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USF Furthers Kilian College Mission

Kealey Bultena
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SDPB
University of Sioux Falls campus

University Sioux Falls officials say their school can fill a void left when a community college closed. USF is preparing to launch a program aimed at helping people learn English so they can go to college or become skilled workers. A program that used to help those students ended earlier this year. Now USF leaders say they’re resurrecting the opportunity.

The Bridges program at Kilian Community College taught people advanced English so they could better communicate. Former Bridges instructor John Michels says the program equipped students for options like tech school or college – or preparing to enter the workforce.

"When I worked in the program, we helped students develop an academic understanding of the English language. We introduced them to college-level vocabulary specific to several disciplines, and we went through the ideas and theories behind a lot of these phrase and words and terms that we take for granted," Michels says.

Credit Kealey Bultena / SDPB
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SDPB
John Michels

The Bridges program ended in May when Kilian closed after being a part of Sioux Falls for nearly four decades. USF President Mark Benedetto says Kilian provided education to people from various backgrounds and communities.

"We grieved when Kilian closed. Nobody wanted that to happen, and so we were talking about how we can step up," Benedetto says. "Our University of Sioux Falls desires truly to be more diverse culturally. We not only desire it, but this is an opportunity to embrace that diversity."

Now the University of Sioux Falls is assuming the program. Benedetto says educators are starting with Kilian’s model. He says USF has the opportunity to recruit more students who can benefit from the Bridges program.

Credit Kealey Bultena / SDPB
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SDPB
USF President Mark Benedetto

"We plan to keep the tuition at the same level that it’s always been at at the Bridges program at Kilian, so when we talk about USF using some of our unique features to change the Bridges program, it’s really not about cost. We’re committed to keeping the cost to where it’s affordable," Benedetto says.

The University already had a relationship with Kilian. Recent Kilian students could transition to a USF program and graduate on time – students like Sarah Epp, who didn’t think she’d ever go to college.

"I’m in the social work degree completion program, so I’m a non-traditional student. I work. I raise two children," Epp says. "So I have a lot going on, so I need a school that is willing to work with what I can do, too, and USF is exactly that school for me."

Credit Kealey Bultena / SDPB
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SDPB
College student Sarah Epp

University of Sioux Falls officials say USF will get some Kilian assets to support part of the new Bridges program. The college also plans to open the Dr. Thomas Kilian Academic Success Center. 

USF leaders say they should be serving students after the first of the year.

Kealey Bultena grew up in South Dakota, where her grandparents took advantage of the state’s agriculture at nap time, tricking her into car rides to “go see cows.” Rarely did she stay awake long enough to see the livestock, but now she writes stories about the animals – and the legislature and education and much more. Kealey worked in television for four years while attending the University of South Dakota. She started interning with South Dakota Public Broadcasting in September 2010 and accepted a position with television in 2011. Now Kealey is the radio news producer stationed in Sioux Falls. As a multi-media journalist, Kealey prides herself on the diversity of the stories she tells and the impact her work has on people across the state. Kealey is always searching for new ideas. Let her know of a great story! Find her on Facebook and twitter (@KealeySDPB).
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