In 1965, Paul McConaughy had been searching for an inexpensive way to produce limited editions of watercolor prints. He decided to try his idea out at his alma mater and made a series of prints of Cornell University buildings. They were an instant hit and the College Watercolor Group was formed. Soon they were making inexpensive watercolor prints of college buildings from all over the country. Following the model developed by Currier & Ives more than a century before, they would make a pen and ink drawing of a building, have it reproduced on watercolor paper as an 8” x 10” lithograph and then have artists color paint each picture. Limited edition sets of 4 scenes or large prints, framed or unframed were available. / Professional artists were added to the staff, the quality greatly improved. One of the artists, E.B. Walden, began signing his pictures “Gray”, based on a watercolor hue “Davy’s Gray”. Soon, each artist began using the Gray surname but a different first name. Walden became Davis Gray, with over a dozen other artists taking the last name. From this play on names, the business became known as “Gray’s Watercolors”.

The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum was created in 1967 by South Dakota State University [SDSU] and from 1975-1995 was a program of the South Dakota State Historical Society. In April 1995, the museum again became affiliated with SDSU and now reports directly to the Vice President for Administration. / The South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum is a museum that provides South Dakota residents and visitors with increased opportunities to know and appreciate the important role of agriculture and rural life in the state's past. The Agricultural Heritage Museum is dedicated to the preservation, study, and interpretation of objects relating to South Dakota agriculture and rural life between 1860 and the present. It is concerned not only with related technologies, crops and livestock, but also with the human experiences, institutions, and cultures that have shaped and been shaped by the state's rural landscape and environment. / The permanent staff and part-time workers of the museum are involved in the five functions essential to any museum operation: collecting, restoring and preserving, researching, exhibiting, and interpreting objects of significance to the museum's scope and purpose.

The South Dakota Crop Improvement Association began as the South Dakota Corn Growers and Corn Breeders Association in September of 1906. It was originally intended to be a temporary organization to improve corn cultivation in South Dakota. However, after the first crop show, the members decided to make the organization permanent, and A.E. Chamberlain of Howard was selected to be the first President. / In 1909, the name was changed to the South Dakota Corn Growers and Grain Growers Association due to the organization’s new focus on improving all grain types grown in South Dakota. In 1924 they decided to merge with the South Dakota Experimental Association, an organization created to test and disseminate new crop varieties, and in 1925, the entire group was renamed the South Dakota Crop Improvement Association. / Since 1925, the SDCIA has continued to work towards the improvement of South Dakota’s seed crops. They have created various groups and committees to work on the testing and certification of seed, such as the Seed Council of South Dakota in 1928 and the Foundation Seed Stocks Corporation in 1944. A state crop show and membership meeting is held annually by the organization to help farmers learn about new seed varieties and farming practices. They have also helped create many county-level associations of the SDCIA to help with agricultural education and the maintenance of pure, certified seed.

The 125th Anniversary Planning Committee was formed to guide the university through the celebration of its 125th anniversary. It was responsible for planning all aspects of the celebration.

The South Dakota State University Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of South Dakota State University. The Foundation was created in 1946, largely inspired by the need to provide funding for an invention by Professor E.L. Erickson. The mission of the SDSU Foundation is: "Uniting the dreams of our students, university and donors to build a better SDSU." The Foundation raises and administers scholarship funds that benefit more than 4,500 students, and spearheads private fundraising campaigns for multi million-dollar capital projects, including the state-of-the-art Avera Health and Science Center. The Foundation is guided by a 95-member Council of Trustees.

The Centennial Steering Committee was formed on July 16, 1979, to guide the university through the celebration of its Centennial year (1981). H.M. Briggs, President Emeritus, was appointed Chairman of the Committee, while David Pearson, former Vice President of South Dakota State University was appointed Vice-Chairman. The committee, made up of representatives from various units on campus and from outside the university, first met on July 21, 1980. At this meeting, Briggs outlined the charges of the committee and explained that each member of the Steering Committee would also take the role of sub-committee chairperson for the respective area of the university. Once some tentative activities were brainstormed, the Steering Committee members were further broken into sub-committees to deal with specific projects. With this basic structure, the Steering Committee began its work. They received an initial stipend from the University to perform their functions, which was added to throughout the committee's existence. While the subcommittees performed much of the work of the Steering Committee, the Centennial Office, consisting of Briggs and an office assistant, Yvonne Ehlebracht, managed much of the day-to-day work. The office was responsible for the overall running of the committee, maintaining the budget, keeping the files, and arranging and paying for meetings and trips. In addition, much of the correspondence associated with the event was filtered through this office.

The Administrative Council was the new name given to the Council of Deans in 1942. The Committee of Deans, in existence from 1923, had been made up of the deans of the various areas on campus, including the colleges and the Deans of Men and Women. The Council made decisions on such things as campus rules, students' requests to expand their course load, student absences and disciplinary actions. Also discussed at meetings were administrative matters such as the institution of a vocational course and changing credits for certain courses. The Council approved candidates for degrees and the college calendar. It is not clear whether the president was always included in these meetings, although his name often appears on the minutes. / The name change to Administrative Council did not signify any major changes within the focus of the group. Throughout its lifespan, the nature of the material discussed and decisions made at these meetings remained the same as previous. By the mid 1950's, however, the Council had expanded to include faculty representatives from the Faculty Association. / By 1955, when the council is first mentioned in the Faculty Handbook, the group met weekly with the president to discuss questions of administration or policy brought forth by the president, or to discuss any other questions brought up the any council member. There is no indication of whether this was a decision-making group, but as no other campus group fulfilled the decision making and policy making duties performed by the Council, it can be assumed that they continued to perform these functions. At this time, the president served as the chairman of the Administrative Council. This brief description remains in the Faculty Handbook until the 1970 edition, when first mention is made of the Academic Senate, which did take over the decision-making and policy-making roles outlined above.

South Dakota State College was one of the first five land-grant institutions to have a formal department of Home Economics. Called Domestic Economy at its start in 1885, the four-year curriculum offered scientific training and a liberal and practical education for young women. In addition, the program purported to prepare young women for the important position of caring for the home. / By the late 1920's, many changes had occurred in the department. The name had changed to Home Economics in 1915, shortly after passage of the Smith-Lever Act. This act, along with the Smith-Hughes Act of 1917, called for land-grant universities to expand their services to the people of the states. Through programs in extension and education, which developed as a result of these two acts, Home Economics evolved into a much larger program. Enrollment grew as traditional classes in food, nutrition, clothing, and design were augmented by practical work in home management and the nursery school. By the close of the 1920s, many graduates had been placed as teachers in the public-school system, which helped expand the department's influence in the state. / Little change occurred in the division until a new department, Child Development opened in 1945. The following year an additional department, Technical Journalism, was added to the Home Economics Division. Graduate courses were offered beginning in 1952, and in 1962, when South Dakota State College became South Dakota State University, the Home Economics Division became the College of Home Economics. / Over the next two decades, the college continued to evolve. In 1975, a core curriculum was developed for home economics, and in 1981, a specialized program was established to meet the needs of students in their careers in home economics education, extension, family, welfare and interior design. In 1994, the College of Home Economics became the College of Family and Consumer Sciences due to a nation-wide change brought on by a survey conducted by the American Home Economics Association. / The College of Family and Consumer Sciences prepares people for a variety of professional roles, which are interdisciplinary in nature. Some majors within the College are directly related to the family and its traditional functions, such as human development and family studies. With these majors, graduates are primarily prepared for careers in social service, community or government agencies, or business. Other majors are derived from functions that were traditionally performed by the family but now are often carried out by business and industry. Hotel, restaurant and institution management, apparel merchandising and interior design are examples of these majors. / General programs in the College prepare graduates for employment in formal and non-formal education, and community service. All programs in the College focus on the interactions of family and their environment.

