In a move that may spread across higher education, all six of the public universities in South Dakota will waive student application fees through November 30 as part of a greater campaign to launch the coalition known as Our Dakota Dream.
Our Dakota Dream, funded by a national grant through the U.S. Department of Education and coordinated through the Board of Regents, aims to help high school students navigate through the college application and admissions process. The program also helps students to better understand and apply for FAFSA—Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Ultimately, by getting more students into higher education, the coalition supports individual dreams and the future economy of local communities.
“The pandemic has impacted students’ financial and resource needs. We don’t want completing FAFSA to be a bigger obstacle for them,” said Dr. Janice Minder, system vice president for academic policy and planning with the South Dakota Board of Regents. “We believe every student should have the opportunity to attend a post-secondary public college or university. This is why Our Dakota Dream is so critical, with a goal to break down those barriers.”
The Board of Regents also is working on a statewide initiative to develop a FAFSA completion portal. As it is created, the Board of Regents, in partnership with the South Dakota Department of Education and South Dakota Education Access Foundation, will initiate a pilot study on FAFSA completion, as it will be critical to the success of the state’s new needs-based scholarship program.
“The rising cost of higher education is one of the biggest barriers students have,” Mark T. Petty, dean of enrollment at the University of South Dakota, told Fierce Education. “The timing of the launch of the Our Dakota Dream platform coincides nicely with South Dakota’s new needs-based financial aid program set to impact students enrolling in Fall 2022. Aside from the cost, some students are choosing to enter the workforce or take a gap year. Additionally, the combination of a strong economy and shifts in the number of students graduating from high school has a direct impact on enrollments.”
According to the Dakota Dreams website, 92% of students who file for FAFSA enroll in college. On the flip side, only 51% of students who do not file for FAFSA enroll in college.
Despite the pandemic, South Dakota’s enrollment at the six public universities was largely unchanged from the previous year.
“We all have a desire to keep South Dakota students in South Dakota for college,” Petty said.
“We want to make their career dreams a reality at any of our public institutions. Our tuition rates are competitive, and our academic programs prepare students for successful careers.”