Introduction

Dakota State University has undergone numerous changes during its long history as it has worked to fulfill its mission. The most dramatic change occurred in 1984 with the passage of House Bill 1357, which changed the future of Dakota State University. That forward-looking legislation demanded a complete transformation of a magnitude almost unheard of in higher education. With the hard work and dedication of the faculty, students, and staff, Dakota State has experienced considerable success in the thirteen years since that legislation. Dakota State has built a solid reputation for quality curricula, producing graduates who are highly skilled in their ability to utilize computer technology in their profession. The faculty and staff of Dakota State University have expressed the present status in a Dakota State University core statement as follows:

Dakota State University Core Statement

Dakota State University is South Dakota’s leader in applying computer and information systems technology to higher education. Dakota State’s academic programs look to the future; emphasizing a high-quality, comprehensive, discipline-based education with the intense application of existing and emerging technologies.

The University’s innovative curricula involve a variety of educational media and settings, including the traditional on-campus classroom, advanced remote locations through distance education and off-campus, experience-rich internship alternatives, all enabled and enhanced by technology. Dakota State University cooperates and collaborates with educational, governmental, and corporate partners to deliver degree programs and individual courses while providing a foundation for lifelong learning to its students.

Dakota State University graduates are prepared with the mastery of technology necessary to move into rewarding careers in commerce, education, and government. Dakota State University has a strategic advantage: quality programs and an innovative faculty thriving in a technology-rich environment.

Today Dakota State University is poised to make major advances in fulfilling both the mission statement as written, and the total spirit of that mission change. Higher education today is very competitive, as institutions vie for students, state resources, grants, private gifts, and quality faculty. The public today demands greater accountability, is focused on the cost of higher education, and supports universities that prepare students to meet the workplace demands of the future. To maintain an accountable and successful enterprise we must continue to emphasize the basic tenets of a Dakota State University education: quality discipline-based education and the mastery of computer technology. The curriculum must have a balance between the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake and the pursuit of practical knowledge needed in the workplace and society in general. A university, like any competitive enterprise, requires the development of a strategic vision in order to move confidently into the future. The vision must be valid for today and tomorrow, must distinguish the University from competitors, and must convey a distinct direction for institutional development. Dakota State University faculty and staff have developed the following strategic vision:

Dakota State University’s strategic vision is to continually redefine the University experience by creatively integrating emerging computer/information systems technologies with selected disciplines to serve diverse populations.

• Redefine the University experience – DSU is a responsive and flexible organization, which uses feedback from its
various constituencies and advances in the disciplines to make changes in its professional programs. This ongoing
process enhances creativity and results in high quality contemporary programs.

• Integrate emerging computer information systems technologies – Computer information systems are the key
to the unique curriculum at DSU. The latest computer information systems technologies are integrated
into all facets of the educational experience, and its application is mastered by all DSU students.

• Service diverse populations – DSU will serve students of diverse ethnic groups, as well as traditional and
non-traditional students, both on-campus and at remote locations.

To develop a plan by which Dakota State University will grow and develop toward our vision, a defined set of actions must be implemented. The body of this document includes statements which define the seven strategic areas of emphasis for Dakota State University:

        Academic Programs
        Computer Technology
        Faculty Development
        University Promotion
        Student Life
        Campus Support
        Diversity

Clearly, Dakota State must continue to change. Change will take many forms both incremental and radical. Our strategic planning initiative does not disregard our history, but rather embraces it, learns from it, and builds upon it. We freely undertake this challenging change, recognizing that we must lay the strategic groundwork to exploit the new opportunities that change will bring.

Dakota State is a strong institution and, with this competitive strategic vision, can gain new strength and prominence on the higher education landscape.

Each college will continue to develop and implement changes in curriculum and program delivery which will build most effectively on the present and future DSU computer information systems environment to enhance the teaching and learning process in all disciplines. Not only will the computer information systems environment continue to expand new possiblities in the teaching/learning environment, but innovations developed are expected to direct and accelerate advances needed in the computer information systems environment. It is also expected that development and implementation of new approaches to teaching, learning and computer information systems use will lead to increased inter-disciplinary cooperation.

In establishing Masters level programs, Dakota State University will move into a more select arena which, like its undergraduate programs, will still emphasize computer information systems. Specifically, Dakota State will proceed, with approval of the Board of Regents, to develop a Masters of Science in Information Systems under the guidance of the College of Business and Information Systems. The College of Education will work with the University of South Dakota to develop cooperatively a Masters of Science in Education in Computer Education and Technology.

Other universities in the Regents Unified System of Higher Education will be provided the opportunity to contribute in the development and implementation of these programs.

The Center of Excellence in Computer Information Systems will include faculty, staff, and students who have both a very high level of information systems skills and expertise in a traditional discipline. The primary goal of the Center is to provide graduates who can take the lead in both development and application of information technology tools for a wide variety of uses in business, industry, government, and education. A secondary purpose is to provide training and technical assistance throughout the State of South Dakota in computer and information management technology. Students admitted into the Center via a rigorous admissions process will complete a core of technical coursework, an internship experience, and a professional exit exam.

