Administrative Information | Search Terms | Background Note | Scope and Contents Note | Arrangement | PDF of Finding Aid
 

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Title:     College of Engineering, Office of the Dean

Dates:     1913-2008, [n.d.] (bulk 1950-1963, 1967-1975, 1977, 1984-2008)

Creator:     Office of the Dean, College of Engineering, South Dakota State University

Physical description:     1.84 linear feet—3 containers, 1 color slide, 28 photographs

Collection number:     UA 8.0

Language:     Collection material in English.

Repository:     South Dakota State University Archives, Hilton M. Briggs Library, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

Abstract:     Collection is composed of materials that pertain to the college, including Engineering and Science Research, biographical information on prominent persons related to the college, material dealing with the engineering controversy of the early 1970s, the Impulse magazine, and history of the college.

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Provenance:     Part of this collection was found in the Archives in 1997. There is no indication of where they came from or how they came to be here.

Richard Reid, Assistant Dean of the College of Engineering transferred the bulk of this collection to the Archives during the summer of 2004.

This is an on-going collection with material arriving through departmental records transfers, the university campus mail, or random donation by various individuals.

Access Restrictions:     This collection is open to research without restriction. Items in this collection do not circulate and may be used in-house only.

Copyright Status:     Copyright 2008 by South Dakota State University and SDSU Archives. Please credit the SDSU Archives if you copy or reproduce material from this finding aid.

It is the responsibility of anyone reproducing material to determine the copyright holders and obtain permission from them if necessary. Archives staff will provide available copyright information on request. Please note that most collections, especially those received before 1997, may not have complete information on file. (Revised 15 SEP 2003)

Preferred citation:     [Identification of item]. College of Engineering, Office of the Dean, UA 8.0, South Dakota State University Archives, South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D.

Processing information:     This collection was processed by Crystal J. Gamradt on March 3, 1999 with revisions on August 19, 2008 (cjg).

SELECTED SEARCH TERMS

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the subject guide. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein.

Persons:

Subjects:

• Agronomy Department—Research—South Dakota State College.
• American Society of Engineering Education—South Dakota State University.
• Buildings—South Dakota State University.
• Chemistry Department—Research—South Dakota State University
• Engineering and Science Research—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering controversy—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering Hall—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Awards—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Computer Center—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Congresses and conventions—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Construction Management—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Contests—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Curricula—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Distinguished Engineer—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Electronics Engineering Technology—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Engineering Exploration Days—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Engineering Technology and Management—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Engineer's Smoker—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Enrollment—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Industrial Management—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Newsletters—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Order of the Engineer—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Outreach—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Periodicals—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Research—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Safety Management—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Scholarships—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Seminars and workshops—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Short courses—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Societies and clubs—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, College of—Trade fairs—South Dakota State University.
• Engineering, Division of—Societies and clubs—South Dakota State College.
• Engineering—South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
• Flandreau Indian School Success Academy—South Dakota State University.
• Northern States Power Company.
• Pharmacognosy—Research—South Dakota State College.
• Pharmacy, Division of—Research—South Dakota State College.
• Physics Department—Research—South Dakota State College.
• Product Development Center—South Dakota State University.
• Robin Hood Junior Honorary Society.
• Salaries—South Dakota State University.
• Selective service—South Dakota State University.
• Sigma Tau Honorary Engineering Fraternity, Delta Chapter—South Dakota State University.
• Weather engineering.

BACKGROUND NOTE 

Instruction in engineering is a cornerstone of the land grant ideal. The Morrill Act of 1862, the enabling legislation of the land grant system, required that courses be taught in mechanical arts, including engineering. As a land grant college, South Dakota State University complied with this requirement from the outset. The first catalog of South Dakota State University contains plans for an engineering course of study. A full course was outlined for interested students, and in 1891, the two members of the graduating class were engineering students. Courses were taught in civil and mechanical engineering, and the electrical engineering course was taught through the Department of Physics, known for a short while as the Department of Physics and Electrical Engineering. By 1900, enrollment in the engineering course had grown to such an extent that separate departments for civil, mechanical and electrical engineering were established.

