OUR
HISTORY
The South Dakota Higher Education Association has a long history with the state of South Dakota. Originally chartered under the title "South Dakota College Personnel Association", SDHEA has been a part of the education landscape in South Dakota since 1971.
Within the original bi-laws, the purpose of the Association was as follows:
To provide leadership in student personnel work within the framework of the goals of higher education; and, to provide the opportunity for men and women in college personnel work to service together productively and to participate in the research, the thought, and the sharing of considered experience which is basic to a profession's growth and social utility.
-from the SDHEA archives
A Brief Timeline
1971
1972
1976
1986
1989
Charter Plans presented at the SDPGA (South Dakota Personnel and Guidance Association) conference
Application submitted for charter and was approved
Official Charter was accepted in 1972 at the ACPA (American College Personnel Association) convention in March in Chicago
Charter Members: Marc Boesen, Glen Peterson, Don Allen
Associated with SDPGA
First annual conference hosted in Sioux Falls, SD
Themed "Bicentennial Student"
Affiliated with SDACD (South Dakota Association with Counseling & Development)
First conference hosted West River in Spearfish, SD
Themed "Student Success"
OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCES
The first conference was held in 1976 in Sioux Falls. The theme was “Bicentennial Student”. The next twelve annual conferences were held in Sioux Falls. In 1989, the conference began a rotating host schedule with the first West River conference held in Spearfish.
Since then, the conference has been hosted in the cities of: Brookings, Lead, Spearfish, Chamberlain, Rapid City, Watertown, Sioux Falls, Huron, Yankton, Mitchell, and Aberdeen.
The 1996 conference was held in Huron, but during a blizzard! Attendance was somewhat low and sporadic. Aberdeen didn’t officially host the conference as it was cancelled due to a snowstorm in 1997.
City
Rapid City
2024
October 02 - October 03
Theme
Navigating our Future
Location
Western Dakota Technical College
City
Mitchell
2023
September 26 - September 27
Theme
Great Things Ahead
Location
Dakota Wesleyan University
City
Sioux Falls
2022
November 9 - November 10
Theme
Invite, Include, & Involve
Location
Hilton Garden Inn
City
Spearfish
2021
November 15 - November 17
Theme
Seasons of Change
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
2020
February 11 - February 13
Theme
2020: Envision the Future in Higher Education
Location
Hilton Garden Inn
City
Sioux Falls
2019
February 5 - February 7
Theme
Adaptability: Strategies for Changes in Higher Education
Location
Hilton Garden Inn
City
Deadwood
2018
February 5 - February 7
Theme
Access
Location
The Lodge
City
Sioux Falls
2017
February 15 - February 17
Theme
Balance: The Key to Holistic Success
Location
Hilton Garden Inn
City
Spearfish
2016
February 8 - February 10
Theme
Persist: Retaining Knowledge, Students, & Talent in South Dakota
Location
Spearfish Conference Center
City
Mitchell
2015
February 3 - February 5
Theme
Together Toward Tomorrow
Location
Highland Conference Center
City
Chamberlain
2014
February 5 - February 7
Theme
Awesome: Be in the Business of Being Awesome
Location
Cedar Shore
City
Lead
2013
February 6 - February 8
Theme
Forging a Path for Tomorrow's Students, Today
Location
Days Inn
City
Sioux Falls
2012
February 8 - February 10
Theme
Operation Graduation
Location
Hilton Garden Inn
City
Aberdeen
2011
February 9 - February 11
Theme
All Aboard: The Hub of Collaboration
Location
Ramada Inn
City
Rapid City
2010
February 10 - February 12
Theme
The Power of Knowledge: Developing a Legacy of Learning
Location
Radisson Hotel
City
Chamberlain
2009
February 4 - February 6
Theme
Bridges to Understanding: Connecting People and Ideas
Location
Cedar Shore
City
Brookings
2008
Theme
Building Student Success
Location
Days Inn
City
Spearfish
2007
February 7 - February 9
Theme
Relax. Refocus. Rejuvenate
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Mitchell
2006
Theme
Celebrate Leadership
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Yankton
2005
February 2 - February 4
Theme
Voyage to Discovery
Location
Kelly Inn
City
Rapid City
2004
February 11 - February 13
Theme
Come Aboard
Location
Quality Inn
City
Sioux Falls
2003
January 29 - January 31
Theme
Reaching for the Stars
Location
Encore Inn
City
Mitchell
2002
February 6 - February 8
Theme
Pearls of Wisdom
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Spearfish
2001
February 14 - February 16
Theme
Climbing to New Heights
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
2000
February 9 - February 11
Theme
The Transition to the Next Century
Location
Oaks Hotel
City
Sioux Falls
1999
February 11 - February 12
Theme
Winning Students... The Challenge
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Rapid City
1998
February 12 - February 13
Theme
Building a Common Vision
Location
Radisson Hotel
City
Aberdeen
1997
January 30 - January 31
Cancelled due to weather
Theme
Live it, Learn it, Love it
Location
Ramkota lnn
City
Huron
1996
January 25 - January 26
Blizzard occurred during conference
Theme
SDCPA... at the Crossroads of Higher Education
Location
Crossroads Hotel
City
Spearfish
1995
January 29 - January 31
Theme
Education: A Trail Ride to the Future
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Yankton
1994
January 30 - February 1
Theme
It's a Jungle Out There
Location
Yankton Inn
City
Watertown
1993
January 31 - February 2
Theme
Dealing with People
Location
Ramkotalnn
City
Rapid City
1992
February 9 - February 11
Theme
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1991
January 27 - January 29
Senator Daschle headline the conference
Theme
Challenge... Plan... Action!!!
Location
Howard Johnson
City
Brookings
1990
January 29 - January 30
Theme
New Decade...New Challenges
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Spearfish
1989
January 30 - January 31
Theme
Student Success
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1988
January 25 - January 26
Theme
Personal and Professional Excellence
Location
Ramkota Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1987
January 26 - January 27
Theme
Current & Future Concerns of Education in SD
Location
Howard Johnson
City
Sioux Falls
1986
January 20 - January 21
Theme
Futures in Higher Education
Location
Howard Johnson
City
Sioux Falls
1985
January 21 - January 22
Theme
ACT Workshop
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1984
January 23 - January 24
Theme
Building Academic Achievement
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1983
January 2 - January 25
Theme
Assessing the Higher Education Environment
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1982
January 25 - January 26
Theme
Career Planning & Related Issues
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1981
January 19 - January 20
Theme
Being a Professional
Location
Ramada Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1980
January 21 - January 22
Theme
What's Ahead in the 1980's in Higher Education in South Dakota
Location
Ramada Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1979
January 22 - January 23
Theme
Student Development: Meaning & Application
Location
Ramada Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1978
January 23 - January 24
Theme
The 4 R's of Retention: Review, Research, Retune, Respond
Location
Ramada Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1977
January 18 - January 19
Theme
Meeting the Needs of the Future Students
Location
Holiday Inn
City
Sioux Falls
1976
January 12 - January 13
Theme
Bicentennial Student
Location
Holiday Inn