The state telecommunications plan developed by the Governors office will position South Dakota to attract and develop companies that are based on information management. DSU, through the Center of Excellence, can provide the pool of graduates needed to attract those industries and meet their various needs for information systems expertise. Research and development conducted through the Center will focus on assisting these industries in utilizing the latest technology and information management methods. Results of this research will be disseminated through various means such as an annual conference, listservs, and electronic conferencing.

Quality State University encourages and facilitates effective teaching, research, and service within a dynamic learning environment. The University acknowledges and rewards the presence of quality and innovation in all phases of university life. Dakota State will assess all programs to ensure that they meet or exceed standards of accrediting agencies and learned societies. The assessment process will be used to continually improve academic programs and to allocate resources to make curriculum changes appropriate to the mission of the University. The faculty and staff with its combined disciplinary expertise and wide range of computer technology skills will prepare students for success in the technologically-enhanced jobs of the next century.

Distance Education redefines the University experience for students by providing a flexible learning environment that is not directly linked to the traditional classroom. Through this innovation in technology, applied to the academic programs at DSU, the Office of Distance Education will deliver programs to the state, the nation, and the world.

The Office of Distance Education, working with all units of the campus, will coordinate the delivery of high quality, focused academic programs and will foster the ideals of continual lifelong learning. The Office of Distance Education will provide faculty development in the areas of teaching and use of technology in distance education and will seek to develop external funding and partnerships.

Life-long learning is the passion for exploring new ideas and the capacity for expanding and adapting the conception of the self and world. In-depth exploration of a discipline and acquisition of broad-based knowledge from study and experiential activities establish models of learning and involvement that can be applied to new areas of interest throughout a lifetime. It is a goal of Dakota State to initiate a strategy for developing this passion and capacity in its graduates. It is also a goal to provide experience-based opportunities through the development and delivery of short courses and workshops that emphasize the use of technology for businesses, schools and individuals.

Information is expanding at an unprecedented rate as is the impact of technology on our society. Dakota State recognizes that life-long learning is critical to remaining up-to-date and will seek to offer alumni and others opportunities for continued learning of new technologies to promote economic independence and quality of life.

Dakota State University participates in applied research and development activities to complement other strategic initiatives of the University. Dakota State views teaching and research, scholarship, and artistic creativity as mutually complementary activities. The University will work to cooperate and collaborate in research and development activities with other South Dakota Board of Regents Universities, other post-secondary educational institutions, K-12 schools and other relevant professional societies.

DSU will encourage faculty consulting; develop partnerships with businesses and school districts; develop community service integral to university endeavors; encourage and support student organizations; provide continuing education opportunities for stakeholders; and encourage faculty, staff, and students to become involved in professional associations.

Dakota State University will encourage curriculum experimentation and will expand efforts at interdisciplinary, student-centered active learning. This trend is the developing norm for teaching and learning in the University, building on earlier efforts by the faculty in the inclusion of computers and current pedagogy.

The University will investigate inter-linking among curricula. In curricular integration, there will be introduction of common courses across disciplines, which would promote interdisciplinary thinking and collaboration. Faculty will be encouraged to collaborate to enhance student skills in oral and written communication, develop powers of observation and reasoning, and encourage interactive, collaborative learning within and among disciplines. The University will expand its use of Web sites for information and instruction. It will also explore various means of providing interactive educational resources for use both by students at DSU and by other constituencies in education, government and industry.

In the area of computer technology, there are two areas of strategic concentration — Infrastructure and Integration.

DSU’s computer technology infrastructure provides students, faculty and staff with unmatched access to up-to-date hardware and software. Our students must leave the University with first-hand knowledge of and experience with the latest computer technology. We will concentrate on being among the institutions at the leading edge of the technology curve, and we will annually commit the investment needed to achieve this goal.

When deemed strategically advantageous, faculty and students will explore technologies that are beyond the leading edge. Investment of resources in these technologies, however, will not come at the expense of the strategic development of the campus-wide infrastructure.

The availability of advanced computer technology means little for DSU unless it remains the common thread running through all the academic programs. It is becoming recognized throughout higher education that the use of technology in all disciplines must be a part of the academic pursuit. At Dakota State, we do not seek simply to introduce or to promote the use of computer technology, but rather to thoroughly prepare graduates who have demonstrated mastery of the application of computer technology in a selected discipline.

Because of our mission and our stated goals, DSU has the responsibility to ensure that mastery of technology is truly representative of all our graduates. The assessment of skills and abilities in this area will be critical and will include proficiency testing and employer and graduate follow-up programs.

Dakota State University invests in continual faculty development in teaching and scholarly practice. Faculty development is required to foster and maintain the expertise that allows them to provide leadership in their disciplines, as well as in the areas of technology and information systems. Using this combined expertise, faculty can collaborate to prepare an academic curriculum which integrates current technology and pedagogy. Faculty development includes the following areas: seminars, workshops, conferences, release time, research projects, grants, professional development programs, collaborative learning sessions, and professional retreats. Opportunities for sabbaticals, faculty exchanges, and fellowships are encouraged and supported when possible by funding, resource allocation, and scheduling. In addition, faculty development will include the development of a Dakota State Information Systems conference closely associated with the Center of Excellence in Computer Information Systems. Dakota State will continue to recruit and retain a faculty of high quality individuals with strong academic backgrounds, interdisciplinary interests, and competence with technology.

