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Dakota State Receives Great Service STAR Distinction

Dakota State University has been awarded the Great Service STAR (service trained associates symbol) for 2006-2007.  The award is made by the South Dakota State Department of Tourism in recognition of the business or organization’s customer service efforts.  Dakota State was the only education institution in the state so recognized.

 To qualify for the Great Service STAR designation, the organization must provide hospitality/customer service training for employees.  Faculty and staff at Dakota State University received such training through a program called Advanced Connections.  The program included courses on building a service culture, polishing advanced service skills, and meeting service challenges.  

The organization must also provide a mechanism for visitors to provide feedback. Dakota State offers comment cards to each visiting student and parent, along with a survey which is distributed to parents of new students.

The final criterion for the award involves recognition of employees. DSU uses ‘cause for applause’ nomination forms that supervisors and colleges can use to highlight a fellow employee.  The university also hosts an annual recognition banquet for career service employees.  Administrators also have coins that they distribute to someone who they observe ‘making a difference.’  The back of the coin reads, “Pass this coin on to someone who makes a difference.”  Recipients of the coins are recognized periodically at faculty/staff meetings. 

Each year the Department of Tourism awards the Great Service STAR to businesses that complete a set criterion of hospitality training.  Those that earn the designation can use the official Great Service STAR in their advertising and marketing efforts.

A complete list of recipients can be found on the state of South Dakota web site at http://www.sdvisit.com/programs/service06recipients.htm