THE UNIVERSITY

Location and Setting

Dickinson State University is located in the city after which it is named. Dickinson, the fifth largest city in the state, is the hub of West River North Dakota and has a population of approximately 16,000. The University serves as a cultural, social, recreational and intellectual center for the residents of the West River Region.

Dickinson, located directly along Interstate 94, is served by commercial air service transportation.  Dickinson serves as an economic, social, governmental, and medical center for an eight-county area.  The University and the city are situated near the scenic North Dakota Badlands and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the area where Roosevelt ranched prior to his ascendance to national prominence. One hour’s drive north of Dickinson is Lake Sakakawea, created in the 1950s by the Garrison Dam project. This region of North Dakota abounds with some of the country’s finest hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking opportunities.

Historical Sketch

Dickinson Normal School was created in 1916 by a constitutional amendment approved by North Dakota voters. Classes began in 1918 with a two-year program designed to train elementary and secondary teachers. In 1931, four-year degrees were offered for the first time under the school’s new name, Dickinson State Teachers College. In recognition of the institution’s broadened curriculum, Dickinson State Teachers College became Dickinson State College in 1963. University status was granted in 1987 as the progression of education in the West River region was recognized by the State Board of Higher Education.

Mission, Role, and Scope Statement

Dickinson State University is a regional four-year institution within the North Dakota University System, whose primary role is to contribute to intellectual, social, economic, and cultural development, especially to Southwestern North Dakota. The University’s mission is to provide high-quality, accessible programs; to promote excellence in teaching and learning; to support scholarly and creative activities; and to provide service relevant to the economy, health, and quality of life for the citizens of the State of North Dakota.  To achieve this mission, the University will provide to:

• Students
  Selected baccalaureate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, the fine arts, nursing, teacher education, business and technology, stressing scholarship and the habit of critical inquiry in fields of major interests; the institution offers a limited number of programs of less than four years.  The liberal arts and sciences provide a sound curricular base as a foundation for the intellectual, culture and professional development of the student.  The professional, technical and occupational programs will continue to evolve to meet the needs of society; a philosophy which transmits a global awareness and creates a sensitivity to the values of a diverse society in a multi-cultural world;  assessment and response to their special needs through effective advising, counseling, cultural, recreational, and co-curricular programs; Educational opportunity and resources to accommodate diverse student characteristics and backgrounds by offering alternative methods of learning which are consistent with the high academic standards of the institution.
• Faculty
  The opportunity, encouragement, and resources for professional development, and scholarly and creative activities; The resources necessary to meet goals and objectives consistent with the institution’s mission for its students; an atmosphere that is dedicated to academic freedom and the pursuit of excellence in scholarship, teaching and learning.
• Region
  The intellectual, recreational and cultural services which assist in meeting the needs of the people served by the University; promotion of educational opportunities at both the undergraduate and graduate level to meet the needs of elementary and secondary educators; opportunities for applied research and service relationships with governmental units, school districts, health care institutions, post-secondary institutions, and industry; a leadership role in the development of businesses, health care and employment opportunities through consulting and cooperative arrangements and by providing access to information technology systems.

 Academics at Dickinson State

The University long ago outgrew its original teachers’ college status and has since adopted a broader mission. The present programs include not only teacher education and the liberal arts, but also specialized programs in business, nursing, agriculture, and computer science. There is opportunity for pre-professional study and vocational training in selected areas as well.

Recognizing the individuality of each student, the faculty strives not only to train students for future occupations but to stimulate students’ curiosity and challenge their ability in many areas. Students build their programs around a core of General Education courses, which include fine arts, humanities, natural sciences, mathematics, and the social and behavioral sciences. Dickinson State University students are encouraged to complete their general education requirements by the end of the sophomore year. Students are then free as juniors and seniors to explore a major field of study. Dickinson State University believes that its curriculum offers students a healthy combination of intellectual challenge, professional training, and practical experience.

Accreditations and Memberships

Dickinson State University is accredited by the:

• The Higher Learning Commission, a Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA)
  30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400
  Chicago, Illinois 60602-2504;

• National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC)
  350 Hudson Street
  New York, New York 10014; and

• National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
  2010 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest, Suite 500
  Washington, DC 20036-1023.

The University holds memberships in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the American Council on Education, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.

