SDSMT Report of the President 2009

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I am pleased to share with you the 2009 Report of the President, highlighting many of the impressive accomplishments of our exceptional students, award winning faculty, and dedicated staff at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

In 2009, the School of Mines enjoyed a year of successes, including the highest percentage enrollment increase (6 percent) in the state of South Dakota and a freshman enrollment increase of 14 percent. We also saw our freshman to sophomore retention rate increase to 83 percent, well above the national average. As you will read in this report, our students continue to excel in and out of the classroom, achieving academic excellence and awards on a national scale.

Mines faculty members continue to engage in exemplary teaching and in robust and rich research. Just as this Report of the President was going to press, we learned that Dr. Dan Dolan, professor of mechanical engineering and director of the Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (CAMP), has been named the 2009 South Dakota Professor of the Year. The award was presented by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).

Securing state-of-the-art facilities for our students and faculty continues to be a high priority at Mines. This year we completed renovation of the Surbeck Center resulting in a showcase student center for dining, learning, and socializing. The renovation of Connolly and Palmerton residence halls are well underway and will be completed in spring 2010. The construction of two new buildings for teaching and research – the Chemical and Biological Engineering Building and the Paleontology Research Laboratory – will be completed by fall 2010. The Black Hills Power Renewable Energy Research Facility, funded through a $90,000 donation from Black Hills Power, will also contribute significantly to our educational and research mission.

Our South Dakota School of Mines and Technology researchers were awarded nearly $21 million in research and development funding in Fiscal Year 2009, the highest amount in the history of the university and more than double the $10.1 million received in Fiscal Year 2008. Our focus is on expanding the size and scope of our research enterprise and strengthening our status as one of the nation’s premier science and engineering universities. Our research growth year after year is impressive for a university of our size. This milestone is a clear indication of the stellar level of faculty and researchers on our campus.

Key to reaching this historic funding mark was the more than $3.5 million awarded from the National Science Foundation for the site selection and technical design development of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL), located in Lead, South Dakota. The School of Mines is proud to be a leading partner with the University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the DUSEL project.

Our newest 2010 Research Center, the Repair, Refurbish, and Return to Service Applied Research Center, is supported by the state of South Dakota. This center will develop new repair and refurbishment techniques for military hardware using the latest technologies including friction stir welding and cold spray deposition.

Report of the President 2009

Message from the President


The School of Mines celebrated its official change in leadership in May 2009 as Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., was formally invested as the 18th president of the university in its nearly 125-year history. South Dakota Board of Regents President Terry Baloun performed the investiture and presented the institution’s symbols of leadership. Michael C. Gallagher, Ph.D., past president of Mesa State College, gave the investiture address. Wharton became the 18th president of the School of Mines on July 1, 2008.

1

Presidential Investiture

In fall 2009, we saw our graduate student numbers increase by 8 percent. We added exciting new master’s of science degrees in construction management and robotics and intelligent autonomous systems, as well as initiated the process to establish new Ph.D. programs in mechanical engineering and physics in 2010. Graduate education goes hand in hand with supporting our growing research enterprise and enhancing the opportunities for undergraduate research experiences.

Recognizing that our graduates and faculty are increasingly working and interacting on a global stage, the School of Mines continues to explore broadening our collaborations with international partners and enhancing the potential for student and faculty exchanges and joint research projects. We were honored and pleased to welcome to campus the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong. He spoke to an audience in the Surbeck Center Ballroom regarding Chinese-American relations. We also welcomed a delegation from the Technical College in Darkhan City, Mongolia, who spent a week meeting with faculty members, administrators, and students from the School of Mines, continuing a 15-year collaboration.

Furthering our efforts to enhance the national and international recognition of Mines, we established the Mines Medal Award to honor engineers and scientists who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation. The inaugural Mines Medal was awarded to deep-sea researcher and scientist, Dr. Cindy Lee Van Dover, chair and professor of Duke University’s Division of Marine Sciences and Conservation and director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory. The Mines Medal serves to highlight the leadership of the state of South Dakota, and the positive impact of its flagship engineering and science university – the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Excellence requires leadership at all levels throughout the university and I am pleased to report that in addition to many new faculty and staff appointments, several new senior executives joined the Mines community during 2009, including Dr. Ronald White, vice president for research, Dr. Richard Kaiser, athletic director, Dr. Michael Gunn, associate provost for enrollment management, and Ms. Tamara Martinez-Andersen, director of admissions. We were also very fortunate to have Dr. Duane Hrncir serve as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.

I thank all of our School of Mines stakeholders for your help in achieving the accomplishments and milestones detailed in this report. As we look forward to our 125th anniversary in 2010, let us remember our role in creating transformational opportunities for our students, achieving excellence, and helping to invent tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D.President

Mission, Vision,

and Strategic Foci

2 Report of the President 2009

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology serves the people of South Dakota as their technological university. Its mission is to provide a well-rounded education that prepares students for leadership roles in engineering and science; to advance the state of knowledge and application of this knowledge through research and scholarship; and to benefit the state, region, and nation through collaborative efforts in education and economic development.

The School of Mines is dedicated to being a leader in 21st century education that reflects a belief in the role of engineers and scientists as crucial to the advancement of society. Our vision is to be recognized as a premier technological university in the United States.

Most immediately, our goal is to be recognized as the university-of-choice for engineering and science within South Dakota and among our peer group of specialized engineering and science universities.

Strategic Foci

• Optimize enrollment • Secure resources • Grow graduate education and the research enterprise • Continuously improve quality

3

1Optimize EnrollmentA university is known by its students. Sustaining our tradition of greatness requires careful attention to the quality of the student body as well as its size. While we grow enrollment, we will also shape it to ensure a strong and diverse student body.

2

3

4

Secure ResourcesBehind every great university is the generous support of private donors — in addition to what is received from government and industry. While the School of Mines is blessed with strong supporters, our needs continue to grow as we seek new heights as a premier technological university.

Grow Graduate Education and the Research EnterpriseThe opportunities now unfolding for us as a result of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) project are some of the most significant in our history. We will make our mark on the state and nation as our faculty members and students assume leadership and research roles in connection with this project.

Focal Areas


In working with the South Dakota Board of Regents, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., has identified four strategic focal areas to direct the university in the upcoming year and beyond. Guided by our far-reaching strategic foci, the School of Mines is strengthening its status as one of the nation’s premier science and engineering universities.

Continuously Improve Quality Applied to a university, this concept means setting measurable goals for all programs and areas and working to surpass them.


The School of Mines, with unique, cutting-edge programs of study, continues its ascent as a first choice for the best and brightest students from across the nation and around the world. Building upon our history of excellence, we can, and do, consistently attract those who wish to pursue a high-quality education in engineering and science and leave with in-demand, marketable skills.

