SDSMT Report of the President 2008-2009

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

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South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Engineering Science Invent Tomorrow

Invent Tomorrow South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Engineering Science

Engineering Science Invent Tomorrow South Dakota School of Mines & Technology

Science Invent Tomorrow South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Engineering







Engineering Science Invent Tomorrow South Dakota School of Mines & Technology A Publication of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

2,000 copies of this publication were printed at a cost of $1.17 each

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The 125th anniversary of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in 2010 is on the horizon. We approach this milestone event with pride in our long record of making a distinctive and positive impact on science and engineering education and research.

The great results the School of Mines delivers year after year and decade after decade come from hard work and dedication. The quality of our incoming students continues to rise as a result of higher admission standards, and these exceptionally bright students are challenged, supported, and encouraged to achieve their utmost.

The dedication of our faculty, staff, and alumni is reflected in our students’ success. For 2006-07 graduates, the placement rate was 99 percent, and for 2007-08 graduates, more than 93 percent are already working in their fields and enjoying average starting salaries of approximately $56,000 as of December 2008. The world needs highly qualified young leaders in science and engineering, and thanks to the partnerships that provide co-op and internship experiences, we are able to provide them.

The talented young men and women who see us as the path to their futures need high quality, yet affordable, programs. Here also, the School of Mines delivers results. National costing data reveal that we are the only university in the nation where a student gets back the full costs of a four-year degree in one year of post-graduation employment. For eleven years now, the School of Mines has been named one of America’s 100 Best College Buys.

Challenging our students and developing them as professionals also means having a strong research enterprise and involving undergraduates in faculty work. Research at the School of Mines is thriving and, through our initiatives at the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory, is expanding into new venues.

Our alumni continue to be an invaluable asset through their financial support, vision, and leadership in industry and research. School of Mines alums give generously of themselves and enhance our position as an educational leader in the 21st century.

For nearly 125 years, the School of Mines has delivered great results. We create transformational opportunities for our students, achieve excellence, and invent tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D.President

P.S. If you are not already receiving my e-newsletter, mailed approximately twice per month, and would like to be included, please subscribe at <http://president.sdsmt.edu> or contact my office by e-mailing <[email protected]> or by phone at (605) 394-2411.

Report of the President 2008

Message from the President

1

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 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 quality and continuous improvement.

2008-2009 Enrollment:2,061 students from 40 states and 29 countries.

Costs and Fees: A School of Mines education has never offered a better return on investment. 2008-2009 annual undergraduate costs for tuition, fees, books, room, and board total approximately $13,170 per year for South Dakota residents and $14,490 for non-residents.

Placement:Starting salary offers to our graduates average approximately $56,000. Ninety-nine percent of 2006-2007 graduates have found jobs in their career fields or continued into graduate or professional programs.

Research: Researchers conduct state-of-the-art research that benefits the state, region, and nation through advances in technology and economic development. In Fiscal Year 2008, researchers received more than $10.1 million in funding for 90 projects. Funding agencies included the National Science Foundation, the State of South Dakota, NASA, the Department of Education, Army Research Laboratory, and many more.

Faculty: The School of Mines employs 135 full-time faculty members, more than 74 percent of whom hold doctorate or other appropriate terminal degrees. The faculty to student ratio is 1:14.

Honors and Awards:• One of approximately 200 Colleges of Distinction• One of America’s Best College Buys for the 11th consecutive year

2 Report of the President 2008

Bachelor of Science Degrees Chemical EngineeringChemistryCivil EngineeringComputer EngineeringComputer ScienceElectrical EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringGeological EngineeringGeology Industrial Engineering and Engineering ManagementInterdisciplinary SciencesMathematicsMechanical EngineeringMetallurgical EngineeringMining EngineeringPhysics

Master of Science Degrees Atmospheric Sciences Biomedical EngineeringChemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer ScienceConstruction ManagementElectrical EngineeringGeology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and ScienceMechanical EngineeringPaleontologyPhysicsTechnology Management

Doctor of Philosophy DegreesAtmospheric and Environmental Sciences Biomedical EngineeringChemical and Biological EngineeringGeology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and ScienceNanoscience and Nanoengineering

3


Master of Science Degrees Atmospheric Sciences Biomedical EngineeringChemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer ScienceConstruction ManagementElectrical EngineeringGeology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and ScienceMechanical EngineeringPaleontologyPhysicsTechnology Management

Doctor of Philosophy DegreesAtmospheric and Environmental Sciences Biomedical EngineeringChemical and Biological EngineeringGeology and Geological Engineering Materials Engineering and ScienceNanoscience and Nanoengineering

1Strategic Enrollment ManagementA 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.

2Continuous Quality ImprovementApplied to a university, this concept means setting measurable goals for all programs and areas and working to surpass them. No elite institution can rest on its accomplishments but must continuously test its systems and processes for optimum performance.

34

Securing 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 are growing along with our horizons and the loftiness of our goals.

Research and the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL)The opportunities now unfolding for us as a result of the 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.

Focus Areas

Report of the President 2008

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 focus 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.


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 DegreesAtmospheric SciencesBiomedical EngineeringChemical EngineeringCivil EngineeringComputer ScienceConstruction ManagementElectrical EngineeringGeology and Geological EngineeringMaterials Engineering and ScienceMechanical EngineeringPaleontologyPhysicsTechnology Management

Ph.D. DegreesAtmospheric and Environmental SciencesBiomedical EngineeringChemical and Biological EngineeringGeology and Geological EngineeringMaterials Engineering and ScienceNanoscience and Nanoengineering

The School of Mines, in conjunction with South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota, is developing an M.S. program in physics. The new program will allow the School of Mines and partners to participate fully in, and benefit from, the educational and economic opportunities generated by the creation of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL) at the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The program will provide advanced training in experimental and theoretical physics and foster a high degree of collaboration among regental institutions, neighboring state institutions, and leading institutions worldwide. The program will also create additional opportunities of attracting external funding from NSF and other federal agencies to the State of South Dakota.

