President Abbott: The ‘true’ college experience at USD

What is the true college experience? I’d like to believe it’s about more than just getting a degree, and it’s about more than new buildings or having the latest and greatest technology. It’s about being a part of a community.

The true college experience for a USD student is cheering on the Coyotes in the DakotaDome, walking the halls in Old Main to hear a lecture in Farber Hall, meeting friends for a bite to eat at the MUC or just walking across campus on a beautiful fall day.

Even though the educational experience has changed the way students can get a degree, the campus experience still impacts the way students earn their degree. That will never change. And our priority at USD is to make it the very best experience for all of our students.

It’s a very exciting time to be part of the campus community. New buildings decorate the landscape from the Beacom School of Business to the Wellness Center, providing students with the very best academic tools as well as a place to go to stay in shape or workout with friends.

We hope you will also take time to explore the Sculpture Walk at USD. Six new sculptures, commissioned specifically for USD, were installed last summer at prominent viewing locations across campus. These sculptures join “Legacy” — our own tribute to the spirit of being a Coyote. I hope that you will not only appreciate the look of USD’s campus, but benefit from it as well.

These new buildings join several others in recent years that we’ve renovated or constructed. By adding new labs and classrooms to our science and chemistry buildings, and opening new buildings dedicated to medical and health education, business and student life, we are able to provide our campus community with an environment where students can succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Speaking of success, our women’s basketball team qualified for the 2014 NCAA Tournament — a first for Coyote Athletics. It verified that USD’s transition to Division I, while not always a smooth ride, was well worth the journey, and we look forward to many successful years in Division I — in all sports.

We will not stand pat in our efforts to help bring the true college experience to all of our students. Renovations on the North Campus begin this spring with ground breaking for a new basketball arena and academic space next to the Dome along with new outdoor sports facilities. Our commitment to Division I athletics symbolizes our effort to make the University of South Dakota a place where students will enjoy what many graduates describe as the best years of their lives.

It’s evident that the educational experience is changing, thanks to the Internet, and while technology is a wonderful thing — an extraordinary teaching and learning tool that brings education to all corners of the world — the true joy of being a college student is found right here on campus.