Master of Science Degrees

Atmospheric Sciences Biomedical EngineeringChemical Engineering Civil Engineering Construction Management Electrical Engineering Geology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and Science Mechanical Engineering Paleontology Physics Robotics and Intelligent Autonomous Systems Technology Management

Ph.D. Degrees

Atmospheric and Environmental SciencesBiomedical EngineeringChemical and Biological EngineeringGeology and Geological EngineeringMaterials Engineering and ScienceMechanical EngineeringNanoscience and NanoengineeringPhysics

The M.S. in robotics and intelligent autonomous systems (RIAS) provides an interdisciplinary, research-oriented degree in an emerging technical area. The curriculum covers the essentials of robotics, artificial intelligence, control, communications, sensors, and signal processing. It provides advanced knowledge in areas such as pattern recognition, computer vision, nonlinear control, digital signal processing, and communications. Graduates of the program will be prepared to participate in commercial, military, and NASA projects to design and build intelligent autonomous systems capable of interacting with the environment and performing complex tasks.

Robotics and Intelligent Autonomous Systems M.S. Program

OptimizeEnrollment

American Indian 1.1%

Asian/Pacific 0.4%

Black/Non-Hispanic 0.4%

Hispanic 0.8%

International 31.8%

Other 6.1%

White/Caucasian 59.5%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

20075.8%

6424.2%

MaleStudents

FemaleStudents

Fall 2009 Graduate Student Profile

Graduate Enrollment = 264

* Percentages reflect rounding

5Report of the President 2009

Fall 2009 Freshman Class Profile

Ethnicity

Age Groups

White/Caucasian

84.2%

Other 6.1%

International 2.8%

Hispanic 1.7%

American Indian 3.5%

Asian/Pacific 1.3%

Black/Non-Hispanic 0.5%

Undergraduate Enrollment = 1,913

0

100

200

300

400

500

Fr Soph Jr Sr Non-Degree

52

4 (

27

.4%

)

34

2 (

17

.9%

)

30

9 (

16

.2%

)

45

7 (

23

.9%

)

28

1 (

14

.6%

)

ACT Math

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

<20 20-22 23-27 28-36

1.4%

7.1%

52.4%

39.0%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70High School GPA

<2.5 2.5-2.9 3.0-3.49 3.5-4.0

2.3%

10.6%

29.4%

57.7%

Gender

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80 1,35470.8%

55929.2%

MaleStudents

FemaleStudents

Fall 2009 Undergraduate Student Profile

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

17 18-23 24-29 30-39 40-49 50+

12 (

<0

.6%

)

1,4

79

(7

7.3

%)

27

8 (

14

.5%

)

108 (

5.6

%)

26 (

1.3

%)

10 (

0.5

%)

* Percentages reflect rounding

* Class based on credit hours earned


Undergraduate Tuition and FeesUndergraduate SD Resident Non-SDTuition and Fees* $6,830 $8,210Room and Board** 5,080 5,080Books and Supplies*** 1,950 1,950Total $13,860 $15,240*(30 credits per year)**Rates based on average room and board costs.***Includes Tablet PC program.

Bachelor of Science Degrees Chemical Engineering Chemistry Civil Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Environmental Engineering Geological Engineering Geology -Applied Geology -Earth System Science -PaleontologyIndustrial Engineering and Engineering Management Interdisciplinary Sciences -Atmospheric Sciences -Pre-Professional Health Sciences -Science, Technology, and Society Mathematics (Applied and Computational) Mechanical Engineering Metallurgical Engineering Mining Engineering Physics

The South Dakota Legislature created the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship to reward our state’s best and brightest high school students. Students who take the Regents Scholar Curriculum in high school, maintain good grades, and achieve a minimum ACT composite score of 24 may qualify for a scholarship worth up to $5,000 over four years of college study at any public or private South Dakota university.

Opportunity Scholars

For the third consecutive year, more than half of the incoming South Dakota, first-time freshmen direct from high school have been designated as Opportunity Scholars.

Serving under-represented populations, including American Indians, is an integral part of the School of Mines’ vision. To move this vision to a reality, the School of Mines has expanded its initiatives and collaborations with K-12 schools and tribal colleges. Recently instituted scholarships for American Indian students have significantly increased available resources.

In addition, the summer of 2009 saw the continuation of the South Dakota Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (SD GEAR UP) Honors Program, which maintains our 17-year tradition of summer programs for American Indian youth. This year, the program attracted more than 220 students in grades 9-12 and several college students. A new component for 2009 had students in grades 6-8, along with their parents, visit for several days to tour campus and learn about the programs available.

Approximately 85 percent of the participants are American Indian, with many of them being potential first-generation college students. Of those students who graduate from the program, virtually 100 percent also graduate from high school, 87 percent attend college, and nine percent enter the military.

American Indian Initiatives

Non Opportunity

Scholars49.5%

Opportunity Scholars50.5%


Endowed scholarships and fellowships* ...........$18,402,694 Total assets ....................$44,468,390Total donations, FY09 .......$6,146,437Number of donors, FY09 ............2,333

*Includes principal and earnings

FoundationEndowment(As of June 30, 2009)

Federal Grants and Contracts ........... $16,266,797State Grants and Contracts ................ $1,695,650Private Grants and Contracts .............. $2,923,217State Appropriations General Fund ... $13,973,202Tuition and Fee Allocation ................. $4,595,424Other Tuition and Fees ...................... $7,145,680Auxiliary Sales and Services ............... $4,075,684General Sales and Services ................. $1,607,871Other .................................................... $34,093

Total Revenues ................................ $52,317,618

Operating Budget FY10Revenues

Instruction ......................$14,116,266Research .........................$15,916,000Public Service .......................$575,557Academic Support .............$3,768,106 Student Services ...............$3,607,753Institutional Support .........$4,962,324Physical Plant ....................$3,700,000 Scholarships .....................$1,450,000Auxiliary ...........................$4,221,612

Total Expenditures ..........$52,317,618

SecureResources

Industry partners and private donors have stepped forward to demonstrate their commitment to the School of Mines and its students with a number of significant gifts. These donations are recognition of the School of Mines’ ascent as a premier technological institution, and the university looks forward to continuing these successful partnerships as well as creating new ones.

Expenditures

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Black Hills Power have established an exciting partnership for a renewable energy research facility that has been constructed on the School of Mines campus.

The debate and interest in energy security and sustainability has continued to grow, and it is certainly one of the prominent issues facing our region, the state of South Dakota, our nation, and the planet. The biggest impact the School of Mines can have on the future is to prepare our students with the knowledge and tools they will need to tackle these issues, to enhance future technology, and reveal discoveries that are yet unimagined.

