×
Since 1988, South Dakota has partnered with and benefited WICHE through regional collaboration, resource-sharing, sound public policy, and innovation.
Tuition Savings
South Dakota students saved $4.3M through WICHE’s Student Access Programs (Academic Year 2021-22)
- $3.5M saved through WUE
- $733,091 saved through WRGP
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) saves South Dakota undergraduate students on out-of-state tuition. They pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at partner institutions across the West.
- 567 South Dakota students chose WUE schools in the West (Academic Year 2021-22)
- 1,895 out-of-state students chose WUE schools in STATE (Academic Year 2021-22)
- Top 3 out-of-state WUE schools for South Dakota undergrads:
- North Dakota State University (170)
- Colorado State University (41)
- Casper College (41)
- Top 3 South Dakota schools for out-of-state undergrads:
- Black Hills State University (582)
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (518)
- South Dakota State University (323)
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) saves South Dakota students on out-of-state graduate certificate, master’s and doctoral programs. They pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition at partner institutions across the West.
- 56 South Dakota students chose WRGP schools in the West (Academic Year 2021-22)
- 205 out-of-state students chose WRGP schools in South Dakota (Academic Year 2021-22)
- Top 3 out-of-state WRGP schools for South Dakota students:
- North Dakota State University (17)
- University of Northern Colorado (6)
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (5)
- Top 3 South Dakota WRGP schools for out-of-state students:
- University of South Dakota (72)
- Dakota State University (53)
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (48)
Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) students pursuing careers in 10 health fields can enroll in programs in the WICHE region and receive substantial tuition support from their home state/territory.
- South Dakota doesn’t use PSEP for its residents because they typically enroll in the state’s public programs for several PSEP fields, or have agreements with neighboring states not offered by their public institutions
- However, South Dakota institutions and their local economies still benefit from PSEP. This year, 2 PSEP students enrolled in University of South Dakota’s physical therapy and occupational therapy doctorate programs. The university received $30,775 in support fees to reduce the students’ tuition costs
Next
Prev
WICHE Commissioners
*indicates Executive Committee member
Brian Maher
Executive Director and CEO, South Dakota Board of Regents
Brian Maher
Executive Director and CEO, South Dakota Board of Regents
Brian L. Maher was appointed June 24, 2020, to lead South Dakota’s six public universities and two special schools as the Board of Regents’ executive director and chief executive officer. Dr. Maher began his duties with the Board of Regents in the Pierre central office July 6, 2020.
Dr. Maher’s experience in educational administration includes 21 years as a superintendent of K-12 school systems. He came to the Board of Regents after five years as superintendent of the Sioux Falls School District, South Dakota’s largest public school district serving more than 23,000 students. He was superintendent of schools in two Nebraska districts, Kearney and Centennial, from 1999 to 2015.
A Nebraska native, he also worked as a school principal and began his career in education teaching mathematics, computer science, and physics. He was honored as Nebraska’s superintendent of the year in 2015.
He holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Nebraska and a master’s degree, also in educational administration, from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His bachelor’s degree in mathematics education is from Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University) in Fremont, Neb. Maher’s family includes his wife, Peg, and together they have three grown children, Lindsey, Brett, and Maggie.
The South Dakota Board of Regents is the constitutional governing body for Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, South Dakota School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, and South Dakota School for the Deaf.
* Larry Tidemann
Retired, South Dakota Legislature
Larry Tidemann *
Retired, South Dakota Legislature
Larry Tidemann is a former State Senator and Representative from South Dakota. He was elected to the South Dakota Legislature for over 14 years with terms in both the House of Representatives and the State Senate. He represented District 7 in Brookings, SD, which included the community where South Dakota State University is located. He served on the Appropriations Committee throughout all 14 years of his tenure in the legislature and for 11 years he was Chair or Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee. He also was appointed to the Retirement Laws Committee and served as chair of the Legislature’s Executive Board, and the Government Operations and Audit Committee (GOAC), during his time in the legislature.
Larry has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from South Dakota State University. He received an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from SDSU in 2019. Larry is retired from South Dakota State University where he was an Associate Dean of Agriculture and Director of the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service.
Diana VanderWoude
System Vice President, Sanford Health
Diana VanderWoude
System Vice President, Sanford Health
Diana VanderWoude has 40 years of experience in healthcare administration, education, and regulation. She is the System Vice President of Leadership, Education and Development (LEAD) for Sanford Health; one of the largest health systems in the United States with 50,000 employees and healthcare facilities in 26 states and 9 countries. Diana is a Registered Nurse with a master’s degree from South Dakota State University (SDSU) in Nursing Administration. She was recently recognized as a Distinguished Alumna for SDSU in 2018.
Education and workforce development are core to Diana’s passion as a leader. In her role at Sanford Health, she oversees learning strategies, collaborative academic partnerships, leadership development, and career development across the enterprise. Prior to joining Sanford Health in 2002, Diana served 11 years as the Executive Director for the SD Board of Nursing and helped lead efforts to implement the multi-state nursing compact and creation of the health-professionals assistance program (HPAP). She has held leadership roles at the state and national level, including various boards and advisory councils. She currently serves on the Build Dakota Scholarship Board, Freedom Scholarship Board of SD, and on the SD Board of Technical Education.
Diana has been a life-long resident of SD. Her husband, Jurek, was born in Poland and is a sculptor/artist. They have five children: Skye, Cole, Alexy, Kristian and Luca. They enjoy traveling and many outdoor activities.
Legislative Advisory Committee
Casey Crabtree
Senator, South Dakota State Legislature
Casey Crabtree
Senator, South Dakota State Legislature
Reynold Nesiba
Senator, South Dakota Legislature
Reynold Nesiba
Senator, South Dakota Legislature
Tim Reed
Senator, South Dakota State Legislature
Tim Reed
Senator, South Dakota State Legislature