USD and South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Expand Access for Sioux Falls Families
From building a career to owning a business or sending a child to college, dreams are ever-present. But for many, the path to those dreams isn’t always clear. Questions about finances, language barriers and other challenges can turn ambition into hesitation.
In November 2024, a new partnership set out to change that.
What began as a conversation between the University of South Dakota and the South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce quickly evolved into a shared effort to make opportunity visible, accessible and achievable for the Hispanic community in Sioux Falls.
“There were two clear priorities,” said Jay Perry, Ph.D., vice president for USD – Sioux Falls, who played a key role in championing this effort at USD. “First, the SDHCC leadership wanted to offer specialized business training to their members through the Beacom School of Business. Second, SDHCC leaders and USD wanted to encourage postsecondary education exploration for potential students and their families.”
United by a vision for the future, both organizations recognized the talent that already exists within the Hispanic community, affirming that the challenge wasn’t potential but access—and that’s exactly what the USD and SDHCC partnership began to build.
Supporting Families Through Higher Education
For students and families, the USD and SDHCC partnership is sparking conversations and creating resources that make higher education more accessible.
“There are many families in South Dakota who don’t know that college is attainable. Or, they may not know how best to prepare for college, apply or seek scholarships or financial aid,” said Perry. “This partnership allows USD to have these conversations with SDHCC member families and promote postsecondary education, not just at USD or USD – Sioux Falls, but across the board. That is good for South Dakota.”
USD also hosted several events for SDHCC member families covering topics such as the college application process and financial aid, important but complex processes to navigate.
Similarly, potential students are learning to navigate the college application and financial aid processes, making them more likely to pursue further education.
For many families, the shift from uncertainty to understanding has been one of the most meaningful outcomes of the USD and SDHCC partnership. At the same time, USD’s affordability, scholarships and student support services mean that higher education opportunities are there for those who seek them—bringing the college dream to life.
“The South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has been thrilled to work with USD. Our mission at the SDHCC is to educate, inspire, empower and support Hispanic businesses, leading to a stronger economy in South Dakota overall. We work toward these goals relying solely on the generous time donated by volunteers. Our collaboration with USD has made us stronger, expanded our reach and allowed us to provide education in new ways to our community,” said Sarah Sinnott, Ph.D., education chair for the SDHCC. “Over the past year, we have supported Hispanic families with education on topics such as the college application process and filling out the FAFSA form. We have done this in person as well as online, allowing us to reach our constituents outside of Sioux Falls.”
Expanding Opportunity
In addition to breaking down college acceptance barriers, USD also helps SDHCC families better understand and overcome barriers they may face when considering college programs.
For example, USD discussions with the SDHCC led to approval for students to receive college credits in languages they are proficient in.
As of 2026, students who demonstrate biliteracy proficiency through the South Dakota State Seal of Biliteracy may be granted an equivalent number of language credits toward a Spanish major or minor, or any general education foreign language credit. Students will then receive credit for things they already know, making a college degree more accessible.
This initiative is rooted in the idea that every student should be empowered to succeed. That same philosophy carries into the South Dakota Board of Regents’ “Opportunity for All” framework, which emphasizes treating each student as an individual and ensuring equitable access to opportunities.
At USD, that mission is embedded into the work of the Opportunity Center, which aids students in academic success, leadership development, civic engagement and community outreach. The Opportunity Center has a presence on USD’s Vermillion and Sioux Falls campuses, ensuring all students have a go-to place to ask questions and find the resources that will help them thrive.
“The ‘Opportunity for All’ framework and the Opportunity Center make the USD experience different from other colleges,” said Perry. “We foster an individualized experience for each student so they can reach their goals on their terms.”
For USD – Sioux Falls, that same philosophy aligns well with its non-residential campus model, expanding access for students who live off campus, are unable to relocate, or prefer to remain in the area while balancing school with family or career commitments. Access is also available for non-traditional students seeking to build new skills and enhance their marketability within their industries.
Strengthening Businesses
In addition to supporting students and families, USD’s partnership with the SDHCC has supported business owners by expanding access to resources.
Through the Beacom School of Business, the partnership with the SDHCC has opened doors for local entrepreneurs—many of whom were already running successful businesses but lacked access to formal training in areas like marketing, accounting and human resources.
To help bridge the gap to formal training, the Beacom School of Business hosted online and in-person training programs and workshops—delivered in Spanish—that have become spaces not just for learning but for connection.
Brian Webb, Ph.D., assistant professor of accounting at USD, helped host workshops in categories like taxation, individual taxation and how accounting can help businesses become more profitable—all of which were narrated by Webb in Spanish.
“Teaching accounting workshops in Spanish for the SDHCC was a uniquely rewarding and enriching experience,” said Webb. “The participants were enthusiastic and actively engaged throughout the sessions. I left the workshops having learned new Spanish business terms, while workshop participants gained a deeper understanding of how accounting can support their personal finances and business success.”
“The feedback we have received from workshop participants has been overwhelmingly positive. SDHCC members have gained training and knowledge from the Beacom School of Business that helps their businesses thrive,” said Perry. “This partnership gives the business school opportunities to engage with new but prominent members of the business community that can benefit from USD’s expertise. It enhances USD’s connections with the business community while simultaneously enhancing SDHCC members’ work with their employees and customers.”
Additionally, the SDHCC is offering continuing education classes on various business topics.
“These classes will cover topics in business that help our members and community succeed. We are looking forward to developing more programming with USD and are ever grateful for the support they show to our organization and our members,” said Sinnott.
By working to bridge this gap, USD and the SDHCC are promoting economic growth, investing in leadership development and supporting a growing network of entrepreneurs.
The Power of Collaboration
Across all student populations, the USD and SDHCC partnership shows that, as access increases, so does participation.
In fact, current USD students are already seeing the benefits of the partnership. Through participation in SDHCC panels, students are strengthening their public speaking and presentation skills, while expanded access to local businesses creates new opportunities for those in Coyote Business Consulting. SDHCC event invitations also play a role, as these events further enhance students’ cultural awareness and professional experience.
Looking ahead, the partnership sets the stage for a promising future.
“USD is always adapting to meet the needs of new generations of students. As a university, being proactive and seeking out partnerships like this helps us stay nimble, relevant and involved. Because of this, both sides of our partnership can learn and grow through sharing expertise and experiences,” said Perry. “We have a mission to educate the population while providing service and community outreach. Engaging with the SDHCC and the Hispanic community allows us to carry out this mission so that, together, we can strengthen South Dakota’s business ecosystem.”
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