Academic Affairs Records

35.84 linear feet [34 records boxes, 2 document cases]

The Academic Affairs Records provides a comprehensive historical account of the universi-ty’s curriculum development, faculty governance, institutional planning, and administrative de-cision-making. Spanning from 1902 to 2018, the collection includes materials generated and received by the Office of the President, the Vice President and Provost of Academic Affairs, and various university committees. These records document curricular changes, accreditation efforts, faculty and departmental standards, budget planning, student organizations, and the university’s historical development.

The bulk of the material consists of administrative records from the Office of the President and other governing bodies, covering correspondence, budget documents, strategic planning files, and committee minutes from the South Dakota Board of Regents. These materials reflect poli-cies on curriculum, institutional reviews, and academic planning. Also included are files relat-ed to major university decisions, such as Resolution 21 and the Governor’s 5% budget reduc-tion plan, which detail resource allocation and financial restructuring within the institution. The collection preserves records on significant university events, including anniversary celebra-tions, campus building developments, faculty recognition programs, and workload policies.

Institutional program reviews form a significant component of the collection, documenting pe-riodic evaluations aimed at assessing and improving the quality of educational programs. These records include departmental evaluations submitted to the Board of Regents, summa-rizing program effectiveness, faculty performance, and student learning outcomes. The re-views are integrated with accreditation processes, strategic planning, and budgetary deci-sions. Specialized accreditation reports from 1998 to 2017 detail the university’s compliance with higher education standards and efforts to maintain academic excellence.
The curriculum development and program modifications documented in the collection high-light the role of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost in managing the universi-ty’s academic offerings. These records include curriculum requests and approvals, such as proposals for new courses, program modifications, and terminations. They also reflect revi-sions to general education requirements across disciplines, particularly in Arts & Sciences, Engineering, Nursing, and Pharmacy. Common Course Numbering files and summaries of net changes illustrate efforts to standardize course offerings across departments, ensuring con-sistency in academic programming.

Faculty governance and departmental standards are well represented in the collection through committee reports, departmental reviews, and performance evaluations. The Academ-ic Affairs Committee minutes, dating from 1961 to 2013, provide insights into faculty discus-sions on curriculum policy, program reviews, and institutional priorities. Departmental Stand-ards files contain faculty performance evaluations and departmental goals, while records from the Bush Faculty Development Project document initiatives supporting faculty professional growth and research development.

The collection also preserves a rich history of commencement exercises at SDSU, with rec-ords managed by the Vice President and Provost of Academic Affairs. These materials in-clude commencement programs, scripts, honorary degree recognitions, and faculty awards. A significant portion of the collection consists of photographs, both print and digital, capturing ceremonies from 1902 to 2018. Additional materials include baccalaureate invitations and di-plomas, illustrating the university’s long-standing tradition of celebrating student achievement.

A diverse array of subject files and special projects further enrich the collection. These files document budget reduction and resource allocation efforts, particularly those related to the Governor’s 5% reduction plans and the Resources Allocation Model (RAM). The collection also includes materials related to Division I Athletics, detailing SDSU’s transition and partici-pation in NCAA Division I sports. The Student Project Implementation initiative is another key component, capturing efforts aimed at enhancing student engagement and academic support services.

This collection serves as an invaluable resource for researchers, administrators, and histori-ans, offering insights into the evolution of academic programs and higher education govern-ance. It reflects the university’s responses to financial challenges, curriculum reforms, and ac-creditation standards, while also documenting historical commencement ceremonies, faculty achievements, and student involvement. Strategic planning efforts and institutional decision-making at SDSU are well represented, making this collection an essential record of the uni-versity’s development over more than a century. Through the preservation of these materials, the collection provides a detailed narrative of SDSU’s transformation, capturing the growth and progress of the institution from its early years to its modern role in higher education.

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The collection is open for research, but please note that the materials in the Archives do not circulate and can only be used In the SDSU Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.

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In most cases, the materials in this collection have not been digitized and are not available online.

South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections supports access to the materials in its collections. However, access to some items may be restricted due to their fragile condition, donor agreements, or other considerations.

If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at: Telephone: 605-688-5094 Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu

Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:

• Permission: Written permission must be obtained from the SDSU Archives for any reproduction, publication, or quotation of materials.
• Copyright: Users are responsible for complying with copyright laws and securing any necessary permissions from copyright holders.
• Fragile Materials: Some items may not be reproduced due to their fragile condition.
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