Monday Message, April 20
SDSU Community,
This week鈥檚 Monday Message contains more information than usual, with a number of important updates and opportunities to engage across campus included. As we move into the final weeks of the academic year, this is a time filled with activity, celebration and excitement as we will welcome another group of graduates to the Jackrabbits alumni family very soon.
Across campus, we are beginning to wind down the academic year with banquets, recognition events and gatherings hosted by colleges, departments and student organizations. It is an exciting time as we celebrate accomplishments and look ahead to commencement, which will be here in just three weeks. These moments provide a meaningful opportunity to recognize the hard work of our students, faculty and staff.
I would also like to remind you of an upcoming opportunity to engage with system leadership. The South Dakota Board of Regents listening session will be held next Monday from 4-5 p.m. in the Campanile Room/Hobo Day Lounge in the University Student Union. This listening session will include discussion of anticipated opportunities and challenges ahead, along with time for faculty, staff and students to ask questions and engage with SDBOR representatives. I encourage you to attend if you are able.
This Wednesday is also Spruce Up 蘑菇传媒 Day, beginning at 5 p.m. at the west entrance of the University Student Union. This annual event brings our campus community together to help maintain a clean and welcoming environment as we celebrate the arrival of spring. No pre-registration is required 鈥 simply show up and participate. Additional details are included below.
Looking ahead to next week, we will host the Celebration of Philanthropy on Thursday evening, followed by the SDSU Alumni & Foundation Board of Trustees meeting on Friday. On Saturday, May 2, we will hold the annual Jackrabbits Scholarship Auction. These events provide a wonderful opportunity to connect with alumni and friends of the university and to celebrate the generosity that supports our students and our mission.
Finally, as shared in a campus communication on Friday, SDSU is hosting the State FFA Convention beginning tonight and continuing through Wednesday. During this time, we will welcome hundreds of high school students, advisers and guests to our campus. While events of this size bring increased activity to campus, they also provide an important opportunity to showcase who we are as a university.
The impressions these students form while they are here 鈥 whether in a classroom, hallway, dining space or walking across campus 鈥 can play a role in their future college decisions. I encourage all faculty, staff and students to take a moment to welcome our guests, offer assistance and help create a positive and engaging experience.
Thank you for everything you do to make 蘑菇传媒 a premier land-grant institution. I hope you have a wonderful week.
Barry H. Dunn
President
蘑菇传媒
Above and Beyond recognizes individuals and groups of 蘑菇传媒 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鈥檙e recognizing the students and director behind the remarkable achievements of one of SDSU鈥檚 oldest co-curricular programs.
Jackrabbits Forensics dates back to the late 1880s and has experienced astonishing gains in recent years 鈥 and just in time, too.
This group trains students to act with civility and open-mindedness, which are often absent in our current climate. They鈥檙e empowered to explain ideas, explore societal issues and challenge their own and others鈥 perspectives.
Jackrabbits Forensics includes collegiate-level oral interpretation, speech and debate.
Since 2012, Director of Forensics Andrea Carlile has been guiding the team. Under her leadership, the team has consistently improved and placed higher and higher in national competitions.
The 2023-24 season was the most successful in the team鈥檚 history. The Jackrabbits placed 20th in Team Sweepstakes at the American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament.
That鈥檚 a big deal.
What鈥檚 an even bigger deal, however, is that the 2025-26 season blew it out of the water.
At the 2026 American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament, held April 4-6 in Portland, Oregon, the university placed 13th in Team Sweepstakes, higher than all previous years.
The team wouldn鈥檛 have placed so highly without multiple Jackrabbits excelling in smaller events.
蘑菇传媒 students advanced in 10 events to the quarterfinals, meaning they placed among the top speakers in the nation in their categories. Four students went to the semifinal rounds in three events, and several went on to reach the finals.
Senior Hannah Markley and sophomore Gavin Eischens placed first in Duo Interpretation, a first in Jackrabbits Forensics鈥 100-plus-year history.
Senior Emma Arneson was named to the American Forensic Association All-American Team. The team recognizes only 15 students nationally for their competitive achievements, academic excellence and community services.
