SDSU’s Office of Academic Affairs has started a task force to review and evaluate the Institutional Graduation Requirements.

The group hopes to complete a report by mid-March of this year and make potential changes by fall 2012 or 2013.

One of the main reasons the IGRs are being evaluated is so that students can get the best well-rounded education possible.

Dan Hansen, assistant dean for the College of Pharmacy and a task force member, said the group is focused on “looking at current IGRs and what, if any, changes need to be made.”

The task force started reviewing the framework of IGRs in the last academic year.

“We are at the point to where we are evaluating what is in place,” Hansen said.

IGRs are a reflection of what course requirements are significant to SDSU specifically, unlike System General Education Requirements (SGRs), which are Board of Regents requirements.

The most recent changes were approved in fall 2004, Hansen said.

The Office of Academic Affairs oversees academics and curriculum matters. Provost Laurie Nichols said she decided to appoint the task force because changes had not been made since that time, and concerns were being heard from some deans and department heads.

Changes can take a while to process because the report has to go through an approval process.

“Our subcommittee works on developing the changes and presenting back to the Academic Affairs committee for approval,” Hansen said. “They will also need to be approved by the Faculty Senate and Students’ Association before they eventually reach the Board of Regents.”

Nichols said that a four-year degree should prepare students to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, leaders, good public speakers and have a global perspective.

“Creating learning outcomes that say our students can do these things is pretty important at SDSU,” Nichols said.

Lily Berg, a junior history major, believes that there should be some changes made to the IGRs.

“If the university is going to keep the requirements the same, then I think they should expand the course options, that way I can pick something I will enjoy, rather than sit through a class I don’t have an interest in,” Berg said.

Along with more options, Berg said the requirement concept should be easier to understand.

“I have to sit there and figure out which courses count and which don’t for each goal, and if more courses were offered within an IGR goal, I wouldn’t have to worry as much about it,” Berg said.

The Academic Affairs office has been discussing future possibilities to offer SDSU undergraduate catalogs exclusively online.

“There are a variety of possible strategies,” said Mary Kay Helling, associate provost and interim dean of the graduate college. “One option is to present a PDF format which would allow students to print the entire catalog out, or simply parts relevant to them. Another approach is to have some printed and available at the bookstore for purchase.”

Although there are no set deadlines for moving the catalogs solely online, it is in the works. The decision to move them online stems from the high cost of printing.

“Approximately $25,000 is spent on the undergraduate catalog printing process,” said Helling.

The cost of printing undergraduate not only stems from printing, but includes set up costs as well. Because of this, graduate catalogs are no longer being printed and are offered exclusively online, starting this year.

Part of the $7000 savings from choosing not to print graduate catalogs “shifted to travel awards for graduate students,” Helling said.

“It is challenging to predict how many we need to print,” Helling said. “We order a lot now, and the extras are very wasteful. We don’t want the waste, but we are cognitive of the costs.”

Another reason to defer printing is the constant need to update the catalog.

“The problem with the catalogs we have produced in the past is that they become outdated so fast,” Provost Laurie Nichols said. “By the time the catalogs actually reach the students, things have changed.”

Trying to find the right balance between cost, waste, and need is the biggest challenge.

“Currently, the undergraduate catalog is available in full capacity online and in print,” said Katy Heiberger, curriculum and catalog specialist. “The catalogs have been available online since 2007, and we have reduced the number of printed catalogs [in subsequent years]. The demand has gone down.”

Some students still like to have a copy of the printed catalog for reference purposes.

“I am a big fan of having a paper copy of important information. I realize that it will be saving the college money by doing this, but this is also why we pay tuition,” said Megan Bueltel, sophomore agricultural business major. “I know when I was debating between majors, having a hard copy of the information and requirements was a very nice thing to have.”

Amanda McCulley, junior human development and family studies major, said “it would be less user friendly if they were only offered online.”

Although the exclusivity of online undergraduate catalogs could potentially inconvenience students, the current version of the online catalog provides students with an array of additional resources.

