South Dakota Higher Education Faculty Association

The South Dakota Higher Education Association [HEFA] was established on March 27, 1971 by forty-five faculty members from five state supported educational institutions. This group was frustrated by low salaries; discouraged by the state Supreme Court ruling regarding their right of due process in matters of dispute with administrative officers; and foiled in their attempt to communicate effectively with the Board of Regents on matters traditionally considered to be within the realm of faculty prerogatives. As stated in their constitution, the purpose of the organization would be to enable the faculties of the state colleges and universities of South Dakota to speak with a common voice on matters pertaining to them and to present their individual and common interests before such bodies that may influence their welfare. The goal of the majority of the delegates was more open lines of communication between faculty and all levels of administration.

By 1976, the South Dakota State University HEFA Branch reorganized slightly to include more members. It also joined with faculty organizations at other state institutions to become a part of the South Dakota Faculty Coalition, a more inclusive group than the statewide HEFA. In 1977, HEFA gave up its long fight to be named the collective bargaining unit for higher education faculty and endorsed the Council of Higher Education-National Education Association in becoming that unit. Apparently as a result of that action, HEFA ceased to exist after 1978.