SOUTH DAKOTA'S 2‐YEAR POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

Two‐year postsecondary institutions in South Dakota have been in existence since the mid‐1960s and early 1970s. Programs and services in these institutions have been delivered through tribal community colleges located on reservations and at technical institutes located in the state's more heavily populated cities along the interstate corridors. The technical institutes are governed by the State Board of Education, but their operations continue to be under the administrative control of the kindergarten through grade 12 school district boards that first initiated them as area vocational schools. They have matured into associate degree‐granting institutions and offer a full range of programs and services. The tribal colleges maintain their own governance structures and provide programming to accommodate tribal members who reside on reservations. Collaboration and accountability continue to be key components in South Dakota's strategic thinking as it looks forward to the 21st century. The state's economy has demonstrated significant growth, and unemployment has been consistently below national rates. Increased economic development efforts have resulted in dramatic increases in manufacturing employment. Procuring funding and acquiring appropriate equipment will be critical components in supplying business and industry with a technologically competent work force.