The Campus

Main Campus

The campus of Dickinson State University includes the following facilities:

• Samuel T. May Hall (1924): Administrative offices, classrooms, Dorothy Stickney Auditorium, backstage theatre, computer center, computer laboratories, language laboratory, facilities for art, business, music, nursing, and communications and theatre arts.
• Harold E. Murphy Hall (1963): Phase I of the Murphy Hall Science Building renovation and expansion project was completed in April 2006.  Phase II is underway with plans for completion in 2007.  Classrooms, offices, and laboratories for the Department of Natural Sciences, John Thompson Auditorium, and Stroup Scientific Auditorium.
• Matilda Stoxen Library (1961): The library materials collection contains nearly 160,000 volumes and 18,000 periodical subscriptions; fully automated library with access to thousands of e-books and full-text journals, as well as microfilm materials, audiovisual collections and equipment, state and federal depository collections, and computers and study rooms for student use.
• Victor Stickney Hall (1922): Faculty offices, and Student Health Service office.
• Charles E. Scott Gymnasium (1953): Home of the Dickinson State University “Blue Hawks” and physical education faculty offices.
• Harry J. Wienbergen Hall (1973): Physical education classrooms and activity facilities, physical education faculty and coaches’ offices, locker rooms, weight rooms and the Ben C. Frank Human Performance Center.
• Student Center (1963, 1967, 2000): Ballrooms, cafeteria, Campus Life and Housing offices, computer access (desktops and laptops), conference rooms, fitness and recreation room, game room, snack bar, Vice President for Student Development office, Student Senate office, Sodexho Marriott Food Services office, student lounge (with television), swimming pool, and University Store.
• Leroy G. Pulver Hall (1967): Offices for state and local agencies.
• Oscar A. DeLong Hall (1970): Co-ed residence hall.
• Leila G. Woods Hall (1965): Women’s residence hall.
• Arthur C. Selke Hall (1960): Men’s residence hall.
• Maude Klinefelter Hall (1932): Classrooms, offices and laboratories for the departments of Teacher Education, Mathematics and Computer Science, and Nursing, Ward E. Beck Sr. Auditorium, Dickinson State University Art Gallery, and Interactive Video Network (IVN) classroom.
• Main Campus Housing (1961): An apartment complex with 24 one-bedroom apartments, housing 48 upper-class students.
  Altringer Complex: An apartment building containing 16 two-bedroom apartments, and 1 one-bedroom apartment.
• King Pavillion (1998) Gifted by Ed and Toni (Holubok) King, ’35, this multi-use pavilion has been the site of various special events, such as DSU Arts Roundup, concerts, receptions, weddings and other community/university gatherings.
• International Flag Plaza/Walk of Pride (2003) Commissioned by the DSU Foundation, this structure honors DSU’s commitment to global awareness by featuring flags from every nation represented by the students of Dickinson State University. It serves as a venue for students, faculty, alumni and friends of the University to gather for educational forums, the arts, receptions, and reunions. In addition to the International Flag Plaza, recognition items such as personalized pavers, benches and trees, etc are incorporated in the Walk of Pride to pay tribute to alumni and friends.
• Miller Apartments (2001): An apartment building containing six apartments that house 12 students.

Completing the main campus are the president’s residence, the heating plant, a garage and maintenance building, tennis courts, softball fields, and intramural grounds.

North Campus

Family student apartments, outdoor recreational tennis and basketball courts, the West River Teacher Center and Extended Campus offices, and Interactive Video Network (IVN) studio. North Campus is located one mile north of the Main Campus.

Office of Extended Learning, Bismarck Site
Cynthia Sanford, Coordinator of the DSU Office of Extended Campus in Bismarck
Bismarck State College, 1309 Schafer Street, Room 203
P.O. Box 5587, Bismarck ND 58501

South Campus
A classroom and shop building located on West Villard two blocks south of the Main Campus. The facilities house the studio and classrooms for the University’s Visual Art Program.

West Campus

• Frank P. Whitney Stadium (1971): Football field, Roger Huffman Track.
• Indoor Arena (1980): Large, enclosed area used for rodeo and agriculture programming, campus, and other community events.
• Agriculture Building (1982): Faculty offices, meat packing lab, agriculture classrooms, maintenance shops, auditorium, and Consolidated Telecom Agriculture Information Technology Learning Laboratory.

Medora Badlands Biology Research Area
(1972): Forty-three acres, known as Freeman’s Frontier, located in the Badlands along the I-94 Medora East Interchange adjacent to National Grasslands.