As 2022 approaches, each of the six public universities in South Dakota is getting closer and closer to implementing new centers of opportunity on campus.

The idea of ​​the Opportunity Center and "Opportunity for All" was made public at an August meeting of the South Dakota Board of Directors, in which the board passed a statement supporting intellectual diversity and condemning critical racial theories.

They require each school district to install a center before January 1, 2022 to realign and focus campus resources to assess and meet the needs of students, and become an inclusive community that welcomes everyone. 

Governor Kristi Noem said in August that she was pleased to see that “the so-called diversity office, which unfortunately no longer serves students, but promotes the left-wing agenda more” will be replaced by the Opportunity Center.

More: Regent: Criticism of race theory is not the basis of teaching at the University of South Dakota

She got her wish, and the Joint Grants Committee got her wish. In the last hour of the 2021 legislative session, she weighed the $275,000 in funding provided by the University of South Dakota for its diversity office.

USD's diversity and community center is now the "former" CDC and will be transformed into a multicultural affairs. The office of the student organization that once stood there will be a room that any student group can view for study or collaboration. Moreover, the Opportunity Center is just across the hall.

Students from USD and South Dakota State University sounded the alarm about the new Opportunity Center early in the process, questioning why diversity should be replaced by opportunity and what happens to the diverse spaces on campus.

More: The attorney of the board of directors stated that the Opportunity Center will have a larger physical presence in USD and SDSU

According to their report to the board of directors on Thursday, the following is each university's plan for its new opportunity center:

The Opportunity Center of BHSU will be temporarily located in the Academic Affairs Office and will be relocated to the library after renovation. The coordinator is the assistant provost, who reports to the provost and the BHSU principal on the product and steering committee.

Its programs, offices, committees, and services will include the Chiesman Civic Participation Committee, Disability Services and Testing, International Relations and Global Participation Office, Student Support Services, Military and Veterans Affairs, Honor Program, and Math and Writing Help Center.

Projects that are still being considered for inclusion in the Opportunity Center in the future include the Sports Equity and Inclusion Program, the Office of Student Participation, the Student Success Center and Counseling, Career Counseling, and the Native American Center.

The campus will soon host a town hall where students will introduce the concept of the center and invite questions and suggestions, and will start to hold monthly steering committee meetings.

DSU’s New Opportunity Zone, Troy Zone Welcome Center, and Learning Participation Center will be led by different supervisors who will report to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

The Opportunity Zone will be the home of all "student-centered" organizations and will provide opportunities for student participation and leadership, including the student senate.

The Trojan Zone Welcome Center will become the "front door" of the university, connecting campus communities, alumni and university friends. The Learning Participation Center will be the location for student support services, including academic counseling, personal counseling, tutoring, supplementary education, career centers and career services, and writing centers.

A virtual student union will also be added and described as "more than just a website", such as virtual meeting software or game/simulation tools to enhance the virtual experience.

The project elements of the NSU Opportunity Center will be placed in two adjacent buildings at the top of the campus quadrangle, and a virtual Opportunity Center webpage will integrate them into a website location for students.

Academic counseling, American Indian Circle Program, Career Services, Supplementary Guidance, Student Support Services, Upward Development and Tutoring, Math and Writing Center will be relocated to the new Student Success Center.

More: The university announced plans for the New Opportunity Center during the SD Board of Directors meeting

Veterans Services, Avera Student Health, Counseling Center, Disability Services, Multicultural Student Affairs, Freshman Program, Preventive Services, Residential Life, Student Organizations, and Title IX will remain at Avera Student Center.

All program elements of the Opportunity Center will be reported to the Provost or Dean of Students, who then report to the principal.

The Opportunity Center of Mines will include all student support services suitable for the Office of the Provost, who will then report to the Principal. Other personnel, including the vice president and student director responsible for student development, and the vice president and other directors responsible for student success, will participate in the daily operations of various student services.

More: Regent's question about Opportunity Center, SD University's admission rate is lagging

Student success services include career services, counseling, testing, tutoring, mentoring and Title IX/ADA. Student development programs include student participation, counseling, residential life, and student support, including veteran resources, international and study abroad, women in science and engineering, inclusiveness, and Tiospaye (Native American).

The Opportunity Center will also exist virtually as a single page on the Mines website, listing all available student support services.

The implementation of the SDSU Opportunity Center will be led by the Provost and Vice Principal for Academic Affairs and the Vice Principal for Student Affairs and Admissions Management. The position of Director of the Student Success Center will be reclassified as Senior Director of Student Success and Opportunity and will be reported to the Office of the Provost.

The university is developing a virtual presence for the Opportunity Center, finalizing the location and signage, recruiting positions to coordinate work and developing a communication plan for the center with the university community. The plan will be implemented before January 10, 2022.

More: The Regent and SDSU Chairman questioned the Center for Diversity when attempting to reorganize resources

The Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center will be the center of SDSU students’ successful efforts, including counseling, mentoring, supplementary guidance, first-year counseling and academic recovery work. The federal government-funded TRIO grants, student support services, and Upward Bound also operate under this structure.

USD's Opportunity Center will be a physical office, supplementing the virtual connection point already provided for USD faculty, staff and students-Coyote One Stop. It will be housed in the University Center of Münster near the former diversity and community center.

More: Students and faculty at the University of South Dakota are concerned that the Board of Directors authorizes Opportunity Centers across the state

It will serve as an umbrella for a series of student support services, offices, and jobs that have been carried out on campus, and will be led by a supervisor who reports directly to the USD President.

The director will also oversee and implement the Leadership Academy, expand current career services, collaborate with alumni and oversee the new Coyote Careers Kickstart program.

The Multicultural Affairs Department will be located in the Student Services Department of the Opportunity Center to provide core student success services and resources previously provided through the CDC.

More: USD prepares faculty and staff as the new Opportunity Center will be operational in 2022

It will set aside an office to provide students with student services throughout the campus in rotation, including disability services, veterans services, academic and career planning, financial assistance, registry, housing, student counseling, and other necessary services.