“The portfolio feature is located at the very bottom of the left navigation bar. Users can create “portfolios’ that save favorite programs and courses,” Heiberger said.

“Add to your portfolio,” help, and print options are available on all pages of the online version of the catalog.

“When a user creates their account, they have an option to request an Admissions Counselor contact them,” Heiberger said.

Students can find all these resources and previously published catalogs archived at catalog.sdstate.edu.

#1.1918785:3012645737.png:Book-GALLAGHER.png:Program catalogs may potentially go out of print and become completely digital, a result of cost-effective measures.:Collegian Photo by Mackenzie Clayton

The SDSU administration is implementing a $50 Flex spending limit per semester at both the SDSU Dairy Bar and Meat Lab.

The policy restricts students from using over $50 of their meal plan Flex dollars at each location throughout the duration of one semester. SDSU received concerns from Aramark, the university’s food provider, about when students spend their Flex dollars.

Doug Wermedal, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, said there are a couple different reasons for the policy.

“The first [reason] is educational, and it is the desire to see students connect with each other in socially reinforcing ways,” Wermedal said. “This is often done over a meal at one of our many sites or over a cup of Java City coffee … it’s certainly not the whole picture, but it is a well-researched contributing factor and is most intensely important on the front end of each semester.”

Aramark’s profits come from the student meal plan dollars, and Wermedal said the Meat Lab and the Dairy Bar receiving revenues from the same funds is not cost-effective.

“When a third-party entity accesses those revenues, the funds available to covers these fundamental costs of operation are reduced, and it becomes a business model that is not sustainable,” Wermedal said. “Simply put, it is sort of like Burger King having the freedom to print coupons for food discounts that McDonald’s would be forced to honor.”

Aramark representatives were unable to comment.

Adam Rhody, ag research and Meat Lab manager, said they knew about the policy last May during finals week.

“The disadvantages are kind of obvious,” Rhody said. “It doesn’t seem like we are using all of our resources.”

Rhody said that since people have heard about the new limitations they “have had several complaints.”

Although it might be inconvenient to some students, there are other payment options.

“Students may spend whatever they want at either location using credit card, cash or check at any time during the semester,” Wermedal said.

The policy does provide some leeway for the students.

“We are always ready to listen and respond to students who have unique circumstances and need wider access than policy limits indicate,” Wermedal said.

A history of the past purchases at the Dairy Bar and the Meat Lab were used to set the maximum dollar amount for the policy.

“Data was reviewed from last year’s usage,” Wermedal said. “According to this data the $50 figure provides adequate revenue streams to support Dairy Bar and Meat Lab operations in similar fashion to the previous year’s usage by students.”

For some students, the new policy will require a change in spending habits.

“Last year, I was able to spend the extra money off my meal plan at the Meat Lab and it was great,” said Jenn Lindner, sophomore economics and ag business major. “Not being able to spend over $50 there this year means I will have to find alternative routes to reasonably use up my meal plan here on campus, which is hard to do.”

Both the Dairy Bar and the Meat Lab have expressed concerns regarding the guidelines.

“It’s unfortunate I guess, but we will continue to do what they want and follow the rules,” Rhody said.

Excess spending toward the end of each semester from students has definitely had an impact.

“The trend was in a direction that was not sustainable, [this created] the desire to craft a compromise solution,” Wermedal said.

The Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee is aiming to improve the sustainability on campus one step at a time.

This year, the committee created a strategic plan to organize and outline its efforts. The plan includes facilities and energy, teaching, research and service, communication, activism and activities, and recycling, transportation and food services.

“We have some catching up to do, but we are moving in the right direction,” said Matt James, Landscape Architecture assistant professor and chair of the ESSC. “I think we are right on par with other institutions and their equivalent committees.”

The committee has been expanding their knowledge on sustainability by getting involved and looking to similar programs at other universities.

“One landmark thing that happened recently is we became a member of a national organization related to sustainability: The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE),” James said.