While degree candidates may pursue specialized research foci based on the research expertise of individual faculty members, the most significant goal of the program is to focus on research areas relevant to the needs and special resources of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL). Examples of specialized research include: nuclear/particle physics and particle astrophysics involving next-generation neutrino detection, double beta decay, dark matter searches, geophysics and gravitational wave detection enabled by atomic interferometry, as well as condensed matter physics concentrating on novel semiconductor materials and devices.

Physics M.S. Program

StrategicEnrollment

Management

American Indian 0.4%Asian/Pacific 0.8% Black/Non-Hispanic 0.4%

Hispanic 0.4%

International 32.0%

Other 4.9%

White/Caucasian 61.1%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80178

73.0%

6627.0%

MaleStudents

FemaleStudents

Fall 2008 Graduate Student ProfileGraduate Enrollment = 244

5Report of the President 2008

Fall 2008 Freshman Class Profile

Ethnicity

Age Groups

White/Caucasian 87.2%

Other 5.2%

International 2.0%Hispanic 1.3%

American Indian 2.8%Asian/Pacific 0.9%

Black/Non-Hispanic 0.6%

Undergraduate Enrollment = 1,817

0

100

200

300

400

500

Fr Soph Jr Sr Non-Degree

473

(26.0

%)

321

(17.7

%)

342

(18.8

%)

428

(23.6

%)

253

(13.9

%)

ACT MATh

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

<20 20-22 23-27 28-36

5.0% 11.0%

49.0%35.0%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70High School GPA

<2.5 2.5-2.9 3.0-3.49 3.5-4.0

6.0% 11.0%

30.0%

53.0%

Gender

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80 1,27770.3%

54029.7%

MaleStudents

FemaleStudents

Fall 2008 Undergraduate Student Profile

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

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

10 (<

1.0%)

1,401

(77.1

%)

272

(15.0

%)

84 (4

.6%)

31 (1

.7%)

19 (1

.0%)

ACT CoMposiTe

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

<20 20-22 23-27 28-36

4.0%16.0%

51.0%

29.0%


Undergraduate Tuition and FeesUndergraduate SD Resident Non-SDTuition and Fees* $6,480 $7,800Room and Board** 4,740 4,740Books and Supplies*** 1,950 1,950Total $13,170 $14,490*(30 credits per year)**Rates based on average room and board costs.***Includes Tablet PC program.


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 second 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 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 2008 saw the return of the South Dakota Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (SD GEAR UP) Honors Program, which maintains our 16-year tradition of summer programs for American Indian youth. This year the program attracted more than 200 students in grades 9-12 and 12 college students. Approximately 85 percent of the students are American Indians, with many of the students as potential first-generation college students. Of those students who graduated from the program in previous years, virtually 100 percent graduated from high school, 85 percent enrolled in college, and 7 percent entered the military.

American Indian Initiatives

Non Opportunity Scholars44.1%

Opportunity Scholars55.9%

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is the best college investment in the nation based on the comparison of total costs and average starting salaries of graduates. The School of Mines may well be the only university in the nation where average starting salaries for graduates are equivalent to the cost of a four-year degree.

Return on Investment


Continuous Quality Improvement

Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in a university context means seeing the institution as a system, rather than a collection of administrative divisions and academic programs. Elite institutions study their operational processes—from the designing of curriculum to strategic planning and data management—in order to understand how its components and people interact to create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

To continue moving the School of Mines to a culture of CQI, we are making changes to the way we ensure institutional accreditation and joining in a new national initiative. Over the coming 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. In 2006, 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 is expecting an accreditation visit in fall 2009.

Accreditation

The School of Mines has joined the South Dakota regental institutions in a national effort to deliver useful, comparable information to prospective students and their families. College Portrait, a new web-based information tool, was introduced across the nation in 2007, and will become a visible and important part of the School of Mines website.

College Portrait is 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 National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, 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

The College Portrait presents a standardized set of data and information about an institution that prospective students, parents, legislators, and other members of the public can use to understand the essential character-istics of a school. Highlights include information on cost of attendance, degree offerings, living arrangements, student characteristics, graduation rates, transfer rates, and post-graduate plans. College Portrait also includes a College Cost Calculator, which enables students and their families to accurately estimate the net cost of attending a participating college or university, and the Student Success and Progress Rate, which uses data from the National Student Clearinghouse to provide an accurate picture of student progress across institutions.

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

Continuous Quality Improvement


Nucor recently made a donation of $1 million to fund the Nucor Endowed Professorship for Metallurgical and Steelmaking Technologies, and named Dr. Dana Medlin as the endowed professor. The new professorship will provide critical support for steelmaking research and ensure the continuation of higher education in the field. Funds will also be used to support graduate and undergraduate students working with the named faculty member, travel costs, dues, professional enrichment, and other necessary research and teaching expenditures.

Cargill has donated $500,000 to provide a bioprocessing laboratory and teaching space for the chemical and biological engineering department within the planned Chemical and Biological Engineering/Chemistry Building and to fund new bioprocessing equipment, student field trips, and continued education of the faculty of the chemical and biological engineering department (see page 11). In addition, a $30,000 donation from Halliburton will provide student and faculty support and provide opportunities for the company to partner with the university in developing new technologies.

A very generous million dollar gift from Linda and Larry Pearson (ME72) has established the Pearson Chair in mechanical engineering. The recipient will have the opportunity to focus on all areas of energy sustain-ability including the availability of energy resources; technologies required to extract, process, distribute, and generate power from them; alternative and sustainable energy sources; and the best technologies and management practices for dealing with utilization efficiency and conservation of energy.

