Academics
Q & A: Native Student Services director receives award
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Volante news section features a profile on an award-winning USD faculty member. Gene Thin Elk is the director of Native Student Services for the University of South Dakota, and was named a recipient of the Dr. George Blue Spruce Jr. Award, presented by Pathways Into Health at the 2012 Achieving Excellence, Harmony […]
Governor proposes physics program
The South Dakota Board of Regents could see a $5.3 million increase if Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s proposed budget is passed by the S.D. Legislature before adjourning in March. In the Governor’s Budget Address Tuesday, Daugaard proposed a 2.2 percent increase in the general fund for the BOR, in addition to a 3 percent salary increase […]
USD library hosts annual food drive
University Libraries at the University of South Dakota is hosting its fifth annual Food for Fines food drive program through Dec. 21. Instead of paying fines for overdue library books, University Libraries is accepting non-perishable food items, including canned fruits or vegetables, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly and cereal, as well as other […]
Internet aides spread of plagiarism
As the end of the semester approaches, final exams and research papers loom over the heads of many students. But along with these important final assignments comes the temptation of a shortcut: plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as using another person’s work as one’s own, and is an issue that commonly plagues large-scale projects, such as […]
Students have option to fight tickets, grades
With the semester coming to a close, it is more important than ever for University of South Dakota students to know the options available to them when they don’t agree with a decision made by university representatives. As students go about wrapping up the semester and tying up any loose ends when it comes to […]
Decision eliminates Welcome Day, splits finals week over two-week period
The Board of Regents has accepted a plan to change the academic calendar for the 2013-14 to 2019-20 academic years that would include starting the first week of every semester with a full week of classes and splitting the week of finals into two weeks that would fall immediately before and after the last weekend […]
Theft of newspapers sets a new precedent
The University of South Dakota’s Student Publication Board held a meeting Tuesday night to discuss the recent newspaper theft. Late Oct. 31, Volante staff members noticed copies of the paper missing from several locations on campus. University faculty and police were alerted that same night, and by the next morning, the newspapers had been returned. […]
Major promoted with SDSU rivalry
For the first time in nine years, the University of South Dakota Coyotes will play the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits in football Nov. 17 in Brookings. In recognition of the renewed rivalry and to help promote USD’s new sustainability major, the College of Arts & Sciences is sponsoring a T-shirt swap. Students, faculty and […]
University Senate makes plans to involve students
The Student Government Association and University Senate have initiated efforts to increase communication between the two organizations. The University Senate is a predominately elected faculty-led organization, with two student positions filled by SGA President Alissa VanMeeteran and Vice PresidentDJ Smith. SGA is entirely comprised of elected students. The University Senate plans to send a senator […]
University accepts students based on ACT scores, GPAs, not race
A U.S. Supreme Court case will not change the University of South Dakota’s attitude toward admissions. Fisher v. University of Texas surrounds a student who claims she was denied admission to Texas because she is Caucasian. A ruling in favor of Abigail Fisher means the Supreme Court has deemed affirmative action unconstitutional and no longer […]