Newsletter May 11

May 10, 2006

To the DSU Community:

Each time I sit down to write a newsletter I review what has happened in the last couple weeks and I do have to say this has been a rather eventful time on the campus.

First, DSU got statewide attention for being the first campus to get a case of the mumps. Not only did we get this distinction but we also got the privilege to be the campus to “pilot” all the directives from the South Dakota Health Department and the Board of Regents. Despite all the information and “guidance” that came flying our way, DSU again demonstrated that it is the campus that is the most resilient, flexible and dynamic in the system. We pulled off a campus wide process for identifying students, as well as faculty and staff that might be at risk, provided a clinic here on campus, provided documentation of everyone’s immunization status, all in about 3 days. As a result we have had only one case to date and we have not had to systematically exclude anyone from the campus. Other campuses are now facing the problems we dealt with two weeks ago. I am again so proud of our efforts. At the Board of Regents meeting in Aberdeen this week, Executive Director Tad Perry commended DSU for their response to this situation.

Last Friday our DSU Foundation Board had a day long meeting on the campus. Through some extraordinary organizational and coordination efforts by our board staff, it was a highly productive day. With over 30 board members this organization is now fully in a position to support Dakota States goals for scholarship offerings and new initiatives. They also had a unique opportunity to take in the Eric Johnson Endowment fundraiser – car show while they were here. I understand that one of our foundation board members generously provided the last contribution so the scholarship fund can be endowed.

On Friday evening the Foundation sponsored our First Annual Legends and Legacy donor recognition and awards event. It was a first class dinner – again incredibly well orchestrated by the board staff. Many individuals and groups were given recognition for their annual and ongoing financial contributions to the foundation. We were honored that former President Richard Gowen and his wife, Nancy attended, as well as Regent Richard Bellati and his wife, Marilyn, and Mayor Gene Hexom, (AKA General Beadle) and his wife, Marilyn attended the dinner. Over 100 individuals attended the event that also included the announcement of the following faculty awards:

Dr. Dan Weinstein – The D.J. Cline Faculty Award for excellence in teaching

Dr. Don Wiken – The Alexander “Sandy” Davidson Faculty Award for excellence in advising

Dr. Judy Dittman – The DeWayne Mork Faculty Award for excellence in service

Dr. Mark Hawkes – The Merrill Hunter Faculty Award for excellence in research

More information about these recipients will be sent out to the press at a later time.

The Foundation also presented a “Professional Achievement” award to Mr. Dan Kern. Dan lives in California and has become a very committed member of the board.

Last Saturday, DSU then hosted the KSFY/Touchstone Energy Scholars luncheon for over 100 young high school seniors and their family and friends. These young people are seen through out the year as the student of the week on the KSFY television station and then brought together to be honored at this event. This is the second year we have hosted the event on campus and this year I had the opportunity to give the keynote at the luncheon. It was just an honor to be in the presence of some of the brightest, most creative and most dedicated young people in the state.

Sunday I was on the road to Aberdeen to attend the Board of Regents meetings on Monday and Tuesday. The meetings went very well for DSU with several new minors, program sites and program redesigns approved by the board. Not only did we receive a commendation on our response to the mumps outbreak, we also had several positive comments about the efficacy of our technology integration activities on the campus. One of our DSU students presently serves as the vice president of the South Dakota Student Federation, Kris Beck. At the informal budget hearings that will come up in June we will have to address specific needs for health and safety infrastructure deferred maintenance funding and our library budget needs.

Here is a quick run down on some of my other activities or issues important to the campus.

We had a chance for photo opportunities and accepted contributions to our 125th Anniversary President’s Corporate Scholarship campaign. We received lead gifts from First Premier Bank - $125,000 and from Avera-McKennan - $150,000. The goal of the campaign is to raise one million dollars to add to our endowment scholarship fund. At the First Premier event, thirty of our DSU alumni who work for First Premier were able to attend, as well as Dana Dykhouse, President of First Premier Bank and Miles Beacom (our own DSU Grad) President of First Premier Bankcard.
We had another “First Tuesday” Alumni gathering at Shenanigans in Sioux Falls. I am so pleased with the turn outs we are getting. Each of these events has offered new opportunities to connect with alumni from different eras.
We hosted over 30 South Dakota Catholic school administrators for a day long meeting and technology demonstrations. I had a chance to visit with them about the impact of infusing technology in the teaching and learning experience of students.
Last week was also the Health Information Management banquet. They meet each spring to honor their graduates. It was fun evening, meeting some of them for the first time and listening to Keith Bundy inspire them. (One of his jokes did earn him a severe reprimand from yours truly – obviously Mr. Bundy needs a little more mentoring when it comes to making fun of the president!) HIM is a program that has seen significant growth with close to 90 students and distance students from twenty-two different states in the country. With the explosion of health information and the development of electronic medical records, we would anticipate even further growth.
Early this week I attended a very warm and touching event – Linda Venekamp’s retirement celebration. It was incredibly interesting learning about Linda’s long and significant history with our teacher education programs. Once again I was in awe of the contributions our faculty have made to the preparation of students in so many fields. One of the most memorable quotes from the night came from Zeno Van Erdewyk when he cited Dr. Seuss “ Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened”.
After the Venekamp dinner I helped a crew from our Student Services group serve hundreds of DSU students a late night pancake supper. It is such a fun event with so many grateful students showing up at 10 PM. This is a tradition on this campus, as a way to provide a little sustenance and support during finals week.
One afternoon last week we hosted, at the Girton House, a reception for the many clubs and organizations that received Merit Awards for their activities during the year and that same evening had a pizza event for the new DSU student senate members.
Tonight I had a chance to attend the Resident Hall Assistants picnic and recognition event. I was given the opportunity to thank them for all their hard work, mentoring, patience, parenting, counseling and the variety of roles they fill for our student in the residence halls.
We are clearly in the middle of planning and completing tasks associated with our commencement ceremony that is scheduled for this coming Saturday at 10:30 AM. Not only are we very excited that Senator Tim Johnson will be the speaker, we are also anticipating our first use of live video on the big screen in the field house.

As I watched many students and families packing up their belongings to leave for the summer I can’t help but feel a little sad that it will once again be a little too quiet for me on the campus. But then I reviewed the list of activities and events that will be occurring at DSU this summer and I realized it will not be quiet very long.

Yes we will say good bye to a number of seniors this Saturday, but we have already enrolled more first year students than we had enrolled at this time a year ago so ---- it will all start over again. Only this next year they will be more technologically savvy and brighter than ever before! YES!!!!

PS I am going to be away from the campus for two weeks accompanying the DSU Study trip to London, Scotland and Paris. This will be another opportunity to get to know some of our students and also bond with my 21 year old son who will be on the trip with me. It is clear that Nancy and Roger Moose, who are leading the trip, are going to keep us very busy. I was a little worried about being away for this long and then I remembered Linda Brozik will be here so no need to worry!