About DSU

Accreditation

Dakota State University or specific programs offered are accredited by the following agencies:

• The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools through the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) process.
  230 S. LaSalle St. - Suite 7-500
  Chicago, IL 60604-1413 • (312) 263-0456 • 1-800-621-7440
• Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
• Division of Education of the South Dakota Department of Education and Cultural Affairs
• Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• State Approving Agency as programs eligible for veterans benefits
• Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)
• Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education
• Servicemembers Opportunity College

Mission Statement

The Legislature established Dakota State University as an institution specializing in programs in computer management, computer information systems, and other related undergraduate and graduate programs as outlined in SDCL 13-59-2.2. A special emphasis is the preparation of the elementary and secondary teachers with expertise in the use of computer technology and information processing in the teaching and learning process.

The Board implemented SDCL 13-59-2.2 by authorizing undergraduate and graduate programs that are technology-infused and promote excellence in teaching and learning. These programs support research, scholarly and creative activities and provide service to the State of South Dakota and the region. Dakota State University is a member of the South Dakota System of Higher Education.

Curriculum

Degrees are authorized at the associate, baccalaureate, masters and doctorate levels.

The following curriculum is approved for the university:

1. Undergraduate Programs
   • Associate degree programs are approved in allied health care, business, general studies, and information technology.
   • Baccalaureate programs are approved in allied health care, business, computer game design, digital arts and design, education, information technology, information security, mathematics, and sciences.
2. Graduate Programs
   • Masters degree programs are approved in education, analytics, information systems, information assurance and computer security, health informatics, applied computer science and business administration.
   • Doctorate of Science degree program are approved in information systems and in cyber security.

Strategic Plan

Mission:  Dakota State University provides learning that integrates technology and innovation to develop graduates ready to contribute to local, national, and global prosperity.

Vision:  Building upon its distinctive mission, DSU will become: 

• The university of choice for those seeking a student-centered institution that offers innovative programs grounded in teaching, research, technology, scholarship, and service excellence.
• An academic community that serves as an economic engine in local, national, and global markets.
• A campus recognized for its achievements in continuous quality improvement.

Values:  At Dakota State University, we value

• Student Success.
• University-wide Excellence.
• Distinction in Teaching, Scholarship, and Service.
• Academic Freedom and Integrity.
• Diversity, Respect, and Inclusion.
• Change and Continuous Improvement.
• Community, Collaboration, and Communication.
• Technology and Innovation inside and outside the classroom.

Goals and Initiatives:

Educate to Inspire:  Dedicated to Academic Quality and Excellence.

• Offer innovative and robust academic programs that link to our mission.
• Advance inquiry, scholarship, research, and creative activity.
• Provide opportunities for experiential learning within the curriculum.
• Infuse innovative technology in the delivery of academic programs.
• Support clear and defined learning outcomes to ensure that DSU graduates are competitive in their fields.

Grow to Thrives:  Dedicated to Student Access and Success.

• Optimize undergraduate and graduate enrollment.
• Recruit a more diverse student, faculty, and staff population.
• Support a quality co-curricular educational experience.
• Create a campus environment that supports student engagement and learning.

Innovate to Transform:  Dedicated to Continuous Improvement.

• Focus on maximizing cost-effectiveness and supporting the development of new resources to support the university’s mission.
• Through continuous quality improvement, DSU will evaluate university-wide processes to promote a student-friendly environment.
• Create a campus culture that promotes transparent decision making, effective communication, and shared governance.
• Improve brand awareness regionally, nationally, and globally.

Collaborate to Lead:  Dedicated to Internal and External Partnerships.

• Develop a robust University Advancement program that increases resources for scholarship, facilities, and faculty/staff development.
• Expand industry, government, and K-12 partnerships to enhance the student educational experience.
• Increase alumni involvement through university-wide programs that engage both current and former students.

