Monday Message, September 22
SDSU Community,
This coming weekend will once again highlight the excitement of our South ֱ State University community as we host another SDState Event Experience weekend. Saturday and Sunday will bring hundreds of guests to campus for Family Weekend, while Saturday will also mark Senior Day for high school students and families visiting campus. These events showcase the very best of our university as we open our doors to families of current Jackrabbits and to those considering making SDSU their future home.
A highlight of the weekend for our visitors will come Saturday afternoon when our Jackrabbits football team returns to action against at 2 p.m. inside Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. Game day provides guests a firsthand experience of the energy and pride of SDSU. Thank you to everyone who helps plan and host these events — from Athletics and Student Affairs to Residential Life and Facilities, Dining and countless volunteers. Your efforts ensure our visitors experience the hospitality that defines South ֱ State University.
Looking ahead, next week will also be an important time for our institution. Several of us will be traveling to Spearfish for the October South ֱ Board of Regents meeting on the campus of Black Hills State University. The regents’ agenda will be released later this week, and we will keep the campus informed of any significant items that directly impact our university. These meetings are essential moments for us to share our progress and reinforce the value SDState delivers to the people of South ֱ.
Before the regents convene, we will celebrate the grand opening of the Black Hills State University–Rapid City addition and renovation next Tuesday, which will provide a new home for our College of Nursing in Rapid City. This project reflects the power of partnership: SDState and BHSU working together with Monument Health, supported by the Board of Regents, the Office of the Governor and the South ֱ Legislature. The facility will expand opportunities for students and faculty while addressing a pressing need for health care providers across our state. It is another example of how our land-grant mission comes to life — connecting education, research and service to the people and communities who need it most.
I want to close by thanking you once again for your dedication to making South ֱ State University a premier land-grant university as your work reflects the very best of who we are. Together, we create opportunities, strengthen communities and transform lives.
Sincerely,
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’s Above and Beyond recognizes the students, faculty and staff of the School of American and Global Studies for hosting Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day celebrations, Sept. 17 in Lincoln Hall.
While the school has long participated in both civic holidays, last year marked a new tradition: hosting a full day of programming that brings the two together. These twin observances — Constitution Day (Sept. 17) and National Voter Registration Day (Sept. 16) — share a common purpose: celebrating democracy and fostering community engagement. Their pairing reflects the school’s mission and values.
Throughout the day, roughly 90 members of the campus community stopped by to ask questions about ballot issues, registration rules and the origins of Constitution Day. The Political Science Club, in partnership with Hilton M. Briggs Library, anchored the morning with “Coffee, Cookies and Constitutions,” distributing dozens of pocket Constitutions and registering or updating 44 South ֱ voters, which they were thrilled with in a state and local election year.
Special thanks go to Political Science Club President Masume Krol for her leadership and coordination, which ensured that all School of American and Global Studies clubs participated across the day’s events. The Pre-Law Society, led by President Natalie Benton, closed out the day with a spirited comparative constitutional trivia night over pizza, drawing an enthusiastic student and faculty crowd. The questions came from categories provided by the Global Studies, History and Spanish clubs as well as Political Science Club and Pre-Law Society.
From the voter registration drive to the lunchtime Civics in the 605 Constitution quiz and evening celebrations, the event showcased the power of student leadership and civic learning. Thank you to everyone in the School of American and Global Studies for going Above and Beyond in making this a model of democratic engagement at SDState.
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.
Mandatory Employee Reporting Training
This is a reminder that all active employees received an email with a link to complete the South ֱ Board of Regents Employee Mandatory Reporting Training within KnowBe4. The training video will provide employees with information regarding their responsibility to report any suspected improper government conduct or crime. Please complete the mandatory training by Sept. 30, 2025.
The link to make required reports is available through the Experience portal on the Employee Dashboard under My Activities, titled “Improper Conduct/Crime Reporting.”
If you have questions about the training, please contact Human Resources or the Office of General Counsel.
