Dakota State University reports record enrollment, leadership transition and new programs
October 21, 2025 | Madison, Lake County, South Dakota
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
Stacy Cruismark, vice president for business and administrative services at Dakota State University, delivered an update to the Madison City Commission on campus developments and enrollment figures.
Cruismark said the Board of Regents announced that Dr. Griffiths will step down as DSU president and will assume a newly created chancellor role at the end of the academic year; a presidential search is expected next spring and the Board of Regents will make the hire. "A new president search will be, underway...the board probably will advertise this winter, do the search this spring, and potentially start a new president this summer," she said.
Cruismark reported fall enrollment reached a record 3,842 students. She said campus housing (Residence Village, opened in 2021 with 122 beds) is about 90 percent full. She highlighted a newly launched Master of Science in cyber operations and noted the computer science program has ABET accreditation. She also described a partnership with LifeScape and the ADAPT lab's assistive-device work and a renovation of Beetle Hall (originally opened in 1886).
On athletics and campus activities she said DSU's football team was 5–2, volleyball ranked No. 4 nationally, and that campus volunteer day "Trojans Give Back" had nearly 968 participants who logged more than 2,800 volunteer hours.
When commissioners asked about on-campus versus online enrollment, Cruismark said the distribution is complex — many students take a mix of on-campus and online courses — and estimated roughly half of credit hours are on-campus; she offered to provide a printed breakdown.
Cruismark closed by thanking the commission and said DSU is an asset to the city.
Cruismark said the Board of Regents announced that Dr. Griffiths will step down as DSU president and will assume a newly created chancellor role at the end of the academic year; a presidential search is expected next spring and the Board of Regents will make the hire. "A new president search will be, underway...the board probably will advertise this winter, do the search this spring, and potentially start a new president this summer," she said.
Cruismark reported fall enrollment reached a record 3,842 students. She said campus housing (Residence Village, opened in 2021 with 122 beds) is about 90 percent full. She highlighted a newly launched Master of Science in cyber operations and noted the computer science program has ABET accreditation. She also described a partnership with LifeScape and the ADAPT lab's assistive-device work and a renovation of Beetle Hall (originally opened in 1886).
On athletics and campus activities she said DSU's football team was 5–2, volleyball ranked No. 4 nationally, and that campus volunteer day "Trojans Give Back" had nearly 968 participants who logged more than 2,800 volunteer hours.
When commissioners asked about on-campus versus online enrollment, Cruismark said the distribution is complex — many students take a mix of on-campus and online courses — and estimated roughly half of credit hours are on-campus; she offered to provide a printed breakdown.
Cruismark closed by thanking the commission and said DSU is an asset to the city.
View full meeting
This article is based on a recent meeting—watch the full video and explore the complete transcript for deeper insights into the discussion.
View full meeting