Campus Diversity Plan

Dakota State University is committed to providing an opportunity to learn in a rich environment free of intolerance and bigotry, one that teaches and honors the importance of the acceptance of differences in others. All members of the community have a responsibility to make DSU campuses and classrooms welcoming and respectful of each member’s differences and/or abilities. An investment in diversity is more than the act of recruiting diverse peoples to campus or celebrating ethnically themed events or holidays.

Diversity Mission Statement:

The Dakota State University community asserts these fundamental beliefs:

• Individuals who differ in age, creed, culture, exceptionalities, ethnicity, gender, race, sexuality, and social-economic status all contribute to the diversity which we value in the university community.
• Respect for all individuals and interaction with people different from oneself are essential components of a university education.
• The university community pledges to promote an atmosphere, which encourages the development of potential and promotes the value of diversity.

Dakota State University’s History

Dakota State University has enjoyed a long and proud history of leadership and service since its founding in 1881 as the first teacher education institution in the Dakota Territory.

For most of its history, DSU has been identified with teacher preparation, first as a normal school and later as a four-year public college. The University has had several different names, among them Madison Normal, Eastern Normal, and General Beadle State College. The name, Dakota State College, was adopted in 1969. On July 1, 1989, Dakota State College became Dakota State University. The University title was conferred on the institution by the South Dakota Legislature in order to better reflect its purpose in the total scheme of the state’s higher education system. Prospective elementary and secondary teachers continue to be educated here. To this traditional emphasis, DSU added business and traditional arts and science programs in the 1960s and two health services programs, Health Information Management and Respiratory Care, in the late 1970s.

In 1984, the South Dakota Legislature and the South Dakota Board of Regents turned to Dakota State University to educate leaders for the information age. In response, Dakota State University developed leading-edge computer/information systems degree programs. The graduates of these programs enjoy enviable status in the national marketplace. As a leader in computer and information systems programs, DSU has pioneered the application of computer technology to traditional fields of academic endeavor. This thrust has led to the development of unique degree programs in biology, English, mathematics, and physical science.

Dakota State University continues to serve the needs of a changing society in its second century. In order to provide its academic programs to a broader audience, DSU has promoted the use of distance education to deliver academic courses and programs.

Dakota State has been recognized nationally for innovative curriculum. In Spring 2004, DSU was one of ten colleges in the country named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the National Security Agency. The university recently installed the first iris recognition system in the state of South Dakota as part of a biometrics initiative that is tied to academic programs in computer security.

DSU is the first university in the state and one of the few in the country to implement a wireless mobile computing initiative using the notebooks. DSU was ranked first in the Top Public Comprehensive Colleges - Bachelor’s Division in the Midwest region by U.S. News and World Report magazine in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. As society’s educational needs change, Dakota State University will continue to evolve to meet these needs with education, scholarship and service.

Equal Opportunity

Dakota State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal educational opportunity in all student services and in all staff and faculty employment actions, without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or disability.

Institutional Administration

South Dakota Board of Regents Officers for 2015-2016

President: Randy Schaefer
Secretary: Terry Baloun
Vice President: Bob Sutton
Executive Director: Dr. Michael Rush

Governance and Organization of the University

Dakota State University is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents and operates under the policies and regulations of the Regents. The President is the chief executive officer of the University. The principal officers of the University are the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice President for Business & Administrative Services and the Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs. The general faculty oversee the policies and regulations governing academic and student affairs of the university. Committees are elected or appointed to address matters of importance to students and the faculty.

Executive Administration

 Academic Administration

General Administration

Library Staff

Graduate Faculty

RICHARD I. AVERY (1998), Professor of Mathematics

B.S., University of New Hampshire
M.A.T., University of New Hampshire
M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

KRISTEL BAKKER (1998), Professor of Biology

B.S., South Dakota State University
M.S., South Dakota State University
Ph.D., South Dakota State University

ETHELLE S. BEAN (1986), Professor, Director of Library and Associate Vice President for Special Projects

B.S., Stetson University
M.S., Florida State University

DORINE BENNETT (1987), Professor, Chair of HIM Department and Graduate Coordinator for MSHI, RHIA, FAHIMA,