The project, funded through a $90,000 donation from Black Hills Power, consists of three components: one 20 kW ReDriven wind turbine, one 2.4 kW Skystream 3.7 wind turbine, and three EnPhase photovoltaic panels. The facility provides modern technology for researching wind and solar energy opportunities.

The knowledge of renewable energy

Renewable Energy Partnership Establishedprinciples will be an increasingly important skill for students as they compete for better careers in technology. An awareness of sustainable principles is an important part of engineering and science curricula. The best way to incorporate these principles at the School of Mines is by practicing sustainability as a campus.

The Campus Sustainability Task Force made recommendations regarding the establishment of a renewable energy presence on campus in 2008-09. Through this partnership with Black Hills Power, there is an unprecedented opportunity to provide meaningful research experiences for engineering and science students and to establish collaborative outreach activities for the community and K-12 teachers and students.

We are proud of our relationship with Black Hills Power and expect many great things to come of this and future endeavors. Together, we are inventing tomorrow.

Grants and Contracts

39.9%

State Appropriations

26.7%

Tuition and FeeAllocation 8.7%

General Sales and Services 3.1%

Other 0.1% Auxiliary Sales 7.8%

Other Tuitionand Fees

13.7%

As we reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, we look forward to the highlights of the year to come. A glimpse of the future shows the impact we are poised to have across our state and around the world. Our potential is limited only by our dreams. Through the leadership of President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., and the support of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners in the community, government, and industry, the School of Mines has embraced this opportunity to thrive.

A Campus MakeoverIn 2009, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology began construction on two new buildings and renovations on three others that will transform the educational, research, and social landscape of the School of Mines.

Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry Building All of the more than 2,000 students who attend the School of Mines each year will take classes and labs in the Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry Building (CBE/C). Construction began in May 2009 on the 45,000-square-foot facility, which, when fully completed, will upgrade a 50-year-old building that has outlived its purpose for academic laboratory instruction.

The new facility will be linked to the existing Chemistry Building, adjacent to the central campus quad. In addition to the new construction, existing spaces will be renovated to create learning environments that are higher quality, safer, more flexible, and more conducive to contemporary teaching methodologies.

The CBE/C Building will incorporate contemporary graduate and undergraduate research space. The layout of the laboratories provides for innovative ways to conduct collaborative and multi-disciplinary research. This building will have modern laboratory space that will serve as the focal point for conducting research for the enhancement of undergraduate and graduate education while affording the potential for economic development for Rapid City and the state of South Dakota.

This new facility will foster the growth of rapidly-emerging technologies, such as ethanol, fuel production, food and agricultural processing, and environmentally-friendly plastics and coatings. Equally important, the building will be a campus showpiece that will aid in the recruitment and retention of students and faculty.

The Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation, the Charles J. Strosacker Foundation, Dow Chemical USA, Cargill, Incorporated, and Maynard S. Raasch, a 1937 chemical engineering graduate of the School of Mines, contributed more than $1 million to make the project a reality. Funding for the nearly $19 million project has come from the 2008 State Higher Education Science Laboratory Bond Bill and the Higher Education Facilities Fund.


Artist’s rendering of the Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry Building.


Paleontology Research CenterThe April 2009 groundbreaking ceremony for the 33,000-square-foot Paleontology Research Center signaled a new future for one of the world’s finest fossil collections. Paleontology at the School of Mines has been an integral part of the university for more than 100 years. Currently, the Museum of Geology houses approximately 300,000 fossil specimens, one of the largest collections in the United States and some of the best scientifically documented in the world. The collections support education and research for the university’s faculty and students and researchers around the world. The center will serve as an important academic resource to the School of Mines’ paleontology master’s program, the only one of its kind in the United States.

The center will provide a safe, environmentally-controlled location for the Museum of Geology’s fossil, geological, and archival collections, ensuring the protection of this rich heritage. In addition, the center will house laboratories for the preparation, preservation, and geochemical research involving the collections. A key feature will be open viewing of the laboratories so the public can see the steps needed to take a fossil from the ground, through scientific study, to a museum exhibit.

The Paleontology Research Center will be constructed at a total cost of approximately $7 million with funding provided by the State Higher Education Science Laboratory Bond Bill and donations from Leroy and Charlene Foster, the Frank M. and Gertrude R. Doyle Foundation, Inc., and other supporters.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the efforts of South Dakota paleontologists who are working with a world-class collection of fossil specimens,” South Dakota Governor Michael Rounds said.

Surbeck Center Renovations In the nearly 50 years since the Surbeck Center’s inception, thousands of students have utilized the space for dining, learning, and socializing. In September 2009, the School of Mines unveiled dramatic new renovations to the student center, which serves as a campus showpiece that will aid in the recruitment and retention of students and faculty in an increasingly competitive environment.

The process of renovating the Surbeck Center began in 2002. Phase I of renovations was completed in 2004. Seeing the impact these new spaces had on student interaction and learning, in addition to the infrastructure of the building far exceeding its lifespan, helped to propel the renovation of the remainder of the building.

The School of Mines Student Association Senate provided leadership during the planning of this project to ensure that the building project fits the needs of the students, is more efficient, and provides an enhanced student experience. In fall 2007, students voted for a $9.99 per credit hour increase in student fees to support the $6 million project.

The Paleontology Research Center groundbreaking ceremony

Artist’s rendering of the Paleontology Research Center


Phase II of renovations to the 71,000-square-foot building was recently completed and consists of an overhaul of the dining services area that includes more flexible/useable space; reconfigured office and meeting spaces; new comfortable seating; and more student study and lounge areas that provide computer support. These vital renovations will allow the Surbeck Center to continue to be the living room for School of Mines students and alumni and the location of choice for campus and community activities for many decades into the future.

Connolly and Palmerton Hall RenovationsIn May 2009, renovations began in Connolly and Palmerton Halls, which will update the dorms and increase dorm capacity by approximately 100 beds.

While Connolly and Palmerton Halls are structurally sound, the mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems, flooring, and other finishes have surpassed their lifespan. Both residence halls will be updated to include air conditioning throughout, new bathrooms, new flooring, kitchens/lounges on each floor, and smoke detection and fire sprinkler systems, while also being LEED Silver Certified.

In addition, a new commons area will connect Connolly and Palmerton Halls. There will be an area for recreational equipment, gathering space for students, an elevator for Connolly Hall, a staff apartment and offices allowing for more student rooms within each building, and landscaping to include outdoor lounges, a grilling area, and bike racks.

The estimated cost of this renovation project is $8 million, the largest portion of which will come from increased student room rent. Approximately 60,000 square feet will be remodeled, and the project is set to be completed in two phases; Connolly will be complete by late December 2009 and Palmerton by June 2010.