Speech courses have always been a part of the South Dakota State University curriculum. In the earliest years, the preparatory department offered courses in public speaking to high school students, and the English Department offered courses in public speaking and rhetoric, including elocution and oral reading. Through the years, various other departments took responsibility for the public speaking courses, including the Elocution and Physical Culture Department, the Public Speaking Department, and the English Department. A Speech Department first appeared in the 1924 catalog, offering courses in debate, speaking, and play production. Required courses in rhetoric were taught by the English Department until 1938 when they were placed into the speech department. / By the 1950's, the Speech Department was well established on campus. The Board of Regents approved the speech major in 1958, and a master's degree was also available. Courses were taught in forensics, drama and radio. Film and television instruction began soon after. In the 1970's the communication disorders program, which prepared students to teach or provide therapy in speech, hearing and speech language was established as part of the department. / In addition to formal course work in speech, extracurricular activities involving the department have flourished on campus. In the early years, speech and literary societies sponsored most plays and debates, which were a major source of entertainment on campus. After such societies disappeared, students continued to participate in debate and theatre, taking part in competitions and many theatrical productions. Students also worked for the State College broadcasting system and work for the campus radio station KAGY. / Since the early 1990's, the department has been known as the Communication Studies and Theatre Department. Programs in speech communication, speech education and theatre are offered, as is the radio, television and film program, which focus on production. Many opportunities for extracurricular activities are also offered through the department.

In the 1884-85 catalog, chemistry was listed as a course of study in agriculture as part of the Department of Natural Sciences. There were three chemistry courses: elementary chemistry, analytical chemistry and agricultural chemistry. By 1892, all students were required to take three terms of elementary chemistry with analytical chemistry and agricultural chemistry as electives. / In the 1897-98 catalog, chemistry was first listed as an independent department. By this time the course offerings had greatly expanded and included many additions to the curriculum. Expansion of the chemistry department continued over the years with courses being added nearly every three to five years. By 1944, the professional curriculum was approved by the American Chemical Society. / After World War II, enrollment increased, prompting an increase in staff. By 1958, the department was authorized to offer a Ph. D. in biochemistry and in 1965 was authorized to offer Ph. D.'s in most branches of chemistry. The Biochemistry Experiment Station was established in 1887 and was separate from the Chemistry Department until July 1, 1974 when the chemistry department and the Station Biochemistry Department merged. / In the 1998-2000 catalog, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is listed as approved by the American Chemical Society for training professional chemists. Since chemistry is so closely related to other fields of study, a number of courses are offered to provide sufficient chemical background to meet professional needs. A minor in chemistry is provided for students who want more extensive chemistry without majoring in chemistry. Student may receive a BS in chemistry, or may pursue graduate work toward an MS or Ph. D.

Civil engineering courses were among the first taught in the early days of South Dakota State University. Students could complete a prescribed set of courses and receive a BS degree in Civil Engineering. Until 1902, courses in civil engineering were taught in the Department of Architectural and Agricultural Engineering or through the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In 1902, a separate department, called the Department of Civil and Agricultural Engineering was established. In 1925, a separate Department of Agricultural Engineering was established in the Division of Agriculture. Since that time a Department of Civil Engineering has existed. / Study in civil engineering includes the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of highways, airports, buildings, bridges, dams, water supply and distribution systems, wastewater collection systems and treatment plants, irrigation and drainage systems, river and harbor improvements and many other facilities essential in modern life. The civil engineering program at South Dakota State University is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission/Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. / The overall goal of this program is to develop competent professionals capable of applying the current principles of science and engineering to the solution of problems related to civil engineering. A second goal of the program is to assist students in developing a commitment of high standards of professional conduct.

The Department of Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design offers instruction leading to a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design. Apparel Merchandising courses provide knowledge applicable to careers in the fashion industry including production, wholesaling and retailing, and for consumer acquisition and use of apparel and household textiles. The cultural and scientific aspects of apparel and textiles are examined with emphasis on aesthetic, economic, historical, sociological and psychological factors. / The Interior Design curriculum prepares students to enter the profession of residential and commercial design through course work in technical, material, historical, cultural and aesthetic aspects of design with studios, emphasizing the design problem-solving process. The Department of Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design is affiliated with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. Students may enroll in a "visiting scholar" program at FIT with emphasis on fashion design, fashion buying and merchandising, or several others.

Instruction in the biological sciences began at South Dakota State University in 1885. The first student to graduate in that area did so in 1888. In 1897, when departments were first established on campus, biology was not included. Courses were taught in a number of related fields however through a number of departments including zoology, botany and entomology, to name a few. An independent Department of Biology was not established until 1980, although the Department of Botany and Biology had existed since 1966. / Today, the Biology and Microbiology Department offers curricula leading to the Bachelor's degree with a major in biology. The undergraduate biology major has two different programs from which to choose: the curriculum in Biological Sciences, College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, or the curriculum in Arts and Science. The two programs are identical except for the individual college's requirements. Students majoring in biology will select among four areas of emphasis depending upon their particular interest and needs: 1) The Biology emphasis prepares a students to work in a large variety of areas of the biological sciences; 2) The Botany emphasis concentrates on the scientific study of plants providing for professions in plant research and industry; 3) the Zoology emphasis highlights the scientific study of animal life and provides the basis for many related disciplines such as medicine and health sciences, veterinary science, and oceanography; and 4) the Pre-professional emphasis is designed for students planning on admission into professional, health science programs.

Work in general economics dates back to the beginning of instructional work at South Dakota State College, when it was taught under the name of political economy. Later, it was taught with history and philosophy, but finally achieved full independence when, in 1921, the Department of Farm Economics was created as a separate department. Development in this department consisted mainly of teaching, research and extension. Over the years, the Economics Department has established itself as a pioneer in the scientific study of the economic problems of South Dakota. / According to the 1996-1998 Undergraduate Bulletin, the Economics Department trains students to apply economic concepts and techniques for decision-making in fields such as agricultural business, agricultural economics, economics and business. The objectives of the curricula taught in the department are to present the general economic principles necessary to understand the complexities of the economic business world and provide a foundation for graduate work in economics, agricultural economics, business administration, management, finance, law and other related areas of study. / The Economics Department offers majors leading to a Bachelor of Science degree in either agricultural business or agricultural economics from the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences. The department also offers a major in economics leading to a Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Arts and Science. Within the economics major, a student can choose an option in business economics. Minors are also available through the department in accounting, agricultural business, agricultural marketing and economics. The programs provide students with a background to pursue careers in farm and ranch management, agricultural finance, agribusiness, banking, business finance, business management, sales and marketing, government service and related fields.

Geography was one of the first courses taught when South Dakota State University was founded in 1881. While geography classes were offered from time to time in various departments, no major development of a program occurred until 1966-67, when a bachelor's degree in geography was approved. In the fall of 1968, the Department of History and Geography was formed. By 1971, the geography program had grown substantially. Enrollment growths necessitated the addition of more faculty members. By 1973, a separate Department of Geography was established and in 1974, the offering of the Master of Science degree in Geography was approved. / The geography curriculum today teaches students to describe, relate and explain natural and cultural phenomena, which distinguish places around the world. Courses are offered in technical geography-science and environmental planning and management.

Course work in electrical engineering was first taught at South Dakota State College in 1899. Physics and mechanical engineering, both of which served as foundation for the work in electrical engineering, were well established. An organization to provide for the instructional work in electrical engineering was arranged by enlarging the Department of Physics. This general arrangement continued without much change until 1909. In 1909, the Department of Electrical Engineering was organized as a separate department, and continues still. / The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to provide a highly respected, rigorous and practical education in electrical engineering so that graduates may assume engineering position of responsibility and leadership. Another goal is to conduct meaningful research and scholarly activities with regional emphasis and to provide technical assistance in the field of electrical engineering to existing and emerging industries and businesses in South Dakota and to regional and global communities.

Physical education has always been included in the curriculum of South Dakota State University. The objective of a strong mind, body and spirit is consistent with the philosophy of "educating the total person." Since the earliest years, students have been required to take either physical education or military science in order to graduate. Physical education courses took many different forms over the years, usually consistent with contemporary thinking. Courses were taught by departments, which went by various names, including the Department of Music and Physical Culture, the Department of Elocution and Physical Culture, and Physical Education, and Recreation. / In the 1940's, a major in physical education was established, with different requirements for males and females. In 1953, a graduate degree was offered through the department. The Physical Education Department changed its name to the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation [HPER] in 1969-70. This change was quickly followed by an added degree in public recreation. Other minor and major programs were also offered through the department. / The Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Department is now administratively located under the College of Education & Human Sciences and is called the Department of Health and Nutritional Sciences. It provides undergraduate programs in Athletic Training, Nutrition & Dietetics, Exercise Science, Health Education, Physical Education, and Sport, Recreation and Park Management, as well as a number of supporting minors.

