The growing higher education center on the campus of Southeast Technical Institute hosts courses from three state universities within an hour's drive of Sioux Falls. Currently, the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and Presentation College in Aberdeen have the only other accredited social work programs in the state. The state university system has not only a potential opportunity but a public duty to make sure that an adequate number of social workers are being trained to serve people in Sioux Falls. Colleges routinely and aggressively pursue opportunities to increase courses in trendy fields, such as computer training. They have a responsibility of equal importance to train an adequate number of people to provide services in fields that are less glamorous but every bit as important to the well-being of a community and state.
Social workers are overlooked heroes who help bring out the best in a community.
The education system must not shortchange the growing number of people who depend on social workers.