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Regents approve new doctorates
Rapid City Journal
By Doris Haugen, Associated Press Writer
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/arti...te/state03.txt
MADISON — The state Board of Regents approved three new doctorates Thursday as part of efforts to boost research at South Dakota’s public universities.
Among them is a doctor of science degree in information systems at Dakota State University, the first doctoral-level degree to be offered by the Madison school.
Others approved by the regents are a doctorate in electrical engineering at South Dakota State University and a doctorate in biomedical engineering that will be offered by South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
Gov. Mike Rounds has included $1.8 million for the three programs in the budget he has recommended to lawmakers for the next fiscal year.
Doug Knowlton, DSU president, said the information systems degree would train students for jobs in research and teaching as well as prepare them for work with a major company or government agency.
The degree involves learning how to classify, store, retrieve and keep data secure, Knowlton said.
DSU needs funding from the Legislature so it can hire two faculty members. The program will start with 10 graduate assistants, he said.
The addition of a doctorate shows DSU has become a major player as it works to fulfill its technology mission, Knowlton said.
In 1984, the Legislature changed DSU from an institution that primarily educated teachers to one that would integrate computer and information technology into every academic discipline.
“It’s not an extension but a completion of our mission in the state,” Knowlton told regents.
Regents said an expansion in the number of doctorate programs offered by public universities is key to developing South Dakota’s research potential.
One of the goals of Rounds’ 2010 Initiative is to make the state a recognized leader in research and technology development.
Currently, South Dakota has 17 doctoral programs, far fewer than what most states offer.
Dan Farrington, who oversees research efforts for the regents, told the board the state is making gains.
In 2004, the Legislature appropriated $3.7 million and most of that money was used to establish research centers within the university system, Farrington said. The state also is waiting for word on whether a $9 million grant will be approved by the National Science Foundation for the EPSCoR program in South Dakota.
South Dakota is one of four states in the nation that lack what’s known a research extensive university, Farrington said. Alaska, Montana and North Dakota are the others, according to the Carnegie Foundation’s classification of doctoral-research programs.
In addition to the three doctorate programs, regents also approved new undergraduate programs at Northern State University, SDSU and USD.
-- NSU plans to offer a bachelor of science degree in banking and financial services. Classes will be offered on campus and through the regents higher education center, USDSU, in Sioux Falls, officials said. It marks the first time NSU has offered a full-time program through USDSU, officials said.
-- SDSU plans to offer a minor in biomedical engineering.
-- USD plans an undergraduate degree in marketing
Rapid City Journal
By Doris Haugen, Associated Press Writer
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/arti...te/state03.txt
MADISON — The state Board of Regents approved three new doctorates Thursday as part of efforts to boost research at South Dakota’s public universities.
Among them is a doctor of science degree in information systems at Dakota State University, the first doctoral-level degree to be offered by the Madison school.
Others approved by the regents are a doctorate in electrical engineering at South Dakota State University and a doctorate in biomedical engineering that will be offered by South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
Gov. Mike Rounds has included $1.8 million for the three programs in the budget he has recommended to lawmakers for the next fiscal year.
Doug Knowlton, DSU president, said the information systems degree would train students for jobs in research and teaching as well as prepare them for work with a major company or government agency.
The degree involves learning how to classify, store, retrieve and keep data secure, Knowlton said.
DSU needs funding from the Legislature so it can hire two faculty members. The program will start with 10 graduate assistants, he said.
The addition of a doctorate shows DSU has become a major player as it works to fulfill its technology mission, Knowlton said.
In 1984, the Legislature changed DSU from an institution that primarily educated teachers to one that would integrate computer and information technology into every academic discipline.
“It’s not an extension but a completion of our mission in the state,” Knowlton told regents.
Regents said an expansion in the number of doctorate programs offered by public universities is key to developing South Dakota’s research potential.
One of the goals of Rounds’ 2010 Initiative is to make the state a recognized leader in research and technology development.
Currently, South Dakota has 17 doctoral programs, far fewer than what most states offer.
Dan Farrington, who oversees research efforts for the regents, told the board the state is making gains.
In 2004, the Legislature appropriated $3.7 million and most of that money was used to establish research centers within the university system, Farrington said. The state also is waiting for word on whether a $9 million grant will be approved by the National Science Foundation for the EPSCoR program in South Dakota.
South Dakota is one of four states in the nation that lack what’s known a research extensive university, Farrington said. Alaska, Montana and North Dakota are the others, according to the Carnegie Foundation’s classification of doctoral-research programs.
In addition to the three doctorate programs, regents also approved new undergraduate programs at Northern State University, SDSU and USD.
-- NSU plans to offer a bachelor of science degree in banking and financial services. Classes will be offered on campus and through the regents higher education center, USDSU, in Sioux Falls, officials said. It marks the first time NSU has offered a full-time program through USDSU, officials said.
-- SDSU plans to offer a minor in biomedical engineering.
-- USD plans an undergraduate degree in marketing