South Dakota was the last state that did not have a member in the organization.

Upcoming agenda items for the committee include reviewing the strategic plan, breaking the meeting down to initiatives being worked on, participation in the AASHE, recycling, and a communication campaign.

“My job as chair is to advise and make recommendations to the President and Faculty Senate,” James said. “I do a lot of administrative work, and organizing and scheduling meetings.”

The committee has used precedents from other institutions and universities with sustainability programs.

“We are trying to implement environmental sustainability because of the cultural shift in how we view the environment,” James said. “Our campus is really a small community and we have a big footprint. We need to be socially responsible.”

The ESSC has been collaborating with University Relations to brand the idea of a sustainable campus.

The campaign is in its early stages, but the committee and University Relations hope to develop and discuss the idea in detail this spring.

“A big piece of the puzzle is a dedicated website,” James said. “The campaign is one of the committee’s goals this year.”

Another thing the committee is trying to do this year is to become a participant of Recyclemania, a recycling competition to see which college or university can collect the largest amount of recyclables per capita.

“Recyclemania is a student-led program. It has two different divisions: competition and benchmark,” said Michael Rauenhorst, SA Senator and ESSC student representative. “We are one of the only two South Dakota colleges that does not currently compete. Frankly, it sucks.”

The committee hopes to get SDSU involved in the program as a benchmark competitor, if not campus-wide. The benchmark division is less formal and participating institutions do not compete for ranking or winning.

“Recyclemania has the potential to be a catalyst for participation,” James said.

Since recycling is part of the committee’s strategic plan, they are hoping to implement a coordinated recycling system.

“This committee is where change on campus happens,” James said.

The Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee deals with a broad spectrum of topics and issues. Basically anything about being green or sustainable falls under this committee.

“I think for the twenty-first century we are far behind. There is a change coming that will bring us to modern times, but it can’t just be one person or one committee8212;it’s a cooperation,” said Kayla Miller, SDSU Sierra Club president. “I encourage students to get involved if they are invested.”

#1.1782257:2142362978.png:Recycle-2-Mackenzie-Clayton.png:Recycling is a growing phenomenon on campus.:Collegian Photo by Mackenzie Clayton

As the greening of America sweeps its way across the states, SDSU has joined the tide of universities concerned about environmental conservancy.

About 30 faculty, staff members and students attended the summit. Individuals from many different departments, including Facilities and Services, Residential Life, Aramark, Athletics and Environmental Health and Safety, spoke about recycling efforts on campus.

“The overall goal is to get everyone in the same room talking about the same topic,” said Matt James, landscape architecture professor and chair of the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee.

The summit was a two-part meeting. First, the speakers gave an overview about what is currently happening regarding recycling. The second half was an open forum where anyone could share what he or she wants out of a recycling program.

The informal conference helped faculty, staff and students recognize what is already happening on campus and what still needs to improve.

“[A recycling program] is just something that needs to happen,” said Clark Young, a senior global studies major and Sierra Club member. “[Our current situation] is embarrassing.”

Lynne Finn, assistant director of Facilities and Services, spoke about the efforts and opportunities occurring within Facilities and Services.

“In general, recycling has been a reactive program, rather than proactive,” Finn said. “It’s been passive, undesignated and unfunded.”

Many departments at SDSU have taken an initiative in various ways. director of Environmental Health and Safety, Gary Yarrow, explained his department’s recycling efforts.

Environmental Health and Safety recycles numerous products, including used oil, used solvents and chemicals, light bulbs, car batteries and ballasts. Some of the products are transported to various recycling companies, where they take care of the recycling process for free.

“The number of used oil gallons recycled each year varies on how many vehicles are on campus,” Yarrow said.

Other minor recycling efforts are available in the athletic department and residence halls. The Stanley J. Marshall HPER Center has bottle-shaped recycling containers. The containers are also placed in tailgating lots during sporting events.

