Skip to content

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Undergraduate School

Mailing Address
501 E. Saint Joseph Street
Rapid City, South Dakota 57701
Phone
(877) 877-6044
Email address
Molly.Moore@sdsmt.edu
School Information
"The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (South Dakota Mines) is committed to excellence in science and engineering academics and research, and to developing the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers. The university offers a wide array of bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. Founded in 1885 to provide instruction in the region’s primary industry, mining, today South Dakota Mines has evolved into one of the leading science and engineering universities in the region" (Source: https://www.sdsmt.edu/About/). SDSMT has a total undergraduate enrollment of over 2,100 students and a student to faculty ratio of 12 to 1. SDSMT offers 20 Bachelor's, 18 Master's, and 9 Doctorate degrees.
General Information
SDSMT has engaged in numerous efforts to incorporate DEI into the school. Namely, it has created a Center for Inclusion. In addition, resources for diversity education are offered alongside programs and events. Cultural competency training is administered and DEI concepts are integrated into the material. See developments below:

Actions Taken

Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • SDSMT has an Office for Inclusion that offers "cultural competency trainings."
  • SDSMT offers "diversity education materials" in addition to events and programming related to DEI.
  • SDSMT has an assessment on "Intercultural Development Inventory" titled IDI.
Program and Research Funding
  • SDSMT offers the "Tiospaye Scholar Program," which seeks to "increase the number of American Indian students graduating with degrees in engineering, science, and mathematics."
Resources
  • SDSMT has an Inclusion Committee which works to "recommend and implement programs that would encourage and enhance an inclusive culture at South Dakota Mines." This committee was created in 2014.
  • SDSMT has a Diversity, Multiculturalism, and Inclusion Glossary.
  • SDSMT has a page that highlights "research related to inclusion."
  • In collaboration with several other departments, the Office for Inclusion at SDSMT published its 2021-2022 Diversity Report.
  • The Inclusion Committee at SDSMT "promote[s] intercultural competence on campus and serve[s] as advisors for other diversity-related goals and initiatives."
  • The Office for Inclusion states that it "supports underrepresented populations, fosters respect for those with diverse backgrounds, and promotes cultural proficiency among faculty, staff and students."
  • According to the school's Office for Inclusion, the goal of its organizations for students of color is to "increase the representation of minorities in the STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics] fields."
Symbolic Actions
  • On June 9, 2020, SDSMT released a "Statement on Racism and the Value of Inclusion" in response to the death of George Floyd. The school stated, "Words cannot describe the anger, pain, and confusion we feel here at South Dakota Mines over the tragic death of George Floyd. Our hearts go out to the family, friends, and communities of George Floyd and others who have suffered and died as the result of racism and brutality." Furthermore, SDSMT went on to say that, "Our university seeks to serve as a model for equity and inclusion."
  • On January 28, 2021, it was announced that, "Selwyn Jones, the uncle of George Floyd, spoke with South Dakota Mines students and the National Society of Black Engineers on Wednesday about how his life has changed since he watched his nephew die under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer in late May."
Last updated January 12th, 2024
©2024 Critical Race Training in Education. All rights reserved.