Surbeck Center renovations included an overhauled dining hall.

Artist’s rendering of the Connolly and Palmerton Hall renovation

Research Funding FY09

Research Award Highlights 2009

The School of Mines’ dynamic research program attracts the attention of funding agencies and prospective students. Each group complements each other, with research providing the knowledge with which we train our students — and our students contributing to this research and furthering our mutual success.

Grow Graduate Programs and the Research Enterprise

National Science Foundation (NSF) ............................................................$8,863,130U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) ...........................................................$7,797,367U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) ..............................................................$1,109,213National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ..............................................................................$710,397U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) .....................................................$321,642U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) ......................................................$282,000U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) .......................................................................$140,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ...................................................$83,000U.S. Department of State (DOS) ......................................................................$75,000U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) .....................................................................$58,396U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) .............................................................$38,930U.S. Forest Service (USFS) ...............................................................................$25,875

Federal Total ........................................................................................... $19,504,950

South Dakota Agency ................................................................................... $919,941Private ......................................................................................................... $203,000Other ........................................................................................................... $278,057

Grand Total ............................................................................................ $20,905,948 0

5

10

15

20

25

Award Information

$4,976,642

Awards have increased 420 percent

$20,905,948

FY99 FY09

National Aeronautics and Space Administration ...........................................$585,000 South Dakota Space Grant Consortium

National Renewable Energy Laboratory ..........................................................$200,000 Development of super-resolution optical microscopy techniques for visualization of plant cellular and cellulose enzyme activity

National Science Foundation ......................................................................$6,244,280Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) site selection and technical design development

National Science Foundation .........................................................................$600,000 Tiospaye in Engineering

Office of Naval Research ...............................................................................$120,000 Novel high-temperature polycarbonates for pulse power capacitor applications

SamSung Construction and Trade .................................................................$200,000Development of geo-biological dust control technique for construction sites

United States Department of Defense – Army Research Laboratory ................$681,372Blacksmithing metallurgy: a multifaceted curriculum and laboratory plan

United States Department of Energy EPSCoR .................................................$420,000 Lattice-mismatched III-V epilayers for high-efficiency photovoltaics

United States Department of State ..................................................................$75,000 Educational and research exchanges with Mongolia

United States Geological Survey ....................................................................$100,000USGS national water quality assessment project in South Dakota


School of Mines Welcomes Vice President for Research

With the start of the new fiscsal year, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology was pleased to welcome Ronald J. White, Ph.D., as the university’s new vice president for research.

As vice president for research, White will provide administrative oversight, leadership, and mentorship in the development and implementation of campus-wide research and graduate studies that are integrally linked to the university’s mission. His experience with management of research activity at the federal and institutional levels and with strategic planning will be key as the university looks to growing its research platform.

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology researchers have been awarded nearly $21 million in research and development funding during Fiscal Year 2009, the highest amount in the history of the university and more than double the $10.1 million received in Fiscal Year 2008. Individual awards ranged from $2,000 for the collection of fossil vertebrates to $3,392,600 to study advanced materials and processes for future combat systems.

Our focus is on expanding the size and scope of our research enterprise and strengthening our status as one of the nation’s premier science and engineering universities. This growth is impressive and shows that we are well on our way to realizing these goals. This milestone is a clear indication of the stellar level of faculty and researchers on our campus.

A key funding piece in reaching this historic marker was the more than $6.2 million awarded from the National Science Foundation for the site selection and technical design development of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL), located in Lead, South Dakota, at the site of the former Homestake Gold Mine. The DUSEL project went before the National Science Board in August, and the technical evaluation and design work being conducted through the School of Mines will determine the type and character of the rock underground and where the best locations will be for the placement of the surface and underground lab facilities.

The State of South Dakota awarded $86,613 to create the newest 2010 Research Center, the Repair, Refurbish and Return to Service Applied Research Center. This grant creates a center to develop new repair and refurbishment techniques for military equipment using the latest technologies including friction stir welding and cold spray deposition.

Since 2001, the School of Mines has received approximately $80 million in Congressional appropriations for research and development, including $3,392,600 in the 2009 Defense spending bill.

We are proud to have the campus engaged in research that advances scientific knowledge and also has applications that are relevant to national defense. These awards generate economic development opportunities and impact for our region, South Dakota, and our nation. U.S. Senators Tim Johnson and John Thune and Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin continue to champion applied research initiatives that support the security of our nation and the safety of our soldiers.

School of Mines Reaches Historic Funding Milestone The University of California, Berkeley serves as the lead institution

on the Deep Underground Science and Engineering (DUSEL) project, and the School of Mines is pleased to be a leading partner in bringing the DUSEL from an extraordinary vision to a phenomenal reality. Dr. William Roggenthen, professor of geology and geological engineering at the School of Mines, serves as the co-principal investigator on the project.

The longstanding connections between the university and the Homestake Mine began in 1885 when the university was established to meet the growing research needs of the nation’s mining industry, led by Homestake. These connections continued when nearly a decade ago, the School of Mines helped champion the conversion of the mine into a national laboratory. Today, as we continue to prepare leaders in engineering and science, we are collaborating with our colleagues to transform Homestake into a world-class laboratory to further exceptional research and discoveries not yet imagined.

For the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL), 2009 began with the project’s first annual review, held January 28-30, 2009, at the University of California, Berkeley. The review provided the DUSEL team with an opportunity to further define the preliminary design report for submission to the National Science Board in March 2011.

Another milestone was also achieved in May 2009. The South Dakota Science and Technology Authority, which continues to pump water from the former mine, reached the prized 4,850-foot level, at which early science experiments in physics will be conducted.

The first contract for geotechnical characterizations at the 300- and 4,850-foot levels has been awarded to RESPEC of Rapid City. RESPEC is overseeing geological mapping for structural stability, necessary for the design of cavities for laboratories and detectors at those levels. Interest in the DUSEL project has also come from the Department of Energy (DOE). DOE advisory panels have indicated that interesting science would be gained by developing a neutrino beam receptor to connect the Fermilab outside of Chicago with the DUSEL. This would allow observations of the effects on neutrinos as they travel on their long path through rock in the Earth’s crust.

The creation of the DUSEL is the creation of new opportunities for scientific study in a multitude of areas, including physics, geology, and microbiology.

