Black Hills State University (BHSU), in partnership with South Dakota State University (SDSU), has been awarded a $250,000 Strategic Impact and Innovation Grant from the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) to enhance student success and expand the health care workforce in South Dakota.
The BHSU/SDSU initiative will embed dedicated case management positions at two key locations where students are pursuing high-demand health sciences degrees: the West River Health Science Center (WRHSC) housed within BHSU–Rapid City, and the SDSU Metro Center in Sioux Falls. Both centers are central to meeting South Dakota’s critical workforce needs, particularly in nursing.
The WRHSC is a collaborative, newly expanded space where SDSU and BHSU health sciences programs operate side-by-side to increase the number of graduates prepared for careers in the Rapid City region. The new SDSU Metro Center will soon consolidate the university’s nursing, pharmacy, and related health science programs into a single, modern facility to serve the healthcare ecosystem in the Sioux Falls region.
Currently, both the WRHSC and Metro Center rely primarily on academic advisors, faculty, and administrators to support students. However, the students they serve increasingly encounter complex academic, personal, financial, and health-related challenges that exceed the scope and capacity of these teams. After reviewing best practices and assessing site-specific needs, SDSU and BHSU have identified a case management approach as the most effective model for improving student outcomes. Case management can accelerate time to earning a degree and therefore help ensure a steady pipeline of healthcare graduates who enter and remain in South Dakota’s workforce.
“The urgency of this work is underscored by projections that indicate South Dakota will face a 14% shortage of registered nurses by 2030,” said Michaela Willis, Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at SDSU. “Increased access alone is insufficient without the student support infrastructure necessary to help learners persist and graduate. By enhancing student retention, persistence, and completion in nursing, pharmacy, and related health science programs, this initiative will significantly strengthen South Dakota’s healthcare workforce pipeline.”
Ashley Armstrong, Vice President for Continuing Education and Workforce Development at BHSU, said, “BHSU is proud to partner with SDSU on this important initiative that directly strengthens South Dakota's health care workforce. This collaboration reflects the commitment to expanding opportunity, meeting regional workforce needs, and ensuring that students in western South Dakota have the resources necessary to succeed in these critical fields.”
MHEC’s Strategic Impact and Innovation Grant support high-impact, collaborative initiatives that address state needs and that align with the MHEC’s vision to strengthen postsecondary education and advance regional economic vitality. Each of MHEC’s 12 member states can apply for a grant for up to $250,000.
“We were impressed by the proposal put forth by SDSU and BHSU,” said Susan G. Heegaard, MHEC President. “This initiative has tremendous capacity to directly address workforce needs through a student success lens. We applaud their thoughtful approach to working collaborating, supporting students, and sharing resources.”