Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1962-1971 (Creation)
Extent
1.0 linear feet (1 record box)
Name of creator
Administrative history
In the late 1960s, the South Dakota Legislature established the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and tasked it with creating an Academic Master Plan to define the roles of the state’s public universities and improve efficiency. As part of this plan, Committee D was charged with reviewing academic programs. In 1969, the committee recommended consolidating engineering education in South Dakota by transferring the South Dakota State University (SDSU) College of Engineering to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, citing projected cost savings of $200,000.
The proposal sparked widespread controversy at SDSU and across the state. Faculty, students, alumni, and local supporters expressed strong opposition, fearing the loss of SDSU’s long-established engineering programs and the negative impact on the university’s identity and mission. The issue gained extensive coverage in local media and was intensely debated in public forums and Board of Regents meetings.
The controversy culminated between February and March 1971, when the Board of Regents ultimately decided not to eliminate the SDSU College of Engineering. The episode became a defining moment in the university’s history, symbolizing institutional resilience and the community’s commitment to preserving engineering education at SDSU. Today, the episode is documented in archival records, committee minutes, local newspaper accounts, and scholarly works, including a thesis examining the rhetoric and public discourse of the debate.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
This collection is composed of records related to the proposed removal of the College of Engineering from South Dakota State University in the early 1970s as part of a statewide higher education reorganization. The materials document the development of the South Dakota Academic Master Plan by the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education, particularly the work of Committee D, which focused on the roles of individual institutions. Contents include committee minutes, preliminary and final reports, correspondence, curriculum reports, enrollment statistics, financial data, alumni and faculty responses, and critical reviews. The collection also includes supporting documents such as legislative materials, public commentary, institutional responses, and research on engineering education in South Dakota and nationally.
These records provide insight into a pivotal moment in South Dakota higher education history, particularly the intense debate over the recommendation to consolidate SDSU’s College of Engineering with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. The collection highlights the institutional, political, and economic factors that shaped higher education policy in the state, as well as community, faculty, and legislative efforts to preserve engineering education at SDSU. It is a valuable resource for studying educational planning, university governance, and regional higher education development.
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
Information request form: Ask Us!
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use. .sdstate.edu/sdsu-archives-and-special-collections/researcher-registration-form)
The collection is open for research, but please note that the materials in the Archives do not circulate and can only be used In the SDSU Archives and Special Collections Reading Room.
Please contact us in advance so we can prepare for your visit.
If you cannot visit the Archives in person, please reach out to us. We will do our best to help you find the information you need.
In most cases, the materials in this collection have not been digitized and are not available online.
South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections supports access to the materials in its collections. However, access to some items may be restricted due to their fragile condition, donor agreements, or other considerations.
If you would like to know more about the contents of the collection, please contact the SDSU Archives at: Telephone: 605-688-5094 Email: arcrefs@sdstate.edu
Physical access
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:
- Permission: Written permission must be obtained from the SDSU Archives for any reproduction, publication, or quotation of materials.
- Copyright: Users are responsible for complying with copyright laws and securing any necessary permissions from copyright holders.
- Fragile Materials: Some items may not be reproduced due to their fragile condition.
- Charges: Reproduction charges may apply, and users will be informed of any costs in advance.
-
Acknowledgment: Any reproduced material must include proper acknowledgment of the South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections as the source.
For more information or to request permission, please contact the SDSU Archives.
Languages of the material
English
Scripts of the material
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
The Rhetoric of the Engineering School Controversy in South Dakota from February 11, 1971, through March 19, 1971.
Kodis, Katherine L., Master's thesis, South Dakota State University, 1971.
Call number: Archives LB2385.K816]
Related descriptions
Notes element
General note
Copyright and Use Statement
In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.