USD shares legislative interests, major goals for 2023

All it takes is one second to change a life at the University of South Dakota.

So began USD President Sheila Gestring’s annual State of the University address this year, as she referenced the buzzer-beating Hail Mary pass that the USD football team pulled off to take down the South Dakota State Jackrabbits last year, earning a Sports Illustrated award nomination.

Gestring pointed to multiple recent advancements on campus and promising enrollment news it shared this week, as well as dropped major news about what the university hopes the Board of Regents and Legislature will approve next year.

USD is going to request $20.5 million from the state to invest in preserving and modernizing four campus halls: Churchill-Haines, the South Dakota Union building, Dakota Hall and East Hall. If the funding is granted from the state, USD would match that to comprehensively restore those buildings.

Here are five other major areas President Gestring highlighted in her speech.

Enrollment and student support

Gestring reiterated news from Tuesday that the university saw the largest enrollment increase of all six public universities in the state, as enrollment increased by 392 students this year. USD also welcomed 1,326 first-time freshmen this year, an increase of 7.7%.

With Native American undergraduate student enrollment improving 17.9% from last year, Gestring credited Megan Red Shirt Shaw, director of Native Student Services, and John Little, director of Native recruitment and alumni engagement, with their work on a “Living Learning Native community” on campus.

That community has helped with recruitment and retention of Indigenous students, and has 36 participants this year from 14 tribal nations and six states, Gestring said.

The USD law school also has the largest class of first-year students that it’s seen in more than 10 years, with 87 students, Gestring said. She said the school has established a mentorship program for first-generation students that connects them to second- and third-year law students.

A new $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education that USD received this year has also helped the university focus on retention with a new first-year mentoring and transition program focused on enrolling and retaining rural and underrepresented student populations.

103 new students and 96 current students received the new Freedom Scholarship this year, a needs-based scholarship for students who will stay and work in the state three years after graduation, Gestring said, noting that $982,000 has been awarded to USD students so far from the fund.

Another scholarship known as Coyote Beginnings, USD’s general scholarship fund, has resulted in more than 200 students choosing USD this year, Gestring added.

On-campus support

A new Gallagher International Center launched on campus this June to centralize the university's international affairs, and to enable the university’s international programs to share resources and foster a sense of community.

Mental health continues to be a serious concern for college students across the country, Gestring said. That’s why USD has added another counseling position to counseling center, and has trained 62 student mentors on a “question, persuade and refer” suicide prevention program.

Charlie’s Cupboard, a USD program to support students facing food insecurity by way of an on-campus food pantry, is in its third year and has helped more than 3,000 students, who have received a combined 15 tons of food and personal care products from the pantry.

A student emergency fund that USD launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to provide much-needed support to students facing financial hardships, Gestring said, noting that 59 students received emergency grants over the past 2 years.

Professional development

USD plans to launch Charlie’s Career Closet by this spring. The new program will provide USD students with new or gently-used professional attire and job-readiness training. The first clothing drive is set for this fall in time for the closet to open in the spring, Gestring said.

More than 50 students are also taking advantage of the Coyote Career Kickstart program, Gestring said, explaining that it connects students to financial support and career preparation, and in turn, helps build the state’s workforce.

The President’s senior leadership institute also offers pre-professional training to students on campus, helping them develop essential skills and non-academic knowledge. 37 students participated in the institute last year, and more than 75 have been nominated to participate this year.

It gives them the skills to become leaders in South Dakota, Gesting said. The students in the institute focus on learning about group dynamics, personal strengths, financial literacy, responsible citizenship, professional etiquette and more.

Sioux Falls growth

President Gestring highlighted several areas of growth in Sioux Falls, chief among them that the university has a goal to get a business-ready building prepared at the Discovery District this year.

Gestring also noted that the University of South Dakota-Sioux Falls officially launched in June, which will help with a projected 20% growth in high school graduates across South Dakota in the next 10 years, the majority of which will come from Sioux Falls.

Most of those Sioux Falls graduates will want to stay close to home while pursuing their education, Gestring said, and USD-Sioux Falls will allow them to do that.

Students at USD-Sioux Falls will be able to pursue degrees ranging from their associate’s to doctoral degrees, in everything from education, business and health. Students can even get their master’s of public health, master’s of social work and participate in the certified registered nurse anesthetist program there.

Growth in Sioux Falls is part of answering a call in the state’s largest city, Gestring said. It will also strengthen the university’s partnerships with Sanford Health and Avera Health, while providing clinical experience to students and filling gaps in the state’s healthcare workforce.

Campus growth

Gestring noted the recent grand opening of the new school of health sciences building on campus.

Construction on the wellness center’s expansion is delayed due to supply shortages at this time, Gestring said. Work will now start on the expansion by spring 2023, with completion of the facility set for fall 2024.

In the near future, Julian and Brookman Halls will be demolished, Gestring said. For now, local and state agencies are conducting emergency responder training in the buildings.

Gestring also noted recent reopenings of the Knutson Theater and Colton Recital Hall on campus, and renovations completed at Richardson Hall, McKusick Hall and the law school.