The teaching of history at South Dakota State University developed alongside the college. From the beginning, students in all divisions of the college were required to take basic history courses. As time went on and the numbers of students and teachers multiplied, the Department of History was able to carve out its own niche. At times, other disciplines were taught through the department and the name was occasionally changed to reflect these areas. In 1905, the department was known as the Department of History and Political Science, this lasted until 1967. After a year as the Department of History, in 1968 the name changed to the Department of History and Geography to reflect the number of geography courses taught. In 1973, a separate geography department was established and the history department was reorganized into a resemblance of today's department. / The courses offered by the Department of History are intended to prepare majors for careers in teaching, government, and service-oriented occupations, and to provide a necessary background for graduate work or other specialized training. / History is now merged into the Department of History, Political, Sciences, Philosophy, and Religion.

The first course in journalism at South Dakota State College was taught in 1908, 27 years after the founding of the college and at a time when journalism courses began to appear in a number of Midwestern state universities. A school of printing began in 1919, and in 1924 Journalism Professor Charles D. Byrne, who was later the Chancellor of Higher Education for Oregon, moved to combine the work in journalism and the school of printing. The Department of Printing and Rural Journalism began that year. / During the 1930s and 1940s, a two-year course in printing was combined with three more years in journalism to produce graduates with a bachelor of science in Printing and Rural Journalism — PRJs, they were called. / The department was accredited for the first time in 1948, which was the first year of national journalism accreditation. According to Dean Earl English of the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, South Dakota State College was the first department to be visited by an accrediting team and recommended for accreditation. In 1951, two years after George Phillips became department head, the present building was dedicated. / In 1956, the PRJ program was shortened to four years and a bachelor of science in printing management began. The same year the department began offering a bachelor of science in journalism and a master of science in journalism. / The department began a master of science in printing management in 1958. For a time, it was the only school in the country offering a graduate degree in printing management. Consequently, a number of printing educators hold degrees from South Dakota State. The printing master’s program closed in 1972. / In 1973, Professor Phillips retired and was replaced by Professor Vernon Keel, who is currently director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University. The graduate program was suspended between 1973 and 1975 in order to direct efforts toward the undergraduate program. Professor Keel resigned in 1976 to become department head at his Alma mater, University of North Dakota. Professor Ruth Laird directed the department until 1978, Professor Richard Lee was head from 1978- 2002 when Professor Mary Arnold, the current head, was hired.

From the opening of the College, English has been an established course of study. In the early years, there were three courses in English listed: Course I, agriculture; Course II, the general college course leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science; and Course III, civil engineering. In each of these courses, the emphasis was on grammar, composition, speech, rhetoric, theory and practice, literature and history of English drama. Through the years, similar courses have been taught, and continue to be taught today. / According to the 1998-2000 bulletin, courses in the English Department are divided into two areas: English and linguistics. The department offers instruction in clear thinking and expression, in the history and use of language, in literature, in literary criticism; and in technical communications. An English major prepares students for teaching careers; for writing and editorial work; for professional schools of law, business, theology, library science, and social work; and for any endeavor in which facility in the use of language is essential.

Human Development, Consumer and Family Sciences offers four undergraduate programs and is housed in the department including: Consumer Affairs, Early Childhood Education, Family and Consumer Sciences Education and Human Development and Family Studies.

Mathematics has existed at South Dakota State University since the founding of the institution. The general work of the department in the early 1900's was planned to cultivate habits of systematic and accurate thinking, as well as facility in making calculations. Independent effort was encouraged to the greatest extent, the solution of problems and original demonstrations formed an important part of each course. The curriculum of the Department of Mathematics is now designed to provide a strong liberal arts program with opportunity for concentrated study in mathematics, and to meet the needs of the technically oriented student. Supporting courses were offered for the various colleges, which make up the University. Through the years, mathematics has had an administrative home in either the College of Engineering or the College of Arts and Science, or their precursors. Today, financial and administrative matters are under the College of Engineering. Degrees, however, are granted through the College of Arts and Science. Effort was made to change this dual administration, yet it did not pass the South Dakota Board of Regents.

Mechanical engineering has always been taught at South Dakota State University. In the earliest years, students could opt to take a prescribed set of classes leading to the BS degree in Mechanical Arts (later Mechanical Engineering). For the first two years, mechanical engineering students took classes with civil engineering students. Specialization occurred in the junior and senior years. In 1897, a Department of Mechanical Engineering was established to administer mechanical engineering work. Most civil engineering classes moved to the Department of Architectural and Agricultural Engineering at this time, although some remained with mechanical engineering. In 1902, when the Civil and Electrical Engineering departments were established, the Department of Mechanical Engineering became a fully independent department, much as it is today. Mechanical engineering graduates have a range of career directions from which to choose. Work is in research, development, design, testing, manufacturing, operation and maintenance, marketing and sales, or in management and administration.

Military instruction has always been a part of life at South Dakota State University. The Morrill Act of 1862, which established the land grant colleges, required the colleges to provide instruction in "military tactics." At South Dakota State University, formal military classes began in September 1884 under the leadership of Professor Robert F. Kerr. Lectures, recitations and regular drills formed this instruction. Until 1918, the college fulfilled the military requirements with mandatory drill work and coursework led by civilian instructors. With the passage of the National Defense Act in 1916, the Reserve Officers Training Corps, known at ROTC, came into being and replaced the less formal military training at all land grant colleges, including South Dakota State University. The headquarters of the ROTC were at the local land grant colleges, and the training curriculum was set by the War Department. The colleges were given personnel and equipment to carry out the curriculum. / General Omar Bradley was a former Professor of Military Science here at SDSU. Although he is more well known as being the commander of the largest field force in military history during World War II, and the first ever Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it was he who dubbed SDSU Army ROTC "The West Point of the Plains." This title is still used frequently and proudly by all of its members past and present. / ROTC required all underclassmen to participate in basic military training for their first two years. Selected upperclassmen were allowed to participate in advanced work on a voluntary basis. At first, training was provided in a number of different service branches. By 1942, when the DePuy Military Hall was constructed, training at the university was limited to Army and Air Force ROTC. At South Dakota State University, the Army and Air Force ROTC continued to provide compulsory training for all freshmen and sophomore men until 1969, when the Board of Regents made ROTC voluntary. Although the numbers decreased, students continued to participate in the program, and do so still. / The Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) provides leadership, management, ethics, and personal confidence training to prepare cadets for responsibilities as commissioned officers in the Army National Guard, the Army Reserve, and active duty. Classroom instruction, hands-on training, and field training encompass the values and skill sets necessary for success. Opportunities abound for specialized training.

