Regents freeze tuition at state’s universities

The South Dakota Board of Regents has agreed to freeze tuition at the state’s six public universities, including Dakota State University in Madison. The move comes after lawmakers increased base funding for the university system by more than $8.6 million in the session that ended earlier this month. The money is meant to cover raises for university workers, as part of an overall plan to increase salaries for state employees by 6%. Previously the state covered less than half of the salary and benefit package for employees in the university system. That forced higher education leaders to raise dollars to pay for tuition, fees and other charges.