For Release February 28
Survey of South Dakotans Shows Wide Support for Work of University System
PIERRE-A substantial majority of South Dakotans have a favorable impression of the state's public university system and are very satisfied with the work it is doing, according to a recent statewide survey. The survey, conducted by the state's Business Research Bureau (BRB), also found that a large number of South Dakotans believe that the state's public universities should have an important role to play in workforce training and development.
The survey asked 792 South Dakotans from across the state a range of questions about a number of topics including higher education. It found that nearly 87% of those surveyed hold a favorable or very favorable impression of South Dakota's public universities, an increase of 6.6% from the responses to the same question a year ago. Similarly, 80% of those surveyed reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the public higher education system in South Dakota.
In addition, the survey revealed broad public support for higher education's role in improving the quality of life and economy. Over 89% of survey respondents thought that the public universities should be the primary source of assistance for updating skills and providing retraining opportunities for mid-career professionals. Also, 75% felt that the importance of a college education in the labor force would be more or much more important over the next ten years. About 78% of the respondents also supported distance education courses, an important vehicle for providing educational opportunity to high school students and workers across the state.
The public university system's efforts to streamline operations and enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness also appears to be attracting the public's attention. . Forty-one percent of the survey respondents reported that they thought the public universities were more efficient now compared to three years ago. This is an increase of over 5% from responses to the same question asked a year ago. Only 16% thought the universities to be less efficient. While 42% of the respondents either were not sure, had no opinion or though that there was no change in efficiency.
According to Board of Regents President Karl Wegner, "The results of the survey should provide a wonderful source of encouragement to everyone at the universities who have worked so hard to meet the public's demand for quality and efficiency." Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry added that, "The survey shows that South Dakotans value public higher education and recognize the importance that our universities have in increasing opportunity for people and business across the state. Furthermore, the survey shows that we are moving in the right direction by responding to South Dakota's desire for efficient delivery of quality educational opportunities."