The South Dakota Board of Regents announced the launch of the Dakota Dream coalition (Oct. 18, 2021) as part of an ongoing effort to encourage South Dakotans to pursue post-secondary education. The regents also announced an extension of its Free College Application Campaign from one week to six weeks.
Regents’ executive director and CEO Brian Maher says pursuing higher education can help make many dreams come true, while supporting the vitality of communities across South Dakota. He says as workforce demand for jobs requiring at least a bachelor’s degree increase, ‘Our Dakota Dream’ will help demonstrate that college is accessible and affordable for South Dakotans.
Regents’ system vice president for academic policy and planning Janice Minder says through the Free College Application Campaign, fees at all South Dakota colleges and universities will be waived from Oct. 18 to Nov. 30, 2021. She says the Our Dakota Dream coalition will also coordinate a series of initiatives to help potential students navigate the college application process.
Minder says applying for college can be an intimidating process, so they hope offering a free application period increases the number of first-generation students and students from low-income families who might otherwise not pursue their dreams of attending college.
Learn more about college application month and how you can apply for free: https://www.selectdakota.org/parentscounselors/collegeapplicationweek/.
The coalition is funded by a national grant through the US Department of Education and coordinated through the Board of Regents. The coalition includes representatives from the regents’ central office, Black Hills State University, Dakota State University, Northern State University, South Dakota Mines, South Dakota State University, University of South Dakota, South Dakota Department of Education, South Dakota Board of Technical Education, and Mapping Your Future.
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