Welcome Week
Fall Kickoff
August 17-21, 2026
Welcome to the 2026-27 academic year! The week kicks off the Fall semester, including the all employee breakfast, new faculty orientation, and concluding with new student move-in.
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*Fall Kickoff All-campus Breakfast attendance is expected for all employees.
Required faculty sessions are indicated by (All Faculty) or (New Faculty). Adjunct faculty are invited to attend as able. Other audiences and invitations to attend are indicated as such in the event title.
Monday, August 17
Location: Heston Hall Brinker (second floor)
Description: Welcome to DSU! New faculty will meet with HR to complete new employee paperwork and begin orientation.
Location: Dakota Prairie Playhouse
Host: President's Office
Breakfast serving begins at 9:00 am with the program starting at 9:30 am.
*Mandatory – all employee attendance expected.
Location: Dakota Prairie Playhouse
Description: Following breakfast, a photo station will be available for anyone who wishes to have their employee photo retaken. New employees who have not had their photos taken should have their photo taken.
Host: Marketing
Location: ITS Helpdesk, Karl Mundt Library
Host: College Deans
Following their photo, new faculty will meet with their Deans. For those who have not pre-picked up their DSU laptop will walk with their Dean to the ITS Helpdesk.
Location: Kennedy Center 120
Host: Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
Description: This new faculty orientation session focuses on creating your required syllabus, learning outcomes and includes other essential items for teaching at DSU and preparing for a successful start to classes.
Tuesday, August 18
Location: The gravel lot off Washington and 8th
Description: The Salty Mare coffee truck will be parked on campus. Watch your email to RSVP for a $5 coupon.
Location: Tunheim Classroom Building (TCB) Auditorium
Host: Provost Hoey
Description: Provost Hoey will share an Academic Affairs update and vision for teaching and learning in 2026-27.
Location: Tunheim Classroom Building (TCB) Auditorium
Host: Laura Cross, Registrar and Autumn Glanzer, Associate Registrar
Description: Registrar provides an annual FERPA training, including recent updates.
Location: Tunheim Classroom Building (TCB) Auditorium
Host: Dr. Ashley Podhradsky, VP for Research & Economic Development and Dr. Peter Hoesing, Associate VP for Research & Economic Development
Location: Tunheim Classroom Building (TCB) Auditorium
Host: Kyle Cronin, General Faculty President, Vice President Hannah Altmann, and Secretary Shawn Zwach
Description: General Faculty will hold its first meeting of the academic year, open to all full-time faculty.
Location: The Parking spaces next to the Hex D sign
Description: The Dakota Jax food truck will be parked on campus. Watch your email to RSVP for a $5 coupon.
Location: Kennedy Center 120
Hosts: Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL); Tyler Steele, Systems Administration Manager
Description: This new faculty orientation session focuses on the D2L (LMS) basics and utilizing the Panopto software for course videos. Come ready to workshop – from building the basics to exploring new tools for your courses.
Location: Kennedy Center 120
Host: Mary Francis
Description: This new faculty orientation session focuses on the D2L (LMS) basics and utilizing the Panopto software for course videos. Come ready to workshop – from building the basics to exploring new tools for your courses.
Host: Sponsored by the Madison Chamber
www.chamberofmadisonsd.com
Description: Join the Madison community for one of the final DownTown MadTown events of the Summer. Enjoy fun for the whole familty with food trucks, kids's inflateables, and live music. Dakota State Univeristy will be the co-sponsor for the following week.
Wednesday, August 20
Location: Beadle Hall 206
Host: Dean Stacey Berry
Location: East Hall 100
Host: Dean Mary Bell
Location: East Hall 108
Host: Dean Darrel Sandall
Location: Kennedy Center (KC) 104
Host: Dean David De Jong
Location: Various Locations
Host: Department Chairs
Description: This time is reserved for College Department meetings.
Location: Kennedy Center 120
Host: Kristen Uilk, Director of Academic Support Services
Description: This session will provide a workshop for accessing and utilizing TrojanConnect, DSU’s student success platform, and outline upcoming training opportunities for faculty and staff who wish to expand their use of the system throughout the semester.
We’ll share how TrojanConnect is used to support Early Alerts and implement Attendance/ Course Registration Cancellation Policy. The session will include:
- A review of the policy and where to find it
- Step-by-step guidance on completing the initial attendance/participation survey
- Instructions for submitting a second survey to request course cancellation for non-participating students
- A walkthrough of the student cancel appeal process, including timelines
- Troubleshooting tips and best practices for using the platform effectively
Location: Kennedy Center 120
Host: CTL
Description: Drop by anytime during our CTL: Teaching and Learning Drop-In session to get support with anything pedagogy-related—from D2L assistance to learning design and student activity engagement—as you prepare for your courses.
Thursday, August 20
Location: Learning Engagement Center (LEC)
Description: Join the LEC team for a complimentary treat and an opportunity to learn about the resources, events, programs, and opportunities available through the Learning Engagement Opportunity Center.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to stop by, connect with our team, and take an optional tour to discover all that the LEC has to offer.
Host: LEC Staff
Location: Kennedy Center 120
Hosts: Zoe Landis, Assistant Director of Disability, Prevention, and Intervention Services; Nicole Bowen, Counseling Center Director
Description: Nicole and the Counseling Center Team will lead a session focused on meeting the current student mental health needs and the support available from their office. Zoe will explain the process and platform for student ADA accommodations.
Location: Kennedy Center 120
Hosts: Sarah Olson, Course Materials Manager
Description: Sara will walk through the process for selecting and indicating course materials including first day access for students at DSU.
Location: Learning Engagement Center (LEC)
Description: As a group, new faculty will stop by the LEC Open House for a tour and meet the Student Affairs staff in the Career Center, Advising and Tutoring, and International Programs.
Location: Karl Mundt Library 201
Host: Provost Hoey
Description: All new full-time faculty are invited to have lunch with Provost Hoey.
Friday, August 21
Location: Campus Residential Halls
Description: DSU welcomes new students as they move-in! It's a great time to take a walk around campus to greet new Trojans and their families.
Location: Beacom PREMIER Complex
Description: All of campus is invited to an ice cream social with new students and their families.
Other Upcoming Events
Time: 3:30 pm
Location: Dakota Prarie Playhouse
Description: All of campus is invited to Convocation, serving as the University's official opening of the academic year. Fulltime facultiy will process in regalia for the ceremony.
Location: Egan Ave
Host: Sponsored by DSU and Madison Chamber
Description: Join the Madison community for one of the final DownTown MadTown events of the Summer. Enjoy fun for the whole familty with food trucks, kids's inflateables, and live music. Dakota State is a co-sponsor for this night celebrating the first week of fall classes.
* Mandatory – all employee attendance expected.