Oct. 3, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by the University of South Dakota.

The state’s largest city and the state’s flagship university go hand in hand. Sioux Falls has a growing need for a skilled workforce, and the University of South Dakota is prepared to answer that call.   

“As a public university, USD has a specific mission to provide access to postsecondary opportunities, provide workforce and economic development, and serve specific state and regional needs,” said USD President Sheila K. Gestring. “That is exactly what we’re doing through education, research, outreach and experiential learning.”  

With the city’s projected growth within the next 40 years, it only makes sense that USD continues to expand its presence in Sioux Falls. Here’s how it’s doing just that. 

Beacom School of Business serves as resource for South Dakota’s businesses 

The state’s flagship business school is committed to helping businesses in South Dakota and the region succeed. Programs like Coyote Business Consulting and Executive Education demonstrate that the Beacom School of Business is designed to support businesses by providing a pipeline of prepared business leaders.    

Coyote Business Consulting is a student-centered initiative focused on helping South Dakota’s businesses while also providing students with real-world experience. Student-consultants work with businesses to address challenges such as marketing, human resource management, supply chain management and more — offered at no charge to the business. The program is available to all businesses, but an emphasis is placed on small businesses because they’re the backbone of South Dakota’s economy, comprising nearly 60 percent of the state’s workforce.   

With the success of Coyote Business Consulting, the Beacom School of Business expanded the program to include a special focus on businesses in Sioux Falls. Created in collaboration with the city of Sioux Falls, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Coyote Business Consulting – Corporate connects students with leading businesses in Sioux Falls. Students work with each business to identify problems, develop methodologies, collect and analyze data, and propose and implement solutions, including identifying potential benefits to the organization. 

“As the state and region’s leading business school, it was important that the Beacom School of Business create programs that help develop a pipeline of young, talented business professionals for career opportunities with businesses in Sioux Falls,” Gestring said. “Coyote Business Consulting, Coyote Business Consulting – Corporate and the rigorous curriculum they see in the classroom are preparing USD students to be the next generation of leaders.”  

Beacom’s Executive Education program provides training opportunities to working professionals and senior executives in the state to help businesses achieve higher productivity and enhance their competitiveness. The business school’s expert faculty work closely with business leaders to customize programs geared to their specific business goals. Courses are offered every spring and fall on subjects such as leadership development, strategy, marketing, accounting and many others. 

Since the program’s launch in 2017, the program has trained more than 650 business professionals in the state, region and beyond. 

The idea for the Veterans Community Project site in Sioux Falls began in an Executive Education program for senior staff members employed by the city of Sioux Falls and taught by Beacom faculty members. 

Jason Bieber, senior planner for the city of Sioux Falls, was in one of the first groups of 15 students in the city’s inaugural ONWARD Executive Education Program in 2019. Beacom faculty designed this leadership-development course based around a project and asked each student to propose an idea that would solve a need in their community. Bieber’s suggestion – helping homeless veterans – became one of three projects chosen by the class. 

Beacom professors offered guidance to the students during their monthly daylong meetings while also teaching about topics such as problem-solving, change management and decision-making, collaboration and teamwork, innovation and motivating others.  

USD – Sioux Falls provides close-to-home opportunities   

The USD – Sioux Falls campus meets residents of the Sioux Falls area where they’re at. For those who may be place-bound or students who want to stay close to home, USD – Sioux Falls offers a flexible, affordable and accredited education with degree offerings spanning health sciences, business, education and more. By offering several programs and courses, USD created a learning environment unlike anything else available in Sioux Falls. This includes important disciplines needed for the state’s workforce such as undergraduate nursing, the nursing anesthesia practice program and the Master of Social Work. 

“USD – Sioux Falls provides students who may not have attended college at all with a local, affordable, public option,” said Jay Perry, vice president of USD – Sioux Falls. “We are also committed to offering educational opportunities that will help students advance in their careers.”  

