South Dakota State University

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South Dakota State University

Image:Southdakotastateuniversity.jpg
Motto You can go anywhere from here
Established 1881
Type Public
President David Chicoine
Staff 660
Undergraduates 9,208
Postgraduates 1,358
Location Brookings, SD, USA
Campus 260 acres (1.05 km²)
Athletics 20 varsity teams, called "Jackrabbits"
Colors Blue █ and Yellow █
Website South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act. In step with this land-grant heritage and mission, SDSU has a special focus on academic programs in agriculture, engineering, nursing, and pharmacy, as well as the liberal arts. SDSU is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, which governs the state's six public universities and two special schools.

On January 1, 2007, David Chicoine became the 19th President of South Dakota State University. Chicoine and his wife are alumni of SDSU, and prior to becoming presidnet he was Vice President for Economic Development and Technology at the University of Illinois.

SDSU awards bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees. Total enrollment sits at 11,000+ with a record high enrollment of 11,377 recorded in October 2006.

The SDSU campus features the H.M. Briggs Library, the South Dakota State Art Museum (featuring works by Harvey Dunn and Oscar Howe, among others), and the Coughlin Campanile. The university operates its own dairy plant, processing 10,000 lb (4.5 t) of milk weekly into cheese and ice cream, operates a cattle and sheep breeding operation, has an on-campus meat processing facility, and has a student-operated pharmacy.

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[edit] History

The university was founded in 1881 as Dakota Agriculture College. The name was changed in 1904 to South Dakota State College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts. In 1964, the name was changed to South Dakota State University, reflecting the more comprehensive education offered at the university.

The first building, with funding from the territorial legislature, was built in 1883, six years before the State of South Dakota was incorporated.

Among the inventions and discoveries originating at SDSU are the Briggs and Stratton engine, invented by alumnus Stephen Foster Briggs, and cookies and cream ice cream, which was created at the university's dairy plant. Also, Daktronics, one of the world's leading manufacturers of electronic signage, was founded by two SDSU professors, and is still headquartered in Brookings.

[edit] Athletics and activities

SDSU's athletic mascot is the jackrabbit. The homecoming celebration, Hobo Day, is billed as "The Biggest One-Day Event in the Dakotas."[1] The 375+ member SDSU Marching Band, "The Pride of the Dakotas," given the special name the Millennium Band in 2000 by the South Dakota State Legislature, has marched in the 1981 and 1997 Presidential Inaugural Parades in Washington, DC; A Capital Fourth in 2000 in Washington DC which was broadcast on PBS; the 2003 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California; and the Korean War Monument Dedication at the state's capital Pierre in 2004, in the company of two other college bands and 60-some high school bands from across the state. The band has also been invited to march in the 2008 Rose Parade.

In 2003, the women's basketball team won the Division II Championship. In 2004, SDSU began a transition to NCAA Division I, ending its long association with the NCAA Division II North Central Conference and its century-old intrastate rivalry with the University of South Dakota. SDSU is now a member of the Great West Football Conference and the Western Wrestling Conference. The school was accepted into the Mid-Continent Conference on August 31, 2006 and began play in that conference in the fall of 2007 in all sports except football, wrestling, and equestrian, as those sports are not sponsored by the Mid-Con.[2]

The women's basketball team was also invited to compete in post-season action in the WNIT in the spring of 2007. This made them the only transition team (a team that is in the process of being certified for a new division) in WNIT history to do so. They received a bye in the first round and continued on to victories over Illinois State and Indiana University, but were beaten by players from the University of Wyoming in the 4th round of the tournament.[3] This was an exciting time at SDSU, as their home stadium, Frost Arena, was filled to capacity for both games with the game versus Indiana selling out in a matter of hours.

The Dakota Marker is the trophy awarded to the winner of the annual college football game played between the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Bison, located in Fargo, North Dakota and the South Dakota State University (SDSU) Jackrabbits.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Greek life

This list contains only fraternities that are a part of the Greek Council. Other fraternities and sororities exist, but are not officially recognized by the University.

[edit] Points of interest

[edit] External links


Great West Football Conference
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo • North Dakota State • South Dakota State • Southern Utah • UC Davis
United Soccer Conference
USC East: Delaware State • Howard • Longwood • South Carolina State
USC West: IPFW • North Dakota State • South Dakota State • Utah Valley
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