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DSU Marks Founding Date  

Dakota State University marks the 125^th anniversary of its founding, Sunday, March 5.  On that date in 1881, the Territorial Legislature passed the Normal Bill, establishing a school at Madison, in Dakota Territory.  It was known as Dakota Normal School.   

Dakota State will be marking the anniversary with events throughout 2006, including a gala March 25 and a Legends and Legacy dinner May 5.  The gala will feature a murder mystery dinner and is open to the public.  The Legends and Legacy dinner will honor contributors to Dakota State.  The university is also publishing an anniversary book and has other memorabilia available for purchase.

 The land for the Dakota Normal School was donated to the Territory by C.B. Kennedy, with the stipulation that if the land were ever used for anything but the original intent, a teachers’ preparation institution, the site would be returned to the Kennedy estate. 

 The first students graduated in 1885, in a class of 2.  By 1886, the school’s enrollment had grown to 107. 

 Over the years the school’s name was changed several times, from Dakota Normal to Eastern State Teacher’s College, to General Beadle State College to Dakota State College and in 1990, to Dakota State University.   

In 1984, the South Dakota Legislature and the South Dakota Board of Regents turned to Dakota State to educate leaders for the information age.   The mandated mission change resulted in Dakota State’s current status as the leader in cutting-edge computer and information systems degree programs.  DSU has pioneered the application of computer technology to traditional fields of academic endeavor, as well as blazed trails in areas as diverse as information assurance and scientific forensic technology. Throughout all the changes, Dakota State has managed to retain the tradition that made it strong, the training of teachers.  Education remains the largest single major at Dakota State, with graduates prepared to lead in the classrooms of the 21^st century.

Today, Dakota State University continues to fulfill its mission as the technology leader for the state and region.  Along with majors ranging from business and information systems, the natural sciences, and education, Dakota State offers three masters degrees and will offer a Doctor of Science in Information Systems starting with foundation courses in the fall of 2006, and doctoral courses in the fall of 2007.