No rest for USD, summer improvements essential to university well-being
The University of South Dakota has come a long way in the past 17 years since President Jim Abbott arrived in 1997. It’s facilities have improved, it’s quality of education has made leaps and bounds through a infinitely evolving academic catalog and it’s status as a Division I institution has elevated the school on a national platform.
However, the nature and duty of a university such as USD is to not bask in it’s improvements, but to stay on course, continue to self-evaluate and adjust to the needs of it’s body.
As classes come to an end and students pack up for the summer, the university will do just that.
With the vast array of advances made by USD in the new millennium, administrators and faculty will no doubt have their fair share of work to do over the summer.
The biggest and certainly one of the most widely discussed needs the university has on its checklist is its housing. With the recent spike in first-year class sizes, the university has had its fair share of struggles finding room to house incoming and returning undergrads.
While a short term fix is not on the table and the issue can only be partially remedied by alternative housing and converted lounge space, summer can be a time the university works out the final kinks before students return from break.
Summer will also allow time for the university to fill some necessary staff positions. From the provost position to the dean of the business school, there are crucial positions, and a summer break should give the university time to get these filled.
What the school should not do is throw money at pointless additions. News of a Papa John’s franchise setting up shop in the emptied shell of the Beede Bump has sparked debate on the necessity of some of the school’s flashier add-ons. However, most of the upgrades that we have reported on, such as the improvements to parking lots and the installation of energy-efficient windows, seem essential.
By the time the school year begins, a new academic catalog will be in place, and hopefully the specifics are worked out to prevent and future problems students may have in selecting their classes for semesters to come.