Nucor Cargill

Pearson ChairEndowed scholarships and fellowships ..$25,066,620*Total assets .............................................. $53,906,368Total donations, FY08 ............................... $7,771,580Number of donors, FY08 ....................................2,410*Includes principal and earnings

Foundation Endowment (As of June 30, 2008)

Federal Grants and Contracts................. $15,221,773 State Grants and Contracts ...................... $1,584,751 Private Grants and Contracts ................... $3,486,478State Appropriations General Fund ........ $15,231,173 Tuition and Fee Allocation ........................ $4,544,229Other Tuition and Fees ............................. $6,554,366 Auxiliary Sales and Services ..................... $3,672,240 General Sales and Service ........................ $1,457,306 Other ......................................................... $527,946 Total Revenues ............................$52,280,262

Operating Budget FY08Revenues

Instruction ............................................... $13,611,722 Research ................................................... $15,361,141 Public Service ............................................... $687,419 Academic Support ..................................... $4,684,800 Student Services ........................................ $3,187,214 Institutional Support ................................. $4,681,879 Physical Plant ............................................ $2,863,822 Scholarships ............................................... $3,200,000 Auxiliary ..................................................... $4,002,265 Total Expenditures......................$52,280,262

Expenditures

Securing Resources

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 institution, and the university looks forward to continuing these successful partnerships as well as creating new ones.

Grants and Contracts39%

State Appropriations

29%

Tuition and FeesAuxiliary Sales

28%

Gen Sales and Service 3.0%Other 1.0%


As we reflect on the accomplishments of the year past, 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.

School of Mines to Lead National Energy Research CenterThe South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is the site of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) newest Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) in the area of bioenergy. The new I/UCRC, the Center for Bioenergy Research and Development, will receive substantial funding at the multi-million dollar level from both the National Science Foundation and sponsoring industries.

The School of Mines will be the lead institution for the center, which will be a consortium of universities, industrial partners, and governmental agencies. Additional members of the consortium include Kansas State University, North Carolina State University, South Dakota State University, State University of New York Stony Brook, and the University of Hawaii.

The consortium universities have shown a strong commitment to, and understanding of, the great need for bioenergy research, by investing a combined total of more than $100 million prior to the creation of the center. The universities benefit from the opportunities to partner with other leading institutions to conduct industrially relevant research, and receive seed funding and recognition as a National Science Foundation (NSF) research center with access to professional resources and guidance aimed towards enhancing global competitiveness. Each university pledges, as part of the membership agreement, to bring five industry or governmental partners on board, which yields a strong industry commitment of more than 30 members.

The School of Mines is one of only eight universities to have two or more I/UCRCs and has already seen considerable opportunities created from its Friction Stir Processing I/UCRC, which was started in October 2004. Both I/UCRCs provide funding and enable undergraduate and graduate students to pursue research opportunities.

For more information, visit <http://bioenergy.sdsmt.edu>.

Halliburton Makes $30,000 GiftHalliburton has made a gift of $30,000 to the School of Mines. Halliburton’s gift, which was donated to the geology and geological engineering department, will go towards developing scholarships for students and faculty support to develop curriculum.

The donation was presented by Dr. Ibrahim Palaz, director of strategic educational and R&D partnerships for Halliburton.

“We have been recruiting at the School of Mines for some time, and many alumni work for the company. That aspect is not new,” Palaz said. “Our new initiative is that we want to partner with the School of Mines to not only become better known by students and faculty, but to develop new technologies that are needed.”

Palaz anticipates that Halliburton’s presence on campus will grow in the future. Much of the company’s growth in the United States is focused on the Rocky Mountain area, and they look to the School of Mines as an important source of engineers and scientists.

“This gift is just the beginning,” Palaz said.

NSF Grant to Support Native American Students The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $600,000 to the Tiospaye in Engineering Program at the School of Mines. The grant will support more collaboration between the School of Mines and tribal colleges and universities, particularly Oglala Lakota College which has a pre-engineering program, to increase the number of Native American students graduating with engineering degrees.

Tiospaye is a Lakota word meaning extended family. The Tiospaye program provides financial, academic, professional, and social support structures to Native American students. The extended family of engineering mindset fosters a sense of community and cooperation between scholarship recipients, other students, staff, faculty, administrators, alumni, employers, community leaders, student family members, tribal members, and tribal college partners. This multi-faceted approach significantly increases the students’ success rate.

The grant will be disbursed over the next five years. The first year will be dedicated to the start-up process of planning and recruitment of academically talented students who are members of federally recognized tribes; graduates of tribal high schools; or transfers from tribal colleges; and who have financial need and a commitment to an engineering career. The following four years will be focused on executing the program and providing scholarships. The ultimate goal is, upon successful completion of an engineering undergraduate degree, to place these students in appropriate employment or further education through programs emphasizing career planning and professional options.

Chemical and BiologicalEngineering/Chemistry (CBE/C) Building• Square Footage: 38,250 new• Estimated Cost: $19-20 million• Revenue Sources: $8 million 2008 State Laboratory Bond

Bill; $10 million Higher Education Facilities Fund (HEFF) (2010);$1-2 million private

• The building will be designed for technology rich,team-oriented, hands-on instruction with both instructionaland research laboratories.

Paleontology Center• Square Footage: 33,000• Estimated Cost: $7-8 million• Revenue Sources: $7 million 2008 State Laboratory

Bond Bill and private donations• The Paleontology Center will provide both storage of

the university’s world-class collection and research laboratories to expand research and development in the nation’s only master’s degree program in paleontology.

Surbeck Renovation Phase I• Remodeled Square Footage: 30,000• Estimated Cost: $6.3 million• Revenue Sources: $9.99/credit hour

increase to General Activity Fees (GAF),and private donations

• In fall 2007, students voted for a $9.99 per credit hour increase in student fees to assist in the project. Student body voter turnout was 41 percent,and 64 percent of the students who voted, voted yes.

• The renovation will add increased student study space,improved infrastructure, and a redesigned food service area with flexible space options.

Surbeck Addition Phase II• The School of Mines is planning an addition (phase II) to

the Surbeck Center.The addition will house a visitor and cultural center, providing a centralized welcome area for campus visitors.

Housing• Square Footage: 60,000 remodeled• Estimated Cost: $8 million• Revenue Sources: Room rentals• The School of Mines is planning for improved housing to

support projected increases in freshman students.

New Construction

Remodel/Renovation

Under Review

Field House• The School of Mines is planning a major addition to the

King Center to expand practice facilities and offices.This addition is necessary to prepare for replacement of the Old Gym and to accommodate the wellness and athletic needs of all students.

