Academics
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 […]
USD replaces Starfish with Coyote Connections
USD has launched a new academic warning system to replace Starfish, the previous system that allowed professors to raise concerns about students’ academic well-being. The new system, called Coyote Connections, lets faculty warn students and their advisors about attendance, low scores and issues with participation in class. Part of the problem with Starfish was that USD […]
Professors reflect on policies barring electronics in classrooms
USD’s media and journalism department has formed a new informal policy barring students from using laptops and other electronic devices in class. The policy is voluntary, and most media and journalism professors have chosen to take part. Junior media and journalism major Kassidie Cornell said she was taken aback by the department’s decision to remove electronics […]
I.D. Weeks to cut subscriptions to dozens of publications
Because of skyrocketing subscription costs and budget constraints, I.D. Weeks library is in the process of cancelling its subscriptions to roughly 70 academic journals, newspapers and other publications. Dan Daily, USD’s dean of libraries, said that while he doesn’t like having to eliminate any publications, cuts had to be made somewhere to balance the library’s budget. […]
Almost one in three South Dakota first-years must take a remedial course
In South Dakota, roughly 30 percent of all first-year college students are deficient in their mastery of math or English or both, in many cases. Governor Daugaard addressed this issue in his State of the State Address, calling students’ unpreparedness for college coursework a “persistent problem.” Having to take remedial courses, Daugaard said, is a “lose-lose,” because […]
Addiction studies students have a perfect pass rate
USD’s addiction studies program, the only nationally-accredited program of its kind in the state, has perfect passing rates. Over the last two years, students in the program have had a pass rate of 100 percent. Nationally, the pass rate for addiction studies is 82 percent, said Frank Zavadil, the department chair. Addiction studies focuses on understanding […]
Fewer USD law students are passing the bar exam
Only three weeks into spring semester, USD School of Law students are preparing for the bar exam. The law school has seen a relatively low passage rate of the bar exam passage in recent years. Historically, passage rates for the bar, the test lawyers are required to pass to practice law, have been as high […]
Associate professor looks to create USD sustainability graduate program
To further an effort to become a “green” university, USD is pursuing a graduate program in sustainability. Meghann Jarchow, the sustainability coordinator and associate professor is going through the motions in order to get the graduate program approved and running. Jarchow said that the process started with the grant money that was received. With that, […]