Southeast Tech Hosts SD Board of Technical ED Meeting

Workforce development, access to education and student retention were all topics discussed by the South Dakota Board of Technical Education this week during the Board’s fall meeting, held on Southeast Tech’s campus.

Retention among the state’s technical institutes for fall 2017 to fall 2018 is 78 percent, even with the prior year thanks to ongoing efforts by each institution.

“Our institutions have continued to emphasize the importance of student success, and it’s continuing to yield positive results,” said Nick Wendell, executive director of the South Dakota Board of Technical Education. “If we can help students find their fit academically and socially, the likelihood that they will be retained, persist to graduation and ultimately get placed in a meaningful career, increases. A retention rate in the high seventies is good for our students, our system and our state.”

Also at the Board’s meeting on Thursday, Gov. Dennis Daugaard was presented with the first-ever Friend of Technical Education Award for promoting the value of technical education and serving as a champion for the state’s technical institute system.

Board members said the Governor and his team were instrumental in the establishment of the Board of Technical Education and the Build Dakota Scholarship program.

They also commended Daugaard for supporting investments at each of the institutions, including renovations, construction of new facilities and the purchase of new equipment. Additionally, during his time as leader of the Western Governors’ Association, Daugaard placed the focus of his term on workforce development and the role of technical education in preparing the workers of tomorrow.