How SDSU, USD, DSU are establishing educational footprints, partnerships in Sioux Falls

An hour’s drive to the north, west or south of Sioux Falls will take you to the three largest in-state public universities closest to the state’s largest city: South Dakota State University, Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota, respectively.

Their missions to partner with businesses in the state’s largest city, expand their footprints in Sioux Falls and recruit and educate students from there, were discussed in depth Monday at a Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary meeting.

Alissa Matt, USD assistant vice president for external relations, noted USD-Sioux Falls is the only public four-year university presence in the city. USD also boasts the medical school, health sciences center, Discovery District and Graduate Education and Applied Research Center.

Matt noted the Discovery District has “four walls up” at this time, and that as soon as it’s finished, there will be more opportunities to recruit more businesses to the state. She added the Discovery District is a “long game” with a 25-year plan that will take time and investment before former USD President Jim Abbott’s vision for it is fulfilled.

Ashley Podhradsky, DSU vice president for research and economic development, spoke about the upcoming May 10 groundbreaking of DSU’s new 100,000 square foot applied research lab in Sioux Falls, which will open in two years’ time and expand cyber research.

Vernon Brown, associate vice president for external affairs at SDSU, said SDSU has had a physical presence in Sioux Falls for decades with a nursing program and pharmacy students who finish their final years of education in the city. SDSU’s Ness School of Management and Economics also has a presence, programs and career fairs inside Startup Sioux Falls.

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Brown also said an exciting announcement would come Tuesday about the presence of SDSU’s health care students in Sioux Falls.

Each university official also spoke about their efforts to get more young people and potential students from Sioux Falls involved with their campus. Brown is working with SDSU to make sure all Sioux Falls eighth graders visit the campus; DSU has educational camps and opportunities like CybHER, the Governor’s Cyber Academy and Gen Cyber; and, USD has a teacher pathway program for Sioux Falls students looking to become teachers.

To connect with Sioux Falls businesses, USD has Coyote Business Consulting to recruit students to support both large and small businesses in every county across the state, and large organizations, the majority of which are in the Sioux Falls community, Matt said. Student teams work with a business to help them with a project throughout the semester, giving students real-world experience and serving local businesses.

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SDSU students also had a similar opportunity recently. Last semester, students in the School of Communications and Journalism worked with small businesses and startups to help them with their communication and marketing plans at Startup Sioux Falls, Brown said.

DSU’s Paulson Center also works directly with businesses and startups across the state to help guide them depending on the area they’re in, Podhradsky said. DSU also has an incubation space, three student businesses in the space that are learning, building and growing, and DSU has had three patents come together in the last 18 months based on campus research.

Students and research engineers at DSU have also been working on Project Boundary Fence, which performs security assessments against cities, counties, local governments, municipalities and special districts in the state to help them understand where cyber risks are, Podhradsky said. An extra investment by way of Senate Bill 187 will help enhance DSU’s offerings with that and further protect people in the state, she added.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: How SDSU, USD, DSU establishing educational footprints in Sioux Falls