DUSEL Project Continues to Grow

Additive Manufacturing Laboratory (AML)Advanced Materials Processing and Joining Lab (AMP)Center for Bioenergy Research and Development (CBERD) – NSF I/UCRCCenter for Bioprocessing Research and Development (CBRD) – SD 2010 CenterCenter of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (CAMP)Center for Friction Stir Processing - NSF I/UCRC

Composite and Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE) Computational Mechanics Laboratory (CML) Engineering and Mining Experiment Station (EMES) Institute of Atmospheric Sciences (IAS) Repair, Refurbish, and Return to Service Applied Research Center (R3S) – SD 2010 Center South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Program South Dakota Space Grant Consortium

Research and Development Centers


DUSEL Project Continues to Grow


Continuously

Improve Quality

To continue moving the School of Mines to a culture of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), we embraced a new form of institutional accreditation. Each year, a quality team will study our institutional processes and the results of those processes. Our clear understanding of the institution as a system will equip us to monitor and improve all aspects of university operations on a continuous basis. This approach is the essence of CQI and the key to striving for greatness and maintaining excellence.

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the recognized accrediting agency for the north central states since 1925. The HLC voted to continue accreditation of the School of Mines.

In September 2007, the university migrated from a 10-year cycle of accreditation review under the Program to Evaluate and Advance Quality (PEAQ) to the Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) process for institutional accreditation. The Higher Learning Commission is still the accrediting body; however, under the AQIP process, reviews are done yearly and continuous improvement initiatives are ongoing.

In addition, the curriculum in chemistry is approved by the American Chemical Society. All engineering programs and the computer science program are accredited by ABET, Inc., with the exception of mining engineering, a recently restructured program which hosted an accreditation visit in fall 2009. Results will be finalized in summer 2010.

Accreditation

The School of Mines is continuing its participation in College Portrait, part of the Voluntary System of Accountability (VSA), an initiative undertaken by four-year public colleges and universities nationwide. Developed through a partnership between the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, and the public higher education community, the VSA is designed to help institutions meet the following objectives: • Demonstrate accountability and stewardship to the public • Measure educational outcomes to identify effective educational practices • Assemble information that is accessible, understandable, and comparable

To view the VSA report from the School of Mines, or for more information on the Voluntary System of Accountability, visit <http://accountability.sdsmt.edu/>.

Voluntary System of Accountability

Continuously Improve Quality


By choosing a career in engineering or science, students have not only the opportunity to change the world, but will also be well compensated for doing so.

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology may be the best college investment in the nation based on the comparison of total costs and average starting salaries of graduates. More importantly, based on data analysis, it appears that the School of Mines may well be the only university in the nation where starting salaries for graduates average the total cost of a four-year degree.

Even in uncertain economic times, the School of Mines offers graduates starting salaries that average approximately $56,000, and 98 percent of graduates find work or are enrolled in a graduate program less than one year after graduation.

“We’ve always known that the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology offers a top-notch education at a tremendous value,” South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds said. “To be the only college in the country to literally pay for itself the first year after graduation is truly impressive.”

At the School of Mines, the college price tag doesn’t deter would-be engineers and scientists. This is because the School of Mines, with total in-state costs at approximately $13,860 and out-of-state at $15,240 offers students a return on their investment that can’t be beat.

In today’s economy, it is even more important for significant investments like a college education to provide an incredibly worthwhile return. Of all the investments one can make, a college education has traditionally been one of the best.

School of Mines graduates have some of the highest starting salaries in the Midwest and are among the best-paid in the nation, according to a recent report by PayScale Inc., a Seattle-based research firm. The PayScale 2009 Education and Salary Report ranks the School of Mines 11th among Midwestern universities and 15th among engineering colleges by salary potential. According to the report, the mid-career median salary for School of Mines graduates is $92,300 (average of 15.5 years experience).

The School of Mines has also been named one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for the 12th consecutive year. This year’s America’s 100 Best College Buys is the 14th list published by Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc., a research and consulting organization that specializes in the recruiting and retention of students for universities. Each year, the organization identifies the 100 colleges and universities in the United States that provide students the highest quality education at the lowest cost.

“The School of Mines remains the least expensive yet academically demanding college or university in the United States. Our annual national college survey of 1,451 accredited, residential institutions shows this to be a fact,” Lewis Lindsay, Jr., president of Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc., said. “The School of Mines provides an exceptional opportunity to students from across the United States. High quality and low cost will continue to draw the best and brightest students from far and near.”

While these numbers are outstanding, salaries and placement are not the only measure of return on investment. School of Mines students graduate with only $15,810 in student loan debt, significantly less than the national average of nearly $20,000. School of Mines students receive average financial aid awards of $7,800 and more than 80 percent receive aid, making an already affordable education even more so.

Students also help to finance their education by participating in co-ops and internships. More than 75 percent of School of Mines graduates increase their marketability to employers by working in meaningful engineering and science positions. This past summer, students worked for more than 100 employers in 29 states, Europe, and Africa. They earned on average of $16.48 an hour.

In a time of economic uncertainty, with rising costs, high unemployment, and a tough investment market, students are looking to find a solid return on one of the most important investments of their lives. At the School of Mines, they will find it.

Best College Investment in Nation

Placement and Outcomes

Chemical Engineering 100% $64,860Chemistry 92% $50,214Civil Engineering 100% $50,178Computer Engineering 100% $53,264Computer Science 100% $56,423Electrical Engineering 100% $56,984Environmental Engineering 100% $45,000Geological Engineering 100% $57,643Geology 67% *Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management 92% $53,449Interdisciplinary Science 100% $37,167Mathematics (Applied and Computational) 100% $51,300Mechanical Engineering 100% $56,933Metallurgical Engineering 100% $54,825Mining Engineering 100% $65,000Physics 100% *

All Engineering 99% $56,226All Science 96% $47,586AVG TOTAL 98% $55,705

Placement Summary% PlacedOverall 07-08*

AverageOffer07-08

* No salary reports or attending graduate schoolN/A: No response to contacts, not registered with Career Center, etc.


StudentsSchool of Mines students choose challenging, highly-reputed academic programs in science and engineering. This educational foundation allows them to excel and be recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally. Following are highlights of the achievements and recognitions that our students have received this year.

Adam Dell (IS, Rapid City) has been named the Region 5 Representative to the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). In this role, Dell is responsible for coordinating communication between the region’s chapters and the national organization. Region 5 includes chapters from Canada, Iowa, Illinois, Upper Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Travis Hoon (ChE, Aberdeen) and Tyler Vogel (IE/Phys, Rapid City) were two of 11 students selected as Davis-Bahcall Scholarship recipients for 2009. These scholarships, funded by 3M, supported a five-week study program that took the students to the Sanford Laboratory at Homestake, Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy, and Princeton University in New Jersey. Jeremy Simon (EE, Aberdeen) and Brandon Soulek (CE, Armour) were selected as recipients of the Summer Science Scholarship. Both visited the Sanford Laboratory at Homestake for one week, followed by week-long visits to Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, New York, for Simon, and to Fermilab, near Chicago, for Soulek.

