Bukralia named director of
library learning center - top
Rajeev Bukralia (left), who was
recently named director of the E.Y. Berry Library Learning Center at
Black Hills State University, says the library has a capable and
dedicated staff who will work together to accomplish the goals he has
outlined to enhance library services. Library staff members include:
(left to right) Bukralia; Bobbi Sago, Special Collections; Alicia Caldanaro, reference and government documents; Scott Ahola, acquisition
and workstudy employment; Karen Stacy, curriculum and interlibrary loan;
Valerie Hawkins, cataloging; and Melora Torp, circulation and reserves.
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Rajeev Bukralia has been named director of the E.Y. Berry Library
Learning Center at Black Hills State University. Bukralia has served as
systems librarian at the library since 2002.
Bukralia, who has a strong information technology background as well
as extensive library experience, has several goals for the library
including improving the collections as well as enhancing and promoting
the special collections area.
Dr. Dean Myers, vice president for academic affairs at BHSU, says
Bukralia was chosen because he is clearly the best person for the job.
“Rajeev’s leadership skills, his technology expertise and his
relationship with the university faculty members make him an excellent
choice to succeed Ed Erickson. His enthusiasm is contagious and will
serve him well as director,” Myers says.
Bukralia, who has been proactive in finding innovative ways to use
technology at the library, is enthusiastic about his new role as
director of the library and has many plans and goals to enhance services
at the library. He stressed that the library will have a renewed focus
on serving students and faculty.
“We are here for the students and faculty. That’s our main purpose.
We will seek new ways to efficiently meet the needs of students and
faculty,” Bukralia says.
Bukralia noted that in recent years the BHSU library instituted some
rather unorthodox changes including the establishment of a coffee shop
right in the library, offering checkout of laptop computers, and
providing other services at the library. These changes have resulted in
an increase in the number of students who use the library at a time when
many libraries are seeing a decline in their numbers.
“The gate count at the BHSU library has increased dramatically in
recent years. BHSU has instituted some creative ideas to engage students
in library. It’s a place for students to come to and learn,” Bukralia
says. “People are using the library in different ways. Students meet to
work on projects or come in to work with their tutors.”
“We are an information depository and we can provide many resources
for faculty and students. We need to understand the needs of faculty and
students so we can find ways to play a greater role in meeting their
needs. My focus is to find ways to meet those needs,” Bukralia says.
Bukralia says collection development is one of his priorities and he
plans to use technological means, along with personal feedback from
faculty and students, to determine the most effective and useful ways to
improve the collection.
Bukralia noted that he is very proud of the Special Collections in
the library and will seek to strengthen collections and make them more
available for the public. He plans a strong effort to preserve and
catalog the special collections in the library.
“We have many items that are unique. The special collections are a
world-class niche for Black Hills history,” Bukralia says.
As the school year begins, Bukralia is assessing ways to improve the
workflow at the library to provide personalized and efficient service to
the students and faculty. He noted that the library, with a staff of
only nine full-time employees, relies heavily on student workers.
Bukralia is optimistic about the future of the library and is anxious to
begin instituting new services and finding ways to enhance the library
collections.
Bukralia acknowledges the importance of teamwork in achieving the
library objectives. He believes the library has a capable and dedicated
staff that will accomplish the goals of providing improved library
services to the university community.
In the past three years, Bukralia has spearheaded many technological
changes at the library that have set the stage for the university to
provide enhanced services for students as well as faculty and staff.
Bukralia notes that the BHSU library has a legacy of being on the
cutting edge of changes and advancements. BHSU’s library was the first
to implement a fully-automated library card system in South Dakota. The
system, implemented at BHSU in 1986, was later adopted by the South
Dakota Library Network (SDLN) and is used by nearly 65 libraries in the
state. The statewide SDLN office is located in lower level of the BHSU
library.
