Rich and Trudy Wells Veterans Resource Center

The South Dakota Mines greatly appreciates and values your service to our country, and we are honored to assist and support you in the pursuit of your academic goals.

Why veterans choose South Dakota Mines.

Quality Education
A walk across campus will find students building race cars, programming robots, and exploring new frontiers in chemistry and physics. At South Dakota Mines, high-speed low-drag takes on a whole new meaning. Our courses will challenge you enough to make sure you are prepared to handle twenty-first century problems. 

Unmatched Value
South Dakota Mines has been named one of the best values for 18 years straight. It's one of the main reasons we are named a top school for veterans year after year. Our most recent graduating class boasted a 96% placement rate and an average starting salary of $63,000. That's better than Harvard, at a third of the cost. 

Personal Attention
With a 15-to-1 student to faculty ratio, average class size is only 23. South Dakota Mines ensures you have every tool you need to successfully complete your program and that includes sufficient time with your professors and quality tutoring services. If you want to succeed at South Dakota Mines, you will. 

Rushmore Region
If you haven't been to the Black Hills of South Dakota, you're missing one of America's best kept secrets. With the climate of Colorado Springs at a fraction of the cost of living, we boast a perfect outdoor playground for hiking, biking, skiing, rock-climbing, camping, boating, fishing, and hunting. Combine that with our 118 acre campus boasting 13 intercollegiate Division II NCAA athletic teams and over 100 student clubs, our students have it all. 

If you have questions or want more information about veteran services at South Dakota Mines, contact Derek Flom:  (605) 394-2560, Derek.Flom@sdsmt.edu.

About the VRC

The mission of the Rich and Trudy Wells Veterans Resource Center (VRC) is to fulfill our country's promise to care for and honor the men and women who are America's Veterans.  We provide South Dakota Mines veterans with a relaxing place to study or simply connect with other campus veterans. Located on the lower level of the Surbeck Center near the student activities area, the VRC is sponsored jointly by South Dakota Mines and Western Nebraska Community College TRIO Veterans Upward Bound, a program funded by the Department of Education.

For additional information, contact Derek Flom:  (605) 394-2560, Derek.Flom@sdsmt.edu

What We Offer

• tutoring in math and writing
• assistance with job, internship, and scholarship searches/applications
• resume and cover letter writing
• referral services regarding VA benefits, G.I. Bills, and community veterans' organizations
• academic and life skills workshops in areas such as learning styles, test preparation, note taking, time management, stress management, financial literacy, and wellness
• coffee, tea, hot chocolate, snacks, refrigerator, microwave, pizza oven, toaster oven, popcorn machine, kitchenette, flat-screen cable TV, study tables, couches, recliners, storage lockers, veterans' information board, career information board, scholarship information board, two walls of whiteboards

Official Veteran's Certifying Officer

The veteran's certifying officer at South Dakota Mines is Hallie Vigil. Please contact her in order to initiate and maintain your benefits and also become certified with the VA. She can be reached at (605) 394-2553 ( hallie.vigil@sdsmt.edu ).

South Dakota Mines is proud to be partnered with Western Nebraska Community College's TRIO Veterans Upward Bound Program!