Dakota State students learn with technology

Dakota State University students are benefiting from technology on campus, in the classroom and upon graduation. At Dakota State, technology is a major focus in many of the classes. As well as learning a profession, students at Dakota State also learn how to use the technology involved within it.

“We teach our students the tools and how to use them in a business setting,” said Rick Christoph, Dean of the College of Business and Information Systems. “It’s more and more critical for students.”

Some of the fastest growing jobs in the country are computer, business and health related professions. Dakota State University, with its focus on technology is helping its students gain an edge in these fields.

“All our majors have been revamped over the last two years,” said Christoph. “All have applied business components.”

According to a recent report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer and information technology careers will see the fastest growth through the year 2010. The health services industry is also expected to see substantial growth during the same time frame.

“The Bureau of Labor statistics means great news for Dakota State graduates from any of our degree programs because they are all immersed in technology,” said Dakota State University President Dr. Jerald Tunheim. “Our graduates are already actively recruited and sought out by top firms in the business and health industries, as well as educational institutions. This news heightens our graduates’ status in the workplace.”

According to Marie Lohsandt, director of Career and Placement Services at DSU, recruiting of DSU graduates has been mostly the same from past years.

“In fact, recruitment of our graduates hasn’t changed much from previous years. Even with the recent downturn in the economy, our office is contacted daily by employers seeking to hire our graduates,” said Lohsandt. “Since most of the positions available today require some type of technical ability, employers obviously think to call our campus first.”

Dakota State, with the help of software grants from major companies like Microsoft, People Soft and McGraw-Hill, can teach students the software that businesses and industries around the country are using in today’s market, giving them an advantage.

“Take our Intro to Accounting class. All the students use the accounting software Quick Books,” said Christoph. “Our students learn accounting like a business does accounting. If you don’t know what the business is doing, you simply can’t compete.”

DSU graduates are more in demand because of their knowledge of the technological aspects of a particular profession.

“With graduation still over a month away, some of our graduates have already accepted positions in their field of study,” emphasized Lohsandt. “That’s encouraging when you consider the slowdown in the economy, but again, I’m convinced it is happening because of the sound technical skills that our graduates possess.”

“If a graduate knows the tool, how and why to apply the tool and why to use it, then he or she is going to be better off,” added Christoph. “It’s like a chain. You’re only as strong as your weakest link.”

The Health Information field is also showing an increase in job growth because of the advances in technology.

“Because of technology there is more information available and more of a demand for Information Specialists within the health care industry,” said Dorine Bennett, DSU director of Health Information Management. “There is a real shortage right now across the nation.

DSU offers the only program in South Dakota that allows students to be eligible to take the Health Information Technology (HIT) or Health Information Administration (HIA) certificate.

“Most employers look for these credentials,” said Bennett. “Employers recognize the skill level. By having these credentials, DSU students are shown more interest from future employers and are offered more pay.”

“The growth areas of business are going to be technology related,” said Christoph. “We’ve seen nothing yet. In the future we’ll see things we couldn’t have dreamed of and our students are going to be on the ground floor, again.