In his position as systems librarian at BHSU, Bukralia planned,
analyzed and executed many projects including the new library automation
system, proxy server, BHSU student password system and library website
enhancements. Bukralia conceived, designed, implemented, and managed a
secure proxy server system so that off-campus users can use electronic
research databases at anytime and from anywhere. He has also taught
workshops in web design, using spreadsheets, e-commerce for business and
bibliographic instruction classes on utilizing library resources for
research needs. In 2004, Bukralia was recognized with the outstanding
university service award.
Before coming to BHSU, Bukralia served as a business and technology
consultant for business promotion, e-commerce, enterprise resource
planning (ERP), and management information systems. He also developed an
interactive online testing system, designed websites, and developed
e-commerce applications for several companies. Previously he was CEO and
founder of The Inspiration Courses in New Delhi, India, where he
launched and managed an institute to train students for various higher
learning entrance tests and provide vocational training. The institution
served over 35,000 disadvantaged youth throughout India in four years.
Bukralia earned a master of science degree in information systems
from Dakota State University. He has a book publishing post graduate
degree from the University of Delhi in India as well as a bachelor of
science degree with majors in chemistry, botany and zoology from the
University of Delhi.
Romkema named
chair of Management and Marketing Department - top
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| Romkema |
Dr. Priscilla Y. Romkema, associate professor at Black Hills State
University, has been named as the chair of the Management and Marketing
Department in the College of Business and Technology.
Romkema has been a faculty member at BHSU since the fall of 1997 and
has served as the director of the BHSU Center for Business and
Entrepreneurship since 1999. She also serves as the coordinator for
entrepreneurship and business education programs.
Dr. Amin Sarkar, dean of the College of Business and Technology, says
Romkema was chosen to lead this department for a number of reasons.
“Dr. Priscilla Romkema is one of the finest people-oriented persons
at the university and I am so pleased that she agreed to become the
chair for the Department of Management and Marketing,” Sarkar said.
“Recently, we have made significant changes in our business programs,
both at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. The modified programs are
now among the top business programs in the nation. We also plan to
recruit additional quality faculty members with Ph.D. degrees. I will
look forward to working with Priscilla in these endeavors.”
Romkema has a Ph.D. in education from the University of Wyoming, a
master of science in business education from the University of Wyoming,
and a bachelor of science in instrumental music and teacher
certification in business from Black Hills State University. Her
teaching background includes faculty positions at the University of
Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo.; Northern Michigan University in Marquette,
Mich.; and the Independent Institute of Russian Entrepreneurship in
Moscow, Russia. In addition to her faculty positions, she served as a
training advisor with the Environmental Policy and Technology Project in
Russia and as an office manager in London, England.
Romkema is involved in many community organizations. She is currently
the president of the Spearfish Economic Development Corporation (SEDC)
Board of Directors, Area 1 District 12 director of Zonta International
and a member of the Spearfish Zonta Club, president-elect of the
National Association for Business Teacher Education (NABTE),
Mountain-Plains Representative to the International Society for Business
Education (ISBE) executive board, past president and current member of
the Northern Hills Rotary Club, past president of the Spearfish Chamber
of Commerce Board of Directors, and current member of the Spearfish Area
Community Foundation Board. Other memberships/affiliations include the
National Business Education Association (NBEA), Sigma Beta Delta, and
Kappa Delta Pi.
The College of Business and Technology at BHSU consists of three
departments: Accounting and Economics, Management and Marketing, and
Industrial and Information Technology. With nearly 800 business
students, BHSU has the largest business school in South Dakota in terms
of the number of students enrolled in business courses.
Sarkar noted that recent modifications in the business bachelor’s
degree, including curriculum changes and degree modifications, have
enhanced the business administration program at BHSU.
“The bachelor’s degree in business administration at BHSU, after its
recent modification, is one of the best programs the region including
South Dakota,” Sarkar said. He noted that this year the university will
apply for the highest level of business accreditation from the
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
International.
Professors invited
to publish article about the redesign of computer course -
top
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| Johnson |
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| Mackin |
An article authored by Pat Mackin and Jean Johnson, assistant
professors in the College of Business and Technology at Black Hills
State University, and Sharon Paranto, Northern State University
professor, will be published in the 2004 edition of the Information
Systems Education Journal (ISEDJ).
