Monday Message, September 8
SDSU Community,
I want to begin this week by expressing my sincere gratitude to everyone who helped make a success last Thursday. While final results are still being confirmed, we know that more than $3 million was raised from 5,850 donors representing all 50 states. That total includes gifts from more than 500 students and over 700 faculty and staff members 鈥 demonstrating the power of Jackrabbits coming together.
Philanthropy is one of the strongest reflections of a university community鈥檚 belief in its mission and future. Seeing students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends come together to celebrate and support South 啵啵直播秀 State University is inspiring. Your participation, whether through making a gift, spreading the word or volunteering your time, ensures that future generations of students will have opportunities to learn, lead and thrive. I encourage you to read more about this incredible day in the Above and Beyond section of this week鈥檚 Monday Message.
This week the South 啵啵直播秀 Board of Regents will release its yearly enrollment numbers. While I cannot share official figures until the release, I can say that enrollment at South 啵啵直播秀 State continues to be strong, building upon last year鈥檚 record class of first-year, first-time students. Thank you to everyone for your role in helping to welcome new students and their families to campus and support our current students and their academic dreams during their time at SDSU.
Enrollment of new students is only one part of the story. A key indicator of institutional strength is retention 鈥 especially the percentage of students who successfully continue from their first year to their second. Retention represents the quality of teaching, the academic quality of our programs, student engagement opportunities, the strength of our community, and the support we provide for students as they navigate their college journey.
One of the major contributors to retention at SDSU is the Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center. The center has been instrumental in providing tutoring, advising, mentoring and other support systems that help students persist and succeed. This week, the Wintrode Center is hosting Student Success Week 鈥 a series of events designed to connect students with resources, highlight best practices in learning, and build awareness of the services available to them. Please take time to encourage students you encounter to participate. Details about the week鈥檚 events can be found later in the Monday Message.
In addition to encouraging students to participate in Student Success Week, helping them navigate opportunities for other engagement events is equally important for retention. This includes joining student clubs, attending concerts or plays, being at special events and celebrations, and being part of the student section at athletic events or part of The Pride of the 啵啵直播秀s on a football Saturday. Being involved helps our students find life-long friends and connections they will have for many years.
It will be another busy and energizing week on campus. Please remember that we will be hosting open sessions to provide information and answer questions about the new Student Engagement Center this week. The days, times and locations for the sessions are listed below. We hope many of you can attend.
The week will culminate with the annual Beef Bowl on Saturday. The day is one of our signature events and a long-standing SDSU tradition. Our Jackrabbits football team will host Drake at 6 p.m. in Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium, and we anticipate a vibrant atmosphere filled with alumni, friends, students and supporters. Beef Bowl is more than a football game 鈥 it is an opportunity to celebrate our state鈥檚 agricultural heritage, strengthen our connections with key stakeholders, and welcome thousands of visitors to campus.
Events like One Day for STATE, Student Success Week and the Beef Bowl demonstrate the level of engagement that makes South 啵啵直播秀 State University special. Whether it is supporting student success, celebrating traditions or rallying together in support of our university, these moments showcase the pride and commitment that define us as Jackrabbits.
Thank you for everything you do each day to make South 啵啵直播秀 State University a premier land-grant university. Your dedication to our students and to our mission continues to move us forward.
Have a great week.
Sincerely,
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 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 everyone who played a part in making the ninth annual One Day for STATE a record-setting, resounding success.
The Jackrabbits spirit was alive and well in Brookings and beyond Thursday, as more than 5,800 donors from all 50 states and beyond came together to raise more than $3 million for SDSU students, faculty and programs. The 24-hour campaign spearheaded by the SDSU Foundation invited Jackrabbits everywhere to join together in celebration of SDSU and the incredible impact of philanthropic giving.
The giving challenge gains more support every year, with this year鈥檚 fundraising total the most in One Day for STATE history.
Donors chose which area of campus their gift would impact, ranging from scholarships, student travel, faculty support, colleges of choice and a variety of academic and co-curricular programs. Challenge donors鈥 generous commitments allowed others鈥 gifts to help unlock additional funds, with more than $700,000 added to donations.
The SDSU Foundation kicked off One Day for STATE with Jack鈥檚 Journey on Wednesday night, starting at the foundation and bringing festivities right to the homes of local Jackrabbits. In addition to showing financial support, there were several ways to get involved in the celebration Thursday, including a midday patio party at the University Student Union and the evening Yellow and Blue Block Party on the Alumni Green and in the Alumni Center. The community event featured The Pride of the 啵啵直播秀s Marching Band, cheer and dance teams, food trucks, free SDSU ice cream, the Bummobile and plenty of kids鈥 activities.
Thank you to all who played a part in One Day for STATE for going Above and Beyond to celebrate SDSU, make a bold impact and transform students鈥 lives.
