Black Hills State University’s 11th President reveals new enrollment plan
By Jacob Fitzgerald
SPEARFISH, S.D. (KBHU TV) – Last Monday Dr. Nichols was officially installed as the 11thPresident of Black Hills State University.
Since the Fall of 2019 Black Hills State University found a 3.4 percent decline in enrollment along with other South Dakota Public Universities. President Nichols explained her plans to increase student enrollment for the Spearfish and Rapid City Campuses.
“Well we’re working right now very diligently on a strategic enrollment plan, so I would say first up is going to be creating a strong enrollment plan that we can implement to stabilize our enrollment and then get it turned in starting to grow,” said President Nichols.
While the current student enrollment rate for Black Hills State University is 3,850 students, BHSU hopes to boost their student enrollment rates to 4,300.
“My initial goal would be to get stabilized, let’s turn it and get back up to that 4,300 – that would be a good average we’ve been the last ten years.” Nichols continues, “Maybe stabilize there for a while and then assess how much more head room do we have for growth, could we go to say 4,500. That’s very critical to our future as a university is to make sure our enrollment is growing again.”
While there are plans to increase student enrollment for Black Hills State University, Nichols hopes to offer more online courses to credit graduate and undergraduate degrees to traditional and non-traditional students.
“I think our assessment of online education must continue there’s been quite an effort made,” Nichols says, “Graduate education always pops up because most of our graduate students in fact don’t want to come back to campus, they’re out working, so offering those online makes a lot of sense.”
As President Dr. Nichols continues to fulfill the university’s needs, she is humbled to be the 11thPresident of Black Hills State University.
“The way this all transpired was not what I thought would happen and I have to say I’m just delighted, it has surpassed my expectations and I’m really excited!” says Nichols.