Newsletter

March 17, 2006

To the DSU Community:

After spending some time reviewing the past several days on my calendar I am again reminded what a great “job” I have. I get to do so many different things, meet so many interesting people and interact with so many individuals who are friends of this university. One of my activities during this past week was participating in a meeting and conference call with the Investment Committee of the DSU Foundation. I am very excited that this dedicated group of people is actively looking for ways to increase the resources available to the university. The meeting included individuals here in Madison and on conference phone from Nebraska, Arizona, California and Sioux Falls. Our foundation board has expanded significantly and is organized to be a major force as we move DSU forward.

During this past week I also had the opportunity to interact with some (hopefully future DSU students) young people. I concluded my Jr. Achievement teaching with a group of fifth graders here in Madison. I also got to greet a group of high school students from a technology class in Howard that was visiting the campus. I was impressed with how interested these students appeared to be with regard to the technology activities here on campus.

On Wednesday I talked the faculty group that discusses research projects into letting me present on a simple research project I had mentored with an undergraduate research assistant before coming to DSU. I was pleased that the discussion led to some good ideas about incorporating more support for undergraduate research projects and the possibility of DSU becoming involved with the National Conference on Undergraduate Research. I was also pleased that the group went easy on me as we discussed the methodological flaws of the study we conducted on the effect of a computer mediated game on learning.

So here is a run down on a few of those activities that were a part of my “spring break” and this past week.

We have a new student senate president. Craig Polkow will take over as the next president in April. I had a chance to have lunch with Craig to discuss how the senate can expand leadership opportunities for students and how I can be of support to their work.

We are heading into the budget process and I have been involved in meetings to set the agendas for our budget hearings, conducting evaluations of the staff that reports directly to me and working through issues that will impact our next years budget.

Jim Hockett, the announcer from KJAM that was the voice of the Trojans for a few years is leaving to go to Wyoming so we had a brief send off for him and I was able to present him with a DSU sweatshirt. I enjoyed listening to Jim and interacting with him over the two years I have been here.
Three of us from DSU were able to attend a Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce “mixer” one evening this past week. Every time I attend one of these mixers I meet someone else who has a connection to DSU or to Madison. Gives me a great opportunity to talk about DSU.

Our retention/recruitment consultant from Noel-Levitz was on campus this past week and I had a chance to meet with him as we discussed improvements to our web page and ideas for connecting with more potential students. He was very complimentary of all the processes we have put in place to increase the “persistence” or retention of our students and we reviewed some data that is beginning to show the impact of all these activities.

Yesterday I spent some time with the CEO of a “project management – technology consulting” company from the Twin Cities. They are looking to start a branch somewhere in Southeastern SD. It was fun visiting with him about trends and issues he sees for IT and I also had a chance to give him a tour of the new technology center north of campus.

Our monthly meeting of the CSA staff here at DSU was this past week and I had another opportunity to present an award to our CSA employee of the month. This group announces “cause for applause” recipients each month and it is great to listen to all the good work that is recognized this way.

Last Thursday Governor Rounds was in Sioux Falls to sign the legislation that will enable us to build a new building for USDSU. I was able to attend that ceremony and thank a number of people who helped facilitate that legislation. We are going to begin a series of meetings regarding the design of the building, the governance structure, a vision for the new approach to delivery in SF and even a new name for the facility.

Last night I got to watch a little March Madness and SD high school basketball while I wrote thank you notes to donors who have been making contributions through our annual calling campaign. Every week I get a list of individuals who have decided to contribute. Individuals from all over the country that still have a connection to the campus. It always reminds me that we have a great group of students that are making these calls almost every night from our call center in Lowry Hall. I need to stop by to thank them again!

Last week I took three trips to Sioux City to see our Lady T’s basketball team advance to the elite eight in the NAIA Division II women’s basketball championship. What a moment of pride for all of us as we watched our young student athletes compete with teams from Ohio, Kansas and Nebraska. I also followed with interest the amazing success of our baseball and softball teams as they “warmed up” with a series of games in Florida and Arizona over spring break. Please don’t pay attention to the coaches with the incredible tans – they should fade quickly.

We are in the process of preparing for some major events to celebrate our 125th Anniversary including our big GALA next weekend, the opening of the time line in the library and a host of other fun events to celebrate this exciting marker in our history. Watch for news about these events and for a few surprise birthday gifts.

I am off this afternoon with two of our faculty members to attend an IT discipline council meeting in Chamberlain. Have a great weekend!

After receiving a comment on my “blog” about not posting anything recently I have decided to post my newsletter to my blog also as a way of reaching another audience. You can see the blog at http://presidentspage.blogspot.com/ and you can also read all my past newsletter by visiting my website and clicking on documents.