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 啵啵直播秀 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 鈥淚mproper Conduct/Crime Reporting.鈥
If you have questions about the training, please contact Human Resources or the Office of General Counsel.
Student Engagement Center
As we begin the fall semester, university leadership wanted to share a change that has been in development throughout the summer, which aligns with shifting federal priorities.
Plans are underway to establish a new Student Engagement Center within the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, bringing together key departments with similar responsibilities to strengthen collaboration and elevate service to students. The mission of the new center will be as follows:
鈥淭he student engagement center supports student success by creating connection and community that fosters academic, personal and professional growth. We proactively remove barriers and design pathways to ensure opportunity for all students to succeed.鈥
Departments that will transition to reporting within the new center include the American Indian Student Center, International Students and Scholars, Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility, and Veterans Affairs. The Office of Multicultural Affairs and Accessibility will transition into two departments, Student Connection and Engagement and Student Accessibility, and the Multicultural Center will become the Student Engagement Center. All departments will remain in their current location.
Shelly Bayer will provide leadership to the Student Engagement Center and will report to the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Michaela Willis.
To lead the center effectively, we will charge a team to assist in implementation and communication of the new center. This team will work throughout the fall semester to launch the new center in a manner that furthers the SDSU and South 啵啵直播秀 Board of Regents goals and values of Opportunity for All and aligns within the university commitment to maintain student success as a foundational university priority.
Departments in the Student Engagement Center will be networked with the Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center, creating a strong partnership between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs and Enrollment Management to enhance student success.
We are hosting open sessions to share more information on the new Student Engagement Center and respond to questions. The following sessions will be hosted in the University Student Union 啵啵直播秀 Room (Room 250) and are open to all interested in learning more:
Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Student Session)
Thursday, Sept. 11, from 9-10 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 12, from 9-10 a.m.
We look forward to engaging with the university community as we implement the new Student Engagement Center.
Academic Success Week
The Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center will host Academic Success Week, highlighted by Thursday鈥檚 Academic Success Fair from 2-4 p.m. in Volstorff Ballroom B in the University Student Union. The fair allows students opportunities to learn more about key academic resources, meet staff and learn strategies for organization, time management and college success.
Other events include an ice cream social Tuesday from noon-1:30 p.m. at the northeast corner of Wagner Hall. The Syllabus Extravaganza Workshop will be held Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. in Rotunda C, providing students ways to set goals for the semester.
20th annual eLearning Online Conference
Instructional Design Services will host SDSU鈥檚 20th annual eLearning Online Conference on 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鈥檚 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, 鈥淟earning Made Personal and Course Development Made Easier with AI Assistants.鈥
Additional information and how to register is available on sdstate.edu.
Art Museum Store Sale
The South 啵啵直播秀 Art Museum Store is kicking off the new semester with a Welcome Back Sale, Sept. 11-14. Unique items and souvenirs will be 10% off, and museum members can get 20% discounts. SDSU students receive a free membership to the museum.
John Enke Memorial 5K Run/Walk
The third annual John Enke Memoria 5K Run and Walk is a suicide prevention and awareness event held by SDSU Student Clinic and Counseling Services and HEROH at McCrory Gardens. Join others in our fight for suicide prevention and awareness and participate in this art show and 5K run/walk honoring the life of SDSU alum John Enke.
will be at McCrory Gardens, Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. with an art exhibition intended to spark discussion around suicide prevention and awareness. Following the beginning of the exhibition at approximately 9:30 a.m., the 5K event will start. The race will start and end at McCrory Gardens. The event is open to the public, and participation in the 5K is not required to attend.
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 鈥淪DSU Resources鈥 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 鈥渃heck鈥 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鈥檚 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 鈥 both at work and beyond.
Sessions will be held via Zoom on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-noon CST 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:
- 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, Federal Emergency Management Agency-aligned emergency management plan and the emergency operations center and utilizes response protocols from FEMA鈥檚 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 啵啵直播秀 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 鈥 Sept. 9, 10-11 a.m.
- Finding Funding: Overview of SPIN Plus Funding Search 鈥 Sept. 16, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
- NSF SBIR/STTR Translational Funding Opportunities 鈥 Sept. 23, 10-11 a.m.
- Establishing a Center or Institute at SDSU 鈥 Oct. 8, 11 a.m.-noon
- Cayuse: Proposal Routing, Submission and Human Subjects 鈥 Oct. 21, 10 a.m.-noon
- Working with Tribal Partners: Best Practices in Cultivating Successful Partnerships, Nov. 4, 4-5 p.m.
Additional information about location of the training series can be found on sdstate.edu.
QuestionPro
The university鈥檚 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 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.
Wellness Center Employee Appreciation
The Miller Wellness Center will offer free access to South 啵啵直播秀 State University employees and their families Sept. 14-27. During that time, employees may receive 20% off a membership.
