newsletter

November 9, 2007

To the DSU Community:

This past couple of weeks has been full of interesting activities that make life on a college campus so rich and rewarding. Even though it is not all inclusive, I hope this newsletter will give you a quick glimpse of the diverse activities going on at Dakota State.

Last Friday I was able to briefly welcome a group of over 80 individuals who were attending an “Invention to Venture (I2V)” conference sponsored by the National Association of College Inventors and Innovators. Dakota State was the site for the South Dakota offering of the workshop. Josh Pauli and the new Center for Technoentrepreneurism (CT@DSU) organized the event that featured speakers from other universities (Creighton University etc.) and was keynoted by Dr. Al Kurtenbach, founder of Daktronics.

Yesterday I heard a few presentations and welcomed a group of individuals from around the region (Iowa State University, Minnesota State-Mankato, NDSU and others) to the Great Plains Alliance for Computers and Writing Conference. Lots of energy and interest in the work being done here at DSU and other places to incorporate new technologies into the writing experience of student. It helped me reflect on my own writing journey. A journey that included handwriting, an old portable grey typewriter, hand held and desk top Dictaphones, and now different levels of word processing. It also inspired me to get back to my blogging activity – thanks to Dan Weinstein!

On Monday evening I held a reception (free food) for a small group of my Presidential Scholar students. We held the reception in the DSU Art Gallery. I was very pleased that Alan Montgomery and his assistant Newt Anderson were willing to give some background on the gallery and the artist currently on display. The other “very cool” part of the presentation included the use of some new social networking software to connect directly to the artist. Thus, the students and I were able to see and communicate with him while learning about his work. I hope to do other activities with the scholars group that will expose them to different activities and opportunities available on campus.

Earlier in the week I had another opportunity to walk through a small house that the DSU Foundation has bought directly south of the campus. The house formerly belonged to Martin Gienapp and through a donation by his family of part of the cost of the house we are planning on turning it into the Gienapp International House. There we will be able to house a small group of international students and use it as a gathering place as well as a place to provide more programming regarding international experiences. We have already received some donations of furniture for the house. We need to do some renovations, but very soon it will be a focal point for our international students (Yes - Lynn Ryan is giddy about it – I was going to comment about getting giddy at this age but thought better of it!)
Here is a brief synopsis of some other meetings and activities that have made my life so full this past couple of weeks.
· During the fall of each year the foundation sponsors a series of dinners that are meant to be “thank you” events for individuals who have supported the university in a variety of ways. Sharon and I host the events at the Girton House and they are always filled with lively conversation. We concluded our series of dinners this past week. Next week we will host a dinner welcoming our visiting faculty from China.
· There are a few new people who will be arriving on campus or have arrived to take crucial positions on our staff. I welcomed our new help desk person Stephanie Baatz and I had a chance to participate in the interviews for a new Sponsored Programs director- Dr. Michele Kreidler from Ohio has accepted that position.
· On Tuesday I attended a South Dakota Chamber of Commerce sponsored symposium on the economic status of South Dakota. This meeting included a presentation on the economic and the demographic projections for the state.
· Also on Tuesday, Cecelia Wittmayer and I met with a group of consultants who are helping to plan the activities and direction for the new Science and Technology Park that will be a part of the University Center development in Sioux Falls. I am confident that DSU will have a very central and important role to play in that activity.
· Being in Sioux Falls on Tuesday also allowed me the chance to attend our regular “First Tuesday” alumni gathering at Shenanigans. This has grown to be a great way to connect with many alumni in Sioux Falls. There was a focus on our Health Information alumni this week and I had a chance to meet some of the key people in positions in the health information offices in both the major health providers in SF.
· Last night I traveled to Platte, SD to attend one of the Board or Regents Town Hall meetings. The Regents will be holding 19 of these meetings in communities and legislative districts across the state. This gives the regents a chance to tell the story and to help both legislators and citizens understand some of the exciting initiatives taking place on the campuses. Individuals in these communities seem so grateful that we are willing to travel to them to tell these stories. I have or will be attending meetings in Brookings, Mitchell, Platte and Watertown. I was able to share several pieces of information about DSU, particularly the fact that our education students are the only ones currently being prepared to teach in schools that have adopted the wireless mobile computing initiative.
· I have spent some time this week working with a PR firm in Sioux Falls. This firm is putting the final touches on our new ad campaign. This campaign should hit the TV and radio stations within a couple of days. It will also feature some electronic and static billboards focused on the greater Sioux Falls region. We will unveil our new tagline - “DARE TO DO” at DSU. Look for some new lapel pins and other opportunities to promote that theme in the near future.
· Wednesday night I cheered (stood and clapped appropriately to the DSU fight song) while our nationally ranked Lady T’s basketball team defeated Morningside. This was the second nationally ranked team that they defeated in a week and now have a record of 3 wins and no losses. One of our young players had an outstanding night going 10 for 10 from the field and 4 for 4 from the free throw line – Laura Tewes probably set a record with that performance.
· Our foundation office continues to do a huge amount of work on the starting activities associated with our comprehensive campaign. We held one focus/feasibility group in Rapid City recently and have scheduled meetings in Sioux Falls and Madison later this month. Plans are to also hold events in Omaha, Twin Cities, and probably Arizona. After the first of the year we will be holding information meetings for staff and faculty from the campus.
· I have started a series of meetings with the different colleges, our CSA staff and our students regarding the new DSU Strategic Plan. I met with the College of Education this past week and will meet with the College of Business and Information Systems this afternoon.
It is a little quiet around campus. Yesterday was assessment day and Monday is a holiday so many students will be spending the three day weekend at home (laundry, sleep and home cooking). I am planning to attend the open house this afternoon at Great Western bank (from 2-4 PM) for our men’s basketball team. I am looking forward to watching them play Hastings tonight at 7 and Dana tomorrow night at 6. Hope everyone has a good weekend and also that we all find an opportunity this weekend to think about the Veterans that have served this country. Doug