Arneson also placed fifth in Impromptu Speaking, and Eischens earned sixth place in Program Oral Interpretation
Let鈥檚 recognize the full list of Jackrabbits who went Above and Beyond all previous competitions for a record-breaking year. These students attended the Oregon tournament:
- Emma Arneson
- Rylee Cawley
- Gabriella Dodway
- Gavin Eischens
- Esther Ilunga
- Micki Kirsch
- Hannah Markley
- Sydney Morgan
- Collin Nickels
- Edie Oliver
- Jonah Penna
- Ma'Kai Prothro
- Paul Reinhiller
- Abi Slater
- Robin Valentine
Any current student is eligible to join Jackrabbits Forensics after an audition process and interview. Reach out to Carlile to learn more about becoming one of the Jackrabbits who propel the 2026-27 season to further heights.
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.
Jacks Stand Together
As the spring semester comes to a busy and demanding close, the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, in partnership with campus and community organizations, continues to offer programs that reflect SDSU鈥檚 commitment to safety, respect and community.
These efforts emphasize that Jacks Stand Together 鈥 to see, learn from and support one another 鈥 while fostering meaningful connections across campus.
This week鈥檚 events include:
- Listening Lunch 鈥 April 21, noon-1 p.m., Jackrabbit Room, University Student Union
- Student Belonging Poster Contest 鈥 Open through April 23. Contact Carolyn Killefer for more information.
Upcoming events to wrap up the semester鈥檚 series include:
- Listening Lunch 鈥 April 27, noon-1 p.m., Jackrabbit Room, University Student Union
- Crafting Narratives Together 鈥 April 28, 6-7:30 p.m., Lewis Room, University Student Union
- Denim Day 鈥 April 29, all day, campuswide
- Unity Walk 鈥 April 29, 6 p.m., beginning at the Hobo Day Gallery, University Student Union
All are welcome to participate. These programs are designed to create space for dialogue, build understanding and strengthen the SDSU community during a critical time in the semester.
Additional updates will continue to be shared through campus communications, including the Monday Message.
Display Decorated Denim and Traveling Pants Project
During the month of April, members of the SDSU community created decorated denim swatches with messages supporting sexual assault prevention and nondiscrimination. Employees are invited to display this denim across campus as a visible demonstration that SDSU is a place for all individuals and stands united against sexual assault.
Decorated denim will be displayed April 20 through May 4. Units interested in displaying denim in their workspace are encouraged to participate.
In addition, the Traveling Pants Project invites departments to display a pair of jeans featuring sexual assault prevention messaging from April 27 through May 1.
To participate in either initiative, please contact Michelle Johnson.
PSAC Annual Celebration
The Professional Staff Advisory Council will host its Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 13, beginning at 2:30 p.m. CST in Woster Celebration Hall at the SDSU Alumni & Foundation.
The event will begin with an all-staff social, followed by the program and awards ceremony at 3 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with colleagues and celebrate this year鈥檚 Rising Star and Presidential Award of Excellence recipients.
Those unable to attend in person will have the option to join via Zoom, with a link to be shared in advance.
Participants are also encouraged to take part in door prize drawings during the event.
SDBOR Listening Session
The 蘑菇传媒 community is invited to join South Dakota Board of Regents Executive Director Nathan Lukkes and SDSU President Barry Dunn for an interactive listening session on Monday, April 27, from 4-5 p.m. in the Campanile Room/Hobo Day Lounge, University Student Union.
This open session will include discussion of anticipated opportunities and challenges ahead, along with time for faculty, staff and students to ask questions and engage with SDBOR representatives.
All are encouraged to attend and participate in this important campus conversation.
Spruce Up 蘑菇传媒 Day
Join the SDSU community for the 15th annual Spruce Up 蘑菇传媒 Day on Wednesday, April 22, beginning at 5 p.m. at the west entrance of the University Student Union.
Held in conjunction with Earth Day, this event brings together students, faculty and staff to help pick up litter and beautify campus while celebrating the arrival of spring. Participation from colleges, departments and student organizations has grown each year, and all campus groups are encouraged to take part.
How to get involved:
No preregistration is required 鈥 simply show up and participate. Colleges, departments and student organizations are encouraged to attend together, but individuals are also welcome. Facilities and Services will provide trash bags and gloves for volunteers.
Come help make SDSU shine and enjoy time with fellow Jackrabbits in a shared effort to enhance our campus.