The article, entitled “Redesign of Introduction to Computers Course,”
was first accepted for presentation at the Information Systems Education
Conference (ISECON) in November 2004. A copy of the paper was published
in the conference proceedings. After undergoing a second peer review,
the paper was selected for publication in the ISEDJ.
According to the authors, the paper was the result of the development
of a “flexibly-structured” model for teaching the MIS 105:
Introduction to Computers course. In the paper, the authors discuss
reasons why the course redesign was completed, how the new design works,
results of the analysis of the first year of implementation, and
suggestions for course improvement. The methodology discussed in the
article will again be implemented in the MIS 105 course this year.
Mackin, who joined the BHSU faculty in 2002, has a bachelor’s degree
in accounting and a master’s degree in mathematics from the University
of Montana. He received his doctorate in business administration from
Arizona State University.
Johnson received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in
mathematics from the University of South Dakota. She has been a member
of the BHSU faculty since 1986.
Royer will present research at
music teacher symposium - top
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| Royer |
Dr. Randall Royer, music professor at Black Hills
State University, will present research at the Society for Music Teacher
Education Symposium in Greensboro, N. C., Sept. 15-17.
Royer will make a presentation on his recent research,
"High School All-State Musicians and Their Interest in the Music
Education Professions." Royer surveyed all-state musicians in three
performing groups, bands, choirs, and orchestras, in five different
states, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Minnesota, to
gauge those students' interest in the music education professions. His
findings indicated that less than 10 percent of those responding to the
survey indicated they were interested in pursuing a career in music
education.
According to Royer, the purpose of the symposium is to
initiate a sustained exploration of current critical issues in music
teacher education. Three broad areas of critical need are finding future
music educators, preparing future music educators, and supporting the
professional development of music educators.
Royer holds a master’s degree in music education from
the University of Wyoming. He received his doctorate in music education
from the University of Utah in 1996 and joined the BHSU faculty in 1997.
Altmyer receives handcrafted
wooden disc and Mach 5 disc golf basket from PDGA -
top
 Don
Altmyer, Spearfish, displays the handcrafted wooden disc and
custom-painted portable Mach 5 disc golf basket that he received when he
won the Advanced Grandmaster Division at the 2005 Professional Disc Golf
Association (PDGA) Amateur World Disc Golf Championship at a tournament
held in Flagstaff, Ariz., this summer. Altmyer, a College of Business
and Technology associate professor, was instrumental in developing a
disc golf course on the BHSU campus in 1995. Since then, students and
community members have embraced the sport. The 10th annual anniversary
tournament of the BHSU Disc Golf Course is set for Sunday, Sept. 25 at
10 a.m. Walk-in registration is available beginning at 9 a.m. There will
be five divisions.
The 9th Annual Swarm Days Disc Golf Tournament is
scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 22. Students begin at 3:30 p.m. The
community members’ tournament begins at 5 p.m. For more information
contact Altmyer at 642-6266.
The BHSU Bookstore sells golfing discs and has a
display featuring an aerial map of the course and a mini-basket as well
as a custom display rack featuring 100 discs with custom-stamped college
logos. To date, the bookstore has sold over 2,000 discs and has
supported campus tournaments by sponsoring prizes. The course begins on
the northwest side of the campus behind Thomas Hall, with maps and
scorecards located on the wooden bench next to Hole 1.
Disc golf is played much like traditional golf.
Instead of a ball and clubs, however, players use a flying golfing disc
from a tee area to a target, an elevated metal basket with a hanging
array of chains to catch the disc. When the disc lands in the basket the
hole is completed.
BHSU will celebrate opening of
Little Jacket Learning Center - top
Black Hills State University will host a grand opening
celebration for the Little Jacket Learning Center, formerly the BHSU
child care center, Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Throughout the celebration, tours of the center, which
is located just west of the BHSU campus at 1307 W. Oliver Street in
Spearfish, will be given by children who currently attend the center
along with an adult. A brief program will begin at 2:30 p.m. Magician
Kirk Kokinos will provide entertainment for the children during the
program.
