EDUCATION

A brief history of USD's presence in Sioux Falls

Megan Raposa
Argus Leader

The University of South Dakota School of Law is researching a move to Sioux Falls, but it's not the first time the college has planted roots in the state's largest city. 

USD has had a presence in Sioux Falls for decades, both through offering courses in the city and the Sanford School of Medicine. And Sioux Falls has played host to some premier USD athletic contests, including hosting North Dakota State University at Howard Wood Field in 2012. 

The university's ties to Sioux Falls grew even stronger in recent years when the school took the helm of the University Center and spearheaded the USD Discovery District, an 80-acre research park in northwestern Sioux Falls. 

"We think Sioux Falls is a vital part of our future," President Jim Abbott said. 

There are no definitive plans to move the law school (or any other USD programs) to Sioux Falls, but Abbott says decisions in the future will be based on what's best for the students and what's best for the financial health of the school. 

USD's first physical presence in Sioux Falls was the medical school building on the then-Sioux Valley Hospital campus in central Sioux Falls in 1992. That school is now known as the Sanford School of Medicine. 

The same year, 1992, was when the University Center first opened in downtown Sioux Falls as a place for the state's universities to serve place-bound students in the city. 

In 2016, USD became the lead institution at the University Center, now located in northwest Sioux Falls. 

Meanwhile, plans for the USD Discovery District, another prominent university presence in Sioux Falls, trace back to the early 1990s as well, when then-Gov. George Mickelson proposed developing a state research park. 

In 2012, the USD Research Park corporation was formed, and earlier this month a groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction for the USD Discovery District, which will house USD's biomedical engineering program as well as private research companies. 

It's hard to say how many USD employees will work in the Discovery District or how much of a physical presence the school will ultimately have there, said Rich Naser, president of the research park, but USD has been part of the project since the beginning. 

"It can't be understated that this is really the university's industry outreach ... they're doing that part of their mission in Sioux Falls in a big way," Naser said. 

USD isn't the only university with ties to Sioux Falls. South Dakota State University and Dakota State University also offer classes in town, and SDSU also has an Extension office near downtown. 

"It's always been a goal  of the regents to reach out to the population centers," said Mike Rush, executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents. 

Rush said the regents are absolutely on board with universities expanding services to Sioux Falls. 

He added that there's no plan at this time for any universities to move existing programs to the city.

Abbott reiterates that there's no hidden agenda to the university's increased presence in Sioux Falls. Offering programs in the city isn't about potential gains for the university, he said. It's about what's best for students. 

And when it comes to helping students: 

"The largest city in any state ought to be of considerable interest to any education institution," Abbott said.

Follow education watchdog reporter Megan Raposa on Twitter @mlraposa and subscribe to The Highlighter, an education newsletter for parents.