St. Patrick to St. Joseph Connector Road• Distance: ~ 0.45 mile• Estimated Cost: ~ $2.5 million• Revenue Sources: $1 million City of Rapid City 2012 Fund;

$0.5 million Federal Highway Bill; $1.1 million pending• The connector road will connect St. Patrick and St. Joseph streets,

providing another entrance point to campus, access to the Black Hill Business Development Center, and additional parking areas.

1110 Report of the President 2008Report of the President 2008

Campus Construction Projects 2008-2012The School of Mines is dedicated

to being a leader in 21st century education. One way that is achieved is by providing students with the best facilities possible in which to learn. To that end, the School of Mines is entering a bold era of renovations and new construction to enhance our teaching and research missions.

Chemical and BiologicalEngineering/Chemistry (CBE/C) Building• Square Footage: 38,250 new• Estimated Cost: $19-20 million• Revenue Sources: $8 million 2008 State Laboratory Bond

Bill; $10 million Higher Education Facilities Fund (HEFF) (2010);$1-2 million private

• The building will be designed for technology rich,team-oriented, hands-on instruction with both instructionaland research laboratories.

Paleontology Center• Square Footage: 33,000• Estimated Cost: $7-8 million• Revenue Sources: $7 million 2008 State Laboratory

Bond Bill and private donations• The Paleontology Center will provide both storage of

the university’s world-class collection and research laboratories to expand research and development in the nation’s only master’s degree program in paleontology.

Surbeck Renovation Phase I• Remodeled Square Footage: 30,000• Estimated Cost: $6.3 million• Revenue Sources: $9.99/credit hour

increase to General Activity Fees (GAF),and private donations

• In fall 2007, students voted for a $9.99 per credit hour increase in student fees to assist in the project. Student body voter turnout was 41 percent,and 64 percent of the students who voted, voted yes.

• The renovation will add increased student study space,improved infrastructure, and a redesigned food service area with flexible space options.

Surbeck Addition Phase II• The School of Mines is planning an addition (phase II) to

the Surbeck Center.The addition will house a visitor and cultural center, providing a centralized welcome area for campus visitors.

Housing• Square Footage: 60,000 remodeled• Estimated Cost: $8 million• Revenue Sources: Room rentals• The School of Mines is planning for improved housing to

support projected increases in freshman students.

New Construction

Remodel/Renovation

Under Review

Field House• The School of Mines is planning a major addition to the

King Center to expand practice facilities and offices.This addition is necessary to prepare for replacement of the Old Gym and to accommodate the wellness and athletic needs of all students.

St. Patrick to St. Joseph Connector Road• Distance: ~ 0.45 mile• Estimated Cost: ~ $2.5 million• Revenue Sources: $1 million City of Rapid City 2012 Fund;

$0.5 million Federal Highway Bill; $1.1 million pending• The connector road will connect St. Patrick and St. Joseph streets,

providing another entrance point to campus, access to the Black Hill Business Development Center, and additional parking areas.

1110 Report of the President 2008Report of the President 2008

Campus Construction Projects 2008-2012The School of Mines is dedicated

to being a leader in 21st century education. One way that is achieved is by providing students with the best facilities possible in which to learn. To that end, the School of Mines is entering a bold era of renovations and new construction to enhance our teaching and research missions.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ....$2,553,843National Science Foundation (NSF) .....................................$2,299,209 U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) ...................................$1,972,918U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) .........................................$461,875U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) .........................$238,742U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) ..................................$200,470U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ..................................$199,786U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)................................$93,439U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ....................$75,000U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $60,000U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)..............................................$58,414 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ...................................................$39,195Federal Total ....................................................... $8,252,891 South Dakota Agency ...........................................................$1,364,695Private .....................................................................................$239,927Other ........................................................................................$292,776Grand Total ...................................................... $10,150,289

Research Funding FY08

NASA25.2%

NSF22.7%

DOD19.4%

STATE13.4%

OTHER FEDERAL 3.2%DOE 4.5%

OTHER 2.9%PRIVATE 2.4%EPA 2.3%

DOI 2.0%USDA 2.0%

National Science Foundation .........................................................$1,140,830 The 2010 Initiative: Science-Based Leadership for South Dakota

Air Force Research Laboratory .........................................................$305,000 Lightweight and novel structures for space

National Renewable Energy Laboratory ...........................................$300,000 Development of super-resolution optical microscopy techniques United States Department of Agriculture ........................................$199,786 Simultaneous enhancement of solid-liquid clarification and reduction from biomass slurries

Boeing ..................................................................................................$32,500 Friction stir joining of polyphenylsuphone (PPSU)

South Dakota Board of Regents ......................................................$500,000 Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development

National Science Foundation ............................................................$150,000 Blacksmithing metallurgy: a multifaceted curriculum and laboratory plan

West River Foundation for Economic and Community Growth .......$40,000 Genesis of Innovation for South Dakota

Ciris Energy, Inc.................................................................................$150,000 Detection and characterization of methanogenic populations from coal seams

United States Department of Defense .............................................$849,673 Bio-Medical Materials Initiative (BMI)

Research Award Highlights 2008

Other Funding Facts• 46 researchers from 21 different departments, institutes, or centers had proposals funded.

• 199 proposals submitted

• 90 proposals funded

• Translates to ~45 percent funding rate, compared to National Science Foundation’s average funding rate of 21-24 percent

The School of Mines’ dynamic research program attracts the attention of funding agencies and would-be 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.

Research

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Award InformationTotal Awards Received for FYs 2000 and 2008

$6,045,524

Awards have increased 68 percent

$10,150,289


FY09 Awards to DateAs of Dec. 1, 2008, the School of Mines has been awarded more than $10 million in grants and research awards, which surpasses the total for all of FY08. There have been 45 awards to date with an average award of $234,824 – a 108 percent increase over FY08 average award size of $112,781.

