SD College Access
The South Dakota College Access grant is a federally funded program that was first awarded to the Department of Education, Office of Indian Education through the South Dakota Governor’s Office in 2008, and then renewed in August 2010. The South Dakota College Access Challenge grant was designed to assist underrepresented K-12 students in their transition to postsecondary education.
The program’s three main goals are to:
1) Increase students’ and parents’ knowledge of postsecondary education options, preparation and financing
2) Increase the number of students who enroll in postsecondary education within one year of high school graduation
3) Increase counselor and mentor awareness and knowledge of financial aid and the college application and acceptance process
The South Dakota College Access Challenge provides financial awareness, career development, and postsecondary resources and support by developing relationships with students, families and school counselors/mentors.
A key element of the program is increasing the amount of grant aid to underrepresented students by assisting students and families as they navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, process. The program aims to reach out to school counselors and mentors through targeted awareness efforts in the areas of financial aid options and eligibility. The program provides assistance in application processes for both college and financial aid; college acceptance, orientation and registration procedures; and other available resources. The program goals will be accomplished through mentoring programs, grassroots efforts and family financial aid and college application assistance nights at participating target schools.
Partner Institutions:
| HIGH SCHOOLS | |
| Andes Central, Lake Andes | Bennett County, Martin |
| Burke | Cheyenne-Eagle Butte |
| Colome Consolidated | Crazy Horse, Wanblee |
| Crow Creek, Stephan | Dupree |
| Faith | Flandreau BIE/td> |
| Flandreau Public | Hill City/td> |
| Hot Springs | Kadoka |
| Little Wound, Kyle | Lower Brule |
| Lyman County, Presho | Marty Indian School |
| McIntosh | McLaughlin |
| Mobridge-Pollock | Oelrichs |
| Pierre | Pine Ridge |
| Rapid City Academy | Rapid City Central |
| Rapid City Stevens | Red Cloud, Pine Ridge |
| Sisseton | Sioux Falls |
| South Central Coop., Tyndall | St. Francis Indian School |
| Stanley County, Ft. Pierre | Takini |
| Tiospaye Topa | Tiospaya Zina |
| Todd County, Mission | Wakpala |
| Waubay | White River |
| Winner | |
| BOARD OF REGENT UNIVERSITIES | |
| Black Hills State University | td>Dakota State University|
| Northern State University | South Dakota School of Mines and Technology |
| South Dakota State University | University of South Dakota |
| TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES | |
| Sitting Bull College | Sisseton-Wahpeton College |
| Sinte Gleska University | Oglala Lakota College |
| TECHNICAL INSTITUTES | |
| Lake Area Technical Institute | Mitchell Technical Institute |
| Western Dakota Technical Institute | Southeast Technical Institute |
College Access Grant Resources:
SD College Access Fact Sheet
SDMyLife
CONTACT
Sarah Carter, (605) 773-5213
Mark Gageby, (605) 773-3727
South Dakota Department of Education
800 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501
