A newspaper article recently reported that BHSU is going to cut several academic programs. Just wanted to let you know that the degrees are actually being consolidated and no programs are being cut. Call the Office of Admissions at 605.642.6343 with any questions that you may have concerning this matter.
Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
Monday, March 29, 2010
BHSU Center for American Indian Studies
One thing that I really love about Black Hills State University is it’s devotion to diversity. It is important to remember that BHSU offers not only traditional academic programs and activities that are in high demand, but BHSU also offers students ethnic programs. The Center for American Indian Studies is one of a kind and here in the Black Hills, and is very important to South Dakota residents and their heritage. The Center for American Indian Studies was established at Black Hills State University by an act of the South Dakota Legislature. The mandate of the Center is as follows:
- To serve as the administrative unit for academic programs in American Indian Studies (AIS)
- To act as a coordinating and liaison facility for issues and programs dealing with Indian students (BHSU has the highest proportion of American Indian students of any South Dakota state institution of higher learning)
- To promote awareness of American Indian cultures, value systems, and social problems among both Indian people themselves and members of the larger society
- To assist the University in both recruiting and retaining students of American Indian ancestry
- To act as a liaison with tribal governments, tribal educational facilities, and American Indian organizations in the Northern Plains region when so requested
- To support, encourage, and seek funding for research and publication pertaining to all areas of American Indian culture, language, and heritage
The Center currently administers four academic programs: a major in American Indian Studies, leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree; a general Minor in American Indian Studies; the Minor in American Indian Studies - Teaching; and an American Indian Studies Minor, Emphasis in Communications. The Major in American Indian Studies was first offered in the Fall of 1997; it is cooperatively offered by Black Hills State University and the University of South Dakota, and is the only such cooperative program in the United States.
The Center for Indian Studies actively supports two student organizations: Lakota Omniciye ("a gathering, assembly"), and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). Lakota Omniciye is currently the largest student organization on the BHSU campus, in terms of both membership and budget. This organization promotes fellowship among Indian and non-Indian students, and organizes an annual Cultural Awareness Week and Wacipi (pow-wow) in early April that is now in its 25th year. In past years, the Wacipi has attracted as many as 3,500 persons, making it one of the larger pow-wows in the state. AISES assists and supports Indian students who are preparing for careers in the areas of science, engineering, and technology.
American Indian Awareness Week is the next event on the agenda for the Center for American Indian Studies. This is a week long event that is held on the Black Hills State University campus. Please visit www.bhsu.edu/americanindianstudies for more information about the American Indian Studies program and American Indian Awareness Week. You may also call 605-642-6578.
Emily Pier
Black Hills State University
Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu
Friday, March 26, 2010
Weekly Wrap-up and Reminders
Happy Friday! Spring has sprung here in the Black Hills, and looks like it is here to stay. At least for the extended 10 day forecast! It looks like we will reach well into the 70s even on Tuesday and maybe Wednesday. I don't know about you guys, but I have never been so excited for summer to get here! Hiking, going to the lake, camping, and grilling is in our near future friends! I can smell the hot dogs just thinking about it! :)
A few reminders for all of you admitted students for the Fall 2010 semester. We now have a facebook page just for you guys! Click here. By joining this fan page, you will meet new students like you, learn important information on "what's next at BHSU" and more! Join today!
New Student Registration (NSR) is also right around the corner. Have you received your invite in the mail? If you haven't already done so, sign up for an NSR date and time ASAP at www.bhsu.edu/nsr. The sooner you sign up, the better chances that you will have to get a spot for the date and time that you want. Each session will be capped off at a certain amount of students, and they fill up fast! Therefore, sign up soon!! As always, if you have any questions about NSR or anything else, definitely contact us at the Office of Admissions at 1.800.ALL.BHSU, 605.642.6343 or admissions@bhsu.edu.
Another important item to be thinking about right now is housing contracts. If you are an accepted student for the Fall 2010 semester, you should have already received your housing application. If so, fill it out and return it with you $100 deposit as soon as you can, in order to get placed in the residence hall of your choice. If you haven't received your housing contract yet, you may not yet be accepted to BHSU, and we may still need some admissions items from you. If that is the case, definitely get in contact with us.
Thank you to all of you who attended Preview Day on March 19. With your guests, we had over 200 of you on campus for this event. How exciting! Our last Preview Day of the "season" is on Saturday, April 17. We ended up having to stop allowing registrations for the 3/19 Preview Day early since we had such a great response, so if you are looking to attend the 4/17 session, register ASAP in order to get your spot! You can do so at www.bhsu.edu/visit or by giving the Office of Admissions a call. Attending a Preview Day is a great way to see if BHSU would be a good fit for you. If you attend, you will have the opportunity to talk with current students & professors; eat lunch at the Hive, our student dining center; take a campus tour, learn more about scholarships & financial aid, and much more!
