Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
SD BOR
South Dakota. Board of Regents
South Dakota. South Dakota Board of Regents
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
History
In 1890, the South Dakota Legislature established a governing board for higher education, creating a nine-member Board of Regents appointed by the governor and officially known as the Regents of Education. This board operated in conjunction with each institution’s individual Board of Trustees, which retained primary authority over local decision-making and institutional operations.
This dual system of governance continued for six years. However, administrative inefficiencies and conflicting oversight prompted legislative reform. In November 1896, the South Dakota Constitution was amended to establish a single, centralized five-member Board of Regents with full authority over all public educational institutions in the state.
Over time, the Board’s structure evolved. Today, the South Dakota Board of Regents is composed of nine members, including one student regent. Regular regents serve six-year terms, while the student regent serves a two-year term. The Board acts as the constitutional governing body for six public universities and two special schools in South Dakota. Its responsibilities include approving institutional budgets, curricula, faculty appointments, and salary structures, among other governance duties.