The Plant Science Department was formed in 1969, when the Agronomy Department and the Plant Pathology Department were combined. Ten years later, entomologists joined the department when the Entomology and Zoology Department was eliminated. The history of the Plant Science Department, then, is really the history of these three departments. / Instruction in agronomy was a core part of the South Dakota State University curriculum from the outset. In 1888, the first agronomy crops were sown with the assistance of the Agricultural Experiment Station, establishing a pattern that continues to this day. In 1897, when departments were formally organized, agronomy coursework was found in the Geology and Agronomy Department. By 1902, agronomy had achieved its independence from geology and an independent department was formed. Through the years, the department strengthened and expanded, developing strong areas of research and teaching in plant breeding, crop and soil science, and seed varieties, among others. Different faculty had different interests, but the overall work of the department remained mostly unchanged until it joined with plant pathology. / The plant pathology department followed much the same pattern as the agronomy department. Through the years, research in plant pathology as conducted through the Agricultural Experiment Station and courses were taught, although the department went by a number of different names. In the earliest years, courses were taught in the Botany Department. In 1911, the name changed to Botany and Plant Pathology, where it remained until 1918. From 1918-1923, the department was Botany and Plant Diseases, from 1924-1928 Botany and Plant Pathology, 1928-1950 Botany, Plant Pathology and Bacteriology. Finally, in 1950 the department became known as Plant Pathology. / The Entomology and Zoology Department was a department from 1920-1979. Courses were taught in those subjects from 1887, however, and scientific investigations in those areas were performed at the Agricultural Experiment Station from 1888. Initially, the administration of the Entomology and Zoology Department fell under the General Science Division, but in 1925, it moved to the agriculture division. In general, instructors in these subjects were sparse, but courses continued to develop. From 1938-1963, wildlife and wildlife management classes were taught through the department, but eventually they separated into their own area. The fate of the entomology and zoology subjects was not as good, however, and in 1979, the department was dissolved. The entomologists went to the Plant Science Department, and the zoologists moved to biology. / The department was merged with the Department of Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks in the summer of 2011. The expertise of the faculty and staff span the fields of: agronomy, entomology, genetics/plant breeding, horticulture, landscape architecture, plant pathology, plant physiology, soil science, and weed science. The department offers undergraduate programs leading to a B.S. in either: Agronomy, Horticulture or Landscape Architecture; and at the graduate level, M.S. and Ph. D. training in Agronomy or Biological Science. Plant Science has a robust research program that consistently ranks at, or near, the top of departments at SDSU for research expenditures and productivity. / The department is housed in six buildings across campus. These buildings provide research and teaching laboratories, greenhouses, seed house facilities and access to the functional genomics core facility. The on-campus facilities also include the SDSU Seed Testing Laboratory, SDSU Plant Diagnostics Clinic, Seed Certification, and Foundation Seed Stocks Division, which we operate as services for the public. In addition, we conduct research at 3 research farms near campus and 4 research stations across the state. The Field Specialists are housed in 6 regional extension offices across the state. The latest addition is the new McCrory Gardens Education and Outreach Center.

Sociology was established as a formal department at South Dakota State University in 1925. Courses were taught in sociology before that time in the history and political science departments. The first course with a particular rural focus was taught in 1913-14. / The development of rural sociology as a department occurred primarily because of the Purnell Act of 1925. This act provided funding for research in sociology and economics, and South Dakota State University responded by forming department in those areas. By the 1930's, the department was established enough to be in charge of sociological research with the WPA. From 1933-1942, cooperative between government agencies and the department was common, and this assisted in carving the place rural sociology now holds at South Dakota State University. / The curriculum of South Dakota State University has grown enormously since the one class initially taught. Students may now receive a BA or a BS in sociology in one of six options: general sociology, teaching, social work, human services, criminal justice, or personnel service. Since 1932, the department has offered an MS in rural sociology. In 1961, a social science Ph. D. program began. In this unique program, students could select from a combination of courses in history, political science, psychology, economics and sociology and receive a Ph. D. After three years, the joint program was dropped and the Ph. D. became available only in sociology. / The Department of Sociology and Rural Studies continues to hold its own in the College of Agriculture and Biological Science. The courses offered by the department have been organized with three definite objectives in mind: 1) a sequence for those who may wish to earn an undergraduate major or minor in sociology; 2) basic service courses that will be of interest and practical help to students in any college; and 3) courses to fulfill requirements of a Master's degree or Doctor of Philosophy degree in Sociology.

The Physics Department has three main objectives in its program offerings: (1) to serve students interested in engineering as a profession; (2) to serve students from various colleges within the university who need a basic understanding of physics; and (3) to serve students with an interest in a professional future in physics. The department is composed of appropriate professional staff, facilities, and equipment to support these objectives. / The curriculum in Engineering Physics is built around a strong core of physics courses complemented by courses from engineering departments. Students can earn an Engineering Physics degree with an emphasis in either mechanical or electrical engineering by selecting appropriate courses from one of these two areas. This major is designed to give students the ability to apply new research developments to pressing problems of society and is most attractive for those students interested in industrial employment. Graduates with an engineering physics degree typically enter employment as an engineer or continue graduate work in a field such as nuclear engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering or aerospace engineering. / The curriculum in Physics is an option similar to the Engineering Physics curriculum that is not necessarily directed toward engineering. Not requiring the depth of engineering courses allows the Physics curriculum more flexibility to accommodate a wide range of student interests. Students interested in a professional physics career, graduate school, medical school, secondary physics education, meteorology, or a multitude of related areas can choose this option. This flexibility is achieved by building a curriculum around a core of 28 required semester credits in physics. Listings of elective courses for various technical careers are available in the Physics Department office. / The Department of Physics is now administratively located in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Music has been taught at South Dakota State University since its founding in 1881. The department was first called the Department of Music and Physical Culture. During the 1904-05 school year, a four-year Department of Music was created with four faculty members. Courses in piano, voice, stringed instruments, orchestra, pipe organ, band instruments, and theoretical studies were available. The courses were continued until the Great Depression years when the music major was dropped. It was not reinstated until after World War II. Once the music major was reinstated, course work in music went on much as before. In addition to coursework, students interested in music could participate in a number of extracurricular activities, including chorus, orchestra, and band. / Significant curriculum changes occurred in 1975, resulting in a growth in enrollment of music majors that included the establishment of three-degree programs – BA in Music, BS in Music, BME (Bachelor of Music Education), and the National Accreditation of the Music Program. / According to the 1996-98 Bulletin, the Music Department offers three-degree options: BA-Music Major, MS-Music Merchandising Major, and Bachelor of Music Education. A Minor in Music is also available.

Prior to the establishment of the Department of Philosophy and Religion in 1968, instruction in those areas was somewhat sporadic. Area clergy occasionally taught religion courses through the college. The 1947-48 catalog first mentions this arrangement. College faculty taught philosophy courses, however. / Philosophy courses have been taught since the founding of the college. Instruction in "moral philosophy" was required by the Morrill Act, which established land grant colleges, including South Dakota State University. A chair of Psychology and Philosophy was established in 1885. A Department of Philosophy was established in 1906, and for a short while philosophy, psychology, and education courses were taught through it. Courses were moved to the Education Department in 1913 and remained there until a Department of Psychology and Philosophy was established in 1967. In 1968, these disciplined splits, with psychology becoming an independent department and philosophy joining with religion. / In 1975, the department was allowed to offer the minor in philosophy and in 1978 the minor in religion. Efforts were made to develop a major in philosophy but the Board of Regents denied the request. / Students from any major may undertake the academic study of philosophy at South Dakota State University. The academic study of religion is designed to enrich the student's perspectives and introduce some of the important feature of philosophy and religion. / Philosophy and Religion is now merged into the Department of History, Political, Sciences, Philosophy, and Religion.

Courses in psychology were first introduced at South Dakota State University in 1885 as a combination of philosophy and psychology. In 1913, psychology was merged into the Department of Education. After 1913, the offerings slowly grew from two to twelve courses and staffing increased. In 1954, the Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology was authorized. Except for the years 1938-41 when psychology existed as a separate department, psychology remained in association with education until 1967 when it was again combined with philosophy as a separate department. The following year it again became an independent Department of Psychology and has so remained. The Department of Psychology offers a BS degree. Within the psychology major, students may pursue a pre-professional curriculum, an applied curriculum, a teaching option (preparation for secondary school teaching) or a psychological services option.

Art has always been taught at South Dakota State University. The earliest courses of study required women students to take drawing and painting, and drawing appeared in all curricula for men. Later more courses in art education, fine arts, and visual arts developed, through the Department of Art. / The Department of Visual Arts courses are designed to provide students with studio and lecture experiences in art regardless of their major. For students wishing to pursue careers as artists, art educators, or designers, the programs offer the background for careers after graduation or further advanced study. Students may pursue a Visual Arts degree with concentrations in art education, graphic design, fine arts and general art. / South Dakota State University established the School of Design July 1st, 2015 by bringing together art, design, and architecture studies formerly housed in the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and Human Sciences, and the College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences.