There have been 62 proposals submitted between July 1, 2008, and November 30, 2008, with 45 awards made, which translates to a success rate of approximately 73 percent. The awards represent 18 departments, centers, or labs and were awarded to 33 principal investigators. Funds were awarded from 18 different funding sources. The largest award was $3,392,600 and the smallest was for $7,000.

This is a clear indication of the stellar level of the faculty and researchers on campus.

OTHER FEDERAL 3.2%

Other Funding Facts

Search Initiated for New Vice President of ResearchA search committee has been created at the School of Mines to initiate the search process for the new vice president of research after the departure of Dr. Gautam Pillay. For more information, visit <http://yourfuture.sdbor.edu>.

Research and Development InitiativesAdditive Manufacturing LaboratoryAdvanced Materials Processing (AMP) and Joining Lab – NSF I/UCRCBlack Hills Natural Sciences Field StationCenter for Accelerated Applications at the Nanoscale (CAAN)Center for Bioprocessing Research and Development (CBRD)Center for Bioenergy Research and Development – NSF I/UCRCCenter of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (CAMP)Composite and Polymer Engineering Laboratory (CAPE)Computational Mechanics Laboratory (CML)Direct Write LaboratoryEngineering and Mining Experiment Station (EMES)Institute of Atmospheric Sciences (IAS)Museum of GeologyOffice of Technology Transfer (OTT)South Dakota Space Grant ConsortiumSupersonic Wind Tunnel

“Beginnings are delicate times,” said well-known science fiction author Frank Herbert, and indeed for the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Laboratory (DUSEL), located at the former Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota, this past year has proven to be filled with many delicate times and new beginnings. The South Dakota Science & Technology Authority (SDSTA) continues to pump water from the mine, and it is now dry to approximately 4,780 feet below the surface. The two main entry shafts have been refurbished and overhauled and are now on line. The contract for the geotechnical characterization of the lab space has been awarded, and the RFP for the evaluation of the surface facilities is being issued; both will be overseen by the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology under a sub award from the University of California, Berkley.

Along with the design and evaluation details, larger questions about the impact of DUSEL on the educational community in South Dakota and across the U.S. have also begun. A small symposium of South Dakota post-secondary educators and University of California, Berkley staff met on the campus of the School of Mines to talk about the educational outreach opportunities being created by the DUSEL projects. As one participant stated, “A lot of the technology and science you are talking about is like science fiction to most of our students.” During the course of the meeting this sentiment was echoed several times. At the conclusion of the meeting a group was created to start a web-based educational outreach program for a “virtual DUSEL” that would have various levels to it and would change as the technology and lab facilities at DUSEL grow, expand, and spark interest among all levels of students from pre-kindergarteners to adults.

Currently, design plans are in the works for large lab facilities that support research work on high-energy particle physics, following and expanding on the work of Nobel Prize winner Dr. Ray Davis conducted between 1965 and 2002, which helped to establish that there may be three different types of dark matter particles. Also in the works are a neutrino beam receptor which will connect the Fermilab outside of Chicago with DUSEL and allow for observations to be made of neutrinos as they pass through the rock of the earth’s core, and other facilities that could be used to observe the extremeophile bacteria and other forms of life that inhabit the harsh environments similar to the underground shafts and drifts of DUSEL.

One of the most exciting beginnings to occur this year has been the interest expressed by the Department of Energy in the DUSEL project. To date, the funding for DUSEL has largely come from a coalition composed of

DUSEL Begins to Take Shapethe State of South Dakota, an endowment by the Sanford Foundation, and funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Current commitments from these three sources amount to approximately $130 million. The overall cost of the project to be funded by the NSF will be in the range of $500 million, although if the Department of Energy joins the research endeavor, this may expand to nearly $1 billion dollars or more. But perhaps the most interesting beginning to occur this year is the broadest one of all: the excitement throughout the scientific community, expanding into an ever growing circle of disciplines – physics, geology, microbiology, and so on – at the multitude of opportunities which DUSEL will create for new ground-breaking work on the forefront of scientific exploration leading us closer and closer to understanding the universe around us and our place within it.


FY09 Awards to Date


South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 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 2008 Education and Salary Report places the School of Mines fifth in starting salaries and ninth in terms of salary potential for graduates among Midwestern universities. According to the report, the starting median salary for School of Mines graduates is $55,800 and mid-career median salaries were $93,400 (average of 15.5 years experience). The report also ranked the School of Mines among the top fifteen in the nation for Best Engineering Colleges by Starting Salaries and Salary Potential.

The PayScale report includes more than 2,000 data points, including salary data for 40 majors, from more than 300 U.S. based undergraduate colleges and universities. The report is available online at <www.payscale.com/best-colleges>.

School of Mines Salaries Among the Highest in the Midwest and Engineering Colleges Nationwide

“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.”

Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D. School of Mines President

The School of Mines has been named one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for the eleventh consecutive year. The School of Mines is the only South Dakota institution to receive the designation.

Survey results showed that the average national ACT score for entering college freshmen was 23, and the average high school grade point average was 3.29. Entering freshmen at the School of Mines earned an average ACT average score of 26 and a GPA average of 3.5.

This year’s America’s 100 Best College Buys is the 13th 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 organization sends surveys to each institution that meets its criteria and makes selections for the list. This year, 1,060 universities responded to the survey.

School of Mines One of America’s 100 Best Buys

Placement and Outcomes

College of EngineeringChemical Engineering 100% 100% $59,206 $64,860 Civil Engineering 97% 100% $51,098 $50,178 Computer Engineering 100% 89% $54,688 $53,264Computer Science 93% 85% $55,881 $56,423 Electrical Engineering 100% 97% $52,687 $56,984 Environmental Engineering 100% 100% $41,500 $45,000Geological Engineering 100% 90% $57,300 $57,643 Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management 92% 84% $50,208 $53,449 Mechanical Engineering 100% 98% $54,778 $56,933 Metallurgical Engineering 100% 86% $56,962 $54,825*** Mining Engineering 100% 100% $55,733 $65,000*** All Engineering 98% 94% $54,515 $56,226College of Science and LettersChemistry 100% 92% $42,000*** $50,214*** Geology 100% 40% $47,220 **Interdisciplinary Science 100% 95% ** $37,167***Mathematics (Applied and Computational) 100% 83% ** $51,300Physics 100% 100% ** **All Science 100% 87% $45,132 $47,586AVG TOTAL 99% 93% $54,205 $55,705Placed: total working + graduate school + military/other *% Placed: # students working + graduate school + military/other** No salary reports or attending graduate school*** Average based on less than five salary reports

Placement Summary as of December 2008 % Placed

Overall 06-07*

% PlacedOverall 07-08*

Avg. Offer 06-07

Avg. Offer 07-08


School of Mines students choose from challenging, highly-reputed academic programs in science and engineering. This educational foundation allows them to excel and be recognized regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Sasha White (CSc, Kyle) has been named to the Gates Millennium Scholar Program. The Gates Millennium Scholars 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.