Arbor Day Celebration
The SDSU Residence Hall Association, Facilities and Services and the Horticulture Club will host an Arbor Day celebration on Thursday, April 23, at 6 p.m. The event will take place between Brown Hall and Ben Reifel Hall and will include planting bare root American Elm trees. The event is open to all students, faculty and staff, with no registration required. Refreshments will be provided.
Campus Project Presentation
The annual Campus Project Presentation by Dave Law, director of project management, is now available for viewing online. The recording can be accessed on and is also available on InsideState News and the Facilities and Services website.
Summer eLearning Academy: Advancing Accessibility in the Age of AI
SDSU faculty are invited to participate in the , a fully online professional learning experience offered via Zoom. This academy is designed to support faculty in strengthening digital accessibility in D2L courses while exploring how emerging AI applications can enhance that work.
The academy will be offered in three live Zoom cohorts, and participants may choose the session that best fits their schedule:
- May 11 from 9-11 a.m. CST
- May 11 from 2-4 p.m. CST
- May 12 from 2-4 p.m. CST
Each session will cover the same content. Participants will earn an SDSU Credly digital badge in eLearning accessibility, recognizing their commitment to accessible, high-quality teaching and learning.
A $125 stipend is available for the first 50 nine-month faculty who complete the academy and achieve a 96% Panorama accessibility score in a fall course. .
Supplemental D2L Accessibility Resources for Faculty
As part of SDSU鈥檚 commitment to accessibility, faculty are invited to utilize a new set of practical D2L accessibility resources designed to support course development and continuous improvement.
Faculty may self-enroll in the D2L course .
This self-paced course provides step-by-step guidance for improving the accessibility of common course materials, including Word documents, PDFs, PowerPoint presentations and Excel spreadsheets, along with practical tips and strategies to identify and remediate accessibility issues.
Faculty who complete all modules will earn an SDSU digital badge recognizing their professional development in accessible course design.
To enroll, log into D2L, select 鈥淒iscover鈥 in the top navigation and search for 鈥淪DSU: Practical Guidance for Improving D2L Course Accessibility.鈥
For questions or hands-on support, please contact Instructional Design Services.
Dialogue Over Dinner: Conversations About Vaccine Hesitancy
Join members of the Brookings community for a facilitated dialogue and expert panel discussion on vaccine hesitancy on Monday, May 11, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center. This event will explore how to communicate about vaccine hesitancy, a complex and important topic affecting many in our community.
The evening will begin with a facilitated discussion using clips from the 2022 documentary Virulent, followed by a panel featuring local experts, including a physician, nurse, pharmacist, immunization advocate and health communication specialist.
Participants may earn 1.5 hours of nursing continuing professional development credit. 蘑菇传媒 College of Nursing is accredited as a provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center鈥檚 Commission on Accreditation.
A free boxed meal will be provided. . For questions, contact Becky Kuehl.
This event is supported in part by the Karen McComish Interdisciplinary Faculty 蘑菇传媒 Program at 蘑菇传媒.
What Makes Your Soul Breathe?
Faculty and students from the School of Performing Arts and School of Design invite the campus community to experience 鈥淲hat Makes Your Soul Breathe?,鈥 a playful and immersive interdisciplinary arts event.
The experience will feature live painting, dance, music, wearable art and more, offering attendees the opportunity to engage directly with artists, help shape the creative process and create their own artwork.
The event will take place Saturday, May 2, from 1-3 p.m. at Sylvan Green. All are welcome to attend and participate.
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting Lecture
The School of Communication and Journalism invites the campus and community to the annual Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting Lecture on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the Hobo Day Gallery, University Student Union.
This year鈥檚 featured speaker is journalist and Forbes editorial fellow Asia Alexander, who will present 鈥淭eaching Under Pressure: Black Educators Navigating Mississippi鈥檚 Schools.鈥 The lecture explores the history and ongoing impact of educational inequality in Mississippi, from the legacy of Brown v. Board of Education to current national conversations about education policy. Centering the experiences of Black educators, the presentation examines how historical and systemic challenges continue to shape today鈥檚 classrooms.
The event is free and open to the public and is made possible through the generous support of Karen Stuck, Class of 1966.
All are encouraged to attend.
Oakwood Magazine Launch
Join the SDSU community in celebrating the release of this year鈥檚 Oakwood Magazine at a launch party on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. in the Daschle Archives (upstairs in Hilton M. Briggs Library).
