Black Hills State UniversityStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for Black Hills State University. Free for students.

Public Research University in Spearfish, SD. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all Black Hills State University students. No credit card required.

3K+

Total Enrollment

Research University

Institution Type

7

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall Semester 2026

The semester, explained for Black Hills State University

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall Semester 2026
Campus terms
32
Local details
19

Academic calendar

Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 16, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

5 entries
  1. Summer Full Session 2026
  2. Summer 10-week Session 2026
  3. Summer 5-week Session 2 2026
  4. Fall Semester 2026Relevant now
  5. Spring Semester 2027

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Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

32 terms

A

AISES
American Indian Science and Engineering Society, a group supporting Native students in STEM fields.

B

BHSU
Black Hills State University.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux Hall, a suite-style residence hall.
Burning of the BH
A signature homecoming tradition where a large wooden 'BH' is set on fire during a pep rally.
Buzz Shack
The campus coffee shop located in the Student Union that serves Starbucks beverages.
Buzz's
Buzz's Coffee Shop, a popular student cafe located within the E.Y. Berry Library.

C

CAB
Campus Activities Board, the student-led group that organizes campus-wide entertainment and events.

E

Einstein's
The Einstein Bros. Bagels location situated within the E.Y. Berry Library-Learning Center.
Einsteins
The Einstein Bros. Bagels location in the Student Union.

G

Green & Gold Days
The multi-day orientation program held for incoming freshmen before the fall semester begins.

H

Heide
Common shorthand for Heidepriem Hall, the university's largest co-ed residence hall.
Heidie
Heidpriem Hall, a traditional-style residence hall primarily for first-year students.
HSSO
Health Sciences Student Organization, for students pursuing careers in healthcare.
Humbert
Humbert Hall, a residence hall that typically houses upperclassmen and transfer students.

J

Jacket Zone
The name of the university bookstore, with locations both on campus and downtown.
Jacket Zone
The campus bookstore and merchandise shop which also sells snacks.
Just Baked
A 24/7 hot food vending kiosk located in Bordeaux Hall for after-hours meals.

K

KBHU
The campus radio station (89.1 & 90.7 FM), frequently referred to as 'The Buzz'.

L

Lakota Omniciye
The university's largest student organization, which hosts the annual Wacipi (pow-wow).
Lookout Lodge
The central living area and social hub that connects the three buildings of The Peaks complex.

S

SGA
Student Government Association, the official representative body for the BHSU student population.
SSS
Student Support Services, a TRIO program providing academic and personal support to eligible students.
Sting
The official name of the Yellow Jacket mascot.
Swarm Days
The official name for BHSU's annual homecoming week celebrations.

T

The Hills
A common shorthand for the Black Hills region where the Spearfish campus is located.
The Hive
The primary all-you-care-to-eat residential dining hall located in the Student Union.
The Market
The Jacket Market, an on-campus convenience store for snacks, drinks, and quick meals.
The Peak
Crow Peak Hall, a suite-style residence hall named after the nearby Crow Peak mountain.
The Peaks
The residential complex triplex consisting of Heidepriem, Thomas, and Bordeaux halls.
Thomas
Thomas Hall, a traditional-style residence hall.

W

Wenona
Wenona Cook Hall, the oldest residence hall on campus, known for its historic architecture.

Y

Yellow Jackets
The collective nickname for BHSU students, alumni, and athletic teams.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

19 details
Buzz Bucks
Declining balance funds loaded onto a Buzz Card for use at campus dining and vending machines.
Buzz Card
The multi-purpose student ID used for building access, meal swipes, and library checkouts.
D2L
Desire2Learn, the online platform where students access course materials and grades.
Jacket 10
The standard minimum meal plan required for students living in residence halls.
Jacket Market
The campus convenience store located in the Student Union for essential supplies and food.
Jacket Ride
A safe-ride shuttle service provided for students within the Spearfish community.
Jonas
Jonas Hall, a major academic building divided into Jonas Academic and Jonas Science wings.
LL
The E.Y. Berry Library-Learning Center.
Meier
Meier Hall, the campus center for music, arts, and performance programs.
Meier Hall
Clare and Josef Meier Hall, the primary building for music and fine arts programs.
MyBHSU
The central online portal where students access registration, financial aid, and personal records.
Starfish
The student success software used for scheduling advising appointments and tracking academic progress.
SU
The David B. Miller Yellow Jacket Student Union, the central hub for dining and student services.
The Union
The David B. Miller Training Center / Student Union.
The YC
The Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center.
The Young Center
The Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, the primary hub for athletics and recreation.
Woodburn
Woodburn Hall, the historic main administrative building housing the President's office and classrooms.
YC
The Donald E. Young Sports and Fitness Center, housing the gym, pool, and athletic offices.
Yellow Jacket Alert
The campus emergency notification system for weather and safety updates.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Semester 2026 runs Aug 24, 2026 – Dec 16, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
32 approved campus terms and 19 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Get to know your university