Melanie Satchell (IS, Pleasant Dale, Neb.) has been appointed to the South Dakota Board of Regents. She will serve as the student regent and will be a formal member of the Board.

Six South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have received nearly $15,000 in scholarship funds from the Women’s Auxiliary to the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, Inc. (WAAIME). The students: Robbie Hahn (MetE08), Collin Rogers (MinE08), Stephanie Pashina (MEM08), Andrew Johnson (MinE08), Jordan Hoff (MinE08), and Brandon Fredrickson (MinE08).

Katherine Aurand (EnvE, Rapid City) has been named a United States Presidential Scholar. Aurand is one of approximately 141 students chosen for what is one of the nation’s highest honors for graduating high school students.

Ashley Rook (Chem, Rapid City) has been named a Scholar of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Scholars Program.

James Sanovia (GeolE, Rapid City) has been awarded a scholarship from the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).

Travis Walker (ChE/Math08) has published an article in Chemical Engineering Progress, the professional journal of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE). The article, “Harnessing Natural Energy,” is based on a report that Walker wrote as a participant in the Washington Internships for Students of Engineering (WISE) program.

More than half of the winners at the 2008 Governor’s Giant Vision Business Plan awards competition have ties to the School of Mines. Two teams each earned second place awards and $2,500 cash prizes in the Student Division: DJ Kjar (M.S. TM07) and Jason Howe (EE07) for Valde Robotics, which specializes in designing and manufacturing urban environment unmanned aerial

Students

Campus Recognitions and Achievements

vehicles; and Chris Flack (ME, Rapid City) and Jordan Johnson (ME, Rapid City) for Krystal Klear Kart Bodies, with an innovative design for clear go-kart bodies.

Placing second in the Business Competition was Jody Sperlich of Dakota Fire Systems, Inc. with its design and manufacture of fire suppression and protection gel delivery systems which received a $10,000 prize. Mechanical engineering students Treavor Hendrickson (ME, Rapid City) and Jeff Schnabel (ME, Emery) supported this project through a senior design project.

Also of note is the third place finish in the Business Division by Jordan Krell (ME, Plankinton) and Krell Safety Products (KSP) for Smart Swim, a patent-pending drowning alert system. Krell entered the competition as a high school senior.

Shawn Honomichl (IS, Rapid City) has been accepted to the 2008 National Center for Atmospheric Research Undergraduate Leadership Workshop. Each year, about 20 participants from the current pool of the college senior meteorology students nationwide are selected for this program.

Eleven South Dakota School of Mines and Technology students have been named Tau Beta Pi Scholars for the 2008-2009 academic year. The chapter with next highest numbers of scholars has five. In addition, Travis Walker (ChE/Math08) has been named a Tau Beta Pi Fellow for 2008-09. The students: Benjamin Bangasser (ChE, New Hope, Minn.), Andrew Brosnahan (ME, Lead), Cody Fredricksen (ChE, Rock Springs, Wyo.), Tom Fryslie (EE/Phys, Rapid City), Joshua Hammell (ME, Evansville, Wyo.), Shane Heier (EE, Sioux Falls), Amery Kuhl (ME/Phys, Worthington, Minn.), Lisa Rebenitsch (CSc, Bismarck, N.D.), Alexander Schmidt, (EE, Mandan, N.D.) Kajda Stevens (ChE, Benson, Minn.), and Brady Wiesner (CE, Watertown).

For the fourth straight 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. Forty-eight percent of Hardrocker athletes earned recognition for their academic achievements.

The School of Mines had seven Hardrocker student-athletes earn NAIA Scholar Athlete honors for the 2007-08 year. For cross country Kyle Kattke (ME07); for indoor/outdoor track Matt Deardoff (CE, Brandon) and Tyler Flattum (IE, Bristol); for men’s basketball Brandon Smith (ME, Amenia, N.D.); for women’s basketball Melanie Vedvei (IE08) and Amber Deweerd (Chem08); for women’s golf Kjada Stevens (ChE, Rapid City); for football Lukas Munsell (EE, Mills, Wyo.), Matt Deardoff (CE, Brandon) Mike deStigter (CE, Sioux Falls), and Chad Westendorf (ME, Geddes).


Faculty/Staff/InstitutionAt the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, world-renowned faculty members and researchers and highly competent 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.

The School of Mines was named the Bronze Award winner in the Student Recruitment Series category for the “Invent Tomorrow” series by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) during the council’s District VI convention.

Dr. Karen Braman, assistant professor, mathematics and computer science, has been selected for the Householder Symposium, an international gathering devoted to matrix computations and linear algebra.

Dr. Arden Davis, Mickelson Professor, geology and geological engineering, has been appointed to the ABET, Inc. Board of Directors. Davis has previously served ABET as a commissioner on the Engineering Accreditation Commission and team chair.

Dr. Roger Johnson, professor, mathematics, has been appointed editor of the journal Teaching Statistics.

Dr. Vojislav Kalanovic, professor, mechanical engineering, has been officially awarded Patent Nos. 7,241,200 and 7,300,333 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. These patents relate control hardware and software concepts necessary in creating modular robotic solutions.

Dr. Jennifer Karlin, assistant professor, industrial engineering and engineering management, has been elected to the Engineering Research Methods (ERM) national board of directors for the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). ERM is one of the largest and most active divisions within ASEE.

