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FACULTY & STAFF E-UPDATE |
SDRS Retirement Planners will be in Spearfish October 21st and 22nd at the Holiday Inn and are available for individual counseling sessions in person, by phone, or via virutal meeting. Are you considering retirement in the next 5-10 years? Are you new to SDRS? Do you have any questions about your SDRS benefits? Will you have enough money when you retire? Wondering what to do and when? SDRS is here to help you! To schedule an appointment, contact SDRS at 605-773-3731. Walk-ins are not guaranteed an appointment.
This FREE full-day business course is open to anyone & provides participants with an overview of business fundamentals, while introducing techniques for evaluating the feasibility of business concepts. Participants are introduced to a broad spectrum of entrepreneurial business concepts and resources available to access start-up capital, technical assistance, contracting opportunities, and more.
Date: Oct. 30th 2025
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where: Student Union 205: Crow Peak Conference Room
Registration and a detailed agenda can be found at https://sdceo.ecenterdirect.com/events/1019124
While the event is free, we ask that interested individuals register so that we can prepare out materials accordingly.
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The SD CEO West Women's Business Center, is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance.
Please join us on Mondays for the University Honors Program's Geek Speak lecture series: lectures for the geeks in all of us.
These are at 4:00 p.m. in Jonas Academic #110 and are free and open to the public.
Monday, October 27: Dr. Kyle Kopplin:
Who Benefits and Who Loses from Property Tax Changes?
Property taxes have been in the news a lot for South Dakota residents lately. There have been several attempts to limit, reduce, or eliminate property taxes as a funding source for South Dakota’s local fiscal districts, and there are more of these discussions on the horizon. But how much do we know about property taxes in South Dakota? How do they work, what do they do, and where does the money go? Who benefits and who loses from property tax changes? In this talk, we’ll try to consider all points of view on hypothetical restrictions of property taxes, both in the short and long term, for some recent and potential legislative bills.
How do we strike a balance between encouraging student expression of their own ideas and providing a safe and orderly learning environment? While students do have rights to free expression under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, schools also have legal obligations that may lead them to curtail student expression. This presentation explores the history and future of the delicate balance between student speech and school policy.
This talk will explore stochastic music composition using “Markov Chains”, a method which uses pre-existing content to create new content with similar qualities. Examples will include text generation, a “new” cello piece in the style of Bach, and ideas for further application.
Gravitational Waves, Particle Colliders, Dark Matter and More: A Sabbatical Story
Gina Gibson, Professor of Graphic Design at BHSU, will share her experience as a visiting professor and the first artist-in-residence at the University of Zürich Physics Institute and a Senior Fellow at the Collegium Helveticum, Swiss Institute for Advanced Study.
Faculty and staff have the opportunity to access free online certificate and learning programs through the Skill Forward initiative, a partnership between the Association of Women’s Business Centers, edX, and Verizon. With courses offered by top institutions like Harvard and MIT, participants can earn professional certifications to showcase on LinkedIn or simply enjoy valuable lifelong learning. Topics range from leadership and communication, personal finance, nutrition, marketing, cybersecurity, managing employees, to project management, AI, and data science.
Register and activate by November 20, 2025, to receive one year of free scholarship access. Learn more and get started here: www.BHSU.edu/SDCEO/SkillForward. Resource may also be shared with family and friends.
Questions? Reach out to Elizabeth Freer (Elizabeth.Freer@BHSU.edu) or contact SD CEO West.
On Saturday, October 18th at 1 PM, the annual Hero Appreciation Football Game will be played at Lyle Hare Stadium. The Yellow Jackets will be playing CSU-Pueblo. All Active Duty, Veterans, and Police, Fire and EMS personnel are invited to attend this game. You will get in free, and would then get (2) two additional free tickets for others you'd like to bring to the game. Just let them know your status (Active Duty, Veteran, Police, Fire or EMS) at the gate.
