06 Broadcaster Press September 23, 2014 www.broadcasteronline.com State of the Union at USD By Randy Dockendorf Randy.Dockendorf@yankton.net University of South Dakota President Jim Abbott can’t discuss this fall’s final enrollment figures until the Board of Regents releases the numbers next week. However, he knows he wants to attract more first-time, full-time students. He wants more minorities and international students, and he wants to retain more students and raise the graduation rate. And along the way, he wants improved support services for all students as they balance their studies, jobs and families. Abbott shared those priorities Wednesday during his 18th annual “State of the University” address. “There are challenges and opportunities,” he said. “But it’s a two-sided coin. Challenges are opportunities.” The USD enrollment has reached 10,000 students in recent years. However, the face of the USD student body has changed greatly, Abbott said. Rather than the traditional full-time students on campus, today’s enrollment contains a mix of on-campus students, those taking on-line and off-campus courses, and students who choose a hybrid experience by mixing the way they take courses. “They say they want to attend courses at the University, but they vote with their feet,” he said. “If there is the least bit of inconvenience, they take courses (other ways). Convenience trumps everything else.” The situation provides challenges when recruiting and retaining students, Abbott said. It also changes the dynamics of campus life. “The vibrancy of the campus depends on the undergraduate students,” he said. “You just need to stand at the (Muenster University Center) at 11 o’clock, 12, 1 or even 3 or 10 (o’clock) to see how full it is. You see how much they enjoy it.” The student vibrancy can be found elsewhere on campus, Abbott said. “We had 1,700 (students) signed into the wellness center on the first day of school,” he said. The number of USD first-time, full-time undergraduate students had risen by approximately 250 students from 2009 to 2013, Abbott said. “Suffice it to say, increasing the number of first-time, full-time undergraduates is critical,” the president said. USD has done well with its graduate student enrollment, Abbott said. However, he wants to see an increase in the undergraduate figures. “Our goal is 1,500 first-time, full-time students. We had 1,356 in FY 2013,” he said. However, attracting and keeping those students have become more challenging in the digital age, Abbott said. It’s more difficult to catch students’ attention and to teach them in their manner of communication. “With digital, how do we reach them?” he asked. “They always seem to be in front of their devices.” USD must continually adjust its message and its methods to the rapidly changing world, Abbott said. “We need to put our best foot forward in everything we do with the students,” he said. “In James Abbott (Alan Dale) a world that moves very fast, we can’t move slow. … If they do everything ‘hash-tag’ (as with Twitter), that’s what we need to do.” Abbott has set a goal of increasing the number of undergraduate transfer students. “Our number of undergraduate transfers is down,” he admitted. “We could do significantly better with undergraduate transfers. Other institutions are more successful than we are at attracting those students.” Abbott also wants to see more international students on the USD campus. The university currently enrolls around 230 foreign students, compared to around 600 at South Dakota State University in Brookings, he said. In addition, Abbott wants to see better recruitment and retention of minorities. In that respect, USD is focusing on a multi-cultural center and more minority recruitment, he said. In particular, he wants to see an emphasis on reaching out to American Indians. “We need to fulfill our obligations to those (Native American) students whose ancestors were here long before (the rest of) us,” he said. In terms of its overall enrollment, Abbott said USD must increase its graduation rate. “In 2003, the six-year graduation rate was 44 percent, which included students who started in 1997. In 2013, we projected that rate would increase to 53 percent,” he said. “Having a student returning from Year 1 to Year 2 is critical. We have 82 percent freshmento-sophomore retention rate, which is a key to retaining students for a 60 percent graduation rate, plus.” A university’s traditions are generally bp Since 1934 maintained during a student’s sophomore and junior years, Abbott said. Freshmen aren’t familiar with the campus routine, and seniors are focused on life after graduation. “The first year, we have to convince (students) they are in the right place,” he said. The key is creating a positive, supportive campus life, Abbott said. He pointed a National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) study that pointed out both positive and negative aspects of USD student experiences. In general, USD students report they are more positive than other colleges in terms of their interaction with faculty and academic advisors, the feedback they receive on their work, and their career discussions with advisors. On the other side, Abbott noted areas that need work. “There are no disasters, but there is room for improvement,” he said. The categories deal with a lack of collaborative work with other students and not dealing as much with quantitative analysis. “They also have fewer interactions with people who aren’t like them in terms of race and ethnicity, economic background, other religions and other political views,” Abbott said. USD students also believe the university should provide more assistance with career services, housing and non-academic needs such as family and jobs. In response, USD Dean Matt Moen is leading a university-wide committee dealing with out-of-classroom experiences. Moen chaired a similar committee at the University of Maine. “It’s always good to hear what students think,” Abbott said. Abbott spoke on USD research activities and the need for attracting more funding and awards. He also called for providing students with more opportunities to travel abroad. He also wants to revive the leadership lecture series that brought speakers such as retired four-star U.S. Army general and former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell to the USD campus. In conclusion, Abbott provided an update on the “Onward South Dakota” campaign seeking to raise $250 million. The campaign’s goal includes $112 million for capital projects, $97 million for student scholarships, $12 million for student and program enrichment and $29 million for faculty support. The “Onward Red Tie Launch Event” will be held Oct. 10 – during the Dakota Days homecoming celebration -- at the Muenster University Center on campus. The Red Tie event features Sioux Falls native and USD graduate Cody Strand. He has starred in a number of theatrical productions, including the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, “The Book of Mormon.” “Onward South Dakota” seeks to surpass the $134 million raised by the USD Foundation’s “Campaign South Dakota” about a decade ago. “Onward South Dakota” hasn’t exactly been kept under wraps, Abbott joked. “It’s the world’s worst-kept secret,” he said, tongue in cheek. You can follow Randy Dockendorf on twitter at Twitter.com/RDockendorf. Discuss this story at www.yankton.net 201 W. Cherry St. • Vermillion, SD • 624-4429 Broadcaster Press Classified Ads Use this convenient form to submit your ad to us for publication. Ad deadline is Friday noon for Tuesday’s publication. Payment must accompany ad. (One word per blank.) 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