A Memo from President Dunn

July 29, 2025

To: Loyal Blue Society members

From: President Barry Dunn

South Dakota State University has an extraordinary 144-year history, defined by more than 100,000 graduates that have impacted our state and nation in almost every way imaginable.

While I was unable to join the most recent Loyal Blue Insider webinar, you have the opportunity to hear from two university leaders and a current student about the state of our university headed into the next academic year. A recording of the webinar is available here.

South Dakota State is a place of possibilities. More than 12,000 current students are pursuing one or more of our 88 majors, 38 master’s programs, 16 PhDs, or two professional doctorates. We are engaged in groundbreaking research designed to solve real-world challenges. We are preparing the next generation of leaders who will strengthen and grow our workforce.

We are able to do this because you and thousands of others trust us with your financial support. Trust is not given; it is earned – and we are committed to earning your trust every day.

Construction is well underway on the SDSU Metro Center in Sioux Falls, which will significantly increase the number of graduates in pharmacy, nursing, medical lab science, and respiratory care. We are working to achieve Carnegie R1 research status – a distinction that only 140 other universities hold. Our student-athletes continue to excel on and off the field.

There is a common thread behind each critical milestone: scholarships.

Scholarships are the engine of opportunity for our students, heightening access to higher education and opening doors for lifelong success. To put it simply, scholarships are oftentimes the difference between a student enrolling at SDSU or not.

The numbers speak for themselves. The 2,449 freshmen last fall comprised the largest first-year class in SDSU history. Our retention rate of 83.8% is also an all-time high.

While it starts with scholarships, the quality of our programs and facilities and the opportunities that we provide to students also fuel SDSU’s growth. It wouldn’t be possible without the 10,000+ donors that made gifts through the SDSU Foundation last year – and every year.

I am sincerely appreciative of your generosity and commitment as a Loyal Blue Society member. On behalf of a very grateful university, thank you for your continued support to SDSU.