For Immediate Release 14 December 2000

Board of Regents Reviews Governor’s Budget Recommendations

MADISON—At its regular business meeting on the campus of Dakota State University in Madison today, the South Dakota Board of Regents reviewed Governor William J. Janklow’s recommended fiscal year 2002 budget.

The total general fund increase of $6.185 million represents a 4.93% increase over the current fiscal year for all public universities and the School for the Deaf and the School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The total general fund recommendation for FY01 of $125,447,125 included funding for the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, and the Cooperative Extension Service, and the Agriculture Experiment State at South Dakota State University.

"The Governor’s budget proposal includes money for Internet 2 connectivity, which is a high-speed network for research and other educational activities," said Regents President Harvey Jewett, Aberdeen. "Access to Internet 2 is restricted. The University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are already participating in Internet 2. We hope that Dakota State, Northern State and Black Hills State Universities will also soon have access. Faculty members will be able to bring so much more information into the classroom with this capability. For example, they will be able to download satellite images from EROS Data Center."

In addition Governor Janklow has recommended the creation of a state-funded scholarship. Any South Dakota student who earns a Regents Scholars diploma would qualify. "In his budget address, the Governor suggested that the new scholarships could be funded with revenues from the tobacco settlement," said Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry. "Some time ago the Regents established the Regents Scholars diploma to be awarded to any student who completes the demanding high school curriculum. Not only are certain courses required. Students also must maintain a B average and must get no grade lower than a C. To do that they must plan their high school curriculum early."

"The Regents see this scholarship as a win-win idea. The students and their families get financial assistance toward college and more students will come to college prepared to do college level work. This scholarship should drive demands for a more rigorous curriculum and that will be even better," said Jewett.

The Governor presented his proposed budget to the Legislature on December 5. The Legislature will approve the state’s budget in the 2001 session starting in January.

For more information, contact: Dr. Robert T. Tad Perry, Executive Director, or Monte Kramer, Director of Finance and Administration, (605) 77303455.