President’s Council on Diversity: remember inclusiveness

Dakota Days at USD is about celebrating school spirit, unity and community. Events related to D-Days are a time for all of us to come together as Coyotes.   

As the USD community celebrates and participates in Dakota Days, the President’s Council on Diversity and Inclusiveness would like to remind everyone about Inclusive Excellence — the University’s strategic values related to diversity and inclusiveness. 

The University of South Dakota is striving for excellence by creating a campus and community that is inclusive and open for all groups and cultures and where all should feel valued, accepted and respected. 

President Abbott has stated that a mark of a leading university is its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness. Therefore, the campus community seeks to embrace Inclusive Excellence and integrate diversity into all facets of campus life. 

During Dakota Days, please be attentive to the values embodied in Inclusive Excellence and treat everyone with respect and dignity via your behavior, language or activities.  The university prides itself on being welcoming to all persons whether they are a student, a faculty or staff member, or a visitor to the university community.   

Please join us as we go forward as an institution that aspires toward excellence.

Have a great time this weekend and “Go ‘Yotes.”

President’s Council on Diversity & Inclusiveness Co-chairs

Gerald Yutrzenka, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion, Associate Professor, Basic Biomedical Sciences, and

Beth Boyd, Ph.D., Director, Psychological Services Center and Professor, Disaster Mental Health Institute