My parents didn’t have the money to help pay for my college education. So as a college student, I worked 40 to 50 hours a week to pay for school. Some people would say that hard work builds character. I agree, students should help pay for their education. An individual is more likely to appreciate the opportunity, if he or she has a financial investment in their education. But working full-time can make it difficult to focus on the most important thing – learning. On many occasions, I had to choose between going to class and paying for class. A student should not have to make that choice. South Dakota should have a well-funded needs based scholarship.

In 2010, the legislature passed HB 1240 establishing a needs based scholarship. However, the scholarship has yet to be funded. During the first few weeks of the 2013 session, the legislature has discussed the possibility of using some of the $48.7-million surplus as seed money for a needs-based scholarship. One-time money will not be enough to create a sustainable scholarship program. Dr. Jack Warner, Executive Director of the Board of Regents, stated that it would take a minimum of $5 million a year to fund the scholarship properly. South Dakota can afford to fund this program annually and it can do it without raising taxes.

South Dakota has a discretionary source of funding called the Future Fund. As an employer, I contribute to the Future Fund through an investment fee on my quarterly unemployment report. The fund was established by the late-Governor George Mickelson and the South Dakota Legislature in 1987. Mickelson was alarmed by what economic experts and officials in South Dakota higher education were referring to as “a brain drain.”
Mickelson and his successor Governor Walter Miller used the Future Fund in part for scholarships to address this problem. Governor Janklow reversed this stance on the use of the Future Fund for scholarships citing the fund’s purpose solely for research and economic development.

However, the statute that created this fund does not define what constitutes research or economic development. Most economists would agree that populations with higher education levels are able to sustain economic growth. In fact, a recent Time Magazine article by Rana Foroohar refers to the economic headwinds the U.S. faces due to factors like “…lower levels of education relative to international standards that will hinder growth more than in the past.” Without a commitment to higher education, South Dakota economic development will continue to lag behind our neighboring states.

It’s time for our legislators to step up to the plate. Higher education is an essential component to economic development in South Dakota. Striving to raise the bar and increase educational opportunity for our youth could create an economic advantage for our state. In the process, we can honor Governor Mickelson’s legacy and commitment to higher education. The funding for a needs-based scholarship is there, but do our elected officials have the political will?