience in planning and organizing an event and to promote the association to the university. Before working on social programs or cultural events, members viewed the beautification project as a good way to give back to the university and to show that they are an active and willing group of students.
Members began their work from the Meadows apartments and around Hansen Hall and then split up into three groups, working hard to tidy up every portion of campus. The association was grateful to partner with Facilities and Services, which provided trash bags and gloves needed for the project, and with Jay Molock, student success adviser in the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility, who helped organized and get approval for the project.
Thank you all for your service and dedication to SDSU and for going Above and Beyond to assist in making campus look its best before the start of a new academic year.
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.
Jackrabbit Central Faculty/Staff Welcome Back
Jackrabbit Central will hold its annual Faculty/Staff Welcome Back Sale, Tuesday and Wednesday. All faculty and staff will receive 25% off items in the store.
Some exceptions apply. Employee IDs are required.
BluePrint/Campus Maps
BluePrint, located in the University Student Union, will provide printing options for an updated campus map. The interactive online map will still be available, in addition to the printed version.
The campus maps will be printed on 11x17, 24-pound matte paper, single-sided, in full color. The minimum order is 50 maps, with pricing as follows:
- 50-100 maps: 40 cents/map
- 101-499 maps: 30 cents/map
- 500-999 maps: 20 cents/map
- 1,000-plus maps: 10 cents/map
BluePrint also provides many additional printing options for campus. For orders over 1,000 sheets, please allow at least two to three business days of lead time. For specialty orders that the shop is unable to fulfill, they will refer you to University Marketing and Communications, which can connect you with approved printers better equipped for the job.
If you have any questions or would like to place an order or request an estimate, please email or stop by the office located in the lower level of the University Student Union.
When placing an order, please include the following information along with your project details:
- Name
- Department
- Index
- Due date
- Quantity
- Paper stock
Jack’s Cupboard Back-to-School Drive
Jack's Cupboard will hold its annual Back-to-School Drive through Thursday, for departments around campus to donate items to the on-campus food pantry for students who are facing food insecurity and financial hardships.
A flyer will go out to each department with the specific items they are being challenged to donate. Deadline to drop off items will be Aug. 21 between noon-5 p.m. at Jack's Cupboard.
Jackrabbit Open Pickleball Tournament
The Miller Wellness Center will host its third annual Jackrabbits Open Pickleball Tournament, Oct. 3-5. The event will include 37 divisions of men’s and women’s singles (regular and skinny) and doubles, mixed doubles and 55-plus open doubles across all skill levels.
. Questions may be directed to Kevin Miller.
Jack’s Cupboard – Volunteers Needed!
Jack's Cupboard, the on-campus food pantry for SDSU students, is looking for volunteers to staff the facility the first week of the academic year.
. Additional information about Jack’s Cupboard can be found on sdstate.edu.
Questions may be directed to Sloane Bertke or Keri Pappas.
One Day for STATE
The SDSU Foundation will host the ninth annual , a 24-hour challenge for Jackrabbits to celebrate SDSU and the impact made through philanthropy, Sept. 4.
- Jack’s Journey will kick off One Day for STATE the night before on Sept. 3. Jack the Jackrabbit will depart from the SDSU Foundation at 6 p.m. and start his trip around Brookings.
- A patio party will be hosted during One Day for STATE outside of the University Student Union at noon, including free SDSU ice cream and giveaways.
- The Yellow and Blue Block Party will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 4 on the Alumni Green. The event will include performances from The Pride of the ֱs Marching Band and the SDSU dance and cheer teams, along with food trucks, free SDSU ice cream, the Bummobile and kids’ activities.
Follow the SDSU Foundation , and for updates on the event and to be a part of the action on .
AI Tutor Pro and AI Teaching Assistant Pro
Instructional Design Services has launched and , which are now available to all SDSU students and faculty. These two companion AI applications have been selected to provide innovations for the SDSU teaching and learning community. The AI applications were carefully reviewed and piloted last fall and spring. Neither AI application collects your personal or course data. Privacy is protected, and entered data is not used to train the AI models.
Applications may be accessed via D2L under the “SDSU Resources” course menu in each D2L shell.
AI Tutor Pro is an interactive student-facing learning companion offering a 24/7 availability for self-paced learning environments. Students can “check” their understanding of content via diagnostics or grow their knowledge using prompts and feedback tailored to their levels. The system supports multiple languages and can use additional OpenStax course-aligned open educational resources content without retaining any identifying data.
AI Teaching Assistant Pro helps faculty create instructional content more efficiently, from drafting quizzes, rubrics and syllabi to generating lesson plans and discussion ideas. This occurs within a public access webpage interface similar to Wikipedia. Faculty are invited to watch these two videos to start trying them out:
All SDSU faculty members are encouraged to explore both AI Tutor Pro and AI Teaching Assistant Pro and incorporate them into teaching activities this fall. These AI applications will enhance student engagement, increase instructional efficiency and uphold academic integrity in the challenging GenAI era. You can also attend one of these AI sessions to learn more at this fall’s conference and forthcoming 20th anniversary eLearning Conference on Sept. 29-30.
Worksite Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
SDSU Extension is offering a virtual Worksite Chronic Disease Self-Management Program exclusively for SDSU faculty and staff. This evidence-based program supports individuals living with or caring for someone with a chronic health condition.
Participants will learn practical skills for managing symptoms, improving communication with health care providers, handling stress and maintaining an active, fulfilling life — both at work and beyond.
Sessions will be held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-noon CST, Sept. 2 through October. There will be no sessions on Sept. 30 or Oct. 2. .
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:
- Thursday
- Sept. 18
- Oct. 17
- Nov. 19
- 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.
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, FEMA-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 also provides a strong connection with local and state emergency networks and fosters community resilience and leadership, as part of the South ֱ 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.
Fall 2025 RSCA Training Series
The fall Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity training series will be held throughout the fall semester. Topics include:
- Working with Industry: 3P (Public-Private Partnership) Agreements – Sept. 9, 10-11 a.m.
- Finding Funding: Overview of SPIN Plus Funding Search – Sept. 16, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
- NSF SBIR/STTR Translational Funding Opportunities – Sept. 23, 10-11 a.m.
- Establishing a Center or Institute at SDSU – Oct. 8, 11 a.m.-noon
- Cayuse: Proposal Routing, Submission and Human Subjects – Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-noon
- Working with Tribal Partners: Best Practices in Cultivating Successful Partnerships, November, TBD
Additional information about location of the training series can be found on sdstate.edu.
QuestionPro
The university’s subscription to QuestionPro will end Sept. 30. All users must export their surveys and data by that date as access will no longer be available.
To prepare, and download any surveys or data you wish to keep. Identify any surveys that will need to be recreated or transferred to Qualtrics moving forward. If you do not yet have a Qualtrics account, you may request access by visiting this InsideState Qualtrics Support Page for account access, training resources and tutorials such as Basecamp training.
Fall 2025 IDS Training Schedule Now Available
. The training will focus on three key themes: virtual community engagement, accessibility in eLearning and innovative teaching strategies with AI.
Highlights also include newly added features in D2L to help engage students more effectively and the D2L Panorama accessibility checker. These tools, along with the regularly scheduled eLearning application workshops, weekly webinars and comprehensive Online Teaching Certification Program, are designed to help you prepare for a strong start to the semester.
For questions or individual assistance, please contact Instructional Design Services.
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.
