Academics
New political science chair looks forward to USD position
Among some of the new faces to campus this fall is David Earnest, the new political science department chair. Earnest started his new roles of chair and Odeen-Swanson distinguished professor in August. Before coming to USD, Earnest was the associate dean at the College of Arts and Letters at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. “When […]
CAGE aiming to increase student interest
The Center for Academic and Global Engagement (CAGE) staff is hoping to increase enrollment in global learning programs by 10 percent this year. Virginija Wilcox, assistant director of study abroad and National Student Exchange, said she’s going into this school year with a new purpose. “We’re thinking about getting out of our offices and being in different […]
Task force caucuses on fate of law school
The fact-finding continues after a task force established to investigate the possible move of the South Dakota School of Law met Sept. 6 in Sioux Falls. The 13-member task force had its second of three meetings at the Sioux Falls School for the Deaf, where they heard testimony from USD students and faculty and community […]
Theater department experiencing long-standing gender role disparities
Two-thirds of USD’s theater department has found that it can be hard to catch a break. For years, college theater departments across the nation, including USD’s, have all been facing the same problem – a lack of female roles in productions. Right now, USD’s theater department is made up of 66 percent women and 34 […]
Jolley Elementary awarded Bush Foundation grant
The Vermillion Public School District is teaming up with USD to better focus on elementary students’ strengths. In 2016, the district was awarded a Bush Foundation grant to establish a professional development partnership between Jolley Elementary and the USD School of Education. The grant was given through the Bush Foundation’s Teacher Effectiveness Initiative. According to the […]
Course evaluations moving online this spring
Beginning this semester, course evaluations at USD will move from paper forms to a new online program called Campus Labs. Campus Labs allows evaluations to be done on laptops, tablets or smartphones. There will still be class time set aside to complete the evaluations toward the end of the semester. Lindsay Hayes, USD’s coordinator of […]
Family of USD alumnus gives millions to medical biology
USD’s medical biology program is about to be the beneficiary of a huge cash infusion, courtesy of the family of an alumnus. Keith Nolop, a former Volante editor, graduated from USD in 1975 and spent decades working in pharmaceutical development. According to his obituary in the New York Times, he worked on drugs to treat […]
Students present novel concepts at IdeaFest
IdeaFest, an annual showcase of graduate and undergraduate student research, was held on Wednesday and Thursday for its 25th year at USD. Wednesday’s events included a poster session on the main and second floors of the Munster University Center where students posted their work for anyone interested to interact with and ask questions. Wednesday Jeff Beck, a […]
Sustainability to become its own department, consolidate with earth sciences
A big change is coming to USD’s sustainability program and earth sciences department. In the fall of 2018, faculty from the two disciplines will be united under one designation – the department of “sustainability and environment.” This is a boost for sustainability, which isn’t an official department at USD. Meghann Jarchow, coordinator of the sustainability program, said it hasn’t […]
USD community reacts to secretary of education nomination
Trump’s recent secretary of education pick, Betsy DeVos, has many educators, both future and present, sitting on the edge of their classroom chairs. One major concern is DeVos’s previous work experience and her support for charter schools as a member of the Michigan Republican Party. Donald Easton-Brooks, USD’s dean of education, said the new change in administration […]