Student Technology Fellowship Program

The TechFellows Program, funded by the State of South Dakota, provides for undergraduate students to develop professional-level skills, work in a team-based environment and to be compensated while learning. The program is designed so that student TechFellows assist faculty in learning new technology that can be integrated into their course curriculum.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• be a South Dakota resident (per SDBOR Policy 3:2)

• be a full-time, degree-seeking student at USD

• complete 30 credit hours per academic year (AP, dual credit, transfer credits all apply)

• have and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.00

Additional requirements and more detailed information about the program can be found in the TechFellow Handbook.

In general, eligible students can apply year round; however, applications are generally reviewed in July and appointed through the end of August.

APPLY NOW (departments/faculty:  see the application link below)

• TechFellows receive a stipend of $5,000 - $6,500—depending on years of service in the program—calculated into an hourly salary based on an eleven-hour work week

• TechFellows gain real-world information technology work experience.

• TechFellows work with faculty and staff and have a direct impact on the teaching, learning, and research efforts at USD.

• TechFellows build essential technology and professional development skills directly applicable to the future employment.

• TechFellows establish long-lasting professional relationships with faculty, staff, and peers

Individual faculty members or departments can request TF assistance and must reapply each year.  Placements will be made based on the merits of the application—type of work, benefit to the faculty/department/university and TechFellow, etc.—but in general:

• the work is limited to instructional design support, professional development, website development and management, instructional technology support (see the TechFellows Handbook for details)

• faculty/departments must provide eleven (11) hours per week per TechFellow

• they must also review and approve weekly reports and submit them monthly, and submit semester reports

FACULTY / DEPARTMENTAL APPLICATION

For the past five fiscal years, the USD TechFellows program has awarded TechFellow positions to 156 students, who worked with faculty and departments for over 48,000 hours and have earned over $830,000—which was used by most TechFellows to offset the costs of higher education.

TechFellows have played a vital role in helping faculty and deparments—and the university as a whole—complete its mission through direct support, social media outreach, research, instructional support, etc.

A number of TechFellows have also decided to remain at USD to pursue graduate and professional studies.