As for the residence halls, students can ask for a compost-able plastic bag from the front desk to collect their recyclables and recycle them at a trash point outside their building.

The open forum section of the summit allowed anyone to ask questions and provide suggestions, not only to the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Committee, but also to other faculty and staff members.

Many concerned individuals participated in the discussion and voiced their opinions on the matter, whether it was about a possible campaign, financial issues, or the demand for a centralized recycling program.

“It’s not about educating, it’s about encouraging,” Finn said, in response to the demand for a recycling program.

ESSC will take what was said at the summit into consideration. This conference was a step toward the development of a recycling program.

“I suspect this summit will improve efforts to make a coordinated system8212;and what ever that is, it must involve communication,” James said.

The recycling summit is the first effort from the ESSC to sponsor an event on campus. James thinks it’s possible that a recycling subcommittee will evolve from the event.

“This is a huge area of impact for students – to work in conjunction with each other to treat the campus as a living and learning laboratory,” James said.

Students stressed their opinions not just about the importance of a centralized recycling program but also about its implementation as well.

“The lack of bins is frustrating because they want to educate use, but where are the bins at?” Young said. “It’s like teaching someone how to ride a bike. You can’t explain it to them and not give them a bicycle.”

SDSU Parking and Traffic Committee reevaluates campus parking and tries to serve students in many capacities.

The Parking and Traffic Committee is one of the many university committees that help serve and represent the entire campus, whether you are a student or faculty member.

“Students might think the committee is out to get them, but I can promise you that it’s not,” said junior Anthony Sutton, the student chair of the Parking and Traffic Committee, Student Association finance chair. “You can’t make everyone happy, but we are here for the students and we really do care.”

The committee designates parking areas and establishes parking and traffic rules, penalties and fees. Some of the objectives include maximizing parking area, maintaining lawful traffic movement and ensuring access for emergency vehicles.

“It’s my job to work with Facilities and Services, write up summaries and agendas and bring up items and issues in the meetings,” Sutton said. “The student committee members and I make sure the students’ voices are heard. If students have questions or concerns, we can share their concerns at the meetings.”

As chair of the committee, Sutton holds many responsibilities, including running the meetings and representing students.

“I wanted to be part of the committee because parking is a hot-button issue, and it’s a lot more complex that you think,” said Sutton. “I wanted to understand the nature of the beast and bring positive change to the committee.”

The committee has already had to accommodate student parking needs this semester.

“We did some shuffling around to make sure we had sufficient and residence hall parking because of the overflow in dayrooms,” said Assistant Vice President of Facilities and Services and committee member Dean Kattelmann.

A parking consultant offered some suggestions for more efficient and effective parking solutions earlier this semester that the committee is taking into consideration.

“Later this year, we will deal with long-term parking issues,” said Sutton. “When you build a building, you have to make parking a major piece of the plan.”

The Parking and Traffic Committee plans on improving and proposing solutions to new issues that come up in their monthly meetings.

Making students, staff and faculty members aware of what the committee does and how to appeal tickets is part of improving communication.

“I got a parking ticket freshman year,” said Tara Kindel, junior journalism major. “I wish I would have appealed it, but I didn’t have time. I wouldn’t even know how to go about it.”

Kattelmann said he thought the Parking and Traffic Committee represents a reasonable voice.

“I think the committee does an excellent job doing what is best for the university,” said Kattelmann. “We look at the big picture decisions.”

Because the committee tries to equally represent the entire population at SDSU, it can be difficult to find a perfect balance.

“Everyone’s needs are different,” said Sutton. “We are trying to find a university-wide solution.”

Amendment L of the South Dakota Constitution will be included in the ballot for the 2010 midterm election on Nov. 2.

The amendment is proposing a change to Article XIII of the constitution regarding the allocation of the state Cement Enterprise Sales Trust Fund.

The state cement plant was sold about 10 years ago. A trust fund to benefit South Dakota citizens was created from the sale of the plant.