We've also had quite a few individual visits in the past few weeks as well, so "thank you" to all of those who have visited us on campus lately! We will be open throughout the summer months as well, so keep that in mind! We would love to see you.
Next week we are hoping to get some pictures up on the blog of campus, since the weather will be so beautiful. Stay tuned!
GO JACKETS!
Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
A few reminders for all of you admitted students for the Fall 2010 semester. We now have a facebook page just for you guys! Click here. By joining this fan page, you will meet new students like you, learn important information on "what's next at BHSU" and more! Join today!
New Student Registration (NSR) is also right around the corner. Have you received your invite in the mail? If you haven't already done so, sign up for an NSR date and time ASAP at www.bhsu.edu/nsr. The sooner you sign up, the better chances that you will have to get a spot for the date and time that you want. Each session will be capped off at a certain amount of students, and they fill up fast! Therefore, sign up soon!! As always, if you have any questions about NSR or anything else, definitely contact us at the Office of Admissions at 1.800.ALL.BHSU, 605.642.6343 or admissions@bhsu.edu.
Another important item to be thinking about right now is housing contracts. If you are an accepted student for the Fall 2010 semester, you should have already received your housing application. If so, fill it out and return it with you $100 deposit as soon as you can, in order to get placed in the residence hall of your choice. If you haven't received your housing contract yet, you may not yet be accepted to BHSU, and we may still need some admissions items from you. If that is the case, definitely get in contact with us.
Thank you to all of you who attended Preview Day on March 19. With your guests, we had over 200 of you on campus for this event. How exciting! Our last Preview Day of the "season" is on Saturday, April 17. We ended up having to stop allowing registrations for the 3/19 Preview Day early since we had such a great response, so if you are looking to attend the 4/17 session, register ASAP in order to get your spot! You can do so at www.bhsu.edu/visit or by giving the Office of Admissions a call. Attending a Preview Day is a great way to see if BHSU would be a good fit for you. If you attend, you will have the opportunity to talk with current students & professors; eat lunch at the Hive, our student dining center; take a campus tour, learn more about scholarships & financial aid, and much more!
We've also had quite a few individual visits in the past few weeks as well, so "thank you" to all of those who have visited us on campus lately! We will be open throughout the summer months as well, so keep that in mind! We would love to see you.
Next week we are hoping to get some pictures up on the blog of campus, since the weather will be so beautiful. Stay tuned!
GO JACKETS!
Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
Monday, March 15, 2010
Dual Enrollment
The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day in the Black Hills! Spring must be here because I have already seen four people wearing shorts, never mind that they were shivering and almost running across campus.
There has been a lot of attention directed at the current seniors but I think it is time to visit with you juniors and sophomores about attending Black Hills State and how it might not be as far off as you think. You can start earning college credits while still in high school. Dual enrollment has many great advantages. Below are some of the things to think about.
You can save money: The cost savings for you and your parents is substantial. Much of the cost of higher education stems from room, board and other living expenses. Dual enrollment courses give you the opportunity to take a university course while you live at home and attend high school, so you’ll save those costs. In addition, tuition at in-state universities is substantially less than many out-of-state universities. So if you are planning to attend college out of state, classes taken here at home will cost less.
Ease the transition to college: Dual enrollment classes can help ease the transition from high school to university courses because it gives students the opportunity to experience a university-level classroom and adjust to university-level academic expectations. Students learn to work on their own and set study timelines. It’s an opportunity for ambitious high school students to get a jump start on their college careers.
Transfer your credits: The dual enrollment policy in South Dakota, which was enacted through a legislative bill passed in 1990, allows high school students to get a jump start on their college career while fulfilling high school requirements. If you choose to attend a South Dakota Regental university, transferring the credit is simple. Courses can also be transferred to out-of-state universities when you enroll. The grade you earn in the course becomes part of your permanent high school and university record.
Choose a class and register: Classes are offered on the BHSU campus and in Rapid City. Some courses are also available through distance learning options. Browse the BHSU class schedule to find a course that will work for you.
