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Michael Card, Ph.D.
Associate Provost, Dean of Distance Education
University of South Dakota
414 East Clark Street
McKusick Center 211
Vermillion, SD 57069
Phone: 800-233-7937 or 605-658-6140
cde@usd.edu
http://www.usd.edu/online
The mission of the Division of Continuing & Distance Education (CDE) is to extend the academic resources of the University to the citizens of South Dakota, the region, and beyond so students can complete their education goals. The Division of Continuing and Distance Education provides students the opportunity to obtain a degree, advance credentials, or simply learn more about a topic of interest through credit and noncredit instruction. The University of South Dakota, is approved by the Higher Learning Commission (https://www.hlcommission.org/) to offer face-to-face to Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Pierre, and to Yankton, South Dakota. Moreover, the University offers 35 robust online degree and certificate programs facilitated by the Division of Continuing and Distance Education. Face-to-face courses are extended throughout South Dakota, the United States and at select international locations. Furthermore, the Division of Continuing and Distance Education at the University of South Dakota also oversees Customized and Contract Education, Testing, High School Dual-Credit, and the Summer University program at the Indian University of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial.
State Authorization
The United States Department of Education requires all institutions of higher education to seek authorization in every state and territory in which they provide educational opportunities, physically or virtually. The University of South Dakota is committed to complying with other states’ authorization requirements so we can continue to provide access to educational opportunities. For more information, visit: www.usd.edu/usd-online/student-resources/state-authorization.
South Dakota is a member state of the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) and USD is a SARA institutional member. As such, the University of South Dakota is authorized to deliver online education and perform certain educational activities in each of the member states of the reciprocity agreement (49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands are members of SARA as of July 1, 2018). SARA also requires specific permission to perform certain educational activities in another state, U.S. Territory, on an Indian Reservation, military installation, or in some countries other than the United States.
Authorization by State
Course and program availability varies by state. Admission into a program is granted at the time of initial acceptance into the program and is dependent on program availability in the state where the student resides at the time of admission. If a student moves to a different state after admission to the program, continuation within the program will depend on the availability of the program within the new state where the student resides. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the institution of a change in their state of residence. Whether military personnel stationed outside the state of South Dakota may enroll or continue in a USD distance education program or not is based on where military personnel are stationed.
Federal financial aid cannot be disbursed to a student if the student resides in, or changes his or her state of residence to, a state where USD does not meet state authorization requirements or, in the case of a program that may lead to professional licensure or certification, where the USD program does not meet educational prerequisites for licensure or certification requirements in the state where the student resides.
In order to ensure that any educational programs and activities you are considering outside of South Dakota have authorization, and to be sure you are able to pursue these opportunities, please contact the Division of Continuing & Distance Education at 800-233-7937 or by e-mail at cde@usd.edu.
Courses or Programs Leading to Professional Licensure or Certification
The University of South Dakota as of June 30, 2018, cannot confirm whether any particular course or program meets educational prerequisties for professional licensure or certification in states other than South Dakota. If you are planning to apply for licensure/certification in a state other than South Dakota after completion of your program, contact the academic department offering your major or CDE toll-free at 800.233.7937 or by e-mail at cde@usd.edu.
USD is working to comply with these requirements and will provide up-to-date information as it becomes available.
Student Resources and Complaints
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