Also on Thursday, October 16th at 6:30 PM at the Donald Young Center (Field House) the Black Hills State University Athletics Department will be hosting a Hero Appreciation Dinner with the BHSU Football team. All Active Duty, Veterans, Police Officers, Fireman, and EMS personnel will get to visit with the BHSU players and coaches and have dinner with them. It's been very well received in years past. The players and coaches enjoy this event because they get to talk to real life heroes.
Friends,
Happy midterm! I know this is a terrible week to be sending out this request, and October should be banned completely, but would you consider sharing your expertise or recent conference paper or secret obsessions/geekdom/skill with us for spring semester? We're in need of Geek Speakers for our weekly series: Mondays from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
We'd love to highlight our BH faculty and staff. Please don't be afraid to offer a Geek Speak of the past, either!
Please send questions/topics my way: Courtney.HuseWika@BHSU.edu
On October 8, 2025, at 3:45pm a TEST Message for the Campus Alert system was successfully sent out to BHSU and BHSU-RC. If you did not receive it, please follow the registration instructions below or contact the Help Desk at BHSU or BHSU-RC.
To register or update your contact information, please follow these steps:
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Debbie at Deborah.Liddick@BHSU.edu or Garrett at Garrett.Stevens@BHSU.edu
Winter can be a difficult time of year for a lot of us! The evenings stretch out longer while the daylight slips away. Most find themselves staying inside more to avoid the cold windy weather and many of us are likely to head straight home after a day of work or classes. Spending time with friends and socializing with others can become increasingly difficult. During this time, it is not unusual to feel a bit ‘blah’ as we move from the bright days of fall to the chill of winter. Below are some practical self-care strategies for maintaining well-being during the winter months.
Exercise!
Most of us naturally get more exercise in the summer months. It’s easier to be outside and walk, hike, ride bikes, etc. Exercise has a big impact on our overall mood. Try to maintain some exercise regime during the cold winter months even if that means walking indoors or mixing up your routine with yoga or some other exercise you don’t typically do.
Nutrition!
Remember to indulge a little in the warmth and foods of winter with a few special treats Perhaps winter is a good time to try some new recipes out. Treat yourself to those cozy winter favorites, just don’t forget to keep some balance on your plate.
Light!
If you’re prone to Vitamin D deficiency, make sure you take your vitamins this time of year. Light is extremely important to our natural circadian system. Research has shown blue light does have a positive impact on people who struggle in managing their mood more in the winter months. It’s a small investment that may show high dividends.
Maintain good sleep!
Give into your need to hibernate a little more. Most people report an increase in their sleep during the winter months! It’s a perfect time to catch up on your sleep or take a relaxing nap on a cold, blistering day. Most of us will increase our sleep in the winter months from 1- 2 hours more at night. However, be careful, too much sleep in the winter can sometimes be a red flag that something more serious is going on.
Socialize.
It’s easy to stay inside our cozy home or space rather than bundling up, warming up the vehicle and venturing out into the cold. Don’t forget the importance of social interactions! Humans are innately social beings! We need some social interaction all year around. Consider meeting up with friends right from work or class prior to going home and settling in for the night. Good company and laughter are great ways to combat the winter blues.
Maintain medications!
Remember, if you’re on medications for depression, be sure to talk to your doctor before stopping these, particularly in the winter months. Your doctor may suggest you wait until spring before tapering off.
Be in the present moment!
Take in the beautiful white landscapes of snow and maybe even a short brisk walk. Make a snowman outside with family and friends or go sledding. Take a short drive around your neighborhood and really take in the beautiful scenery of winter. Sit by your window drinking hot chocolate noticing the winter scenery.
Consider reading a few new books over the winter months!
Winter is a great time to catch up on some reading. Separate yourself from your phone and other electronics and read something that gives you simple pleasure. If you’re not into reading, perhaps putting a puzzle together or playing a board game.
Work on an indoor project!