In 1924, all departments of South Dakota State University were arranged into five units known as divisions, precursors of the modern colleges. The Engineering Division offered coursework in electrical, mechanical or civil engineering leading to a Bachelor of Science degree. Physics and mathematics were in the general science division, and the Agriculture Division administered agricultural engineering. All later moved to the Engineering Division and are today part of the College of Engineering.

Decreasing enrollment in engineering courses at the university, combined with ongoing financial problems, led the South Dakota Board of Regents to make an unpopular recommendation in 1976. Known around campus as the Engineering Controversy, the proposal recommended that only one engineering school, to be housed at the School of Mines in Rapid City, was needed in South Dakota. The plans for carrying out the proposal went far, but the proposal was never carried out. Nevertheless, it caused a major stir both in and out of Brookings, and resulted in a renewed interest in the College of Engineering.

In 1986, the College of Engineering established a new program to serve South Dakota. The Engineering and Environmental Research Center was established to serve the university, citizens and industry of South Dakota through a variety of programs. Among the programs established was the Engineering Extension Service, which formalized the extension work of the college. Also included are the Office of Remote Sensing, the South Dakota Local Transportation Assistance Program, the University/Industry Technology Service and the Manufacturing Extension partnership.

Today, the College of Engineering offers a variety of courses with a faculty characterized by high academic arraignment and significant accomplishments in engineering practice, science, and technology. Undergraduate professional programs are offered leading to baccalaureate degrees in agricultural engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, engineering physics, computer science, electronics engineering technology, construction management, and manufacturing engineering technology. In addition to the undergraduate degree programs, course selections are available from the broad offering of undergraduate courses to specializations in each program. Graduate programs are available in engineering, the sciences, mathematics and industrial management.

Related Material:

South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Division of Engineering,  “70 years of engineering, 1884-1954,” Brookings, S.D., South Dakota State College, 1954. [Archives: T74.S6 S6s]

South Dakota State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, “History of S.D.S.C.,” Brookings, S.D., South Dakota State College, 1930. [Archives: S537.S6 H47]

South Dakota State University, College of Engineering, “A five-year plan for engineering education enhancement,” Brookings, S.D., The College, 1984. [Archives: T74 S6 S68 1984]

South Dakota State University, College of Engineering, “Questionnaire for review of engineering curricula,” Brookings, S.D., South Dakota State University, 1973. [Archives: T75 B7 E56]

South Dakota State University, College of Engineering, “Research and outreach,” Brookings, S.D., Engineering Experiment Station, 1988/1990-. [Archives: S537.S6 S6044]

SCOPE AND CONTENTS NOTE

This collection is composed of materials that pertain to the college. Folders contain booklets, programs, brochures, correspondence, minutes, periodicals, reports, posters, and photographs.

A large portion of the material deals with Engineering and Science Research at South Dakota State University. This material consists of summary sheets, reports and correspondence and is arranged by researcher name. This material covers research for engineering, chemistry, pharmacy, and agronomy.

Also included is biographical information on prominent persons related to the College of Engineering, including, Harold M. Crothers, Harry Solberg, Halvor Solberg, and Guy Lee Boyden.

A file on the engineering controversy of the early 1970s dealing with the possible transfer of the College of Engineering from South Dakota State University to another institution in the state. This material consists mainly of clippings, but also included is correspondence and notes.

Other items of note include several files of brochures on the various programs offered by the college, the Impulse magazine, a periodical published by the college featuring events and happenings in the college, and file dealing with the history of the College of Engineering at South Dakota State University.

ARRANGEMENT of the RECORDS

Folders are arranged in alphabetical order.

PDF of Photograph Descriptions

Box 1.

Box 2.

Box 3.

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Updated 19 August 2008 by cjg

Email questions or comments to: arcrefs@sdstate.edu

Copyright 2008 by South Dakota State University and SDSU Archives.
Please credit the SDSU Archives if you copy or reproduce material from this page.