Lisa Phillips (M.S. ATM, White Bear Lake, Minn.) received an individual trophy for best forecaster in her division for New York City, New York, in the WxChallenge nationwide forecasting contest. WxChallenge, developed and managed by the University of Oklahoma, tests the forecasting skills of students and faculty from participating colleges and universities across the nation.

Terence Satchell (CE09) was one of 10 students from colleges and universities across South Dakota invited to display student research projects during the Pierre Poster Session at the South Dakota State Capitol. Satchell’s project, “Dewatering the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory,” illustrated the issues with ground water removal from the mine shafts at the former Homestake Mine.

Deanna Shoup (IS, Rapid City) has been named one of 10 winners of the first Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) first AspiringDocs.org Video Contest. Participants in the contest were asked to submit a two-minute video explaining why they wanted to become a doctor.

Campus Recognitions and Achievements

Sasha White (CSc, Kyle) has been named to the Gates Millennium Scholar Program. The program was created by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in recognition of the increasing diversity in American society and the compelling need to increase access to higher education to reflect the diverse society in which we live.

Three School of Mines students have been awarded $25,000 to pursue a senior design project on multi-touch applications for K-12 education. The students, Robyn Krage (CSc, Aberdeen), Lori Rebenitsch (CEng/Phys, Bismarck, N.Dak.), and Jaelle Scheuerman (CSc, Rapid City) will work under the direction of Dr. Antonette Logar, professor, mathematics and computer science, to construct a multi-touch system and develop a framework for educators upon which applications can be developed.

Three School of Mines students recently attended the prestigious Gordon Research Conference (GRC) Macromolecular Materials Graduate Research Seminar as part of a select group of international graduate student participants. The students: Mohammad Al-Omar (Ph.D. Nano, Jordan), Shady Awaad (Ph.D. Nano, Jordan), and Josiah Reams (Ph.D. Nano, Rapid City).

Nine School of Mines students have been named Tau Beta Pi Scholars for the 2009-10 academic year. All Tau Beta Pi Scholarships are awarded on the competitive criteria of high scholarship, campus leadership and service, and promise of future contributions to the engineering profession. The students: Stephanie Allred (IE, Meeteetse, Wyo.), D’Ann Barker (EE/Phys, Pierre), Travis Ducheneaux (ME, Marion), Kyle Hansen (CE, Rapid City), John Heiberger (ME, Rapid City), John Heine (CE, Hartington, Neb.), Craig Oeding (EE, Luverne, Minn.), Patrick Satchell (IE, Milford, Neb.), and Evan Waddell (ChE, Indianola, Iowa). In addition, Brady Wiesner (CE09) and Josh Hammell (ME09) have been selected to receive $10,000 graduate fellowships for the 2009-10 academic year. Kathryn Kellogg (ME09) has been named a Laureate by Tau Beta Pi. This program recognizes gifted engineering students who have excelled in areas beyond their technical majors.

The School of Mines had 11 Hardrocker student-athletes earn NAIA Scholar Athlete honors for the 2008-09 year. For women’s basketball, Nicole Martin (IE, Missoula, Mont.), Bethany Holyoak (IE, Moorcroft, Wyo.), and Leah Sundby (IS, Williston, N.Dak.); for men’s basketball, Brandon Smith (ME, Amenia, N.Dak.) and Brent Cass (CE, Hereford, Colo.); for football, Matthew Deardoff (CE, Brandon), Chad Westendorf (ME, Geddes), and Andrew Rogers (EE, Williston, N.Dak.); and for track and field, Matthew Deardoff (CE, Brandon), Scott Anderson (ME, Gillette, Wyo.), Jason Simmons (IS, New Underwood), and Ashley Stewart (CE, Scotland).


Faculty/Staff/Institution


At the School of Mines, world-renowned faculty members and researchers and highly-competitive staff invent tomorrow by preparing the engineering and science leaders of the future and by creating new ideas that drive global research, industry, and policy.

In summer 2009, the School of Mines was host to a new Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) site, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The site has been awarded $220,500 to fund the REU for three years. “Back to the Future: Metallurgy,” offered a unique 10-week summer research program focused on integrated research experiences in metallurgical engineering, many with prevailing historical, social, or artistic themes.

For the fifth consecutive year, the School of Mines is the recipient of the Dakota Athletic Conference (DAC) Scholars Award. The award is presented annually to the school with the highest percentage of student-athletes honored as DAC Scholar-Athletes.

G.I. Jobs magazine has named the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology a Military Friendly School for 2010. This honor ranks the university in the top 15 percent of all colleges, universities, and trade schools nationwide.

The School of Mines was named the Bronze Award winner for Excellence in Communications in the Periodicals Magazine – One, Two, or Three Colors category by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). The university received this honor for the 2008 Career Guide, a resource for students assisting in career planning, résumés, cover letters, interview preparation, job searches, and professional development.

Dr. Duane Abata, executive director, Center for Bioenergy Research and Development, has been named a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). This honor is conferred upon active ASEE members of at least 10 years in recognition of their outstanding contributions to engineering or engineering technology education.

Dr. Damon Fick, assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering, has been chosen to participate in the 2009 ExCEEd (Excellence in Engineering Education) workshop at Northern Arizona University. ExCEEd workshops, offered by the American Society of Civil Engineering for the last 10 years, are six-day practicums that provide engineering educators with an opportunity to improve their teaching abilities.

Dr. M. R. Hansen, professor, civil and environmental engineering, has recently completed a project from the South Dakota Army National Guard for “Pervious Concrete Development, Phase I.” Pervious concrete, when used for paving a parking lot for example, allows water from a thunderstorm to pass through the concrete into the soil and ground water instead of running off and carrying sediment and pollutants into rivers and streams. The development and use of pervious concrete, encouraged by the United States Clean Water Act, is beneficial to the environment and is another form of “green concrete.”

Dr. Stan Howard, professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, has been named to the board of directors for the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS). Howard will serve for three years as the financial planning officer.

Drs. Donna Kliche, research scientist III, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences; Paul Smith, professor emeritus, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences; and Roger Johnson, professor, mathematics and computer science, coauthored the paper “L-Moment Estimators as Applied to Gamma Drop Size Distributions” for the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology.

Dr. Vojislav Kalanovic, professor, mechanical engineering, has been officially awarded Patent No. 7,501,603 B2 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The issued patent enables an ease of physical configuration of the Flexible Robotic Environment (FRE) systems. FRE is a robotic solution that combines mechanical and motor/drive components with proprietary hardware, software, and controls from Control Systems Technologies, LLC, a company owned and operated by Kalanovic. This recognition is the fourth consecutive U.S. patent awarded to Kalanovic in the area of robotics and automated manufacturing.

