It was another busy legislative session the last three months, with topics ranging from marijuana, critical race theory, impeachment, lasting effects of COVID-19 and more.
Hundreds of bills touched on education, and dozens of those related to building projects in higher education, technical education and even with the Department of Education.
Support for the public higher education system amounted to approximately $288 million from all fund sources, the Board of Regents reported, with $61 million in general fund support, $60 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and $166 million in other fund authority.
More:Education is a hot topic in South Dakota this Legislative session. Here’s what bills we’re watching.
Seven bills introduced on behalf of the Board Regents passed. Here’s what will go to each campus, everywhere from Spearfish to Sioux Falls:
Black Hills State University
Health sciences addition at Black Hills State University-Rapid City: $15 million total
As laid out in Senate Bill 43, this will authorize the Board of Regents to contract for the planning, site preparation, renovation, furnishing, equipping and construction of a health sciences center at the Rapid City campus. This will facilitate consolidation of nursing education in West River at a single site.
$8 million comes from federal fund expenditure authority from ARPA, more than $5 million from the higher education facilities fund (HEFF) and $2 million from donated funds.
Multimedia lab equipment: $112,500
This is for the purpose of purchasing multimedia equipment to support the communications program at BHSU.
Education lab upgrade: $77,792
This is to upgrade a secondary school-level science education lab and associated technology, and to purchase elementary school-level resources and materials at BHSU.
Dakota State University
Cyber program extension: $90 million project
Roughly $30 million in general funds as laid out in Senate Bill 54, $50 million in donations as laid out in Senate Bill 130, $10 million from the city of Sioux Falls and $250,000 from Forward Sioux Falls will go toward this project.
More:gov. Kristi Noem signs bills to help cover $90M funding needed for DSU’s cybersecurity lab
This project will open a new applied research lab by fall 2025 in Sioux Falls near the Sanford Sports Complex to support national security and defense, offer workforce and economic development opportunities and establish South Dakota as a cyber state.
Athletics event center: $28 million
A new athletics events center comprising a football stadium, athletic fields, track, associated spectator seating, restrooms, concession stands, locker rooms, media area, classrooms, labs, training areas, e-sports area, offices, club room and more is coming to DSU.
With the funding secured in House Bill 1021, the Board of Regents can now contract for the planning, site preparation, construction, furnishing and equipping of the center.
Northern State University
Lincoln Hall: $29.5 million
The Board of Regents is planning to demolish, remove and dispose of structures at Briscoe Hall and the existing Lincoln Hall to build a new 50,000 square foot Lincoln Hall in its place. The entire cost of this project is covered by ARPA funds.
South Dakota Mines
Incubator building acquisition: $7.25 million total
The Board of Regents acquired the incubator building at South Dakota Mines on behalf of the college. $5.25 million in general funds and $2 million in other fund expenditure authority went toward this purchase.
South Dakota State University
Basketball arena remodel: $53 million
This will go toward the design and renovation of, and the construction of an addition to, the Stanley J. Marshall Center at SDSU. $43 million in donated funds, $4 million in SDSU funds and $6 million from HEFF will go toward the project.
More:Regents say tuition costs to increase at South Dakota universities if Gov. Kristi Noem’s budget passes
Cottonwood Field Station multi-purpose facility: $6 million
This uses general funds to contract for the design, renovation and construction of a multi-purpose facility at the Cottonwood Field Station of the Agricultural Experiment Station in Jackson County.
High performance computing and data storage for system use: $1.9 million
Funds will purchase a high performance computing cluster and high velocity data storage for SDSU which will provide access to data processing for vital applications including engineering, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, and precision agriculture technology. It will also be for the general use of students and faculty members.
Wecota Annex demolition: $800K
This funding will allow SDSU to demolish, remove and dispose of the 21,288 square foot structure to the west of Wecota Hall.
University of South Dakota
Wellness center addition: $25 million
This major addition to USD’s wellness center will add a 50-meter competition pool, wellness pool, hot tub, steam room, extra locker rooms, offices, meeting rooms and more, from other fund expenditure authorities.
More:University of South Dakota plans, completes major construction projects on campus. Take a look
Discovery District biomedical facility: $15 million
$15 million in general funds will go toward providing grant funding for the design and construction of a new biomedical innovation facility on the grounds of the USD Discovery District research park in Sioux Falls.
More:Abbott’s vision for USD Discovery District includes a $15 million facility where there isn’t one
National Music Museum: $2 million
General funds will go toward equipping the museum at USD with educational exhibits for the display and security of the museum’s collections.
BOR system-wide
Water, wastewater and storm water projects: $22.65 million
Of the $60 million in ARPA funds going to multiple state departments, the BOR will receive $22.65 million for eligible state agency water, wastewater and storm water projects.
CyberAg partnership between SDSU and DSU: $1.25 million
General funds will go toward creating the precision agriculture cybersecurity CyberAg partnership between SDSU and DSU. Developing undergraduate and graduate curricula, engaging in research, and providing associated outreach programming and communication to address agricultural security threats is all part of this work, as laid out in House Bill 1092.
Matching funds for NASA grant to tribal institutions: $300K
These funds from other fund expenditure authority will award a grant to an accredited tribal university to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center’s cooperative agreement entitled “Enhancing Research in Additive Manufacturing Processes for Lunar Application and Planetary Use in Tribal Housing Development.”
Three technical colleges and one center
The Department of Education’s Cultural Heritage Center will receive $8.8 million in general funds to renovate and modernize the center.
Lake Area Technical College is receiving $7.5 million in general funds to build an advanced manufacturing laboratory space and classrooms at LATC.
Mitchell Technical College is receiving $5 million in general funds to build an agriculture and diesel power laboratory and multi-purpose space on campus.
More:Southeast Technical College announces $10M in funding for new healthcare simulation center
Southeast Technical College is receiving $4.5 million in general funds to purchase equipment for a health sciences clinical simulation center on campus.