BROOKINGS – South Dakota State University will move its spring semester classes online for the remainder of the semester following Gov. Kristi Noem’s news conference Tuesday in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Classes were originally scheduled to resume on-campus April 6.

Additionally, SDSU has determined commencement ceremonies will be postponed until further notice and there will be no campus activities or events through May 15.

“This is certainly a difficult time, and this is the right thing to do as we navigate this unprecedented situation and work together to change the course of this pandemic,” said SDSU President Barry Dunn. “We continue to follow the recommendations of public health officials and make determinations that are responsive to the health and safety of everyone in mind. Our faculty started online classes yesterday and are committed to finishing the semester by providing the best educational experience possible for our students for the remainder of the year.”

Students will receive partial refunds for housing, meal plans and parking.

SDSU Housing and Residential Life has developed a plan for students to return to campus and remove their personal belongings from the residential life facilities. The plan follows guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it applies to social distancing and other best practices for cleaning and disinfecting.

From the South Dakota Board of Regents

PIERRE – As COVID-19 further impacts this state and region, the South Dakota Board of Regents, and the six public universities and two special schools it governs, must adjust operations accordingly.

Effective immediately, all public university courses will continue by remote delivery through the remainder of the spring semester. Face-to-face instruction will not resume. The spring 2020 semester is scheduled to end May 8.

Students attending South Dakota School for the Blind & Visually Impaired will work with teachers remotely through Friday, May 1, consistent with state directives for other K-12 schools. Outreach visits have been suspended at both SDSBVI and South Dakota School for the Deaf. Audiology clinics will be closed until further notice.

Because state officials anticipate an increase in COVID-19 infections, presidents at all South Dakota public university campuses have made the difficult decision to postpone spring 2020 commencement ceremonies. Further details will be shared as new plans are confirmed.

The public universities’ priority is to ensure that instruction continues through the remainder of the spring semester. No tuition or fees will be adjusted unless a student withdraws completely from the university on or before March 28, or the institution is unable to deliver a course online.

Students may qualify for credits to their accounts in the following areas:

• 50% housing credit, except for those students approved for emergency housing at the close of the extended spring break;
• Pro-rated credit for meal plans not utilized and full credit on unused flex dollars;
• Pro-rated credit for parking permits, equal to 50% of the spring semester.

Please refer to university-specific news releases and websites to stay up to date on the status of campus operations. 

The South Dakota Board of Regents is the constitutional governing body for Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, South Dakota School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and South Dakota School for the Deaf.