The Veterinary Science Department provides advising services to students in the pre-veterinary medicine curriculum and offers courses in the biomedical sciences for undergraduate and graduate majors in related sciences. The department also offers several graduate research assistantship positions in microbiology, virology, and molecular biology for students majoring in other departments. Active research programs in diseases of food-producing animals support graduate training. / The State of South Dakota does not have a professional College of Veterinary Medicine. A pre-veterinary medicine curriculum is offered which allows students to obtain prerequisites for application of Colleges of Veterinary Medicine in other states. Students may meet requirements in two or three years of pre-veterinary study. Many students complete a major for the Bachelor of Science Degree before entering the professional curriculum of Veterinary Medicine. Many degree options are available to students in the pre-veterinary medicine curriculum, but popular choices include Animal Science, Biology, Microbiology, and Dairy Science. Students typically select a BS option late in their freshman year or during their sophomore year. / In 2011, the department changed its name to the Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences Department. The new name better reflects the activities of the department, especially relative to the research work with zoonotic pathogens and the training of its students under the One Health concept. / The department has always had a strong mission related to preparing undergraduate students for entry into veterinary colleges within the region, training graduate students for careers related to veterinary or human infectious disease research or careers in diagnostic medicine, and providing public service through South Dakota’s only animal health diagnostic laboratory, the SD Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (ADRDL).

The Engineering Resource Center, established in 1986, exists to serve the university, citizens, and industry in South Dakota. Complementary outreach and/or technology transfer programs combine to make up the center. Thus, the knowledge gained from one ... »

Faculty meetings were held fairly regularly at South Dakota State University for the vast majority of its history. The president called together faculty, and proceeded to inform them of happenings both on campus and off. In the early years, these meetings were more than mere informational sessions. Faculty made decisions about policies and procedures, in addition to learning about things of import. As the college grew, however, meetings such as these became impossible to hold, and decision-making bodies like the Council of Deans evolved. Meetings were still held for informational needs however. / By the late 1940's, faculty seemed no longer satisfied with mere faculty meetings. Although they continued to attend the meetings, other campus organizations such as Faculty Association evolved to become advocates for the faculty. By the mid 1960's, even this group was not enough, and the Academic Senate began to form. According to President Emeritus H. M. Briggs, by this point in time the regular faculty meeting was more like a town meeting than anything else, with anyone who wanted to, showing up and eventually speaking. Attendance was not required, and the meetings were purely informational. By the early 1970's, meetings ceased to be held monthly, and were instead held each semester and as needed.

Dr. Helen Johnson Van Zante (1906-1990), a distinguished scientist and pioneering developer of the home microwave oven, grew up on a farm in Brookings County, SD. She attended South Dakota State College [SDSC] where she graduated with a degree in mathematics. Later, she pursued advanced graduate work in physics at Iowa State University, which was very unusual study for a woman in the 1930s, where she completed a doctor's degree. While at SDSC, she studied traditional studio arts with Professor Ada B. Caldwell, which led to a lifelong avocation as a painter of still life, landscape, and genre subjects. Dr. Van Zante bequeathed a collection of her paintings to the Department of Visual Arts following a retrospective exhibition in the Ritz Gallery in 1987. / Dr. Van Zante received an honorary doctorate from South Dakota State University in 1987. In 1989, Van Zante received recognition from the South Dakota Board of Regents as a Centennial Alumni. She also established the substantial Van Zante Endowment to support visiting professors on such subjects as housing, home furnishings, and household technology, which the Interior Design program in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences developed along with the Department of Visual Arts. This endowment supports the Van Zante Visiting Professorships in the Visual Arts and Design Forums in Interior Design at South Dakota State University. The visiting professorship brings artists to the university campus for annual design forums, allowing students the opportunity to learn first-hand from working artists.

From January 1921 to June 1939, students of Home Economics at South Dakota State College were required to live in a Practice Cottage. This taught the students management of household operations. During this period, a baby was obtained from orphanages for the students to care for. The care of a child was considered a vital part of the student's training in their practical experience. In 1939, when the nursery school program was added to the home economics curriculum the practice of having a child live in the house was discontinued. / Home Management eventually became Family Resource and Management and a new complex was built in the 1970's.

The Global Studies major and minor were first offered at South Dakota State University in 2004. It is an interdisciplinary program to give students a wide variety of classes and background. This program is designed to produce graduates who are globally literate, open to diverse societies and cultures, and skilled in a modern, foreign language. / This program seeks to provide students with an up-to-date understanding of the components of global studies, appraisals of the current status of global events, and job opportunities in small international businesses, global corporations, various governmental agencies within the United States and abroad, non-governmental organizations and others. A primary objective of this program is to provide global citizen training and general learning essential for understanding and appreciating the relationship of the individual to the world community. / Global Studies is now offered through the Department of Modern Languages and Global Studies.

A Graduate Council of nine members elected from the Graduate Faculty assists the Graduate Dean. The council includes the Graduate Dean (chair); one member each from Animal Sciences, Biological Sciences, Education and Counseling, Engineering Sciences, Health Sciences, Physical Sciences, Plant Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities. The Dean of the Library serves as an ex-officio member.

South Dakota State University (SDSU) granted its first Master of Science degree in 1891. The first Master of Education degree and Doctor of Philosophy degree were granted in 1958. A committee supervised all graduate work until 1957, when the Graduate School was established. / The Graduate School operates as one unit with no departments or department heads. The Graduate School is committed to providing an atmosphere for qualified students to obtain rigorous advance education in a variety of fields in preparation for service and leadership in their professions and society. It also promotes scholarly pursuits and scientific research for the advancement of knowledge within a climate of freedom of inquiry. The Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Master of Education degrees are offered in approximately 30 majors. The Doctor of Philosophy is offered in agronomy; animal science; atmospheric, environmental, and water resources; biological sciences, chemistry; and sociology. The Master of Science Teaching degree was discontinued July 1, 1996, and no new students were admitted after that date. / The graduate faculty is composed of the university president, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President for Administration, graduate dean, college deans, heads of departments in which graduate courses are given and other faculty, chosen on the basis of their training and experience, in accordance with the policies of the Graduate School. The Graduate Faculty acts on all matters of policy and standards. In addition, individual Graduate Faculty are authorized to serve as adviser to graduate students or, on their examining committees and to teach courses for graduate credit.

The Greek Council is the governing body of the Greek system at South Dakota State University. The Council develops and enforces policies, which help ensure a healthy future for the system. The Council also coordinates educational programs, Greek Week, an all-campus philanthropy project, and other activities. Men's fraternities recognized at South Dakota State University in 1999 are Alpha Gamma Rho, FarmHouse, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Phi Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon. Women's sororities recognized at South Dakota State University in 1999 are Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, and Ceres.

The Non-Traditional Student Program office coordinates the activities and advising needs of non-traditional students, or any students who have had a break in their education or who are slightly older than traditional students. Facilities offered to these students included a lounge, advising assistance, and eligibility to participate in the Non-Traditional Students Club. The program and the club were both formalized in the mid-1970's (Club, April, 1976), with the program being the presiding office for the club.

The Office of Admissions deals with enrollment, and admission and transfer evaluation.

The Office of International Affairs serves as the administrative unit at SDSU where programs and activities designed to assist the entire university and its constituents in gaining an international perspective are initiated, coordinated, and managed. / The Office of International Affairs was established in 1988 as the Office of International Programs with Dr. David Hilderbrand as its first director. Dr. Hilderbrand served until fall 1993, when he was appointed Director of SDSU Sioux Falls Programs. During Dr. Hilderbrand's tenure, it concluded its first international agreements, establishing exchanges with Yunnan Normal University, in Kunming, China; with Chungnam National University, in Taejeon, South Korea; and with Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, England, among others. / In November 1993, Associate Professor Harriet Swedlund became Acting Director of International Programs and later, in May 1994, became Director. She served in that capacity until her retirement from SDSU in fall 2003. Under Swedlund, OIA saw dramatic growth, both in numbers of students and faculty traveling internationally, as well as in the number and scope of international agreements concluded with overseas partner institutions. During her nearly 10 years of service to OIA, she oversaw the development of agreements with more than a dozen different international institutions and with two consortia partners: the College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS) and the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA). / The Office of International Affairs third and current director is Dr. Karl J. Schmidt. Trained in international affairs and history with a specialty in Asia, Dr. Schmidt came to SDSU in September 2003 from Missouri Southern State University, where he was Associate Professor of History and International Studies. Holding a joint appointment between the MSSU Department of History and the Institute of International Studies, Dr. Schmidt taught courses in the history of India and China, as well as international studies, and developed both summer study programs and faculty seminars to India. Under the current director, SDSU has seen an increase in the number of semester-abroad students, and has joined the American Council on Education's Internationalization Collaborative, the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), and the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP). / The Office of International Programs officially changed its name to the Office of International Affairs in September 2005 to better reflect the diversity of its activities.

