President

Dear Students and Friends,

Welcome to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The School of Mines has a proud and long-standing heritage of excellence in preparing graduates to serve as leaders in engineering and science. In 2011, the university is embarking on a new vision for the next decade by implementing strategic and master plans for the growth of our university.  

Founded in 1885, the School of Mines was established to meet the growing research needs of the mining industry, led by the Homestake Mine in Lead, South Dakota. We are now an elite technological university offering 35 degree programs at the baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels with 2350 talented and motivated students engaged in challenging and exciting academic programs. We believe that the role of engineers and scientists is crucial to the advancement of society, and our graduates design, construct, and operate the most modern technology to meet today's complex challenges, such as climate change, bioenergy, mineral extraction and processing, advanced materials, environmental quality, and national defense.

We invite you to visit us at the foot of the beautiful Black Hills, a million-acre wilderness that provides both exceptional recreation opportunities for our students and also an incredible natural laboratory. Tour our new buildings housing state-of-the-art research laboratories and classrooms that are transforming  the School of Mines educational experience. Cheer for the Hardrockers at an athletic event. Experience one of the world's finest fossil collections in our Museum of Geology. And most importantly, talk with our students. They are the engineers, scientists, visionaries, and leaders who will invent tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Robert A. Wharton, Ph.D.
President