Secretary of State Chris Nelson said an agreement was set to allocate $12 million every year from the trust fund to the State general fund.

“The downturn of the stock market has decreased the value of the trust fund by about $103 million, and the proponents wanted to do something about it,”

Nelson said.

He said the required transfer of $12 million every year will ultimately deplete the trust fund.

In past years, the funds have helped balance the state budget, and improve programs like K-12 education, Medicaid, law enforcement, and other aspects of the general fund.

“A lot of people ask “What is the right way to vote?’ and it really depends what the markets are going to do,” Nelson said.

If the amendment were to pass, the amount allocated to the general fund will decrease to $8 million over the next four fiscal years.

“The amendment would leave it up to the legislature to decide the amount transferred by up to four percent of the fund value,” Nelson said.

“Opposition to the amendment “wants to keep transferring $12 million to the general fund because it was the original agreement,” Nelson said. “Opponents think the mandated agreement is important and necessary to keep the principle of the fund.”

A “yes” vote would preserve the fund and change the annual distribution from the cement plant trust fund. Voting “no” is a vote against the constitutional amendment and will not change Article XIII.

Follow the crowd of hobos and hippies on Saturday morning, and you will find yourself surrounded by students, faculty, alumni and community members at one of the largest one-day events in the Dakotas: The Hobo Day Parade.

The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. on Medary Avenue and will continue along Sixth Street and Main Avenue. The Grand Marshal and ROTC members will lead the parade.

The parade will include vehicles and floats from various student organizations and residence halls, as well as special entries and dignitaries.

“My job during the parade is to organize the floats and make sure they match up to the description,” said Floats Coordinator Paige Hansen, a junior pre-nursing major.

Robin Bickel, junior advertising and marketing major, is this year’s Hobo Day Grand Pooba. As the University Program Council homecoming coordinator, Bickel is in charge of the homecoming committee.

Bickel said a lot of the floats are incorporating “60s and “70s themes with hippie and retro styles.

“We have gotten a lot of float entries that are going to be a lot of fun,” Bickel said.

In addition to the floats, 10 high school bands will march in the parade, along with the alumni band and The Pride of the Dakotas. Many students and teams will also be participating in the parade.

“I’ve been in the Hobo Day parade in previous years with the dance team,” said Kayla Chambers, senior apparel merchandising major. “I think the parade is fun because it gets me pumped up for the game.”

Bickel has attended many Hobo Day parades in the past and will be riding in the bummobile at the end of the parade.

“The Hobo Day parade is not like a normal hometown parade,” Bickel said. “It’s so much more than that.”

#1.1717594:726902187.jpg:05BW.jpg:The Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band will lead this year?s Hobo Day parade at 9:30 a.m. Tailgating will follow the parade, beginning at 11:30 a.m., with the game kickoff at 2 p.m. :Collegian Photo by Mackenzie Clayton

It’s about time for some local student talent to battle it out at the traditional Hobo Day talent show, Cavorts.

“Students can expect a lot of craziness,” said Tom Brinker, University Program Council showcase coordinator.

This year, Cavorts will showcase a wide variety of acts including bands, acoustic and a capella performances, dance numbers and comedy skits.

A panel of five faculty members will judge the contestants on originality, showmanship, raw talent, audience reaction and overall performance.

Brinker will be co-hosting the event with UPC President Michael Preszler and Grand Pooba Robin Bickel.

“I’m super excited to co-host,” Bickel said. “We feed off of each other very well.”

Lesli Miller, a junior nursing major, and Abbie Johnson, a sophomore pre-pharmacy and dance major, are performing an emotional dance number.

“Our act is something definitely different than the normal hoedown-throwdown,” Johnson said.

The band Across the Flying Circus will also perform, playing an original song.

“Our band is mostly known for our YouTube videos, and we thought this would be a great way to debut our live show,” said band member Andrew Rogers, a senior music merchandising major. “Plus, Alex [Kunz], our lead singer, looks like Justin Bieber. Seriously, you don’t want to miss it.”

