For Release August 15
Board of Regents Approves Agreement with Capital University Center
PIERRE – The South Dakota Board of Regents approved an agreement with the Capital University Center to deliver public higher education in the Pierre area at its regular meeting, Saturday, August 9. Board President David Gienapp commended South Dakota State University President Robert Wagner and CUC President Ann Thompson for their work on the agreement. "President Wagner and President Thompson made this possible. The agreement represents more than a year of negotiation between the Unified System of Public Higher Education and the CUC."
The CUC is a not for profit corporation, formed specifically to offer both credit and non-credit courses to residents in Hughes, Stanley, Sully, Potter, Hyde, Lyman and Jones Counties. Previously, it offered courses from the state universities by contracting with each one individually. "There was a lot of duplication of effort," said Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry. "Each campus negotiated its own arrangements with CUC. Now the CUC administration will work directly with the university system through one single contract, which will be reviewed annually. This will enable the institutions to share resources."
The new arrangements will ensure that degree program courses offered in the seven county area will be coordinated through CUC. An advisory council will be established with representation of the university presidents, the CUC board of directors, Thompson and Perry. Thompson also will be a member of the regental system’s off-campus academic program delivery council. The CUC has agreed that it will not charge independent fees to those students enrolled in degree programs from the universities.
Jim Mollison, CUC Board Chairman, and Thompson praised the state higher education system. "The CUC in Pierre is a great example of how Regents, universities, and community can combine resources to make things happen for students," Thompson said. Mollison added, "The economic future of the City of Pierre and the future of many of its citizens depends on the continued availability of higher levels of education, such as offered through CUC. The new contract with the Board of Regents is a vote of confidence to all parties involved. We are especially pleased with the cooperative efforts of the university presidents who gave their time to achieving this contract."
Those universities participating at this time include Northern State University, which is offering both an associate of science degree in business and a master of education in elementary teaching. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology offers a master of science in technology management. SDSU offers a bachelor’s degree in general studies and nursing as well as a master of science in industrial management. The University of South Dakota offers an associate degree in nursing and a master of business administration.
"Students will not notice differences in the beginning because most of the changes affect how the CUC and the regental institutions work together," said Perry. "In a few years when the Enrollment Services Center becomes fully operational, we expect that the students will have an easier time enrolling, transferring credits, and getting information about their courses and records." The Enrollment Services Center consolidates all student enrollment data for all six state universities. Some of its functions will be operational for the fall 1997 semester.
Gienapp added that this move is consistent with the Board’s goal to improve off-campus services throughout the state. "The Board has a commitment to life-long learning and to non-traditional students. We feel the agreement is in the best interest of students and the universities."
The agreement will not affect non-credit courses that CUC offers through its regular program.