Staff members at the Little Jacket Learning Center are
excited to have the center located near campus after a two-year hiatus
when the center was relocated at a site which was some distance from the
campus. Diane Mabey, director of the center, says the location and the
new facility are excellent and she is proud to welcome students, faculty
and community members to tour the center.
Last year, thanks to a community development grant of
$215,700, BHSU was able to begin renovations at its current Oliver
Street location, one block west of the university. The new location is
much more accessible for the parents of the approximately 60 children
who attend the center. It also provides students in the early childhood
education degree program at BHSU the chance to observe and conduct
special activities at the center.
Community members are welcome to attend the grand
opening. Refreshments will be served. For more information, contact the
Little Jacket Learning Center at 642-6322.
Writing the West series will
feature author Ann Ronald - top
Author Ann Ronald will kick off the 2005-06 “Writing
the West” series at Black Hills State University Friday, Sept. 16 from 3
to 5 p.m. in Jonas Hall room 305.
Ronald’s topic will be “Ghosts of the American West,”
the subject of both her most recent book, Ghost West, and her
upcoming book. She has also written a book on Western iconoclast Edward
Abbey.
According to David Cremean, assistant professor of
humanities and director of the Bush Grant at BHSU, Ronald does not use
the term ghosts in the sense it is normally used, but in the sense that
much of the West has a haunted character to it. Ghost West
includes a chapter on South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse
Memorials. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the
presentation.
The “Writing the West” series, which is sponsored by a
Bush Grant, brings Western writers, particularly those who write
primarily about interdisciplinary subjects, to the BHSU campus.
Ronald’s presentation is free and open to the public.
For more information, contact Cremean at 642-6713 or
DavidCremean@bhsu.edu.
Chiesman Committee will
honor 218th birthday of the U.S. Constitution -
top
In honor of the 218th birthday of the U.S.
Constitution, the Black Hills State University Chiesman Committee will
be hosting a celebration Friday, Sept. 16 from 12 noon to 1 p.m. in the
David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union Jacket Legacy Room.
The gathering will feature traditional birthday fare
and a panel discussion on constitutions throughout the world.
Informative Bill of Rights posters, designed by BHSU students in an
upper-level social studies methods course, will be available for review
before and after the panel discussion.
Tom Hills, South Dakota state representative and BHSU
professor emeritus, will serve as moderator for the discussion. Faculty
panelists and their topics will be: Pam Carriveau, the U.S.
Constitution; Micheline Hickenbotham, the European Constitution; Roger
Miller, the Australian Constitution; John Glover, Native American
Constitutions; and Ahrar Ahmad, the Iraqi Constitution. Each panelist
will spend about 10 minutes on his/her topic.
The party is open to the public. Birthday cake,
coffee, and punch will be served. For more information, contact George
Earley, chair of the BHSU Chiesman Committee, at 642-6270 or
GeorgeEarley@bhsu.edu.
Volunteers
needed to assist the Red Cross with hurricane refugees -
top
Black Hills State University is coordinating an effort
to find volunteers to assist the American Red Cross with 500 hurricane
evacuees who are being housed in Rapid City.
According to Michael Smith and Donna Trainum,
directors of the BHSU Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program,
volunteers are needed to assist the Red Cross with more than 500 people
who are being temporarily housed in Rapid City. Volunteers are needed to
work 12-hour shifts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Volunteers will be doing a variety of tasks including preparing food,
cleaning, providing transportation, helping with children and other
miscellaneous duties. Students, faculty, staff and community members are
encouraged to participate in this volunteer effort.
Refugees from Hurricane Katrina are arriving at Rapid
City Regional Airport today and will be housed at Camp Rapid on West
Main Street. The Red Cross, the Pennington County Emergency Management
and the Salvation Army are working together to provide for the refugees.
To volunteer call the VISTA office at 642-6471 or stop
by the VISTA office located in the David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student
Union room 120. Volunteers are required to fill out a volunteer
application form and attain an identification card. Forms are available
at the VISTA office.
In addition, students at BHSU are organizing several
fundraising events for hurricane Katrina victims.
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