Honors College Residence Hall

The SDSU Honors College reaches across every academic college, offering a more rigorous, integrated curriculum to high-achieving students. It is an academic pathway that offers students in any major the opportunity for a personalized, value-added, world-class and fun educational experience.

The Honors College is an academic community that attracts exceptional students to SDSU. Since 2008, Honors course enrollment has doubled, and each year, more than 500 students take Honors courses.

In the fall of 2013, SDSU will open its first Honors College Residence Hall. While the Hall is being constructed through the issuance of state bonds, private gifts totaling $500,000 are needed to pay for the space that will be used for academic purposes. The Residence Hall will bring together SDSU students’ academic and residential experiences in an integrated, dynamic way. Residents will enjoy living near fellow Honors students who share their desire for academic excellence and who know when and how to have fun.

The Hall will be home to a seamlessly integrated academic and co-curricular experience that includes innovative spaces for classes, workshops, seminars, colloquia, social and enriching educational experiences. It will facilitate the kinds of student/faculty/community interactions both in and outside the classroom environment, commonly cited as foundational to the satisfaction and success of high-achieving students.

Successful construction of the Honors College Residence Hall and execution of its accompanying academic and enrichment programming will raise the visibility of the Honors student experience. This facility will contribute significantly to successful recruitment, engagement and retention of academically talented, motivated students, providing them with an extraordinary educational experience at South Dakota State University.

The Residence Hall will also be the academic home of the Honors College, and will present students with stimulating, welcoming living and learning spaces where their academic aspirations and achievements are realized, supported and celebrated.

Several of the unique features of the Honors College Residence Hall include:

• Administrative Suite
• Collaboration Studio
• Learning Center
• Library and Student Lounge
• Team Gathering Spaces
• Community Commons
• Outdoor Plaza

The Honors College student body includes scholars who are also athletes, musicians, authors and activists, among other things. Hailing from larger metropolitan areas and small ranching communities, they are united by their drive, curiosity and love of learning. This project and SDSU donors will support these students’ collegiate careers so that they leave SDSU as leaders, well prepared to make a positive difference in the world.