3rd Annual Higher Education Connections Workshop

Nov 1, 2026, 1:00 PM → Nov 3, 2026, 10:55 PM US/Mountain

Sanford Lab Homestake Visitors Center

Jaret Heise (SDSTA/SURF), Stacie Granum (SDSTA/The Institute)

COLLABORATIVE CAPACITY BUILDING.

CONNECT. COLLABORATE. MOVE IDEAS FORWARD.

The 3rd Annual Higher Education Connections Workshop, hosted by The Institute for Underground Science at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), will bring together higher education leaders, researchers, STEM and education faculty, and partners from across South Dakota, November 1–3, 2026, in Lead, South Dakota.

This year’s workshop is focused on Collaborative Capacity Building, moving from connections and conversation to collaboration and action. Participants will explore shared priorities, identify opportunities to work across institutions, and develop ideas that can strengthen research, education, workforce development, and innovation across South Dakota.

Through featured speakers, facilitated discussions, concept sharing, and interactive working sessions, the workshop will create dedicated space to explore not only what we can accomplish together, but how we can begin moving those opportunities forward.

(NO registration fee and lunch provided Monday)

THE WORKSHOP IS STRUCTURED AROUND THREE GOALS: 

CONNECT  Build Relationships. Share Expertise. Discover Opportunities.

COLLABORATE  Build Capacity. Develop Ideas. Create Partnerships.

ACT  Turn Ideas Into Action.

 

Participants will have opportunities to identify shared challenges and opportunities, develop potential initiatives, connect with needed partners, and define actionable next steps to carry forward after the workshop.

EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES AROUND

• Collaborative Research & Grant Development — Build research connections, explore multi-institution opportunities, and strengthen approaches to collaborative funding.
• AI in Research & Education — Explore how AI is shaping research, teaching, and learning across higher education.
• Student Research & Workforce Pathways — Identify opportunities to strengthen undergraduate research, experiential learning, and workforce development.
• Shared Expertise & Resources — Connect complementary expertise, initiatives, and resources across institutions.
• Cross-Institution Partnerships — Develop new relationships and ideas that can grow into meaningful collaboration beyond the workshop.

 

 

EVENT DETAILS

Dates: Sunday, November 1 – Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Location: Sanford Lab Homestake Visitor Center and Sanford Underground Research Facility | Lead, South Dakota

Sunday, November 1 | CONNECT
Build relationships, share expertise, explore South Dakota’s higher education and research ecosystem, and identify potential connections and opportunities.

Monday, November 2 | COLLABORATE
Explore collaborative research and funding, student research and workforce pathways, AI and emerging opportunities, followed by facilitated working sessions to begin developing ideas.

Tuesday, November 3 | ACT
Move promising ideas toward action by identifying priorities, partners, next steps, and opportunities for continued collaboration.

Bring your ideas, challenges, and expertise to the table, and leave with new connections, potential partners, and opportunities to move forward.

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Higher education leaders, researchers, STEM and education faculty, and partners interested in strengthening collaboration across South Dakota’s research, education, and STEM ecosystem are encouraged to participate.

2025 Participant Feedback

"I was able to network and meet new colleagues from high ed institutions and SURF. It was a chance to find out what all of us were doing. Coming in a cohort from our university meant we could strategize together."

 

"I have started collaborating on a research idea I initiated at SURF."

 

 

DOWNLOAD THE FLYER PDF FILE BELOW (next to the paperclip), PRINT AND SHARE WITH OTHER STEM AND EDUCATION FACULTY: 

 

2026HECW_FLYER.pdf

Sun, November 1

1:00 PM → 1:15 PM Welcome and Workshop Goals

Theme: Collaborative Capacity Building
Workshop Purpose: Strengthen collaboration across South Dakota’s higher education ecosystem to advance shared priorities, expand funding opportunities, and drive actionable outcomes.

1:15 PM → 2:15 PM South Dakota's Higher Education & Research Ecosystem

Emerging opportunities, pressures and shared priorities
Perspectives from higher education, EPSCoR and statewide partners

2:15 PM → 3:00 PM Breaking Down the Silos: Who's Doing What?

Highlight expertise, research interests, initiatives and resources across institutions.
Identify areas of complementary expertise and potential collaboration.

3:00 PM → 4:00 PM Research & Idea Connections

Short concept pitches from participants.
Research ideas, emerging initiatives and collaboration needs.
Facilitated connections among potential partners.

4:00 PM → 5:00 PM Welcome Reception & Connections

Light appetizers and beverages will be provided.

Mon, November 2

9:00 AM → 10:00 AM Featured Session: Building Collaborative Research Capacity in South Dakota

Keynote.

10:00 AM → 10:45 AM Funding the Work

•Federal and statewide funding landscape
•EPSCoR and other collaborative opportunities
•Building stronger multi-institution proposals
•Grant development, support and shared resources

10:45 AM → 11:00 AM Break

11:00 AM → 11:45 AM Building Research Connections

•Creating multidisciplinary and multi-institution teams
•Connecting complementary expertise
•Opportunities to partner with SURF/The Institute and broader research networks

11:45 AM → 12:45 PM Lunch

Lunch will be provided.

12:45 PM → 1:30 PM Building Student Research & Experimental Learning Pathways

•Undergraduate research
•Cross-institution experiences
•Internships and applied learning
•STEM education and workforce pathways

1:30 PM → 2:30 PM Featured Session: AI Across Higher Education

•AI in research
•AI in teaching and learning
•Responsible and effective use

2:30 PM → 2:45 PM Break

2:45 PM → 5:00 PM Group 1: Collaborative Research & Funding

Participants move from discussion to development through facilitated working sessions around priority areas.

GROUP 1:
• Collaborative research & funding

Each group identifies:
• A shared opportunity or challenge
• Potential initiative(s)
• Partners needed
• Immediate next steps

2:45 PM → 5:00 PM Group 2: Student Research & Workforce Pathways

Participants move from discussion to development through facilitated working sessions around priority areas.

GROUP 2:
• Student Research & Workforce Pathways

Each group identifies:
• A shared opportunity or challenge
• Potential initiative(s)
• Partners needed
• Immediate next steps

2:45 PM → 5:00 PM Group 3: AI, Teaching & Emerging Technology

Participants move from discussion to development through facilitated working sessions around priority areas.

GROUP 3:
• AI, teaching & emerging technology

Each group identifies:
• A shared opportunity or challenge
• Potential initiative(s)
• Partners needed
• Immediate next steps

2:45 PM → 5:00 PM Group 4: STEM Education & Outreach

Participants move from discussion to development through facilitated working sessions around priority areas.

GROUP 4:
• STEM education & outreach

Each group identifies:
• A shared opportunity or challenge
• Potential initiative(s)
• Partners needed
• Immediate next steps

Tue, November 3

9:00 AM → 9:50 AM From Ideas to Initiatives

• Working groups share concepts and recommendations
• Identify opportunities with the greatest potential for continued
  collaboration

9:50 AM → 10:40 AM Building the Infrastructure for Continued COllaboration

• Peer-to-peer working groups
• Shared resources and expertise
• Research/faculty connections across institutions
• Opportunities for SURF/The Institute to serve as a neutral convener
  and connector

10:40 AM → 10:50 AM Break

10:50 AM → 11:40 AM Action Planning

• Establish working groups and leads
• Define immediate next steps
• Determine follow-up structure and timeline

11:40 AM → 12:30 PM Workshop Takeaways, 2027 Priorities, Commitments and Feedback

• Key Takeaways
• 2027 Priorities
• Commitments & Next Steps
• Feedback - Complete Survey

10:40 PM → 10:55 PM Break