B.S., Dakota State University
M.B.A., University of South Dakota
Ed.D., University of South Dakota

GLENN R. BERMAN (2001), Associate Professor of Mathematics

B.A., University of California-Santa Cruz
M.S., Louisiana State University
Ph.D., Louisiana State University

STACEY L. BERRY (2010), Associate Professor of Professional & Technical Communication / English for New Media

B.A., Austin State University
M.S., Northern Illinois University
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

JUSTIN BLESSINGER (2003), Professor of English

B.A., Tabor College
M.A., Emporia State University
Ph.D., University of South Dakota

PATTI BROOKS (2014), Assistant Professor of Health Information Management

A.S., Dakota State University
B.S., Dakota State University
MBA, University of South Dakota
M.S. Dakota State University
DSc. Dakota State University

SUSAN CONOVER (1999), Professor of Speech

B.S., University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
M.S., Southern Illinois University
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

SHUYUAN (LANCE) DENG (2014), Assistant Professor of Information Systems

         B.A., South China University of Technology
         M.B.A., University of Illinois, Chicago
         Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

JUDY DITTMAN (1978), Professor of Health and Physical Education and Vice President for Academic Affairs

B.S., Black Hills State University
M.S., South Dakota State University
Ph.D., University of Iowa

DALE DROGE (1992), Professor of Biology and Academic Coordinator for Math and Science

B.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

OMAR F. EL-GAYAR (2000), Professor of Information Systems

B.S., M.S., University of Alexandria (Egypt)
M.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa
Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Manoa

KARI FORBES-BOYTE (2005), Professor of Geography

B.A., California State University, Sacramento
M.A., California State University, Chico
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

BENJAMIN JONES (2013), Associate Professor of History and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

B.A., South Dakota State University
M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., University of Kansas

MARK GEARY (2006), Associate Professor of Education

B.A., University of Central Florida
M.A., University of Central Florida
Ed.D., University of Central Florida

STEVEN GRAHAM (2004), Associate Professor of Computer Game Design/Computer Science

B.S., University of Kansas
Ph.D., University of Kansas
Additional work toward M.S.E.E. at Stanford University

TOM HALVERSON (1999), Associate Professor of Computer Science

B.A., University of Minnesota-Morris
M.S., University of Iowa
Ph.D., University of Iowa

MARK HAWKES (1999), Professor of Instructional Technology, Graduate Coordinator for MSET, Interim Dean of the Graduate Studies and Research

B.S., Brigham Young University
M.S., Brigham Young University
Ph.D., Syracuse University

ROBERT J. HONOMICHL (2009) Instructor of Computer Information Systems

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S.Ed., Dakota State University

VIKI JOHNSON (2006), Assistant Professor of Sociology

B.A., Dickinson State University
M.S., North Dakota State University
Ph.D., University of North Dakota

STEPHEN KREBSBACH (2000), Associate Professor of Computer Science, Graduate Coordinator for the MSACS

B.S., Moorhead State University
M.S., Moorhead State University
Ph.D., North Dakota State University

JUN LIU (2012), Associate Professor of Information Systems and Graduate Coordinator for MSA

         B.A., Nanjing University, China
         M.S., University of Arizona
         Ph.D., University of Arizona

JAMES MCKEOWN (1989), Lecturer of Computer Education

B.S., South Dakota State University
M.A., Teachers College / Columbia University
Ph.D., University of Iowa

LYNETTE MOLSTAD GORDER (1981), Professor of Business and Information Systems

B.S., Dakota State University
M.A., University of South Dakota
M.B.A., University of South Dakota
Ed.D., University of South Dakota

DANIEL MORTENSON (1994), Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems and Music

B.A., Moody Bible Institute
B.S., Northwest Missouri State University
M.M., University of South Dakota
M.S., Dakota State University

GABE MYDLAND (1998), Associate Professor of Education

B.S., Augustana College
M.S., South Dakota State University
Ph.D., University of South Dakota

