West River university plan moves ahead
Posted: Friday, February 22, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Legislation that would allow the Board of Regents to accept the donation of 12 acres of land at Rapid City for an eventual classroom building for nontraditional students was approved Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
HB1251, sent 5-4 to the full Senate, also would allow the regents to accept an option to buy an adjoining 19 acres that could be used to construct a second building if enrollments continue to increase.
The measure was stripped earlier of $15.4 million in bonding authority to construct the first building. Although the financing vanished, the bill at least would allow the land to be acquired.
Classes for nontraditional students seeking degrees through the West River Higher Education Center are now offered in nine locations, said Regent James Hansen of Pierre. He said nearly 1,700 students are taking the classes, and it would be more convenient if all those classes could be offered at one location.
The courses and degrees are offered by Black Hills State University, South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, Dakota State University and Northern State University.
The donated land is along Interstate 90, on the eastern side of Rapid City.
Sen. Bob Gray, R-Pierre, said the family donating the land will also benefit from it. He said the donors plan to develop the area, and they want the Higher Education Center as an anchor for the project.
Tad Perry, regents' executive director, said it would be wise to also acquire the adjoining 19 acres. If Rapid City continues to grow and demand for classes from nontraditional students also grows, the extra land would allow expansion of the central location, he said.
"That's just very good planning, on behalf of the state, long-term," Perry said.
HB1251, sent 5-4 to the full Senate, also would allow the regents to accept an option to buy an adjoining 19 acres that could be used to construct a second building if enrollments continue to increase.
The measure was stripped earlier of $15.4 million in bonding authority to construct the first building. Although the financing vanished, the bill at least would allow the land to be acquired.
Classes for nontraditional students seeking degrees through the West River Higher Education Center are now offered in nine locations, said Regent James Hansen of Pierre. He said nearly 1,700 students are taking the classes, and it would be more convenient if all those classes could be offered at one location.
The courses and degrees are offered by Black Hills State University, South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, Dakota State University and Northern State University.
The donated land is along Interstate 90, on the eastern side of Rapid City.
Sen. Bob Gray, R-Pierre, said the family donating the land will also benefit from it. He said the donors plan to develop the area, and they want the Higher Education Center as an anchor for the project.
Tad Perry, regents' executive director, said it would be wise to also acquire the adjoining 19 acres. If Rapid City continues to grow and demand for classes from nontraditional students also grows, the extra land would allow expansion of the central location, he said.
"That's just very good planning, on behalf of the state, long-term," Perry said.
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