The Records and Registration office maintains official records on enrollment, biographical student data, grades, credits, and degrees conferred. This office administers registration and assesses tuition and fees and prepares and sends transcripts when written, signed requests are received from students. They process enrollment verification and check for athletic eligibility. It is their responsibility to prepare semester schedules, assign classrooms; supply reports and analysis of enrollment, grades and other scholastic matters. The Registrar coordinates with college deans the procedure for clearing candidates for graduation and submitting candidate lists; and assists with the graduation ceremonies.

The Financial Aid Office administers student financial assistance programs, including federal and state financial aid, scholarships, and governmental agency awards—BIA, Veterans Administration, Vocational Rehabilitation, etc. Approximately 80% of the South Dakota State University students attending full-time receive some type of financial assistance to help pay their educational costs. The Financial Aid Office determines educational costs.

In February of 1942, the Regents of Education of South Dakota adopted a plan for the college organization to be changed to from a Junior and Senior College Division. The functions of the Junior College Division included student personnel services, Senior College preparatory curricula, and terminal curricula. Raymond Y. Chapman was employed as the Director of this Division. In 1949, the Junior College organization was abandoned as such and the Division of Student Personnel Services was organized with Chapman as Dean. As the college grew and administrations changed, the responsibilities of the Division of Student Personnel Services increasingly enlarged and the several student personnel services on the campus were centralized in the Division of Student Personnel Services. This centralization was an apparent effort to reduce the number of individual departments reporting directly to the president of the college and place certain responsibilities in a more limited number of offices and officials. In 1969, an Associate Dean of Student Personnel Services was appointed in order to prepare for the retirement of R.Y. Chapman, who had been Dean since the Division was established in 1949. Plans also began for the reorganization of the Division into a comprehensive Student Services Division. New programs and revised procedures were initiated during 1970. The Division was again reorganized in 1986 and the name was changed to Student Affairs Division. This name remains today. / Until 1958, the Dean of the Division of Student Personnel Services was primarily responsible for determination of administrative policy and program direction of the division and was advised by the president of the college and the Administrative Council together with the actions and recommendations by the faculty and department heads. The Committee on Student Personnel Services also advised the dean. This committee, which was appointed by the president, was chaired by the dean and consisted of the Dean of Women, Dean of Men, Director of Student Activities, Director of Housing, Director of Food Services, the college nurse, and student personnel. This committee served as a policy-recommending group and on a consulting basis until the 1958-60 biennium when the committee was abandoned. Beginning in 1958, staff meetings including representatives of all phases of Student Personnel Services were initiated to facilitate communications within the division. / The Student Affairs Division provides services and activities, which are designed to help the student gain the greatest benefit from their university education. This purpose has been reflected in the annual and biennial reports throughout the years. / Many functions are controlled within the framework of the Student Affairs Division. These functions are: testing services, student counseling services, orientation of new students, administration of the General Registration program, terminal course program, in-service training of faculty counselors, educational research and measurement, teaching of counselor practicum course, veterans records, loans and scholarships, and placement of students (part- and full-time). Responsibilities of the Student Affairs Division that have been handled primarily by the dean over the years are freshman and New Student Week, Student Personnel Records, General Registration, and Terminal Curricula. / Some functions are controlled cooperatively within the framework of the Student Affairs Division and outside agencies. These functions are student health services, student housing, student activities, food services, admissions and records activities, and high school relations activities.

The Department of Residential Life administers programs and facilities for all on-campus housing. Residence halls at South Dakota State University are living/learning centers where students are challenged to develop as individuals, as well as to study and to meet other students. All unmarried students are required to enter into residence hall and food service contracts with the University. Students who have completed four semesters of full time enrollment or who are two or more years beyond graduation from high school are excused from these requirements. Family student housing and some apartments are available at the University. The Department of Residential Life offices also administer the university food service. The University Food Service is committed to provide a food service program at SDSU that is both economical and of the highest quality. SDSU's food service program utilizes a computer-based declining cash balance system, uniquely designed to help students manage their individual food service accounts. All SDSU students living in residence halls are required to purchase at least a Base meal plan. Other students, faculty, and staff may voluntarily purchase discounted food programs at established rates.

As part of the Graduate School, the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) provides services to the University community in the areas of research development and external funding for research, scholarship, creative activities, and other sponsored projects. South Dakota State University is committed to excellence in both basic and applied research, as well as other scholarly and creative activities associated with the University's mission. An effort is maintained to discover new ideas, processes, and developments that will expand and strengthen the state's industrial and agricultural economy. Research and scholarly activities are considered integral, essential, and traditional parts of university life involving faculty, as well as graduate and undergraduate students. The research program provides an atmosphere of encouragement for these activities in all segments of the institution. / Some services and activities of the Office of Research & Sponsored Programs include maintaining a database on the expertise and research interests of investigators, and obtaining and disseminating information on sponsoring agencies and funding opportunities using a large grants database to identify appropriate funding sources. It also facilitates interdisciplinary projects, supports research project and grant application development through seminars and workshops for investigators, and provides individual assistance in the preparation and submission of grant applications. ORSP facilitates administrative review and submission of grant applications and contract proposals, insures that grant applications conform to University policies and comply with federal regulations, and negotiates with funding agencies on terms and conditions for grants and agreements. Finally, ORSP is a point of contact for external funding agencies, maintains records of pending applications, and tracks the status of proposals.

The Publications Council served as the advisory board for all publications that appeared on the South Dakota State College campus. This Council consisted of two faculty members named by the President of the University, student members (the editors and business managers of the Collegian and the Jackrabbit), the editor or business manager of each of the other recognized student publications, and other members named by the Board of Control. This Council had charge of the affairs connected with the Collegian and the Jackrabbit and had supervision of the other student publications as provided in the constitution. / Any individual, group or organization wishing to start a new publication or program had to first secure the approval of the Council. The Publications Council along with the Board of Control also had the power to control the kind of advertising that appeared in every student publication. Other duties of the Publications Council were to recommend applications for major publications jobs, such as an engraver for the Jackrabbit, and vote on contracts for such jobs. / Another duty of the Publications Council was to nominate and recommend candidates for the business manager and managing editor of the Jackrabbit and the Collegian. Applications from students in the incoming Junior or senior classes were submitted to the Council. The applications for editor of the Collegian were accompanied by at least three original editorials and three news articles written by the applicants. A candidate for the Collegian editor also had to have at least one year's experience on the Collegian staff. Applicants for both the Collegian and the Jackrabbit had to satisfy the scholastic requirements of the college at the time of their selection. The Council forwarded their recommendation of two candidates for each position to the Board of Control who selected the managing editor and business manager. The Council also recommended to the Board of Control what salaries were paid to the staffs of the publications under its control. / The council appears to have been dissolved around 1970. Today, there is a Media Council that serves the same basic duty as advisory board and advocate for Collegian, Jackrabbit Yearbook and KSDJ Radio Station.

The main duties of the Scholastic Standards Committee were to approve all curricula, including all course changes; recommend graduate requirements to the faculty; establish student trip policy; establish minimum standards in communication skills; be in charge of scholastic probation; and act as an advisory committee to the Dean of Academic Affairs.

The Remnant Trust is a public educational foundation that shares an actively growing collection of original and first edition works dealing with the topics of liberty and dignity with some pieces dates as early at 1250. The Trust made this collection available to South Dakota State University for use by students, faculty, scholars, and the general public. Those exposed were encouraged to touch, feel, and read the originals. The titles were loaned to South Dakota State University during the fall semester of 2005. Fifty titles were housed in the SDSU Archives & Special Collections department in Hilton M. Briggs Library.