Winter months are a good time to pick a hot spot in your home or space to declutter or re organize. Perhaps painting or engaging in an art project you’ve been wanting to do.
Turn on the tunes!
Turn off the news and turn on the tunes! Music can be significantly therapeutic. It can often take us away from our present worries and help us to feel a little lighter during a difficult situation. Music can be a great way to start your day or to improve the end of a difficult one.
Watch a funny reel or a short YouTube video of your favorite comedian.
There’s nothing like laughing to help you feel better. Start your day with a short 4–5-minute clip of laughter as you’re getting ready in the morning or driving to work. Laughter is a natural way to increase your brain’s production of endorphins, helping to boost your mood.
Managing the winter blues begins with being intentional about self-care and staying connected. Prioritize getting outside during daylight hours or sitting near natural light to boost your mood and energy. Maintain regular movement and nourish yourself with balanced meals and adequate rest. Stay socially engaged by reaching out to friends or join activities that lift your spirits. Practice mindfulness or gratitude to counter your seasonal lows. Small, consistent efforts can make a meaningful difference in maintaining emotional well-being through the darker months.
Best wishes on embracing the season! May your winter months be filled with warmth, laughter and healthy self-care!
Compliments of BHSU Student Health and Counseling Center
Dear Colleagues,
Below, please find the agenda for Wednesday's Faculty Senate Meeting. These meetings are open to all faculty.
October 15, 2025
Faculty Senate Agenda
3:15 p.m. Swarts Room
If you have questions, concerns, or ideas for Faculty Senate or its initiatives, please do not hesitate to reach out via email: FacultySenate@BHSU.edu or to your/a representative:
Courtney Huse-Wika: President
Abigail Domagall: Vice President
Ryan Amys: Secretary
College of Natural & Behavioral Sciences
Katrina Jensen: Natural Sciences
Alyssa Call: Behavioral Sciences
Abigail Domagall: College at Large
Combined Colleges of Education & Business
MaryAnn Fleury: Colleges at Large
Ryan Amys: Education
Kyle Kopplin: Business
College of Liberal Arts
Parthasarathi Nag: Math & Social Sciences
Courtney Huse-Wika: Humanities
Nancy Roberts: College at Large
Justin Bergh: Art
Come help a BHSU student complete a research study
Hello, my name is Taryn Davis, and I am a graduate student enrolled in the Master of Science in Sustainability program at BHSU. I’m conducting research on the feasibility of starting a food scrap composting facility at BHSU as part of a research project to fulfill my degree.
I would like to invite all BHSU students, staff, and faculty to participate in a brief online survey about interest in food scrap composting services. Your input is incredibly valuable and will help me better understand social and financial support towards implementing a composting operation at BHSU.
Survey Details:
🍎 Share your thoughts on food scrap composting
🗳️ Takes less than 10 minutes to complete
✅ Multiple choice questions
🖊️ Anonymous responses
If you are interested in participating in this survey, please submit your responses by 11:59 pm on October 31, 2025.
To access the survey, please click the following link:
https://bhsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4HERvLKvi4gL9Xg
If you have any questions or concerns, you are welcome to contact me at taryn.davis@yellowjackets.bhsu.edu.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
IRB # H-25-14
IRB Approval Date: September 19, 2025
Professor Emeritus David Wolff will give a presentation entitled “Becoming the Gateway to the Black Hills.” This talk will begin with Rapid City’s founding and then discuss the transportation networks, mining projects, and tourist attractions that community boosters backed to make their town the Black Hills’ gateway, or as they often said, the “Denver of the Black Hills.” A book signing will follow. The presentation is sponsored by the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation and the Leland D. Case Library for Western Historical Studies at BHSU. The program is free and open to the public. If you are unable to attend in-person, the talk can also be viewed for free online. To register for the online event, visit www.sdhsf.org/events/. Please direct questions to David.Wolff@bhsu.edu
When: Tuesday, October 21 at 6 p.m.
Where: Jonas Hall 305