A strategic challenge for the University is the broad area of university promotion. Over the last thirteen years, Dakota State University has developed the academic programs and computer support infrastructure that provides the University with a strategic competitive advantage. Dakota State is distinguished from the rest not by the use of computer technology, but the mastery of computer technology within select disciplines. As a result of the strength of our academic programs, Dakota State has experienced unprecedented demand for graduates because employers recognize the competitive advantage of employees who can master computer technology and apply it.

To help us meet our strategic enrollment goals, Dakota State began to move away from traditional student recruitment to a more comprehensive approach to institutional marketing. This approach will also elevate the stature of the University throughout our recruitment area. We are targeting new geographic markets and are beginning to segment our markets to allow us to tailor our approach, and in all our efforts we will continue to stress that which distinguishes Dakota State—our computer technology advantage. It is strategically critical that the word about Dakota State, its programs and its success be effectively communicated.

While this is an area that has long been recognized as strategically critical, it is one where Dakota State has not excelled. We have expanded the development activity and will aggressively implement multifaceted programs to meet our goals and objectives. Programs targeting private foundations, alumni, corporations, other friends of the University and the community will be developed. In addition, special events will continue to be a part of the development activity.

The dominant theme of these development efforts will continue to be scholarship funds; however, there will be efforts made to enhance other areas of campus endeavors. The same message that is appealing to employers and prospective students will be emphasized in our development activity.

Students, particularly those in the traditional age category, choose higher education for two reasons – an education and a life experience. Striking a strategic balance between these two reasons for attendance is critical. Dakota State is committed to providing students extra-curricular opportunities that enhance the academic experience and that provide a breadth of leadership and involvement opportunities. The goal of the University is to develop the academic and experience portfolio of all students. Specific programming, activities and organizational opportunities will be continued and expanded as they serve to complement the University’s mission.

The same culture of excellence emanating from our academic programs must be pervasive in our student activities. Students are encouraged to participate in student organizations in order to strengthen their interpersonal skills and enhance their self-confidence, while contributing to a diversified set of social, cultural and recreational activities. The intercollegiate athletics program and fine arts activities are important components of these student opportunities. All activities must enhance the student experience and promote University goals for enrollment. Also integral to providing a quality life experience is providing students with opportunities for service within, and beyond, the local community.

A significant part of the college life experience is to prepare students for their life after graduation. Quality activities and organizations lay the foundation for active involvement in service to the community. It is strategically critical that we also prepare them for their work life. Career Services and Placement will focus on three areas: student employment, internships and placement. Student employment is designed to help students pay for their college investment. Internships are a meaningful way for students to connect with their probable post-college career field. Finally, successful placement is a result of linking high quality employers and other post-graduate opportunities with our high quality graduates. A strong Career Services and Placement program is critical to both recruitment and retention of students.

Another strategic key to successful student life is a high quality campus environment. DSU will provide safe, comfortable and affordable housing; quality and affordable food service; a competitively priced University Bookstore, and a safe, functional and attractive campus environment.

A quality education and life experience depend upon timely counseling and related assistance when problems arise that threaten academic performance and persistence. Similarly, student commitment to goal-setting and decision-making result from structured opportunities for self and career exploration.

The campus support environment consists of the physical plant and the support and background processes that serve the teaching and learning activities. The campus support activities provide services to students, parents, faculty, staff, the administration, the Board of Regents and other constituencies to which DSU is accountable. It must be an environment that delivers excellent service, welcomes and invites change and is highly cost effective. To accomplish these goals we must become accustomed to making the highest and best use of available administrative systems. Just as the academic programs emphasize technology and its use, so too must the administrative staff. To accomplish our vision of excellence, we must also be attentive to the need for formal staff development. Finally, when excellence is demonstrated, DSU will highlight it through formal recognition.

We must present a physical plant that complements our strategic initiatives. The DSU physical plant must be open, inviting, attractive, accessible and responsive to the University’s mission and goals. To enhance the University’s physical facilities, Dakota State University will work actively with the City of Madison and other partners in the development of a community center located on the campus.

Dakota State University graduates leave the campus to work and live within an increasingly multicultural and global society. It is important that their education include knowledge and experience that prepares them for this reality. Dakota State students must have the opportunity to interact and learn about other cultures, both through academic programs and student life activities. Dakota State’s emphasis in technology and distance education will provide many new opportunities for students to interact with a wide variety of students from other cultures and economic groups from all parts of the United States and the world. Thus, Dakota State will seek to promote this interaction. We will also seek to establish a more diverse student body on the campus through increased recruitment of minority students from the United States and international students from other areas of the world. Dakota State University will seek to provide both gender and cultural diversity within the faculty through its recruitment practices.