Student Affairs

Student Affairs provides resources and support to assist students in pursuing their academic goals at Dickinson State University. In collaboration with the mission of the University, the philosophical foundation of Student Affairs is one of student-centered leadership. Staff seek to create a community of care, fostered through collaborative and personal relationships. The staff within Student Affairs invite students to engage with the holistic DSU experience, in and out of the classroom. The staff are here to assist students every step of the way.

Numerous functional units comprise Student Affairs including: First Year Experience, International Programs, Campus Life (including residence life), Campus Activities, the Student opportunity and Resource (SOAR) Center, and Student Health, Wellness and Counseling.

The services and resources provided by these functional entities are informed by the following core values:

Student-Centered Services: Dickinson State University is committed to fostering student success. The University provides many programs and resources to help ensure student success is assessed through defined university learning outcomes and resulting in the earning of a college degree. These services are provided with a focus on students, and designed to help students learn and grow as part of the Blue Hawk family. Students are paramount to the campus community!

Collaborative Partnerships: Student Affairs maintains partnerships on, and off campus specifically focused on students.

Creating a Community of Care: Student Affairs is committed to the physical, cognitive, and emotional wellbeing of Dickinson State University students. The Student Affairs staff make conscious efforts to offer opportunities to learn about and implement positive behaviors for the purpose of improving and/or maintaining health and wellbeing. This effort involves collaborative efforts between Student Health Services, Campus Wellness, and student-focused programming in and out of the residential halls. Student Privacy Rights, Drug and Substance Abuse Policy, Tobacco Free Policy, and the Significant Infectious Diseases Policy information are accessible through the Student Handbook online. Of particular importance is the information pertaining to Campus Violence, Sexual Harassment and Dickinson State University’s Harassment Complaint Policy and Procedure information.

Enhancing Student Learning: Student Affairs supports the Mission of the University by providing resources to promote personal and professional development, leadership, and life-long learning in a safe environment that encourages collaboration, campus and civic engagement and diversity. While numerous functional units enhance student learning, students may seek  specific information to the First Year Experience, Student Opportunity and Resource (SOAR) Center services and supports, which are described in the Student Handbook.

Fostering an Accessible & Inclusive Community: DSU is committed to creating a welcoming environment for all students. Whether through financial support, student development efforts, and/or student clubs and organizations, there is a place for every student at DSU. DSU provides a multitude of events and activities allowing students to better know and understand each other through association and activities outside the classroom. The campus community engages in learning and growth opportunities. As such, students have the right and responsibility to engage in dialogue respectively, honoring differing perspectives.

Student Code of Conduct: As part of the DSU community, students should be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct, found online. The Student Code of Conduct establishes the standards and disciplinary procedures which govern student conduct at Dickinson State University. All students and student organizations are expected to become familiar with this Code and to assure its successful implementation by observation and support of its objectives.

Student Handbook: Students should be familiar with the policies, rights, and responsibilities as outlined in the DSU Student Handbook, which can also be found online. The Student Handbook contains information such as motor vehicle use and parking, library usage, and policies relevant to students such as: Email Policy, Computer Use Policy, Live-On Campus Requirements Policy, and Electronic Device Policy

Student Opportunity and Resource Center

The Student Opportunity and Resource (SOAR) Center provides a variety of learning services to support students, faculty, and staff in academic excellence at Dickinson State University. From Accessibility Services to Peer Tutoring and Career Services, the SOAR Center works collaboratively to enhance the mission of Dickinson State University through high-quality, accessible programs, promoting excellence in learning and supporting scholarly activities. The Student Opportunity and Resource Center is located in May Hall, 2nd floor, and it is open M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Staff members can be contacted at 701-502-4359.

Academic Advising

Academic Advising through the SOAR Center provides support for first- and second-year students, undeclared students, online students, and transfer students. Advising focuses on addressing current academic needs, transitioning to discipline specific advisor and serving as a point-of-contact for support services.

Career Services

Career Services at DSU coordinates student access to major exploration, career exploration, graduate school exploration, on-campus employment, off-campus employment, internships, career fairs, and professional development. The Office of Career Services also offers personalized help with resume and cover letter creation, interview preparation, and building of networking skills. Career Services offers one-on-one assistance to help students plan for and achieve career success.

Accessibility Services

Accessibility Services coordinates the application and accommodation process for students with disabilities; counsels students with disabilities to determine program services over the course of each academic year; coordinates notification of accommodations for faculty, instructors, and other appropriate professionals; and coordinates proctored test sessions along with disseminating information about accommodations and building inclusive, accessible learning environments. Students typically need to have documentation of how their disability impacts a major life activity, such as learning, from a qualified professional (e.g. medical professional) to determine accommodations.

First Year Experience (FYE)

The Dickinson State University First Year Experience (FYE) Committee works to improve the overall student experience and ensure alignment between Dickinson State University’s New Student Registration, Freshman Seminar course and best practice literature. The committee is comprised of the faculty/staff currently teaching Freshman Seminar courses. First Year Experience was developed to provide incoming students the academic, personal, and social skills to successfully complete their first year of college and transition into becoming a successful upperclassman.

Tutoring Center

The Tutoring Center at Dickinson State University provides high-quality, accessible programs that strive to promote excellence in learning and academic performance. Its peer-to-peer tutoring services foster academic growth and development in a student-centered approach that promotes student success and retention in a safe and welcoming environment.

Services to Faculty

The Student Opportunity and Resource Center provides positive and comprehensive academic support services for faculty through student referrals concerning peer tutoring; in-class workshops on note-taking, testing strategies, study skills and anti-plagiarism.

Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program

Mission Statement

The Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) challenges academically successful students to greater intellectual achievement while they earn a Leadership Studies minor, perform community and campus service, pursue leadership opportunities, and prepare to become leaders in their field. TR Scholars will learn theories of leadership, collaborative decisionmaking, tools for lifelong learning and peak personal performance, practical reasoning skills for 21st century leadership challenges, and how to succeed in a diverse and rapidly changing workplace.

Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program Scholars will take a course of study that culminates in a Leadership Studies minor. TR Scholars grow into leadership through a broad Leadership Studies curriculum, service learning projects, and other special learning opportunities. Students will be encouraged to present research at national, regional, and local undergraduate conferences. All of these elements combine to make this unique leadership and honors program an academically challenging and personally rewarding way to study and build leadership credentials to ensure future career successes.

Theodore Roosevelt Scholarships, made possible through the Dickinson State University Heritage Foundation, are granted on a competitive basis to applicants who meet program entrance criteria. Once admitted, students form a close learning community. They share experiences and take courses taught by distinguished faculty that allow them to become more adept in their future role as leaders in whatever career path they choose. Students completing this program will graduate with a Leadership Studies minor and are recognized and presented a framed certificate and an honors medallion to be worn during graduation.For more information, please contact:

Program Director
Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program
Lowman Walton Hall 425, 426
701-502-4438

General Academic Policies

1. All participants in the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program (TRHLP) must be baccalaureate degree seeking. It is mandatory all TR scholars graduate with a Leadership Studies Minor.
2. DSU will have rolling acceptance for the TRHLP. Students who are interested in the program are encouraged to apply early. Qualified DSU and transfer students may enter the TRHLP in the fall only. These students must make up all required coursework for the Leadership Studies minor.
3. To keep their scholarships, students must maintain all program requirements.
4. Because they are honors courses, TRHLP classes often involve intensive reading and writing assignments.
5. Students should take at least one class from the TRHLP curriculum per semester. Those classes and a sample Course of Study are listed below. Students take additional courses in their discipline or other general education courses to meet the mandated fulltime student load of 12 hours or more of coursework at DSU.
   • College Composition I and II and Fundamentals of Public Speaking taken through the high school early entry (formerly known as dual credit) program will ONLY count toward TRHLP curricular requirements if the student received an “A” grade.
6. Students must be attending courses on campus during their time as TR Scholars and DSU students.
7. Students are expected to be very active in the program. The TRHLP requires attendance at certain events. These include, but are not limited to, all-class meetings, co-curriculars, service events, and other events/activities deemed mandatory by the Director. More information is available in the Maintenance of Honors Program Status section below.
8. The TRHLP has a strong service learning orientation. All students will complete 56 volunteer, unpaid service learning hours over the time of their scholarship. The first twenty hours will be completed in the first semester course, LEAD 495H-1 Introduction to TRHLP. The remaining 30 hours will be completed in LEAD 495H-2. Students will engage in other volunteer and service learning opportunities throughout their time in the TRHLP, but will only earn credit towards the required 56 while enrolled in LEAD 495H-1 and 495H-2.
9. When applying for graduation, students must indicate they will graduate with a Leadership Studies minor. Graduating Seniors will also need to schedule a graduation audit with the TRHLP Director the semester prior to graduation.

Maintenance of Honors Program Status

1. GRADES: Students must enroll in all appropriate courses (detailed in the Course of Study) and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25.
   1. If a student’s cumulative GPA falls below 3.25, they will be placed on academic warning status for the following semester. If the student does not have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 after the warning semester, they will be placed on probation for the following semester. If after the probationary semester the student’s cumulative is still not a 3.25, they will forfeit the scholarship beginning the next semester. Please note this could mean revocation of the scholarship in the middle of the school year. A student will be placed on academic probation only once during their time in the TRHLP. Instead of being placed on academic probation for a second time, the student will forfeit the scholarship and be removed from the program.
   2. Appeal of this removal and requests for waiver of this requirement because of special circumstances must be submitted in writing to and received by the TRHLP Director within 10 working days of student receipt of either the letter of probation or of non-renewal.
   3. Simultaneous academic and participation probation indicates a lack of suitability for continuation in the TRHLP and will also result in immediate removal. Please note this could mean revocation of the scholarship in the middle of the school year.
   4. Students removed from the TRHLP may not apply for re-admission to the program or the scholarship.
   5. Students attending the National Collegiate Honors Conference must be in good academic standing.
2. PARTICIPATION: All TRHLP Scholars are required to attend and to sign in to mandatory events for each semester. A calendar of these events will be provided at the start of each semester so that students can plan accordingly. Students who cannot attend a mandatory event must inform the Office Coordinator 24 hours in advance of the start of the event.

Every semester all students must also attend three DSU co-curricular events and write a response to them. The focus of the co-curriculars should be educational and not mainly for entertainment purposes. Instructions for the reflection essay will be given at the start of the academic year.

1. If a student does not have satisfactory participation for a semester, they will be placed on participation warning status for the duration of their time as a TR Scholar. If the student does not have satisfactory participation after earning the warning status, they will be placed on probation for the duration of their time as a TR Scholar. If, at any time after the probationary semester, the student’s participation is still not satisfactory, they will forfeit the scholarship beginning the next semester. Please note this could mean revocation of the scholarship in the middle of the school year. A student will be placed on participation probation only once during their time in the program. Instead of being placed on participation probation for a second time, the student will forfeit the scholarship.
2. Appeal of this removal or requests for waiver of this requirement because of special circumstances must be submitted in writing to the TRHLP Director within 10 working days of student receipt of either a letter of probation or of non-renewal.
3. Being placed on both academic and participation probation at the same time indicates a lack of suitability for continuance in the TRHLP and will also result in immediate removal. Please note this could mean revocation of the scholarship in the middle of the school year. See above for information about academic requirements.
4. Students removed from the TRHLP may not apply for re-admission to the program or the scholarship.