University of South Dakota

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The University of South Dakota
Motto: Veritas
Established: 1862
Type: Public
Endowment: $134,291,804[1]
President: James W. Abbott
Staff: 400+
Undergraduates: 9,243
Postgraduates: 2,339
Location: Vermillion, SD, USA
Campus: 216 acres
Athletics: The Coyotes
Colors: Red █ and White █
Website: The University of South Dakota

The University of South Dakota, the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current president is Jim Abbott. The university has been accredited by the North Central Association of College and Schools since 1913.


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[edit] Nomenclature

  • The acronym "USD" is one of the most widely used titles of the school. (The University of San Diego also employs this acronym.)
  • USD is often referred to as "the U" by students and locals alike.
  • "usd" is used only in Internet domain names.

[edit] Profile

The University of South Dakota was founded in 1862 by the Dakota Territorial Legislature. It is the state's oldest university. It is one of six universities governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents. USD has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools since 1913 and is an active member of the Land Grant Colleges. The school houses the state's only law and medical schools and the lone College of Fine Arts.

USD is also home to the state's oldest, largest, and nationally prominent political science department. Within the program is the Farber Fund, named for storied university professor Dr. William O. Farber, which provides subsidy to political science and criminal justice majors to attend conferences, participate in study tours, complete internships, and study abroad.

The University of South Dakota has an extensive Greek life as well. The college is home to the fraternity chapters of Phi Delta Theta, Delta Tau Delta, Sigma Nu, Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha and Pi Kappa Alpha. Sororities include, Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Phi and Alpha Xi Delta.

The Sanford School of Medicine, a community-based program, emphasizes family medicine and primary care with the support and participation by practicing physicians and community hospitals throughout the state. Community hospitals and clinics provide teaching sites and the practicing physicians are teachers. The Lee Medical Sciences building houses the basic science education.

[edit] Academics

The second largest university in the state, the University of South Dakota boasts the state's only schools of medicine, law, and college of fine arts. As of 2007, the university offers has seven colleges and universities, offering 60 graduate programs among them:

[edit] Media

[edit] U.Radio (formerly 'The Core')

In 2007 KAOR FM was renamed as U. Radio, following the University of South Dakota's U. theme. The central on-campus headquarters for KAOR Radio is the Al Neuharth Media Center while the transmitter lies atop Slagle Hall on USD's campus.

[edit] The Volante

The Volante has served as the campus newspaper since 1887. It is published every Wednesday morning during the school year. Managed entirely by students, The Volante prides itself as being editorially independent.

The paper has won numerous awards including a number of Best of Show and Pacemakers. In October 2006 it was awarded its 6th Pacemaker Award, sometimes referred to as the Pulitzer Prize of College Journalism, by the Associated Collegiate Press.

The paper includes news, sports, opinion and verve (arts and entertainment) sections. The paper also has a frequently updated website, which includes campus news, staff blogs and podcasts. The Volante generally maintains a staff of 50 students.

[edit] Athletics

The school's mascot is the Coyotes, and the school colors are vermillion red and white. USD competes at the NCAA Division II level, and is a member of the North Central Conference for all sports. President James Abbott announced on November 29, 2006 that USD will be moving up to the Division I level, NCAA Football Championship Subdivision for football. A majority of the sporting events at the University are held at the DakotaDome. The school's homecoming, typically held in early October, is known as Dakota Days.

The Coyotes had long shared a spirited intrastate rivalry with the South Dakota State Jackrabbits, until 2004 when SDSU made the transition to Division I athletics. There has been widespread anticipation among fans of both schools of a potential revival of the rivalry when the Coyote athletics join the D-1 ranks. While both schools indicated a desire to resume the rivalry, it may not be feasible until their respective athletic programs have finalized a partnership with a conference. On August 2, 2007, the school announced that it would be joining the Great West Football Conference along with North Dakota in 2008.

[edit] Campus

The University of South Dakota is based on a 216 acre campus situated along the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River in the southeast corner of the state. The most prominent academic facility on campus, while simultaneously serving as one the school's symbols, is Old Main. Old Main was built in 1883, burned down in 1889, and ultimately restored in 1997. Along with several classrooms, it houses the Student Action Office, Honors Program, and Center for Academic Engagement. Farber Hall, a 190 seat theatre utilized mainly for speaking engagements, is also located within Old Main.

One of the newest additions to the campus is the Al Neuharth Media Center, named for the founder of USA Today. Dedicated in September 2003, the Neuharth Center houses all of the news and media organizations on campus, including the Freedom Forum’s South Dakota operations, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, the U’s Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism, the national headquarters of the Native American Journalists Association, campus newspaper The Volante, campus radio station KAOR, and television station KYOT. Formerly the athletic armory, the building was converted into a media center through donations made by Al Neuharth, a 1950 USD graduate.

The DakotaDome serves not only as the home venue for the school's football, basketball, volleyball, and track and field teams, but also a recreational center for the student body. It is South Dakota's only domed football stadium, hosting the state's high school football championships in November. Currently, USD is in the process of constructing a new student union and business school.


[edit] Recognition

For the 2006-07 academic year, the Beacom School of Business boasted graduating seniors who collectively scored in the top five percent in a national exit exam. USD's Department of Political Science routinely attracts well-known speakers and produces students who garner top national awards such as the Truman Scholarship. [2]

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Notable faculty

[edit] References

  1. ^ [1], USD Value of Endowment.
  2. ^ America's Best Colleges 2008. US News and World Report. Retrieved on 2007-11-20.

[edit] External links


v • d • e
North Central Conference
Augustana • Central Washington† • Minnesota Duluth • Minnesota State • Nebraska-Omaha • North Dakota • Saint Cloud State • South Dakota • Western Washington†
† Football-only member
v • d • e
Great West Football Conference

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