The State of Public Higher Education - 1998
Connecting Actions to Public Policy
The nine state policy goals and the technology plan contained in this fourth edition of The State of Public Higher Education are only the latest of the Regents’ efforts to be responsive and accountable to the people of South Dakota for the management of their system of higher education.
In 1995 the legislature encouraged the Board to seek efficiencies. The Regents established the Reinvestment Through Efficiencies program. As a result of efficiency reviews, ten percent of the universities’ budgets have been redirected to achieve goals approved by the Regents. Acceptable expenditures include: upgrading of technology, redesign of curriculum, protection of assets, programs of economic development, links to elementary and secondary education, investments in change, and centers of excellence. Each year the universities propose expenditures in these categories for the Board’s approval, allowing them to direct the funds where they are most needed.
In addition, another five percent of the budgets of the universities have been directed to support the salary competitiveness plan. The plan is designed to increase the salaries of faculty and certain staff to levels more competitive with the regional job market. Salary increases through this plan will be awarded upon performance, institutional priorities, and demands of the market.
Finally, this year, with the support of the Legislature and Governor, the Regents have redirected another five percent of the remaining tuition and general funds to create the pools for incentive funding, which will be awarded based upon performance toward five of the state policy goals.
No other state system of higher education, indeed no single campus or multi-campus university, has moved so far so fast. The Regents are confident that they are pulling the diverse parts of this sweeping vision together to create one of the most efficient and effective systems in the country. The students, residents, and policy makers of this state can be assured that accountability will be maintained and quality will not be sacrificed. Evaluation and measurement are essential parts of each action as this report to the people of South Dakota has shown.