Thank you to all of you who responded to the Stakeholder Survey. I extend my most sincere appreciation to those who took the time to share your thoughts, insights, and advice.
A wide array of stakeholders, from alumni to students, from faculty to staff, and to community members, responded (n=388). You may view the actual survey responses online at http://president.sdsmt.edu . You gave me much to think about, and I offer you a summary overview of what I have learned so far from your comments.
I learned that the Midwestern core values of hard work, integrity, community, and individual responsibility are widely, even universally, shared. You described the core values of the School of Mines as holding to high academic standards (especially in teaching technical fundamentals), focusing on students through quality teaching and personal attention, and graduating well-rounded, honest individuals who are ready to take responsibility for the world they will inherit.
Regarding the institution's distinctions, you clearly recognized a school focused on science and engineering. You also acknowledged our focus on students, quality teaching, academic excellence, and the quality of interpersonal relationships-especially the critical bonds between students and faculty members.
The strengths or characteristics of the School of Mines you admire were numerous but also remarkably consistent. Aside from our proximity to the beautiful Black Hills, you repeatedly singled out the unmatched quality of our faculty members and their commitment to quality teaching. You put new polish on the cliché of asserting excellence in instruction and impressed me with the strength of our emphasis on the individual student and the degree to which you see these values exemplified currently at the School of Mines. Academic strengths often cited were the quality of education and high academic standards we offer (despite low tuition and limited resources), the practical, hands-on nature of the curriculum, and the strong reputation these strengths yield within industry and in the community.
You see our challenges with equal clarity, of course, and described them with constructive candor. You challenged us to increase our ties with industry and to link their evolving needs with our curriculum. We cannot lose touch and cannot slip in terms of continuously updating our knowledge, our technologies, and our external collaborations. Our recruitment, retention, and marketing efforts must be strengthened, and we need to achieve more in these areas with limited resources.
You recognized that some of our challenges are paired with opportunities. For instance, we need to better leverage the talent and energy of our alumni but are blessed with a wealth of people eager to contribute to the cause. As a university, we need to better understand how we will preserve the conditions under which faculty have the time and energy to remain passionate about their teaching and attentive to students while rising to the challenge of increasing research activity and serving as a stimulus for economic development in western South Dakota.
The worries you expressed read very much like the mirror image of all you most admire and value about the institution. I was cautioned repeatedly against drifting away from our traditions; our commitment to high academic standards; our focus on science and engineering; and our insistence on providing all students with excellent instruction, personal attention, and mentoring. I listened to you on all these points and concluded my initial study of your input heartened by the intelligence, strong values, and passion of the people I will work with as leader of the School of Mines.
I will need some time to fully assimilate all the ideas and advice you offered but will do so with a renewed appreciation for the resources and strengths I will have to draw from in all of you. I will continue to rely on your ideas and good will as we work together to strengthen and preserve the School of Mines.
For those you who have not had an opportunity to offer your input, I continue to welcome your comments. You can respond to the survey at: http://interact.sdsmt.edu/president/stakeholder/survey.htm.
Thank you again to those who participated in the survey.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D.
President