JENNIFER NASH (2005), Associate Professor of Science Education

B.S., Minnesota State University, Mankato
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Minneapolis

JOHN NELSON (1996), Professor of English

B.S., Black Hills State University
M.A., University of Wyoming
Additional post-graduate work at University of Kansas
P.D., University of South Dakota

CHERIE NOTEBOOM (2009) Assistant Professor of Management Information Systems

B.S., South Dakota State University
M.B.A., University of South Dakota
E.D., University of South Dakota
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Omaha

CHRIS OLSON (2006), Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, Chair of Computer Science and Computer Game Department

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S., Dakota State University
Ph.D., Northcentral University

JEFFREY PALMER (1991), Professor of Mathematics

B.A., Bemidji State University
B.S., Bemidji State University
M.S., Washington State University
Ph.D., Washington State University

INSU PARK (2014) Assistant Professor of Information Systems

         B.C., Hanyang University
         M.S., Hanyang University
         Ph.D., State University of NY, Buffalo

LINDA J. PARKS (2010) Associate Professor of Health Information Management

B.S., Park College, Parkville, MO
M.A., College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN

JOSH PAULI (2004), Professor of Information Systems

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S., Dakota State University
Ph.D., North Dakota State University

WAYNE PAULI (2001), Professor of Information Systems, Graduate Coordinator for D.Sc. Cyber Security

B.S., Northern State University
M.S., Dakota State University
Ph.D., Capella University

DAVID L. PEAK (2001), Associate Professor of Management

B.S., Louisiana State University
M.S., Louisiana State University
Ph.D., Louisiana State University and A & M College

ASHLEY PODHRADSKY (2012), Assistant Professor of Information Assurance/Forensics and Graduate Coordinator for the MSIA

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S., Dakota State University
Ph.D., Dakota State University

SURENDRA SARNIKAR (2007), Associate Professor of Information Systems, Graduate Coordinator for MSIS and D.Sc in Info Systems

B.E., Osmania University, Hyderabad, India
M.S., University of Arizona
Ph.D., University of Arizona

RONGHUA SHAN (1998), Associate Professor of Computer Science/Information Systems, Chair of Information Systems

B.E., Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhejiang, China
Post Graduate Diploma - China University of Mining & Technology, Beijing, China
M.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln

ZIXING SHEN (2009), Associate Professor Management/MIS

B.A., Sichuan University, China
M.S., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., Case Western Reserve University

RISË L. SMITH (1984), Professor and Digital Design and Access Librarian

B.A., Kalamazoo College
M.A., University of Michigan
M.L.S., San Jose State University

RENAE L. SPOHN (2012), Assistant Professor of Health Information Management, RHIA, CPHQ, FAHIMA, FNAHQ

         A.S., Colorado Technical University
         A.S., Dakota State University
         B.S., Dakota State University
         M.B.A., City University (Bellevue, WA)
         Additional study, Colorado Technical University

KEVIN STREFF (2002), Associate Research Professor of Information Assurance, Chair of Cyber Operations

B.B.A., Dakota State University
M.B.A., Temple University
Ph.D., Capella University

DANIEL TALLEY (1996), Professor of Economics

B.S., University of Puget Sound
Ph.D., University of Oregon

DEB TECH (1999), Assistant Professor of Marketing

B.A., Concordia Teachers College
M.B.A., University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Ph.D., Northcentral University

BRENT TULLOSS (2001), Instructor of Information Systems

B.S., Dakota State University
M.S., Dakota State University

JACK WALTERS (2005), Professor of Management, Chair of the Business Department, Graduate Coordinator for the MBA

B.S., University of Pennsylvania
M.S., University of South Florida
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

HAOMIN WANG (1998), Associate Professor of Instructional Technology and Manager of Instructional Technology

B.A., Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
M.A., Northern Arizona University
Ed.D., Northern Arizona University

YONG WANG (2012), Assistant Professor / Senior Researcher

         B.S., Wuhan University, China
         M.Eng., Wuhan University, China
         Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln