SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – There’s a new hotline for people to voice concerns about South Dakota’s universities.

Republican Gov. Kristi Noem announced the hotline in a news release calling for South Dakota to be “an example to the nation of what quality higher education should look like.” In a news release, Noem said the “whistleblower hotline” is for students, parents, taxpayers and faculty to call and voice concerns. The number is (605) 773-5916.

You can listen to what the hotline says when you can in in the audio file below.

“This hotline was created for students and faculty to keep our universities accountable to South Dakota values,” the recording says. “And be an example to the nation of what good higher education looks like.”

Noem sent a four-page letter to the Board of Regents calling for “the responsibility of revitalizing the institutions under its control and leading the nation by example.”

You can read the letter attached below.

05-25-23_BOR-letterDownload

Noem’s letter says the BOR schools have a 47% of graduation rate and the national average in 2020 was 63%.

In addition, Noem asked for action items on:

• Remove all references to preferred pronouns in all school materials and any enforcement of such;
• Remove any policy or procedure that prohibits students from exercising their right to free speech;
• Prohibit drag shows from taking place on university campuses;
• Find ways to cut costs to...

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