New Student Guide: Online and Off-Campus

MyState is your SDSU Student Portal; the following services/resources can be found here:

• Attendance confirmation
• Student Account Self Service
• Registration Self Service
• Schedule information
• Grades and transcripts
• Textbook information
• Financial Aid Self Service
• ConnectState
• Scholarship application

First Time Logging In

• Visit Login Help.
• Enter your MyState Username (ex. JJRabbit for Jack Jacks Rabbit) and Student ID number provided in your Acceptance email. Click Proceed.
• Check your personal email and click on the link to reset password.
• Enter your MyState Username and create a password that is 8-16 characters. It must include at least one number. Click Reset Password.

Each SDSU student is issued an SDSU Jacks email account. Email messages sent to Jacks e-mail addresses constitute an official means of communication. It is the student’s responsibility and obligation to access official University e-mail messages in a timely manner.

To Access Your Jack's Email Account:

Go to Jacks Email.

Utilize your Jacks email address provided in your Acceptance email and your MyState password to log in.

Please check your Jacks e-mail account regularly because it is used for many administrative and financial notices.

Forwarding Emails

To forward your email to another account, go to Settings and type "forward" in search bar. Click on Forwarding link, type in the email address you would like your mail forwarded to and click Save.

Available in the App Store and Google Play Store, the SDSU mobile app will connect students to all kinds of important information. Students can view class schedules, register for classes, receive personalized notifications, find important contact information and other campus resources. The app will also allow students to access MyState and D2L, as well as news, events and a campus map, with more features to come.

For more information on DUO Security and how to enroll, please visit DUO Security.

To be considered for federal student aid, students must complete the FAFSA. The Seven Easy Steps to the FAFSA provides an online tutorial to completing the FAFSA. The SDSU Financial Aid office is available to answer your FAFSA questions.

Each student who completes the FAFSA will receive an Award Letter from SDSU detailing the student's financial aid package. Financial aid packages may include loans, grants, Work-Study and scholarships. Award letters can be accessed online through MyState and Financial Aid Self Service. Students will receive notification when they have been awarded each year in their Jacks email account.

SDSU offers a variety of academic scholarships. Awards are based on academic achievement, participation in activities and leadership. For more information, visit the Office of Financial Aid.

SDSU offers a variety of academic scholarships. Awards are based on academic achievement, participation in activities and leadership. For more information, visit the Office of Financial Aid.

Placement in English and reading courses is based on ACT, SAT or Smarter Balance test scores earned in the past five years. Entering students who have scores older than five years, or who have not taken the ACT, SAT or Smarter Balance tests are placed in classes by use of the College Board ACCUPLACER. If you have a valid score within the last 5 years a placement exam is not required.

Initial placement into math courses will be abased on a student's Math Index.

Schedule a Placement Exam

Not sure if you need to take the placement exam? Please contact your enrollment liaison or academic advisor.

An important first step in transferring to SDState is to request that ALL final, official transcripts be sent to the SDState Enrollment Services Center, Box 511, Brookings, South Dakota 57007. Once SDState has received ALL final and official transcripts from ALL previous universities and colleges attended processing may take 4 - 6 weeks.

A good starting point is the transfer credit evaluator. This easy- to-use tool helps transfer students identify which of their already completed courses will transfer and how. At times, courses may not be included in the calculator database thus no equivalency is identified. In these cases check with the transfer student coordinator at 1-800-952-3541.

Your program advisor will be able to assist with transfer equivalencies and how these credits may count toward your major as you prepare to enroll at SDSU for the upcoming semester.

Credit for Prior Learning is available at SDState. Listed below are the primary types of prior learning experiences, which may count for credit.

• AP Credit
• Credit by exam
• Challenge by portfolio
• Dual or concurrent credit
• Military experience

For specific information about one of these areas, visit the SDSU Testing Center.

The Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs are the official source of SDState’s undergraduate academic programs, courses, policies and procedures. The catalog can be used as a guide in planning a course of study and in meeting requirements for graduation. The information contained in the catalog is the most accurate at the time of publication and changes may become effective before the next catalog is published. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to stay up to date on current regulations, curricula and the status of specific programs being offered.

