S.D. colleges show weaknesses

Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, S.D.: Last fall, Gov. Dennis Daugaard advocated that South Dakota young people need to look at technical careers as an opportunity instead of a consolation prize.

Daugaard and some state industry folks are facing a shortage of skilled technical workers needed to advance manufacturing in our state and want more graduates to look at tech school options.

A recent report said those institutions in South Dakota are doing a top-of-the-line job of making sure students have access and are successful. For that, the report from the Institute for a Competitive Workforce gives the state’s two-year institutions an “A.”

South Dakota colleges that are under the state’s regental system do not compare as well in the report, however. Four-year schools are lagging the national average and earned a “D’’ in student access and success and in efficiency and cost effectiveness.

While the study’s point is different than Daugaard’s advocating of technical education, the latest marks show challenges that most certainly don’t have easy answers.

While technical degrees are important, the health of the state’s college programs can’t be ignored. With the federal government looking at ways to reward colleges for both the quality and quantity of degrees, South Dakota’s Board of Regents and other state agencies should review some of the weak areas, including student access and success and efficiency and cost effectiveness.