Wed, Oct 02
|Western Dakota Technical College
2024 SDHEA Annual Conference
Get ready for an exciting journey towards the future of South Dakota higher education. This year’s theme is “Navigating the Future”. Register for the conference, book your hotel, and submit your proposal. Have questions? Connect with us at donna.dunn@sdstate.edu for more information.
Time & Location
Oct 02, 2024, 8:00 AM MDT – Oct 03, 2024, 1:00 PM MDT
Western Dakota Technical College, 800 Mickelson Dr, Rapid City, SD 57703, USA
About the event
Call for Proposals for the Fall 2024 conference is coming in early March! Proposals will be reviewed and announced this summer.
In order to register for the conference, you must be logged in to mysdhea.org. Sign up for free annual members access here: https://www.mysdhea.org/memberships
Hotel Reservations (October 01 - October 03) are available at the Courtyard Rapid City, 580 WaTiki Way, Box Elder, South Dakota 57719. Reservations at the state rate ($75) are available if reserved by September 01, 2024, and must be made by calling 605-791-0945 and referencing that you are with SDHEA or online here.
October 01 | SDHEA Social Hour, Time TBD, Downtown Rapid City, Hosted by our illustrious Past-Presidents
October 02 | SDHEA Annual Conference Day 01, Beginning at 9:00AM MT, WDT campus
October 03 | SDHEA Annual Conference Day 02, Ending at 12:00PM MT, WDT campus
Registration
WDTC One-Day Registration
2024/2025 Annual Conference WDTC One-Day Host Registration. Available to WDTC employees and students as this year's host institution. Ten total One-Day Registrations available. If wanting to attend both days, register for both day tickets. If paying by check or cash, the total cost of the registration will be processed without the service fee listed. If paying by other means, the cost of the associated processing fees will be added to your bill.
Sale ended$50.00
+$1.25 ticket service fee
$50.00
+$1.25 ticket service fee
Call for Presenters
The SDHEA Annual Conference is an opportunity to share knowledge, innovative practices, and research that support higher education professionals across South Dakota. We invite proposals for engaging sessions that inspire collaboration, professional development, and meaningful discussions.
For 2025, the conference theme is "Building on a Gold Foundation: The Next Chapter of Our Legacy." This theme encourages reflection on our foundations in higher education while exploring new opportunities, innovative practices, and emerging challenges that will shape our future. Presentations should be relevant to student affairs, academic affairs, advising, leadership, institutional research, wellness, and other key areas impacting our institutions.
Presenters can choose from a variety of session formats, including:
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Pre-Conference Workshops
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90-Minute Workshops
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50-Minute Breakout Sessions
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Poster Presentations
Proposals are due by May 31, 2025. Submit your proposal using the link below.
Questions? Contact Whitney Bischoff at wbischoff@resilienttoday.org.
APPLY FOR A
GRADUATE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP
Thanks to the generosity of our 2024 conference guests, we raised over $800 through our Silent Auction to support graduate student attendance at the 2025 SDHEA Annual Conference.
We are excited to offer three $200 scholarships, along with waived registration fees for the selected recipients.
To be considered, please complete and submit your application by August 15, 2025.
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!
The South Dakota Higher Education Association honors outstanding contributions in higher education through three prestigious awards:
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Marcus Boesen Memorial Award: Recognizes new professionals within their first four years in higher education who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to student development, their institution, and SDHEA.
Marcus Boesen Memorial Award Nomination Form
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Patrick Merrigan Memorial Award for Distinguished Service: Acknowledges individuals who have provided distinguished service to higher education in South Dakota, exemplifying dedication and leadership.
Patrick Merrigan Memorial Award for Distinguished Service Nomination Form
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Robert J. Courtney Award: Celebrates students who have made significant contributions to student life through their leadership.
Robert J. Courtney Award Nomination Form
We invite our community to submit nominations for these awards to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our colleagues. For detailed information on each award and the nomination process, please visit the respective links above.
Nominations for all awards are due by November 15, 2025.
Silent Auction & Donations
Let us know what you plan on bringing!
The Silent Auction is a cherished tradition and a fantastic opportunity to support scholarships, reduce costs, and advance the initiatives of our association. Join us in supporting the profession at the 2025 Annual Conference by participating in our exciting Silent Auction!
Please provide silent auction items at the check-in table during the 2025 Fall Conference or give them to an SDHEA board member before the event.
Questions? Contact Donna Dunn at donna.dunn@sdstate.edu.
Past Presidents' Social
October 15, 2025
We're still working out the details, but we would love for you to attend our second annual Past Presidents' Social in Vermillion the night prior the start of the conference.
You're Invited