The general education curriculum is required for all undergraduate students.

The general education requirements are outlined below:

• SGR Goal No. 1: Written Communication (six credits)
• SGR Goal No. 2: Oral Communication (three credits)
• SGR Goal No. 3: Social Sciences (six credits), two disciplines
• SGR Goal No. 4: Humanities and Arts (six credits), 2 disciplines
• SGR Goal No. 5: Mathematics (three credits)
• SGR Goal No. 6: Natural Sciences (six credits)

For details regarding the general education curriculum, please refer to the undergraduate catalog.

Transfer students who identify courses that may meet general education requirements but were not initially evaluated as so should work with their academic advisor to see if credit can be granted. Even though students may have completed all of the required general or liberal education courses required at their previous institution, all students are required to fulfill the specific SDState general education requirements.

Academic advising guide sheets are a resource to assist students in planning their path to graduation. The guide sheets break down each of SDState’s majors by identifying the required courses for each semester. Students use this tool when preparing for registration and when selecting classes. The guide sheets are truly a guide. When completed, they will not look the same for every student and with the help of an academic advisor students can create their own customized graduation path.

Students who have been admitted for the fall or spring semester will schedule a new student orientation session. These sessions are held virtually and will provide students an opportunity to connect with campus resources and register for classes. For more information and to schedule your session, visit Orientation for Online Learners.

Schedule an appointment with an academic advisor in your programs’ department. It is required that you visit with your academic advisor prior to registering for classes. Advising can take place in person, or by email, phone or Zoom.

To schedule your appointment contact SDSU.Distance@sdstate.edu or 605-367-8402.

Once you have reviewed your plan of study and course selections with your advisor, you will register for classes using Registration Self Service. Log into MyState and select your Registration Time Ticket from the dashboard.

SDSU offers a variety of course options for students throughout the Summer Term.

Schedule an appointment with an academic advisor in your programs’ department. It is required that you visit with your academic advisor prior to registering for classes. Advising can take place in person, or by email, phone or Zoom.

Log into MyState and select your Registration Time Ticket from the dashboard. Students who have been admitted for the spring semester will be able to register for courses beginning late October to early November. Students who have been admitted for the summer term or fall semester will be able to register for courses beginning late March to early April.

For questions please contact the SDSU Graduate School, 605-688-4181.

You will meet with your academic advisor to review your academic plan and course selections prior to registration. Schedule a meeting with the appropriate advisor by site below:

Online

• Abby Exner - RN to BSN
• Cami Veire - Graduate Nursing

Rapid City

• Susie Leahy - Standard Nursing 
• Gale Folsland - Accelerated and Standard Nursing
• Mary Isaacson - Native American Nursing Education Center
• Kathy LaBonte - Native American Nursing Education Center
• Renee Zacher - Native American Nursing Education Center

Sioux Falls

• Ali Christopherson - Accelerated and Standard Nursing

Students will be able to perform the following registration services on Self Service:

• Search and register for classes
• See your class schedule
• Check your address
• Add and drop a class or classes
• Access enrollment verification
• View financial aid by term
• Update direct deposit for student refunds
• View account and pay your bill
• Complete attendance confirmation
• Students can access Registration Self Service through their MyState Dashboard.

Student registration video tutorials can be accessed through your MyState Dashboard.

• Login to MyState.
• Go to Dashboard.
• Within Registration Self Service, select More Information.
• Scroll down to Training and Help and select the appropriate video or PDF.

D2L is the course management system utilized by SDSU and all South Dakota Public Universities. All instructors have the ability to utilize D2L to provide supplemental material, grades, discussions, etc. for SDSU courses. Fully online courses will be completed through D2L.

First Time Logging In

Go to D2L. Utilize your established Jacks email address and password.

Forgot Password

Visit Login Help to reset your password.

Access D2L Tutorials

Students enrolled in courses through SDSU have access to a number of video tutorials and student guides providing an overview of the D2L system. Take some time to view the tutorials below prior to the first day of class. Knowing how to navigate and utilize the tools within D2L will get your online learning experience started on the right foot.