West River university land measure approved
Posted: Wednesday, February 27, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- The South Dakota Legislature gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would allow the state Board of Regents to accept the donation of 12 acres of land in Rapid City for an eventual university classroom building.
The bill failed on a close vote Monday, but the Senate voted 21-14 to approve it on Tuesday. The measure will become law if signed by Gov. Mike Rounds.
HB1251 would allow the Board of Regents to accept 12 acres of land along Interstate 90 on the eastern side of Rapid City. The regents also would get an option to buy an adjoining 19 acres for a possible expansion of the center, which would mostly offer classes to nontraditional students such as those who take classes part-time while working full-time.
The bill contains no money for constructing a classroom building, supporters said. Actual construction of a classroom building would take further legislative approval in the future, they said.
Officials have said nearly 1,700 nontraditional students are now taking classes from the West River Higher Education Center at nine locations scattered around Rapid City. The regents want to offer those classes 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.
Sen. Gil Koetzle, D-Sioux Falls, said lawmakers should reject the proposal because they do not know enough about the regents' plans for the Rapid City center. He said he has heard as many as 17 buildings could be placed at the site.
"I suggest you vote this down until we honestly know what is going on," Koetzle said.
Koetzle said he opposed a similar university center in Sioux Falls a few years ago because he believes a new campus should not be created unless an existing campus is shut down. Six state universities are enough for a state with a population of less than 800,000, he said.
Sen. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton, said the university classes used to be offered at a location at Ellsworth Air Force Base, but the Air Force had to take that space back for other uses. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City does not have space to host the courses given by other universities to part-time students, she said.
The bill failed on a close vote Monday, but the Senate voted 21-14 to approve it on Tuesday. The measure will become law if signed by Gov. Mike Rounds.
HB1251 would allow the Board of Regents to accept 12 acres of land along Interstate 90 on the eastern side of Rapid City. The regents also would get an option to buy an adjoining 19 acres for a possible expansion of the center, which would mostly offer classes to nontraditional students such as those who take classes part-time while working full-time.
The bill contains no money for constructing a classroom building, supporters said. Actual construction of a classroom building would take further legislative approval in the future, they said.
Officials have said nearly 1,700 nontraditional students are now taking classes from the West River Higher Education Center at nine locations scattered around Rapid City. The regents want to offer those classes 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.
Sen. Gil Koetzle, D-Sioux Falls, said lawmakers should reject the proposal because they do not know enough about the regents' plans for the Rapid City center. He said he has heard as many as 17 buildings could be placed at the site.
"I suggest you vote this down until we honestly know what is going on," Koetzle said.
Koetzle said he opposed a similar university center in Sioux Falls a few years ago because he believes a new campus should not be created unless an existing campus is shut down. Six state universities are enough for a state with a population of less than 800,000, he said.
Sen. Jean Hunhoff, R-Yankton, said the university classes used to be offered at a location at Ellsworth Air Force Base, but the Air Force had to take that space back for other uses. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City does not have space to host the courses given by other universities to part-time students, she said.
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