Weary Wil and Dirty Lil, will make a guest appearance, and Léo Silva, a disc jockey out of Sioux Falls, will also be playing before the acts start.

This is the first year audience members will be able to vote for their favorite act, and the fan-favorite will win $50, regardless of the judges’ decision.

Cavorts will be held Oct. 22 in the Performing Arts Center. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. Students are encouraged to buy their $5 tickets at Info Exchange in advance, but they will be sold at the door as well.

“Cavorts is one of the longest standing traditions of Hobo Week,” Brinker said. “It’s going to be a great time.”

#1.1717685:508471221.png:Cavorts-3-Color-Britty-Fexer.png:Andy Johnson and Mark York competed for the chance to win a cash prize in the talent competition, rocking in the Volstorff Ballroom.:Collegian Photo by Brittany Andrea
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The SDSU pharmacy department has recently received two great honors for their accomplishments in the classroom and in the community.

The Gamma Kappa chapter of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity received the Frank H. Eby Scholarship Tray for earning the highest grade point average over one year out of the 77 other collegiate chapters in the United States and Canada.

“I think it’s a really great accomplishment,” said Kortney Slinger, a Kappa Psi Regent and a senior P2 pharmacy student. “I think people underestimate us as a pharmacy program in a South Dakota university, but winning the award shows that we are competitive.”

A national meeting is held every other year with an official ceremony for award winners. During off years, the fraternity receives recognition and a certificate along with the scholarship tray.

“The new silver tray will hang in a framed case next to the other three in the Kappa Psi fraternity house,” Slinger said. “The fraternity was recently ranked the 10th best chapter in the nation by the national office.”

Advisers submit active brothers to the national office with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The percentage is based on fraternity membership and grading systems.

“All of our brothers were above a 3.0,” said Kappa Psi Co-Grand Deputy Eric Kutscher, associate professor of pharmacy.

SDSU’s chapter has won the Eby Scholarship Tray three previous years in 1997, 1998 and 2009.

“SDSU is the only chapter to have won the award four times,” Kutscher said.

Kappa Psi is a professional pharmacy fraternity open to all students in the pharmacy program at SDSU that volunteers and works with numerous programs in and around the Brookings area.

They participate in social activities and philanthropy projects, like local highway cleanup, health fairs, backpack programs and the Vial of Life project.

Recently, Kappa Psi has started to work with the Brookings Police Department on a “Take Back’ program sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration, where people can dispose of old, expired or unwanted prescriptions and over-the-counter items.

“The fraternity organizes approximately 95 percent of activities on their own,” Kutscher said.

The second honor for the department is for Thomas Johnson, professor of pharmacy practic, who has been elected to join the Board of Directors of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

Johnson was nominated by the South Dakota Society of Health-System Pharmacists, which he has served on various committees. He will sit on the board of directors for a three- year term beginning in June 2011.

“I was lucky enough to be elected,” Johnson said. “My position as a board member will allow me to provide my perspective and expertise on matters of conducting business of the society.”

Over 35,000 members of ASHP work mainly in hospitals and health system practice. These members try to support the goals and main focus of the organization.

“One of the primary goals of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists is helping people make the best use of medication,” Johnson said.

As one of the two new board members, Johnson will officially become a member in June. Until then, he will attend ASHP meetings in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Anaheim and Denver to learn more about the society and how it works.

Johnson received his doctorate in pharmacy at NDSU in 1997. He completed his residency at the St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, N.D. In 2009, he received his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Sioux Falls.

As a professor and experiential program manager for the College of Pharmacy, Johnson said he finds satisfaction in “getting to see [his] students succeed and become better.”

#1.1655690:1286830584.jpg:The Gamma Kappa chapter from the pharmacy fraternity Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical earned another scholar:The Gamma Kappa chapter from the pharmacy fraternity Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical earned another scholarship tray for having an impressive GPA.:Collegian Photo by Ryan Robinson