Dr. Carter Kerk, professor, industrial engineering and engineering management, and Dr. Jennifer Karlin, assistant professor, industrial engineering and engineering management, have been cited in the latest issue of Material Handling Management in the article “Meeting at the Crossroads: Man/Machine Intersection.”

Dr. Stuart Kellogg, chair and Pietz Professor, industrial engineering and engineering management, has been selected as president-elect of the Rocky Mountain Section of the American Society for Engineering Education for 2009-2010. The Rocky Mountain Section covers West River, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. The 2010 annual conference will be hosted at the School of Mines. Also, at the ASEE Rocky Mountain Section annual conference Dr. Kellogg’s paper presentation, “Utilizing an Inverted Classroom Approach to Develop Complex Thinking Skills,” was honored with the Best Presentation Award.

Dr. Charles Kliche, professor, mining engineering, and Bill Clements, co-owner of Century Blasting Services, LLC, received

the cover of the Journal of Explosives Engineering, vol 25, no 1, January/February 2008. The co-authored paper, “Removal of the Top of an Aged Water Supply Reservoir Using Explosives,” details the removal of the top of an old water supply reservoir tank for the City of Lead.

Stephanie Lindsley, Surbeck Center program assistant II, was the winner of a $1,000 donation from UniversityLease during their March Madness competition. Lindsley has designated the award to go into a fund that supports activities in the residence halls at the School of Mines.

Dr. Alvis Lisenbee, professor emeritus, geology, has been named the 2008 J. P. Gries Geologist of the Year.

Dr. James Martin, professor, geology and geological engineering, and executive curator, Museum of Geology, has edited the “The Geology and Paleontology of the Late Cretaceous Marine Deposits of the Dakotas,” published by the Geological Society of America. The volume is a major contribution to the knowledge of marine rocks and fossils from the end of the Age of Dinosaurs in South Dakota. Dr. Martin is also one of 13 individuals chosen to be inducted into the 2008 South Dakota Hall of Fame.

Dr. Dana Medlin, Nucor Professor, materials and metallurgical engineering, has been named an American Society for Metals (ASM) Fellow for his outstanding contributions to innovative design and development of medical devices, dedication to the development and education of future medical device professionals, and prolonged outstanding service to ASM.

Dr. Jan Puszynski, professor, chemical and biological engineering, has been honored by the Russian Academy of Sciences and the International Association of Self-Propagating High-Temperature Synthesis for his contribution to science and education, including the publication of more than 140 papers on the subject of combustion synthesis of advanced ceramics and reaction engineering aspects of nanoenergetic materials.

Dr. Kyle Riley, chair, mathematics and computer science, has been elected to the Board of Governors of the Mathematical Association of America. Dr. Riley will serve as governor for the Rocky Mountain section of the MAA and will represent the section at the national level.

Dr. P.V. Sundareshwar, assistant professor, atmospheric sciences, has been named a Revolutionary Mind for 2007 by Seed Magazine.

Dr. Andrea Surovek, assistant professor, civil and environmental engineering, has been awarded the 2008 Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell Johnston, Jr. Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award, on behalf of the Mechanics Division of the American Society for Engineering Education.

Dr. John Weiss’, professor, mathematics and computer science, paper, “Hierarchical Template Matching For Real-Time Symbol Detection,” was selected for the best paper award at the 23rd International Conference on Computers and Their Applications (CATA-2008).



TeamsAt the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, team successes are just as important as 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 real-world situations that involve fund raising, planning, deadlines, and international competitions.

2008 Aero Design West CompetitionThe School of Mines team captured third place in design at the competition. They also took trophies for the best design report and largest payload. The School of Mines took first place overall at the 2005 and 2006 competitions.

American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE)The ChE car team placed third in the poster competition and fourth in the performance test. In addition, the team won awards for the most creative drive system and the most team spirit. Benjamin Bangasser (ChE, New Hope, Minn.) also received the nationally competitive AIChE Fuels and Petrochemicals Division Harry West Student Paper Award for his research project, “Reversible Hydrogen Storage Properties of Ti Catalyzed Lithium Borohydride and Aluminum.”

American Society of Mechanical Engineers Human Powered Vehicle ChallengeThe School of Mines team placed ninth at the competition. They also took fourth in the endurance race and eighth in the sprint competition.

American Society of Civil Engineers Student ConferenceThe School of Mines chapter finished third of 14 schools at the regional conference. The concrete canoe team took third in design paper and third in presentation. The steel bridge team finished third overall. The bridge placed first in efficiency, first in lightness, second in construction speed, third in economy, and fourth in stiffness. The overall third place finish of the steel bridge team qualified them to compete at the national steel bridge competition.

In additional competitions, Eric Brandner (CE, Aberdeen) took third place in the non-technical paper competition, and Brady Wiesner (CE, Watertown) took third place in the technical paper competition.

Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)The School of Mines programming teams made an excellent showing at the North Central Regional of the ACM programming contest. The Red Team placed fifth, the Blue Team 11th, the Green Team 23rd, and the White Team 71st, putting all School of Mines teams in the top third.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Region 5 CompetitionThe School of Mines team entered three robots in the competition, eventually capturing third, fourth, and ninth places.

2008 Baja SAE CompetitionThe contest pitted the School of Mines against nearly 100 teams from across the country and around the world. The School of Mines raced two cars, car number 7, a new car designed and built by the senior students this year (with assistance from underclass students), and car number 117, the car built last year and managed by the underclass students this year. Car number 117 won the endurance event. Car number 117 also won the sales presentation event. Car number 7 was in the design finals and placed in fourth place in the design event. In the overall competition, car number 117 finished in fourth place and car number 7 finished in sixth place. Also, car number 117 scored the highest design report score with 49 out of 50. Car number 7 scored 48 and tied for third place.

Society of Mining Engineers Student CompetitionThe School of Mines team placed third in the competition.