Students benefit from the same resources available at USD’s main campus in Vermillion, with convenient access to unique career and research opportunities in Sioux Falls. With flexible course schedules – day, night, online and hybrid – students can earn their degree on their own terms, fitting into their lifestyle.  

“I decided to attend USD – Sioux Falls because it’s a small college, and I felt comfortable with the student-to-professor ratio,” said Anya Adamson, a senior psychology major from Sioux Falls. “Classes are small, and I really get one-on-one time with professors. They are all very helpful and always have time to answer any questions I have. I also like how close it is for me to drive from home.” 

 USD – Sioux Falls allows for USD’s partnerships with the health care systems in the city to continue to grow, providing students with unique clinical experiences and opportunities for future careers, filling gaps in the health care workforce.

In addition to the skills labs at USD – Sioux Falls, health science students have direct access to the Parry Center for Clinical Skills & Simulation, which provides real-life simulation experiences and allows them to learn and grow together in a safe environment alongside Sanford School of Medicine students.   

“Sioux Falls is at the epicenter of health care, nationally recognized for its five hospitals, advanced technology and high-level expertise,” Perry said. “As these systems continue to grow, so does the need for a prepared workforce. As the home to the state’s only medical school and comprehensive School of Health Sciences, USD is poised to fill this need.”  

Learn more about USD – Sioux Falls at usd.edu/SiouxFalls.  

Amazon Career Choice supports employees 

This April, USD became the first school in South Dakota to partner with Amazon and its new distribution center in Sioux Falls through the new Career Choice program. As part of the program, Amazon offers more than $5,000 annually to each student to take college courses at USD in Vermillion, online or at USD – Sioux Falls. Through this partnership, Amazon employees have access to USD’s world-class education at an affordable price – just a few miles down the road.   

“Partnering with Amazon and its Career Choice program further demonstrates our commitment to meeting students where they are and preparing them for success in the workforce,” Gestring said.  

Discovery District grows entrepreneurs   

The USD Discovery District is the intersection where universities and innovation-driven businesses meet. It takes the resources, research and talent found at USD and connects it to private sector resources and companies that can help take it to the next level, ultimately growing economic development in Sioux Falls and beyond. 

“The Discovery District provides development and incubation space where researchers, scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs can take new technologies and propel them to the market,” said James W. Abbott, interim president and CEO of the Discovery District. “Biotech, biomedical and other companies with great ideas and products need a place to refine, incubate and produce their products. The Discovery District will be that place.” 

USD – Sioux Falls is in close proximity to the Discovery District, providing students with valuable research opportunities, access to jobs after graduation and exposure to cutting-edge businesses.  

 “Students will have opportunities to see cutting-edge research up close and in person, engage with guest speakers who are both scientists and entrepreneurs, and gain access to critical internship and potential job opportunities after graduation,” Perry said.  

 The first building at the USD Discovery District is slated to start construction this year.  

 Learn more about the Discovery District at usddiscovery.com. 

USD Foundation & Alumni Association relocates downtown 

In addition to the well-known Lyle A. & June Woodward Wagner Welcome Center in Vermillion, the USD Foundation & Alumni Association has maintained offices in Sioux Falls for over a decade. Recently, the foundation partnered with the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce to establish a new office space. 

Situated in the Commerce Center at Eighth Street and Phillips Avenue, right in the heart of downtown, the foundation has become a co-tenant alongside the chamber and the Sioux Falls Development Foundation.  

“This partnership is so fitting provided Sioux Falls’ concentration of past, present and future Coyotes and the many USD friends and alumni who drive growth and innovation throughout the city and beyond,” said Jay Wilson, USD Foundation & Alumni Association president and CEO.

“The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has always valued strong partnerships as a means to promote business growth, educational opportunities and professional networks. We are honored to have the USD Foundation as one of our community-focused partners at the Commerce Center,” said Jeff Griffin, chamber president and CEO. “While our partnership is mostly focused on Sioux Falls, we work with USD to advance our region and the entire state of South Dakota.”