Firefighter Extension

News Release
Contacts: Robert T. Tad Perry, Executive Director
tadp@ris.sdbor.edu
Carol Stonefield, Director of Informationt
carols@ris.sdbor.edu

T: 605.773.3455
F: 605.773.5320
www.ris.sdbor.edu

For Immediate Release 1 September 2000

State University Classes Begin September 6
National Guard Firefighters to Receive Registration Extension

PIERRE—Classes at the state universities are scheduled to begin September 6. The South Dakota Board of Regents has announced that it will extend deadlines for students in the National Guard who are fighting the forest fires in the Black Hills.

Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry said that arrangements are being made to accommodate university students who are members of units called to fight the fires. "These students are putting themselves at great risk. The Regents think it is important to support their efforts," said Perry. "We will make late registration available to them. Each student in these circumstances should weigh his or her own situation, however, and keep in mind that a late start may put him or her at an academic disadvantage."

The late registration policy applies only to National Guard members actively involved in fire fighting. The following provisions apply to these eligible students.

Registration for Fall 2000 courses, and the drop or add period, will be extended to 5:00 PM on September 22.
Preregistration for classes will not be cancelled if the student is unable to register on September 5.
Financial aid will be held until the student is able to report to campus.
Late fees will be waived.
Residence hall reservations will be honored if a student take up residence within one week following release from this active service.
Meal plans will be adjusted to give credit for this service.

Each university has designated a contact person for this policy. Any eligible National Guard member should contact the representative for his or her institution.

University	Contact	Telephone
Black Hills State	Steve Ochsner	(605) 642-6044 1-800-255-2478 (toll free)
Dakota State	Sandy Anderson, Registrar	1-888-378-9988 (toll-free) (605) 257-5139 (Enrollment Services)
Northern State	Peggy Hallstrom, Registrar	(605) 626-2012 (Registrar’s Office) 1-800-678-5330 (toll free)

SD School of Mines and Technology

Toni Hauff,

Veterans Information and Registration Office

1-800-544-8162 (toll free)

(605) 394-2400

South Dakota State

Marysz Rames, Dean of Students

1-800-952-3541 (toll free),

(605) 688-4493 (Student Affairs Office)

University of South Dakota

Dave Lorenz, Dean of Students

(605) 677-5331 (Student Life)

1-877-269-6837 (toll free)

"Notifying the designated university contact person will be sufficient to preserve the student’s rights under this special policy," said Perry. Both students and their National Guard units need to be aware that students will be expected to present official service records to the contact person when they return to campus, added Perry.

For more information, contact James Shekleton, General Counsel to the Board of Regents, (605) 773-3455.

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