Formula SAE West CompetitionThe School of Mines finished in sixteenth place overall against 82 registered teams. The competition consisted of eight separate events including design, cost, manufacturing, sales presentation, skid-pad, acceleration, autocross, and endurance. Of these events, the team took third in autocross, third in sales presentation, fourth in design, fifth on the skid-pad, eighteenth in acceleration, and forty-forth in cost.

SAE Clean Snowmobile CompetitionThe School of Mines’ alternative fuel vehicle placed fourth overall at the competition. The team received first in the draw bar pull and Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price events, second in the range event, third in the objective handling event, and fourth in the subjective handling, noise, and presentation portions of the competition. They were also the only team in the zero emissions category that finished the competition without losing their maintenance bonus (100 bonus points that are awarded for not working on the vehicle throughout the competition).

2008 International Aerial Robotics CompetitionThe School of Mines unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) team received four awards at the competition. The team received the Best Technical Paper Award, Best T-shirt Design Award, tied for the Best System Design Award, and received more than $8,000 in prize money for their efforts. Team member Mark Sauder (IE04) received a special award for sportsmanship. The team took first place in 2006 and second in 2007.

Red Bull Soapbox RaceThe School of Mines team, The Good, The Bad, and The Nerdy, took home first place with their oversized calculator craft named “The Numerator 2.0” at the 2007 Red Bull Soapbox Race. The race, organized by the energy drink Red Bull, challenges teams to design, build, and race gravity powered soapbox crafts in a downhill race against the clock. Teams are judged on three criteria: speed, creativity, and showmanship.



Economic Impact

School of Mines Leaves $200 Million ImprintIn 2008, the School of Mines released a new report that provides an overview of the institution’s economic impact on the State of South Dakota. The report found that the university generates approximately $200 million in economic impact to the State of South Dakota.

Other key findings:• The School of Mines annually contributes an estimated $108.1 million in total output to the South Dakota economy, and supports 1,379 full- and part-time jobs that provide $37.7 million in income to South Dakota workers.

• Alumni living in South Dakota create $82.5 million in additional income. The study finds that the average South Dakota resident with at least a four-year college degree working in a science and technology occupation earned 1.47 times as much as the average four-year college graduate. Applying these premiums to the 2,407 South Dakota-based School of Mines alumni, the report finds that they generated an additional $82.5 million over non-science and technology employees to the South Dakota economy.

• Every $1 in state dollars invested in the School of Mines nets $7.57 in statewide economic activity.

• The School of Mines and its related activities support $101.3 million in total economic output and 1,304 full- and part-time jobs that provide $36.5 million in income to Pennington County workers.

• Approximately one in 33, or 3.2 percent, of all jobs in Pennington County are associated with expenditures linked directly to the School of Mines.

• Through expenditures such as housing, food, entertainment, transportation, and personal items, School of Mines students infuse more than $18 million into the local and state economy.

• The School of Mines welcomed more than 25,000 visitors to campus in FY07, who were responsible for a more than $3.1 million impact on the local economy.

In addition to the impact outlined in the report, the School of Mines also provides significant far-reaching impact through a variety of means, including the support provided to existing business and industry in South Dakota; the availability of students to meet workforce needs of local businesses as full- and part-time employees; the value of new discoveries by faculty, staff, students, and alumni on South Dakota business and industry; and the creation of new businesses in South Dakota.

School of Mines graduates benefit the South Dakota economy in a number of ways. Scientists and engineers provide a substantial boost to the economy through new discoveries and innovations that improve existing products and services. These activities are reflected in the higher wages and salaries earned in the workplace.

In addition, School of Mines alumni drive the development of technology-based companies that employ thousands of South Dakotans. Although the impact of the businesses they have created was not quantified, their significance cannot be overlooked. A few examples of the many South Dakota businesses established by School of Mines alumni include:

$ Daktronics, Brookings. Founded by two School of Mines alumni in 1968, Daktronics is a world leader in programmable electronic signs, scoreboards, and digital displays and employs more than 2,300 people with annual net profits of more than $400 million.

$ RESPEC, Rapid City. Founded by School of Mines faculty and alumni in 1969, RESPEC is an integrated consulting and services firm with approximately 100 full-time employees and annual revenues of approximately $10 million.

$ Innovative Systems, Mitchell. Founded in 1990 by a School of Mines alumnus, Innovative Systems is a developer of advanced telecommunications services that employs more than 100 people.

Faculty, staff, and students also play a significant role in the creation of technology based companies. The School of Mines campus is home to the Black Hills Business Development Center. The center houses several businesses all with ties to the School of Mines, including Zyvex-South Dakota, C-Lock Technology Inc., Evans & Sutherland, Innovative Systems, and others

The report was produced by the School of Mines Office of University and Public Relations with data analysis provided by Dr. Todd Gabe, associate professor at the University of Maine School of Economics. The full report can be read at <http://impact.sdsmt.edu>.

Community Relations

Community Outreach

We partner with: Athletic summer camps 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 South Dakota Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (SD GEAR UP) South Dakota Space Days Western Research Alliance Women in Science United Way Many others

Marketing InitiativesThe School of Mines story is too important to keep to ourselves. To remain competitive and to tell that story to more prospective students and community members, the School of Mines has undertaken an increased marketing effort. Based on the findings of intense research, a new logo was introduced, along with a marketing and recruitment plan to provide direction in order to achieve our enrollment goals. As part of this effort, the School of Mines website, <www.sdsmt.edu> has received a new look and structure consistent with other publications. New sites for undergraduate recruitment (<www.GoToMines.com>) and graduate education, (<http://graded.sdsmt.edu>) have also been established.

Media PlacementStories about School of Mines’ students, faculty, research, and programs appeared in local, regional, national, and international newspapers, websites, and television and radio newscasts, including USA Today, CNN Money, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Indian Country Today, Prairie Business, Business Wire, Forbes.com, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Nature, 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 InformationTo get the most up-to-date information about what’s 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/press>.

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.

Mission, Vision, and Goal


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.











Engineering Science Invent Tomorrow South Dakota School of Mines & Technology A Publication of South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

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Documents

SDSMT Report of the President 2008-2009