Dr. James Martin, professor, geology and geological engineering and executive curator, Museum of Geology, has been elected as a Fellow of the Explorers Club. The Explorers Club is an international, multidisciplinary professional society dedicated to the advancement of field research and preserving the instinct to explore. He was nominated by School of Mines President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., also a Fellow.

Dr. Jan Puszynski, professor, chemical and biological engineering, has been named a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). The grade of Fellow identifies tenured AIChE members who have made significant contributions to the chemical engineering profession. They must have at least 25 years in the profession and have been a member of AIChE for at least 10 years.

Dr. Lance Roberts, assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering, was selected as the winner of the Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) Educational Trust Young Professor Paper Competition Award for 2008.

Drs. Rajesh Sani, assistant professor; Gurdeep Rastogi, research scientist; Sookie Bang, professor; and David Dixon, chair and professor, all members of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, coauthored the paper “Isolation and Characterization of Cellulose-Degrading Bacteria from the Deep Subsurface of the Homestake Gold Mine” for the Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Kelli Shuman, assistant director, human resources, has been named an emerging leader by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) and invited to attend the annual Association Leadership Program (ALP).

Dr. P.V. Sundareshwar, professor, Institute of Atmospheric Sciences, and Shawn Honomichl (IS09) coauthored the paper “Nature Versus Nurture: Functional Assessment of Restoration Effects on Wetland Services using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy” for Geophysical Research Letters.

Dr. Andrea Surovek, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering, was recently elected to the executive committee of the Structural Stability Research Council (SSRC) for a three-year term. She has also been named to the editorial board of the American Society of Civil Engineers Journal of Structural Engineering. The Journal of Structural Engineering is a peer-reviewed academic journal and one of the top journals in the field of structural engineering. As an associate editor, Surovek is responsible for the integrity of the peer review process for articles submitted in the area of metal structures.

President Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D., has been named to the National Coal Council (NCC), the chief advisory panel on federal coal policy. Wharton has been appointed to represent the viewpoint of academic institutions.

Drs. Zhengtao Zhu, assistant professor, chemistry; Lifeng Zhang, research scientist I, chemistry; Steve Smith, associate professor and program director, nanoscience and nanoengineering; and Hao Fong, associate professor, chemistry, coauthored the paper “Aligned Electrospun ZnO Nanofibers for Simple and Sensitive Ultraviolet Nanosensors” for Chemical Communications.


Teams


At the School of Mines, team successes are just as important at those achieved by individuals. By working together, students learn skills such as participation, organization, and leadership that will be invaluable when they enter the workplace.

Competing teams range from discipline-specific to multi-disciplinary. In addition, students in the Center of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (CAMP) continue their tradition of developing technical skills in situations that involve fundraising, planning, deadlines, and international competitions.

2009 Aero Design West CompetitionThe School of Mines team captured fourth place overall at the competition. They also took first place in the design presentation and second place with their report.

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) ChE Car CompetitionThe School of Mines’ ChE car finished in third place at regionals, qualifying the team for the national competition, held November 2009.

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Student ConferenceThe School of Mines’ chapter finished first of 15 schools at the regional conference. The steel bridge team finished in second place overall, which qualified them for the ASCE national competition. The team also placed first in construction speed and first in economy. The concrete canoe team placed first in finished product and fourth overall.

In additional ASCE competitions, Teresa Serie (CE, Mitchell) received second place for her non-technical paper and presentation, and James Kliewer (CE, Mountain View, Okla.) tied for fifth place for his technical paper and presentation.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers Human Powered Vehicle ChallengeThe School of Mines placed third in the utility race event. This was the team’s first attempt at this event. They also placed 13th in sprint and 16th in endurance and design.

American Society of Mechanical Engineers Student CompetitionThe School of Mines’ rock retriever team placed second out of 28 registered teams during the competition.

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) CompetitionFour teams of School of Mines students competed against more than 200 teams in the competition, taking 17th, 22nd, 28th, and 54th places.

Baja SAE Oregon CompetitionThe School of Mines’ vehicles took fourth and 11th places overall, against nearly 100 registered cars. The underclass team also place second in design report and fourth in cost, and the senior team took fourth in design report, fifth in overall design, sixth in cost, seventh in acceleration, eighth in endurance, and ninth in presentation.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Region 5 CompetitionThe School of Mines team entered two robots, eventually capturing sixth place overall out of nearly 30 teams.

International Aerial Robotics CompetitionThe School of Mines’ unmanned aerial vehicle team finished in fourth place overall at the competition. They also received an award for best presentation and took second place in the journal paper and T-shirt design competitions.

Mathematical Contest in ModelingThe School of Mines team led South Dakota in the competition, receiving an honorable mention. More than 1,000 teams from more than 14 countries participated in the competition.

National Timber Bridge CompetitionThe team matched up against 15 teams from across the United States and Canada during the competition, taking first place in most innovative design. The team also received second place in most aesthetic design.

National Workplace Innovation & Design (NISH) CompetitionThe School of Mines team received an honorable mention in the competition, founded by NISH to encourage the development of creative technological solutions ro remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities from entering or advancing in the workplace. This is the second year that a School of Mines team has received national recognition in this competition.

SAE Clean Snowmobile CompetitionThe School of Mines’ alternative fuel vehicle placed fifth overall at the competition. The team also took third place in the design paper event.

Supermileage SAE CompetitionThis team, the newest addition to the CAMP program, placed third in design report and tied for third place overall in design. The team placed 17th overall out of 45 registered teams.


Mines Medal

School of Mines Awards First Mines MedalCindy Lee Van Dover, Ph.D., has been named the 2009 recipient of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology’s prestigious Mines Medal Award.

Van Dover earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Rutgers University, a master’s degree in ecology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Ph.D. in

biological oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program.

Since 2006, Van Dover has served as chair and professor of Duke University’s Division of Marine Sciences and Conservation in the Nicholas School of the Environment and director of the Duke University Marine Laboratory. Prior to joining Duke University, she held positions at the College of William & Mary, the University of Oregon’s Institute of Marine Biology, West Coast National Undersea Research Center, the University of Alaska Fairbanks Institute of Marine Science, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She also was a Fulbright Research Scholar at the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea Centre located in de Brest, France.

Van Dover has conducted seminal research leading to the discovery and characterization of a geothermal source of light at deep-sea hydrothermal vents and the isolation of obligate photosynthetic organisms living on the seafloor. These discoveries have led to a new view of the potential for life elsewhere in the universe, as well as a new appreciation for previously unrecognized modes of photosynthetic life in both the deep sea and midwaters on this planet. Recently, she has contributed to the understanding of environmental consequences of potential offsets with respect to the mining of deep-sea minerals around hydrothermal vent sites in Southeast Asian waters. Van Dover also has the distinction of being the first and only woman to complete the rigorous training necessary to be an Alvin submarine pilot, diving to depths of more than 3,600 meters.

