For Release November 12
Board of Regents Releases the State of Public Higher Education
PIERRE-Today the Board of Regents released The State of Public Higher Education in conjunction with Governor Janklow's proclamation of November 12-15 as Higher Education Week in South Dakota. The document assesses where South Dakota's Unified System of Public Higher Education stands after a century in existence with respect to opportunity, quality, and value.
Presenting the document, Regents President Karl Wegner of Sioux Falls said that, "The system is proud of where it has come from and is excited about directions for the future. The current state of public higher education is remarkable, we have increased opportunity, maintained value, and maintained a consistent level of high quality. However, there is also work to be done and the system is taking what has worked in the past and will apply it to innovative, high quality, and cost-conscious delivery methods for the future."
Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry said that opportunity can mean many things to graduates, "History shows that college graduates earn more in a lifetime than those with less education. Also, projections for future employment growth clearly indicate a strong need for higher education attainment in the labor force. The university system is working to expand opportunities and adapt to meet the changing needs of citizens so that more can achieve upward mobility and obtain higher paying jobs." He noted that distance education is a crucial tool for meeting the changing needs of citizens. Distance education also is helping to provide opportunities to high school students across the state. The system is encouraging AP (Advanced Placement) programs and offering college level courses for high school students in increasing numbers, many through distance education technology, between 1995 and 1996 the number of high school students enrolled in university courses rose 23%. This, according to Regent Pat Lebrun who chairs the Board's Committee on Academic and Student Affairs, "…gives students a head start in their education. It increases their chances of success in college and life and creates more opportunities for learning by allowing for resources to be allocated where they are most effective in teaching our students."
Quality indicators show the dedication of system faculty, who spend over 10% more hours on instructional activity relative to faculty across the nation. Perry added that, "Faculty are an important factor in the success of students and their commitment is important to recognize." Lebrun added that quality is in part dependent on the preparedness of incoming students, "With strengthened admissions standards we encourage students to start preparing early for collegiate level study." This preparedness, according to Lebrun, enhances student prospects for success.
Other indicators show that even though South Dakota's universities are more dependent on tuition than surrounding states, tuition increases in South Dakota still fall below the national average and expenditures per student for administrative support are the lowest among the western states. Perry added that, "Continually enhancing value will be a challenge as we face the next century."
The document also looks to the future for the state's system of public universities. There will be enhanced integration of disciplines between the system institutions and improved off-campus access to higher education opportunities. Perry explained, "By developing Discipline Councils that oversee the inter-institutional relationship of curriculum offerings the system can more effectively allocate resources and direct outreach efforts." Perry went on to explain that the Discipline Councils, facilitated by the use of technology, would utilize system wide alliances to share resources where possible, offer essential service to students across the state, and benefit from faculty expertise. "This would allow recruitment of specialized faculty who could serve students across the state rather than at a single university." Connected to this concept, said Perry, is the Off-Campus Network for Academic Program Delivery that will coordinate efforts to deliver educational services off-campus. He explained that, "Technology is allowing far greater access to higher education across the state and this is an important aspect of serving the rural areas. To avoid duplication, universities will form partnerships to maximize the resources available to serve students beyond the campus and allow more to access higher education opportunities."