By participating in the dual enrollment program, a high school student can make substantial progress toward a college degree before finishing high school. You will earn not only college credit but you will be able to use those courses to continue to fulfill your high school requirements as well. Your high school counselor already knows about the dual enrollment program, so ask them. They will have suggestions on what types of classes to look into and how to construct your high school schedule in order to accommodate a college course. Either myself or Maria Hartung will be traveling to the local schools over the upcoming months to visit with any current sophomores or juniors about this program. If you have further questions or if you don’t want to wait until we come to you, give one of us a call. For those of you in Spearfish, Lead/Deadwood, Belle Fourche, or Sturgis, you can contact me at 605.642.6227 or at Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu with any questions. Students in Rapid City and the surrounding communities can contact Maria at the Higher Education Center at 605.394.3350 or at Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu. This is a great way to begin the next stage in your life! Please call us with any questions!
GO JACKETS!
Emily Pier
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu
Go Jackets!
There has been a lot of attention directed at the current seniors but I think it is time to visit with you juniors and sophomores about attending Black Hills State and how it might not be as far off as you think. You can start earning college credits while still in high school. Dual enrollment has many great advantages. Below are some of the things to think about.
You can save money: The cost savings for you and your parents is substantial. Much of the cost of higher education stems from room, board and other living expenses. Dual enrollment courses give you the opportunity to take a university course while you live at home and attend high school, so you’ll save those costs. In addition, tuition at in-state universities is substantially less than many out-of-state universities. So if you are planning to attend college out of state, classes taken here at home will cost less.
Ease the transition to college: Dual enrollment classes can help ease the transition from high school to university courses because it gives students the opportunity to experience a university-level classroom and adjust to university-level academic expectations. Students learn to work on their own and set study timelines. It’s an opportunity for ambitious high school students to get a jump start on their college careers.
Transfer your credits: The dual enrollment policy in South Dakota, which was enacted through a legislative bill passed in 1990, allows high school students to get a jump start on their college career while fulfilling high school requirements. If you choose to attend a South Dakota Regental university, transferring the credit is simple. Courses can also be transferred to out-of-state universities when you enroll. The grade you earn in the course becomes part of your permanent high school and university record.
Choose a class and register: Classes are offered on the BHSU campus and in Rapid City. Some courses are also available through distance learning options. Browse the BHSU class schedule to find a course that will work for you.
By participating in the dual enrollment program, a high school student can make substantial progress toward a college degree before finishing high school. You will earn not only college credit but you will be able to use those courses to continue to fulfill your high school requirements as well. Your high school counselor already knows about the dual enrollment program, so ask them. They will have suggestions on what types of classes to look into and how to construct your high school schedule in order to accommodate a college course. Either myself or Maria Hartung will be traveling to the local schools over the upcoming months to visit with any current sophomores or juniors about this program. If you have further questions or if you don’t want to wait until we come to you, give one of us a call. For those of you in Spearfish, Lead/Deadwood, Belle Fourche, or Sturgis, you can contact me at 605.642.6227 or at Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu with any questions. Students in Rapid City and the surrounding communities can contact Maria at the Higher Education Center at 605.394.3350 or at Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu. This is a great way to begin the next stage in your life! Please call us with any questions!
GO JACKETS!
Emily Pier
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu
Go Jackets!
Friday, March 12, 2010
Calling All Accepted Students!
TGIF! I realize that I start most of my blogs with that... but I really do mean it... every Friday! I hope that you are all as excited about Friday as I am. :)
As Emily explained in the previous blog, New Student Registration (NSR) is approaching, so now is the time to sign up for your date and time slot, before everyone else does! We only have so many spots during each NSR date and time slot, so if you have a particular date and time in mind, you best be getting signed up ASAP! You can do so at www.bhsu.edu/nsr, or by calling the Office of Admissions at 1-800-ALL-BHSU. The sooner that you register, the better chance you will have to get an earlier date/time slot; which means the better class selection you will have, as classes fill up quickly! REGISTER TODAY!
On another note, we now have a Facebook page specifically for all of our newly accepted students for the Fall 2010 semester. You can use this Facebook page to interact with other accepted students, learn more about what is happening on campus, and much more. Join our new page today! It's the cool thing to do! :)
Spring is definitely in the air here in the Black Hills, with temps in the 40's & 50's predicted for the next week or so. Hopefully mother nature will cooperate, and it will continue to get warmer and warmer! On an ending note~ don't forget to turn your clocks ahead this weekend!
GO JACKETS!
Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
As Emily explained in the previous blog, New Student Registration (NSR) is approaching, so now is the time to sign up for your date and time slot, before everyone else does! We only have so many spots during each NSR date and time slot, so if you have a particular date and time in mind, you best be getting signed up ASAP! You can do so at www.bhsu.edu/nsr, or by calling the Office of Admissions at 1-800-ALL-BHSU. The sooner that you register, the better chance you will have to get an earlier date/time slot; which means the better class selection you will have, as classes fill up quickly! REGISTER TODAY!
