9P2 Building Relationships with Educational Organizations and Employers Who Need STI Graduates

STI has a long history of fostering strong relationships with employers. Faculty and Administrators network with business and industry leaders to create and prioritize collaborative relationships which often result in clinical and internship opportunities for students, as well as future employment for graduates. The Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, the Sioux Falls Economic Development Foundation, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development are also important partners who help STI ensure that stakeholder’s needs are understood and met. Information on employer requirements has been gathered through targeted industry forums in health, manufacturing, and construction; through an annual Employer Survey; and through the professional networking of faculty and administration. Program faculty also maintain active Industry Advisory Committees, which are the source of valuable and current information in each field. These committees meet a minimum of twice each year and are attended by administration.

The Business and Industry Training Division promotes collaborative relationships through its customized and non-credit programming. Operated as an enterprise fund, the division designs and delivers short and long-term contract and continuing education training for area employers.

Finally, regarding educational collaboration, see 9P 1 . With a targeted mission of educating for employment, transfers to the universities are not an institutional priority. However, as 9P1 indicates, collaborations with educational entities have been established and continue to be pursued.