FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Missy King, Editor October 21, 2003 Phone: (865) 637-7673 ext. 118 E-mail: mking@cupahr.org

Dakota State University HR director wins CUPA-HR award

Nancy L. Grassel, director of Human Resources at Dakota State University, is the recipient of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources' (CUPA-HR) 2003 SCT Technology Award for her design and implementation of an interactive online orientation program for university employees. Created in 1999 and sponsored by Systems and Computer Technology Corporation (SCT), the SCT Technology Awards recognize individuals or teams at an institution that have demonstrated technological innovations that serve to advance the higher education HR profession. Dakota State University will receive $3,000 to go into an endowment or scholarship fund on behalf of Grassel. Grassel's online orientation program serves to introduce new employees to the institution and the community and to assist them in making the transition from applicant to employee. The program is in the process of evolving to include all eight institutions in the South Dakota University System.

Janice Price, director of Human Resources for the South Dakota Board of Regents, nominated Grassel for the SCT Technology Award and says, "As I continue to work with the human resource directors throughout the South Dakota System, I find Nancy to be an innovative entrepreneur. She is always searching for ways to think above and beyond the call of duty to ensure efficiencies and to enhance value to the employees and the system." Grassel received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Dakota Wesleyan University and her master's degree in administrative studies with a concentration in human resources from the University of South Dakota. Founded more than fifty years ago and based in Knoxville, Tennessee, CUPA-HR is a nonprofit, member-supported organization that serves more than 6,300 human resource administrators at nearly 1,600 colleges and universities as well as others interested in the advancement of human resources in higher education. CUPA-HR's National Recognition Awards Program promotes and rewards outstanding performance in the field of human resource administration.

# # #