On another note, we now have a Facebook page specifically for all of our newly accepted students for the Fall 2010 semester. You can use this Facebook page to interact with other accepted students, learn more about what is happening on campus, and much more. Join our new page today! It's the cool thing to do! :)
Spring is definitely in the air here in the Black Hills, with temps in the 40's & 50's predicted for the next week or so. Hopefully mother nature will cooperate, and it will continue to get warmer and warmer! On an ending note~ don't forget to turn your clocks ahead this weekend!
GO JACKETS!
Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
Monday, March 8, 2010
New Student Registration (NSR)
Let’s register for courses!
It’s here, finally! This is when you will really start to feel like a Black Hills State University student. New Student Registration! If you have been accepted at BHSU, you can now sign up for a New Student Registration day. Paper invitations will be mailed out later this week but you can reserve your spot online NOW! Just visit us at www.bhsu.edu/nsr or call our office at 605-642-6343 to reserve a space. Sign up soon because the dates fill up quickly and as the summer goes on, classes will fill up. There is a morning and afternoon session on each of the following days:
June 4: 8:00 - 11:30 am; OR 1:00 - 4:30 pm
June 18: 8:00 - 11:30 am; OR 1:00 - 4:30 pm
June 25: 8:00 - 11:30 am; OR 1:00 - 4:30 pm
July 9: 8:00 - 11:30 am; OR 1:00 - 4:30 pm
New Student Registration, or NSR, is a mandatory program for new freshman. Transfer students may attend if they wish also but the Registrar’s Office will be taking individual appointments for new transfer students. NSR is an important day because not only will you register for your courses but you will gain access and learn how to use your BHSU email. You will have a chance to visit with Residence Life and see your hall if you are living on campus. Your roommate assignment will be ready if you haven’t already been notified of your new roommate. You can also turn in items such as your immunization records and complete any unfinished business such as financial aid. Students will also receive their Buzz Card, or student id, and learn about Green and Gold Days, the orientation at the beginning of the fall semester. You will be able to visit with advisors from each department, who will also help you register. Students who need to take a COMPASS exam will have the opportunity to do so the afternoon before each NSR day. You will be notified in your acceptance letter or NSR confirmation letter if you will need to take any COMPASS exams. You are also welcome to call the Office of Admissions at anytime to learn more about the COMPASS exams, if you will need to take any, and how to sign up for them.
Parents also have some special activities that day. While students are registering, parents will be able to attend some parent sessions that will include some important information.
Please contact the Office of Admissions with any questions or if you would like to reserve a space for NSR. I’m looking forward to seeing all of you on campus this summer!
Emily Pier
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu
Friday, March 5, 2010
TGIF
TGIF! Hello from a very foggy black hills region. I hope that you all have had a fantastic week. Now is about the time that the rest of your school year is going to fly by, so enjoy it! I know, you don't want to hear that when you are in high school, especially the last semester of your senior year. I remember people telling me to "enjoy it" and "take it all in," but in reality, I just wanted to get out of school and graduate already! It is so true though, definitely take it all in.
We recently sent out our first award letters to freshman scholarship recipients. Congratulations to all of those who received them! There are still plenty of opportunities to be awarded scholarships, so don't loose hope just yet if you weren't one of the early recipients. Also, if you haven't already submitted a scholarship application, make sure and do so at www.bhsu.edu/scholarships.
I hope that you all have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), or are planning to do so very soon. The BHSU FAFSA priority deadline was March 1, but that definitely doesn't mean that you still can't submit it. What the priority deadline means is that if you are chosen to be awarded grant monies, there is only so much available for us to give out. Therefore, the sooner you complete the form, the better your chances of getting the best award possible. The FAFSA and financial aid process in general can be very confusing and stressful. I know that I was completely "out of the loop" during this whole process when I was going through it. Therefore, definitely ask for help if you need it. Student Financial Services is here to help address any questions or concerns that you may have. They can be reached at 605-642-6145, or you can also call 1-800-255-2478 and ask for them specifically. You can also email them at bhsufinancial@bhsu.edu. Don't be afraid to ask for help!
I hope that you all have a fantastic weekend. Carpet and other flooring shopping is on the agenda for me. I have been shopping for these items for quite some time now, so I am ready to finalize things... FINALLY. Wish me luck! :)
GO JACKETS!
Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
We recently sent out our first award letters to freshman scholarship recipients. Congratulations to all of those who received them! There are still plenty of opportunities to be awarded scholarships, so don't loose hope just yet if you weren't one of the early recipients. Also, if you haven't already submitted a scholarship application, make sure and do so at www.bhsu.edu/scholarships.
I hope that you all have completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), or are planning to do so very soon. The BHSU FAFSA priority deadline was March 1, but that definitely doesn't mean that you still can't submit it. What the priority deadline means is that if you are chosen to be awarded grant monies, there is only so much available for us to give out. Therefore, the sooner you complete the form, the better your chances of getting the best award possible. The FAFSA and financial aid process in general can be very confusing and stressful. I know that I was completely "out of the loop" during this whole process when I was going through it. Therefore, definitely ask for help if you need it. Student Financial Services is here to help address any questions or concerns that you may have. They can be reached at 605-642-6145, or you can also call 1-800-255-2478 and ask for them specifically. You can also email them at bhsufinancial@bhsu.edu. Don't be afraid to ask for help!
I hope that you all have a fantastic weekend. Carpet and other flooring shopping is on the agenda for me. I have been shopping for these items for quite some time now, so I am ready to finalize things... FINALLY. Wish me luck! :)
GO JACKETS!
Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
FAFSA- Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Good Morning!
It is a beautiful day in Spearfish and the Black Hills! I hope to see more of you as the academic year nears its end and the summer approaches. As always, it is a good idea to keep tabs on what your next step is towards becoming a student at Black Hills State. If you are thinking about attending in the fall or if you are certain that you will be attending in the fall, the FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the next step if you haven’t already completed it. The FAFSA or Free Application For Federal Student Aid is a government program to help students with the expenses of college. This application can be a great asset to you. You can obtain this form from your high school guidance counselor, or from a BHSU Financial Aid representative. You also can fill out the form online.
Completing and submitting the FASFA is FREE and does not have any penalty if you do not qualify for anything. So it is worthwhile to complete this form, even if you are not sure what benefits you will see from it. It is also important to remember that you have to complete this form for every academic year, so next year at this time, you will need to return to your FASFA with your same pin number and your new tax information and complete it again.
The priority deadline for the FASFA was March 1, 2010 but you can still complete it and receive funding. You can access the FASFA at www.fasfa.ed.gov. Please use this web site to complete it because using the government web site is FREE! There are other sites out there that charge for it, but why pay for it if you can complete it for free. Please refer to the FAFSA Helpful Hints page to learn more about how to fill out the FAFSA form. If you have any questions about the FAFSA or about Financial Aid, contact the Financial Aid Office at (605) 642-6145 or 1-800-ALL-BHSU [255-2478], or email the Financial Aid Office at bhsufinancial@bhsu.edu.
I am looking forward to seeing you at New Student Registration this summer as well as around campus next fall! Go Jackets!
Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
emily.pier@bhsu.edu
It is a beautiful day in Spearfish and the Black Hills! I hope to see more of you as the academic year nears its end and the summer approaches. As always, it is a good idea to keep tabs on what your next step is towards becoming a student at Black Hills State. If you are thinking about attending in the fall or if you are certain that you will be attending in the fall, the FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the next step if you haven’t already completed it. The FAFSA or Free Application For Federal Student Aid is a government program to help students with the expenses of college. This application can be a great asset to you. You can obtain this form from your high school guidance counselor, or from a BHSU Financial Aid representative. You also can fill out the form online.
Completing and submitting the FASFA is FREE and does not have any penalty if you do not qualify for anything. So it is worthwhile to complete this form, even if you are not sure what benefits you will see from it. It is also important to remember that you have to complete this form for every academic year, so next year at this time, you will need to return to your FASFA with your same pin number and your new tax information and complete it again.
The priority deadline for the FASFA was March 1, 2010 but you can still complete it and receive funding. You can access the FASFA at www.fasfa.ed.gov. Please use this web site to complete it because using the government web site is FREE! There are other sites out there that charge for it, but why pay for it if you can complete it for free. Please refer to the FAFSA Helpful Hints page to learn more about how to fill out the FAFSA form. If you have any questions about the FAFSA or about Financial Aid, contact the Financial Aid Office at (605) 642-6145 or 1-800-ALL-BHSU [255-2478], or email the Financial Aid Office at bhsufinancial@bhsu.edu.
I am looking forward to seeing you at New Student Registration this summer as well as around campus next fall! Go Jackets!
Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
emily.pier@bhsu.edu
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