“The deep ocean is a frontier of biological and geological exploration even as it is being evaluated for its potential to provide solutions to environmental problems such as sequestration of excess carbon dioxide and to meet sociopolitical needs for metals and other resources,” Van Dover said. “A single career can span the boundaries of exploration and discovery, and of discovery and application at the seabed. I am convinced that the deep sea will be an even more compelling place to study for the next generation of ocean explorers and scientists, as increasing technological capabilities expand our access to and understanding of this alien world.”

Van Dover has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and has communicated her discoveries to the non-scientific population through magazine articles, radio, television, a podcast series detailing an ocean-borne expedition to Antarctica, and her autobiographical book, The Octopus’s Garden. She is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the American Geophysical Union, the Oceanographic Society, and co-founder and international steering committee member of the Chemosynthetic Ecosystems component (ChEss) of the Census of Marine Life.

“I commend the School of Mines for having the foresight to establish this special honor,” South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds said. “It is admirable to recognize and reward those people who have distinguished themselves as national leaders in the fields of engineering and science.”

Mark your calendar for next year’s Mines Medal event October 28, 2010. For more information, visit <http://mines-medal.sdsmt.edu/>.

Community Relations

Community Outreach

We partner with: Athletic summer camps Black Hills Children’s Home Society Black Hills Vision Engineering and science outreach to schools and businesses Engineers Week GIRLS Day (Girls Into Real Learning Succeed) Hands-On Partnership for Science Higher Education Center – West River Homestake Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory Rapid City Area Chamber of Commerce Rapid City Economic Development Partnership South Dakota Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (SD GEAR UP) South Dakota Space Days Storybook Island Western Research Alliance Women in Science United Way Youth Programs and Continuing Education Many others

After 28 years of service, Dr. Karen Whitehead, provost and vice president for academic affairs, retired. Dr. Duane Hrncir, former dean of the college of science and letters, has agreed to serve as interim provost and vice president for academic affairs through this academic year. Dr. Hrncir will add to his responsibilities overseeing the university’s enrollment management strategy. Dr. Michael Gunn assumed the newly-created position of associate provost for enrollment management to lead the university’s renewed emphasis on enrollment management and will directly report to Dr. Hrncir. The Offices of Admissions and Financial Aid, previously part of University and Public Relations, now report to Dr. Gunn and are officially a part of the academic affairs team. In addition, Tamara Martinez-Anderson, a seasoned admissions professional, joined the campus as director of admissions this fall.

Media Placement

Stories about School of Mines students, faculty, research, and programs have appeared in local, regional, national, and international newspapers, websites, and television and radio newscasts, including USA Today, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Indian Country Today, Prairie Business, Business Wire, Forbes.com, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Times of India, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, and more.


For nearly 125 years, the School of Mines has prepared world-class scientists and engineers. Rugged individuals and pioneers founded the School of Mines’ intellectual environment, and our faculty and students carry that on today, serving the people of Rapid City, the state of South Dakota, and the nation. In our history of more than a century of community involvement, it has been important to involve others in our educational efforts. By doing this, we become more effective in our mission.

For More Information

To get the most up-to-date information about what is happening at the School of Mines, sign up to get news and other updates through RSS feeds or by e-mail. More information is available at <http://news.sdsmt.edu/rss>.

We pride ourselves on being contributing members of our Rapid City community. Faculty, staff, and students donate time and money to organizations and charities throughout the Black Hills. We have a responsibility to share our expertise, our resources, and ourselves to make this an even better place to live, and we take that responsibility seriously.

Campus ProfileSouth Dakota School of Mines and Technology has been a national leader in preparing world-class engineers and scientists since 1885. Our graduates design, construct, and operate the most modern technology to meet complex challenges such as climate change, bioenergy, mineral extraction and processing, advanced materials, environmental quality, and national defense. Our alumni are held in the highest regard by their fellow leaders in industry, consulting, government, health, research, and education.

The School of Mines continuously adapts to meet the needs of engineering and science. Rugged individuals and pioneers in engineering and science founded the School of Mines’ intellectual environment more than a century ago. Our faculty, staff, students, and alumni carry on that tradition today.

The School of Mines is a state-supported university that provides graduate and undergraduate degrees in science and engineering. The School of Mines is an AQIP institution, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and committed to continuous quality improvement.

2008-09 Enrollment:Students come from 40 states and 20 countries.

Costs and Fees: A School of Mines education offers an unparalleled return on investment. 2009-10 annual undergraduate costs for tuition, fees, books, room, board, and supplies (including a Tablet PC) total approximately $13,860 per year for South Dakota residents and $15,240 for non-residents.

Placement:Starting salary offers to School of Mines graduates average approximately $56,000. Ninety-eight percent of graduates find jobs in their career fields or continue on to graduate or professional programs within one year of graduation.

Research: Researchers conduct high-tech research that benefits the state, region, and nation through advances in technology and economic development. In Fiscal Year 2009, researchers received nearly $21 million in funding for 92 projects. Funding agencies included the Department of Defense, NASA, National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, State of South Dakota, and many more.

Faculty: The School of Mines employs 142 full-time faculty members, more than 77 percent of whom hold doctorates or other appropriate terminal degrees. The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:13.

Honors and Awards:• One of America’s 100 Best College Buys for 12 consecutive years• 2008 and 2009 Carnegie South Dakota Professors of the Year• G.I. Jobs Military Friendly School


Bachelor of Science Degrees Chemical EngineeringChemistryCivil EngineeringComputer EngineeringComputer ScienceElectrical EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringGeological EngineeringGeology -Applied Geology -Earth System Science -PaleontologyIndustrial Engineering and Engineering ManagementInterdisciplinary Sciences -Atmospheric Sciences -Pre-Professional Health Sciences -Science, Technology, and SocietyMathematics (Applied and Computational)Mechanical EngineeringMetallurgical EngineeringMining EngineeringPhysics

Master of Science Degrees Atmospheric Sciences Biomedical EngineeringChemical Engineering Civil Engineering Construction Management Electrical EngineeringGeology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and ScienceMechanical EngineeringPaleontologyPhysicsRobotics and Intelligent Autonomous SystemsTechnology Management

Doctor of Philosophy DegreesAtmospheric and Environmental SciencesBiomedical Engineering Chemical and Biological Engineering Geology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and Science Mechanical EngineeringNanoscience and Nanoengineering Physics

South Dakota School of Mines and TechnologyOffice of the President501 East Saint Joseph StreetRapid City, SD 57701

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SDSMT Report of the President 2009

Documents

Transcript of SDSMT Report of the President 2009