The purpose of the SDSU Advisory Council was to bring about a clearer understanding of the objectives, activities, problems and needs of South Dakota State University as related to the needs of the State of South Dakota. / The primary function of the council was to consult with the university administration concerning objectives, problems and needs of the university, to study such subjects from the point of view of the citizens and the public welfare, and to place its conclusions before the university administration and through appropriate channels to the citizens of the state. / This council did not operate as a legislative lobby, nor did it supplant any existing organization concerned with special phases of the college activities. / The Advisory Council comprised of members from all over the state representing many forms of business.

When World War I broke out in 1917, students began leaving college for the service. After November 11, 1918, when the armistice was signed, many of the discharged servicemen found their way back to the college campus. The people and the Legislature of South Dakota felt there was a responsibility of the state to give these people financial assistance. The South Dakota Legislature of 1919 passed what become known as the "Veteran's Free Tuition Law," with appropriation of $15,000 to pay the veterans tuition. This support continued through 1920. / On December 8, 1941, the United States entered World War II. A large number of the students were once again leaving college and going into military service. While crucial battles of the war still raged on the world fronts, the first servicemen began appearing on the campus during the spring of 1944. The G.I. Bill (Public Law 346) became effective June 22, 1944. Under this law, veterans who met eligibility requirements could receive education or training at government expense, readjustment allowances for unemployment and self-employment, and guaranteed or insured loans for homes, farms, or businesses. The G.I. Bill benefited millions of veterans in their efforts to readjust successfully to postwar living. The education and training program reached its cut-off point on July 25, 1951. Only veterans actually in training on that date or those who had interrupted their training for valid reasons were allowed to continue afterward. Under the program, WWII veterans could go to school or college, or train on-the-job or on the farm, with the Government paying all expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies. G.I. Bill training for WWII veterans came to an end in 1956. On July 16, 1952, a new G.I. Bill was passed, providing benefits for veterans who served during the Korean conflict period. / The Vocational Rehabilitation Act (Public Law 16) came into effect on March 24, 1943. It provided an opportunity for disabled WWII veterans to train for jobs that they could hold. Veterans training under this act received the same rates of subsistence as those under the G.I. Bill. Disabled veterans were able to start training any time after discharge, but had to complete it by July 25, 1956. / South Dakota State University had many students who were affected by the passage of the above laws. The Veterans Advising office was set up following World War II to assist the veterans in making the transition to college, as well as assist them with paperwork and monetary support.

The Water and Environmental Engineering Research Center is located in the College of Engineering. Formerly names the Northern Great Plains Water Resources Research Center, this center conducts research, education and outreach activities through principal investigators who are faculty members in the Engineering College. Projects are funded by governmental agencies, cities and industries, and are focused on engineering solutions to water resources and environmental problems. These solutions often require collaboration with other university departments or off-campus units. The research center also maintains an environmental chemistry laboratory in Crothers Engineering Hall in conjunction with the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. The laboratory supports research projects, environmental engineering courses and outreach activities. / The mission of the Center is to enhance the habitability and economic development of the Northern Great Plains through multidisciplinary research of the region's vast water and related land resources. The center supports this mission through the conduct of engineering and related research on significant issues affecting water resources by focusing on various disciplines in higher education such as agriculture, health and social sciences, law, chemistry, and biology in partnership with engineering, to assure a critical mass of researchers working to foster multi- and interdisciplinary work on the conservation, development, management and use of water and related land resources.

The University Program Council is dedicated to enhancing student engagement and student leadership through providing diverse, educational, and entertaining programs. While striving for personal development, UPC instills a sense of community for the student body. The University Program Council is designed to serve as the primary programming organization at SDSU and is composed of various committees for programs and special projects or events. As a recognized student organization at SDSU, UPC is funded through student fees and some program revenue. The 11 student leaders who make up the program board work year-round to provide educational, social, recreational, and cultural programs for the benefit of the South Dakota State University community.

The Student Union and Activities office manages the University Student Union and co-curricular programming for students to develop leadership abilities, increase cultural awareness, and provide recreational activities. / Services provided by the department include the Leisure Skills Center (billiards, video arcade, banner making, rental of camping and cross country ski equipment, off-campus housing), Information Exchange (check cashing, fax service, ticket sales), Technical Services (lighting, staging, and sound for events), and Central Reservations. The Student Enrichment Programs office provides advisement and support for the University Program Council, which includes arts, community service, concerts, Hobo Day, lectures and forums, publicity and graphics, recreation and travel, Showcase, and special events, the Greek system, and all student organizations; as well as the coordination of the New Student Orientation Program. / Other student organizations and services housed in the Union are the Collegian / Jackrabbit publications, Students' Association, the campus radio station (KSDJ 90.7), and Student Legal Services.

The Executive Vice President for Administration provides leadership and supervision for the support, service, and administrative units on campus. Overall responsibilities include financial management, personnel services, buildings and grounds, student services, legal affairs, public relations, policy development, campus planning, and support for alumni and foundation affairs.

The Honors College at South Dakota State University began in the fall of 1999. President Peggy Gordon Elliott wanted to change the then honors program into something more prestigious. She invited Harriet Swedlund and Bob Burns to investigate other honors programs at various colleges and universities, and then develop a program for SDSU. / The College was designed to reflect the characteristics of SDSU faculty and student body. It provides highly motivated students with the opportunity to pursue the challenging and flexible honors course study as they simultaneously work toward a degree in any major. The program represents South Dakota State University's further commitment to rewarding academic excellence, encouraging campus involvement, and developing academic enrichment programs for students. / Students enrolled in the Honors College have the chance to work in smaller class settings without having to sacrifice involvement with other students. It is an opportunity to pursue a more demanding curriculum while having an equal opportunity to share in the full benefits of university life. In turn, the presence of the Honors College students motivates all SDSU students and faculty to achieve at a higher level. / The mission of the South Dakota State University Honors College is supporting the highest quality academic and enrichment opportunities for motivated and academically suited undergraduate students. The Honors College features carefully designed, yet flexible, curricula and attention for enrichment experiences that instill a sense of pride in academic accomplishment, promote a high level of global awareness, support an understanding of cultural diversity, enhance communication skills and contribute to a lifetime commitment to serving community needs. The Honors College is dedicated to the operational principles of flexibility, accommodation, inclusiveness and revision to meet changing conditions.

President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Food and Fiber on November 4, 1965 on which Sherwood O. Berg served as chairperson. President Johnson instructed the Commission to make an appraisal of agricultural and foreign trade policies; to conduct a study of the effects of agricultural policies on the performance of the economy and foreign relations; and to prepare a report, which would serve as a guide for future decisions and policies The work of the Commission was initially divided into six major areas: 1. Production and consumption trends and potentials in the world, 2. Policies for commercial agriculture, 3. Policies for the non-commercial sector of agriculture, 4. Policies for forestry and natural resources development, 5. Agricultural trade and foreign economic policies; and 6. The role of agriculture in world economic development. Five commissioners with staff and consultants were assigned to each area. / The full-time staff was small and included professional economists on leave from universities, from the federal government and from business. They were augmented by a group of consultants and experts from both the public and private sector. The Commissions research and study took many forms. Surveys were conducted; existing information was analyzed; position papers were prepared. The Commission was briefed by leading authorities and experts, and public hearings were held throughout the country. / The full Commission met 13 times over a period of 18 months for two or three days each time. At these meetings, the Commissioners heard testimony from leading authorities and experts and engaged in group discussions. The staff and consultants who later proposed recommendations prepared analyses and materials focusing on specific issues. / The Commission was made up of 31 members who represented agriculture, economics and labor throughout the United States. The chairperson was Sherwood O. Berg, who was Dean of the Institute of Agriculture at the University of Minnesota at the time. The remaining members were Harry B. Caldwell, Willard W. Cochrane, C.W. Cook, George C. Cortright, Woodrow W. Diehl, Edmund H. Fallon, Carl C. Farrington, Frank Fernbach, Roscoe G. Haynie, Fred V. Heinkel, Roy Hendrickson, William A. Hewitt, George K. Hislop, J.G. Horsfall, Herbert J. Hughes, D. Gale Johnson, Herman S. Kohlmeyer, Robert Magowan, L.L. Males, Edward F. Mauldin, Paul Miller, W.B. Murphy, Ernest J. Nesius, Leon Schachter, Janice M. Smith, Lauren Soth, Jesse Tapp, Jay Taylor, Herman Wells, and John Wheeler.