Oakwood is SDSU鈥檚 literary magazine, showcasing creative work from students, faculty and artists connected to the region. The event will feature readings and presentations by contributors, along with appetizers and the distribution of free copies of the magazine.
All are welcome to attend and celebrate the creative spirit of the SDSU community.
Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2026 Eminent Leaders in Agriculture, Family and Community Awards, a longstanding program established in 1927. The awards recognize individuals who have demonstrated a lifetime of leadership and service benefiting the agriculture industry, families and communities across South Dakota.
The awards are presented jointly by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences and the College of Education and Human Sciences.
Nomination forms and instructions are available online. To request a printed copy, please email Angela Loftesness or call 605-688-6732.
Nominations are due May 1.
South Dakota Art Museum: America in Art Exhibition Survey
The South Dakota Art Museum is preparing for its upcoming exhibition, 鈥淎merica in Art,鈥 which will be on view June 13, 2026-Jan. 2, 2027. Commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, the exhibition will explore the promise and paradox of the nation鈥檚 legacy, examining the ideals, struggles, freedoms and contradictions that define it.
To help guide the curatorial direction of the exhibition, the museum is seeking input from the campus and broader community. Feedback will help ensure the exhibition reflects a wide range of perspectives and resonates with audiences.
and sharing it with others. Your input will play an important role in shaping this meaningful exhibition.
Distinguished Alumni Nominations
The SDSU Alumni & Foundation recognizes a class of Distinguished Alumni each year, honoring individuals whose outstanding achievements, service and leadership have made a lasting impact in their professions, communities and at 蘑菇传媒.
Honorees are nominated by members of the SDSU community and selected by a committee that considers their impact on the history of SDSU, their contributions to the state of South Dakota and their demonstrated spirit of service throughout their lives and careers. Recipients will be recognized at the 2026 Legends & Leaders banquet on the eve of Hobo Day.
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Jacks Gear Drive Donations
The SDSU Alumni & Foundation, in partnership with Jackrabbit Central, is hosting the .
From now through April 28, gently used Jackrabbits apparel and gear may be donated at the Jerome J. Lohr Building or either Jackrabbit Central location during normal business hours. Donated items will be made available for purchase at the Jacks Gear Sale on May 5, with all proceeds supporting Jack鈥檚 Cupboard and its efforts to serve SDSU students.
Please consider donating gently used SDSU gear to support this important campus resource.
University Participation in SBIR/STTR Workshop
Faculty, researchers and staff are invited to participate in an upcoming workshop titled 鈥淯niversity Participation in SBIR/STTR: Pre-Submission to Post-Award.鈥 The session will explore key considerations for universities during the development of an SBIR/STTR proposal and after an award has been received.
The training webinar will be presented by BBC Entrepreneurial Training and Consulting and will focus on the university perspective when navigating Small Business Innovation 蘑菇传媒 and Small Business Technology Transfer opportunities.
Date: Thursday, April 23
Time: 12-1:30 p.m. CT (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT)
Participants may attend in person at locations across South Dakota or join virtually. South Dakota Biotech will sponsor lunch at all in-person locations.
In-Person Locations (registration required by April 9):
- Sioux Falls: Discovery District, Conference Room 104, 4600 Nobel St.
- Rapid City: Vanderboom Laboratory for Entrepreneurial 蘑菇传媒 (V-Lab), Room 109, 501 E. St. Joseph St.
- Aberdeen: Barnett Center, Kessler鈥檚 Champion Club, 1200 S. Jay St.
- Brookings: University Student Union, Dakota A and C, 1421 Student Union Lane
- Vermillion: Slagle Hall, Room 107, 414 E. Clark St.
Virtual Option: Registration is open through April 23. Please see the registration links online secure your spot.
Jackrabbit Central Faculty and Staff Appreciation Sale
Jackrabbit Central is offering a 30% storewide discount as a thank you to faculty and staff as the academic year comes to a close. The discount will be available April 22-23, 2026.
Details:
- Both Jackrabbit Central locations
- 30% off storewide
- April 22-23, 2026
- In-store only (not available online)
Remote employees may request an online discount code by emailing sdsu.JacksCustService@sdstate.edu or calling the campus store.
Some exclusions apply.
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.
