Civil & Environmental Engineering Department (SDSM&T)

10/05/2026

Our Dr. Clabo faces the media after a challenging test!

Darren Clabo addresses the media.https://www.sdsmt.edu/academics/...

09/17/2026

It is with heavy hearts that the CEE Department shares the news of the passing of Dr. Venkataswamy Ramakrishnan (affectionally known to all as Dr. Rama).

Dr. Rama was an honored member of the Civil Department from 1969 to 2002. He was instrumental in the education of thousands of students and was world renowned for his research. In 1980, he was awarded the Presidential Award for Outstanding Professor by South Dakota Mines and in 1996, he was awarded Distinguished Professor status.

In 2002, the Rama Materials Laboratory in the Civil Engineering Department was dedicated in his honor. To this day, our alumni stop by the portrait of him outside the lab and tell stories of their time in his classes. He was an integral part in the lives of our former students, faculty and the Department and his legacy will live on for every student that walks through the doors of the lab named after him.

Our condolences to his family and friends. Our thoughts are with you.

09/16/2026

Just look how 'in demand' our students are!. Not just Civil Engineers but ALL Hardrockers!

08/24/2026

Today marks the official start of the Fall term. It is also the end of a BUSY summer here in the CEE Department and the campus as a whole. Construction was plentiful and included new water lines, repaved parking lots and roads, and the unveiling of the just completed Surbeck expansion.

With all the changes, one thing remains the same- the students arriving back on campus. To all our Freshmen (picture below)- welcome! To all our returning students- welcome back! It is going to be a great year and all the faculty and staff are very much looking forward to what will come!

05/14/2026

Some pictures from the Women in Science event- a great way to get girls excited about and involved in all things STEM! It was wonderful to see all the future engineers and scientists!

05/09/2026

This is always a bittersweet day. A day that we celebrate but always feel a bit of sadness. Four years ago, we watched a group of Freshman walk onto our campus. Today, we watch them walk across a stage. In those we years we saw successes. We saw failures. We saw them grow and learn and we saw them become the incredible people we say goodbye to today.

The fact that we stay while each year we watch them go is bittersweet but it is also a moment of genuine pride and joy. We have done our job. They are ready and they will change the world. From all the faculty and staff- we are so very proud of you all.

05/04/2026

CEE is looking at some changes. Congratulations to both Dr. Stone- our new Provost and Dr. Robinson- our new Department Head!

Jim Stone, Ph.D., current department head of civil and environmental engineering (CEE), has been appointed the university’s next provost and vice president for academic and student affairs. He succeeds Lance Roberts, Ph.D., who is stepping down to pursue opportunities outside higher education. Stone will begin his new role on May 22, 2026.

Stone previously served as interim provost during the 2025 university presidential search, a period when Roberts was serving as interim president.

In addition, Marc Robinson, Ph.D., professor and associate CEE department head, will step into the role of department head.

“Jim Stone and Marc Robinson are both highly respected leaders who have made lasting contributions to South Dakota Mines through their dedication to students, research and the success of their department,” said Mines President Brian Tande, Ph.D. “I look forward to working with both of them in their new roles.”

Read the full story here: https://www.sdsmt.edu/news/releases/newprovostandnewCEEdepthead.html

04/27/2026

Final standings for the ASCE Regional Competition:

Concrete Canoe swept 1st!
Steel Bridge took 2nd!
Surveying took 2nd!
Sustainable Solutions took 2nd!
Construction Institute took 2nd!
Student Symposium Paper took 3rd!
Rocky Mountain Technical Paper took 3rd!

As a Team, we scored 2nd Overall

04/27/2026

Way to go, South Dakota Mines Steel Bridge team!!!

04/27/2026

Of course our South Dakota Mines Concrete Canoe team did so awesome!

So proud of our team this year for all the hard work and dedication put into this years canoe!! We are so excited to announce that we will be making an appearance at nationals in West Virginia this June!! We can’t wait to see you all there!!
Special thank you to our captains, Grant and Zoey, for helping guide us towards a winning canoe!!! Thank you to our sponsors and alumni who have poured countless hours and donations into supporting our team and our success! And finally thank you to everyone who has placed their hand on the canoe assisting us with the casting process! We can’t wait to see what you all will achieve very very soon!!