The South Dakota Social Science Association was an organization of professional sociologists and students from colleges and universities in South Dakota. The association sponsored an annual meeting, several annual paper competitions, award ceremonies, and an academic journal. The annual meeting was a place where members could meet, exchange ideas, and present new research or papers in the field of Sociology. This organization became defunct in the 1980's.

In 1887, the Department of Horticulture and Forestry was first established as a unit in the college and the newly organized experiment station. The department was one of the original departments of the college. Early research was involved with windbreak trees, orchard fruits, small fruits, vegetables and ornamental trees and shrubs and was put to practical use throughout South Dakota. Research in horticulture, forestry, and landscape design and parks management has continued to be an integral part of the department throughout the years. In the mid-1980's, the department name was changed to Department of Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks. The Department of Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape and Parks offers instruction leading to the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree with majors in horticulture, landscape design, and park management. The department was merged with the Department of Plant Science in the summer of 2011.

Although recognized since the establishment of South Dakota State University as an essential part of a liberal education, foreign language instruction was sporadic and, at times, nonexistent during the early years. Around 1901, Modern Languages became a regular department. French and German programs were developed, but Latin suffered an early demise, disappearing as a college subject after 1909 and from the Preparatory Department after 1911. The years of 1916-1921 were years of great importance. The courses in German and French had good attendance, and the staff was well qualified. Due to World War I, however, German was dropped in 1917 and was not taught again until 1930, consequently, Spanish was introduced. / In the 1950's, a Russian program was initiated and a composite BS Degree in Foreign Languages was approved. The 1960's saw growth of the Department of Modern Languages in both the laboratory and enrollment. A composite BA Degree in Modern Languages was approved and BA and BS Degrees were approved in French, German, Russian and Spanish. In 1969, Russian was dropped and was not taught again until the 1990's. / The Department of Modern Languages & Global Studies has as its primary mission the undergraduate teaching of languages, literature's, and cultures to South Dakota State University students, both as majors and minors, and offering service courses for all other degrees on campus. The department aspires to offer to students the best preparation possible for their future careers in the fields of their choice, so they will be proficient speakers of the target language, cross-culturally competent and critical thinkers. In addition, the department follows a strong tradition of service within the community, the state of South Dakota and beyond. Faculty in the department combine these two areas with research and scholarship in related disciplines, from research on cultural studies and literature, to the scholarship of teaching and learning, to the dissemination of their specialized knowledge to different constituencies, especially language teachers.

Human nutrition and foods courses have been a part of the home economics curriculum since the beginning of South Dakota State University. The earliest cooking courses broadened into foods courses and by 1907, dietetic courses joined the curriculum. By 1918-19, the catalog states that course work prepared students to work in institutions and the cafeterias in the dormitories were used for laboratory experiences. / In 1924, when the divisional organization of South Dakota State College was completed, the Foods and Nutrition department was established. / The Agricultural Experiment Station funded the first nutrition and foods research. This added an important dimension to the Food and Nutrition Department. Through the years, the curriculum saw many major revisions and was constantly under review to provide courses that had contemporary relevance to the various majors. / In 1955, a program in restaurant management was started. Today, the Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management program provides a firm foundation in both lodging and food service operational management supported by a strong background in business and economics. On-the-job work experience for practicum credit strengthens the academic program. Students are prepared for management careers in hotels, motels, restaurants, private clubs, airlines, and food services in various industrial, health care and school facilities. The dietetics program has seen many changes over the years. Some of these changes include admission to a Dietetic Coordinated Undergraduate Program and eligibility to take the Dietetic Registration Examination upon completion of their undergraduate program. Today, the Nutrition and Food Science-Dietetics Option prepares students for a variety of jobs in hospitals, nursing homes, public health agencies, industries, schools, universities, the armed services, and state, national and international organizations. Through the program in dietetics, students develop understanding and competency in food, nutrition, and management of a dietary department. The curriculum is approved by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Completion of an internship at one of approximately 155 sites in the U.S. or other ADA approved experience qualifies the student to take the registration exam. / In 1966, food science was added as an option for students. Students in this major had the opportunity to use a variety of equipment and facilities available for teaching and research. Today, the Nutrition and Food Science-Food Science Option prepares students for professional positions in the food processing industry or for graduate study in food science. The program of study is firmly based upon chemistry and the biological sciences. Students find employment as entry-level professionals in the food industry and various federal and state regulatory agencies. / The Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Hospitality offers the Bachelor of Science degree with majors in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management and Nutrition and Food Science (Dietetics and Food Science options) and a minor in Nutrition.

The first catalog of the college, 1884-1885, listed political economy as a course of instruction. Political economy was a common 19th century composite subject, which included not only political science and economics, but sociology as well. During the 1890's, departmental grouping began to be formed and political science courses were included in a succession of departments. In 1905, the Department of History and Political Science was created. This was the administrative home for these two disciplines until they were split in 1967. / Political science courses are designed to achieve several objectives: 1) convey the values and tradition of our democratic governmental institutions and processes and encourage students to assert their talents in preserving and nurturing those values and traditions through participation in the body politic; 2) promote global awareness and understanding; 3) engender critical thinking and a high proficiency in communication skills; 4) serve the other social sciences as a cognate field; 5) provide the student majoring in political science with foundation and advanced courses in the many sub-disciplines of political science which, in turn, will contribute to the student's intellectual growth and occupational pursuits. / Political Science is now merged into the Department of Political, Sciences, Philosophy, and Religion.

The mission of Engineering Extension is to assist the private and public sectors of the state with their technical needs for the purpose of economic development. These programs satisfy these needs: 1) Occupational safety and health surveys of the workplace for any South Dakota employers who request the service. 2) Training workshops and seminars to update skills regarding technical needs and to certify individuals who are required to work under specific government regulations (e.g. asbestos).

The primary function of the Environmental Health and Safety Office is to assist campus personnel in making South Dakota State University [SDSU] a safe learning and working environment for faculty, staff, and students. The office has the responsibility to implement and enforce various regulatory codes pertaining to any such activities, either in the teaching or research environment. The office provides assistance to any department that needs help in assessing their current conditions.

The Office of Multicultural Affairs at South Dakota State University develops campus initiatives that demonstrate the valued practice and philosophy of multiculturalism within the university community. Programs and activities developed by the office promote high achievement among the increasing number of minority students at the university. The office enhances and compliments the university mission by broadening the social, cultural, educational and recreational experience of students. The Office of Multicultural Affairs offers support to student of color, implements multicultural and diversity programming, coordinates the National Student Exchange and the Minority Peer Mentor programs and assists in the recruitment of students of color. / The Minority Student Orientation is another program associated with the Office of Multicultural Affairs. This program is for new ethnic minorities (African American, Asian American, American Indian, or Latino) students attending South Dakota State University. This program gives students the opportunity to establish friendships and meet the people who will be there throughout their college education. / Cultural Organizations associated with this office include African Students' Association, Bangladesh Student's Organization, Chinese Students Association, Indian Students' Association, International Relations Club, Arabian Club, Black Student Alliance, Japanese Students' Association, Islamic Cultural Club, Malaysian Students' Association and the Native American Club. Archives related to these and other student organizations are filed under: UA 35 Student Organizations. / The Minority Peer Mentor Program is intended to help ethnic minority students make a successful academic and social transition to life at South Dakota State University and the community of Brookings, S.D. The program is designed to support the students' academic progress and social adjustment to the SDSU environment by utilizing university offices, departments, faculty, staff, programs and student organization to provide assistance, encouragement and practical experiences. / The purpose of this program is to assist the University in maintaining a consistent minority enrollment with a focus on retention and graduation by providing students with a support system that is based on a one-to-one interactive relationship between upper-class students and ethnic minority freshmen students. / The goal of the program is to develop intellectual curiosity, teach academic and time management skills, discuss cultural and diversity issues, and address personal and interpersonal concerns. / The role of a peer mentor is to act as peer advisors to their mentees. They discuss issues, concerns and/or difficulties their mentee is experiencing. Mentors will be responsible for establishing supportive relationships with participating freshmen. They provide resource information and referrals to various campus resources. Mentors serve as role models to incoming freshmen by maintaining high academic standards.