South ֱ Land and Lending Conference
SDState faculty and staff are invited to the South ֱ Land and Lending Conference on Oct. 1, at the Sioux Falls Premier Center. The event features four keynote sessions focused on the U.S. economy, real estate markets, education and credit.
Highlights include a conversation with KPMG Chief Economist Diane Swonk on monetary policy, and panels featuring experts such as Christine Gaffney, Jay Parsons, Eric Lynch, and others. Breakout sessions, co-sponsored by SDSU Extension, will explore timely topics in real estate and lending. A full agenda and speaker bios are available online. Anyone interested in attending may emailJoe Santos for a complimentary ticket.
Writing Center Fall Workship
The SDState 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.
Upcoming Self-Management Workshops
SDSU Extension is offering free evidence-based workshops to help adults living with chronic conditions build confidence and skills to better manage their health.
These workshops provide practical strategies for eating well, staying active, reducing stress and working with your healthcare team. Staff, students and faculty are encouraged to attend.
Workshops offered include:
- Diabetes Self-Management Program
- Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
- Cancer: Thriving and Surviving Program
- Worksite Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
- Building Better Caregivers Program
- Chronic Pain Self-Management Program
or call 1-888-484-3800.
Bum-A-Meal
Bum-A-Meal is just a few short weeks away, and the Hobo Day Committee is looking for homes to host annual meals. Individuals living in the Brookings area may sign up.
Hosts prepare a meal of their choice on Oct. 6 for a group of students. Host home sign-up closes on Sept. 29. or email with any questions.
Jackrabbits 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.
Faculty Development: AI in Teaching and Learning
Instructional Design Services is teaching a new D2L course titled “AI in Teaching and Learning: Getting Started.” Faculty can enroll in the self-paced D2L course that introduces the fundamentals of artificial intelligence in education, explores ethics and policy, and guides participants in designing AI-supported learning activities.
As a supplement to the course, a resource guide on best practices for using AI in your teaching: (Elon University/AAC&U).
Faculty who complete all modules and assignments will earn an , recognizing the professional development achievement.
To get started, log into D2L, from top left click Discover and search for SDSU: AI in Teaching and Learning: Getting Started to self-enroll. For related questions, please contact Instructional Design Services
Tony ֱ Winner Heather Headley
The SDSU School of Performing Arts will present Tony and Grammy ֱ-winning artist Heather Headley, live in concert Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center.
Headley is a celebrated performer whose versatile talent has graced the worlds of both Broadway and gospel music. Known for originating the role of Nala in “The Lion King” and winning a Tony ֱ for her performance in Aida, she has also earned Grammy recognition for her solo albums and for her roles in the television series “Chicago Med.”
This special event is brought to you by Woodbine Productions, a unique concert series that exists solely to support SDSU music scholarships.
As a highlight of the evening, more than 250 members of the SDSU choir program will join Headley on stage for the finale.
For tickets, visit .
20th annual eLearning Online Conference
Instructional Design Services will host SDSU’s 20th annual eLearning Online Conference Sept. 29-30 via Zoom. The event will highlight how generative artificial intelligence, immersive technology and evolving eLearning tools are shaping the future of teaching and learning.
This year’s keynote speaker, Ron Owston, is a pioneer in AI-powered learning tools, having led the creation of AI Tutor Pro and AI Teaching Assistant Pro. With decades of experience in online learning and innovative eLearning practices, he will give an opening talk titled “Learning Made Personal and Course Development Made Easier with AI Assistants.”
Additional information and how to register is available on sdstate.edu.
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.
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:
- 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, 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 ֱ 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:
- 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
- Team Science: Building Effective Collaborations in Research – Oct. 28, 11 a.m. - noon
- Working with Tribal Partners: Best Practices in Cultivating Successful Partnerships – Nov. 6, 4-5 p.m.
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 re-created 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 focuses 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.
Wellness Center Employee Appreciation
The Miller Wellness Center will offer free access to South ֱ State University employees and their families through Saturday. During that time, employees may receive 20% off a membership.
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.
