Identity area
Type of entity
Authorized form of name
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
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Description area
Dates of existence
History
John Heston came to South Dakota State in 1896. Previously, he was the president of Washington State College. Under Heston’s guidance, the college saw an increase in enrollment and the construction of new campus buildings such as Solberg Hall. He also introduced electives, majors and minors, and specialized Bachelor's degrees including the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Agriculture, and Bachelor of Engineering. Heston oversaw the formation of new departments such as music and foreign languages in the liberal arts, and mechanical, agricultural and electrical divisions in engineering. He also emphasized the necessity for teaching sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics in the study of agriculture. Heston had an uneasy relationship with the regents. In 1903, the regents dismissed him as president of South Dakota State, and installed him as the president of Dakota State University in 1905.