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Find a few communities to try at Black Hills State University

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

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Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

DormWay is still mapping student communities at this campus.

We only show recommendations once we have enough public sources for Black Hills State University.

These are things we discovered. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

Recommendations are based on public campus sources. We do not endorse student organizations.

Using DormWay at Black Hills State University

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Black Hills State University on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

4

Active Students

9

Syllabi Analyzed

9

Courses on DormWay

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Popular Courses

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5-12 Philosophy & PedagogyConcert ChoirEthnobotany of the Northern PlainsFundamentals of English GrammarIntroduction to SociologyLife Span PsychologyReading & Content Area LiteracyThe Psychology Major

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Life in Spearfish for Black Hills State University Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Spearfish.

Timezone

Mountain Time (MT)

Median Rent

$950

Cost of Living Index

95

Student Population

4,000

City Transportation

Walkability

50

Bikeability

55

Public Transit

Local demand-response transit services

Nearest Airports

Black Hills Airport–Clyde Ice Field (general aviation), Rapid City Regional Airport (nearest commercial, ~60 miles)

Climate Averages

Climate

Cold semi-arid

Avg Annual Temp

48°F

Avg Snowfall

45 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Creek Side Lot

surface_lot • 300 spots total; 100 reserved for Yellow Jacket Club on gamedays

Newly paved; gameday parking is $10 cash only.

Donald E. Young Center Lot

surface_lot • 435 spots; first-come first-serve on gamedays

Primary lot for the sports and fitness complex.

Campus News

Latest updates from Black Hills State University

Black Hills State University Reports Largest Incoming Class in 10 Years

BHSU welcomed 574 first-time students this fall, the largest combined incoming class since 2016, bringing total enrollment to a five-year high of 3,502.

Sep 11, 2026

Read More

BHSU Researchers Contribute to LZ's Surprising Result in Search for Dark Matter

University researchers participated in the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment, which recently released new results in the global search for dark matter.

Sep 1, 2026

Read More

BHSU Hosts U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune

Senator John Thune visited the Spearfish campus to meet with President Steve Elliott and discuss university initiatives and regional priorities.

Aug 28, 2026

Read More

Everbridge Campus Alert System Test: A test message will be sent through the system within the next 2 weeks.

Everbridge Campus Alert System Test: A test message will be sent through the system within the next 2 weeks.

Read More

Upcoming Events

What's happening at Black Hills State University

BHSU Hero Appreciation Football Game

September 12, 2026

Lyle Hare Stadium

Yellow Jacket Football vs. Adams State. Hero Appreciation game.

September Geek Speaks

September 14, 2026

Jacket Legacy Room

Faculty-led lecture series exploring diverse academic topics.

Swarm Days 2026 (Homecoming)

September 21, 2026

Campus-wide

A week of homecoming celebrations including themed competitions, the Burning of the BH ceremony, and a downtown parade.

Swarm Days Parade and Big Game

September 26, 2026

Downtown Spearfish / Lyle Hare Stadium

The culmination of homecoming week with a parade and the homecoming football game.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at Black Hills State University

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

7 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Apts.

Room types: double occupancy, single occupancy, single occupancy/double room

Bordeaux Hall

Room types: double, single, single (double room)

Heidepriem Hall

Room types: double, single, single (double room)

Humbert Hall

Room types: double, single, single (double room)

Thomas Hall

Room types: double, single, single (double room)

Wenona Cook Hall

Room types: double, single, single (double room)

Yellow Jacket Apartments

Room types: double, single, double-as-a-single

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@blackhillsstateu.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

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