Western Dakota Tech plans new site for practical nursing courses

PHILIP, S.D. • To help fill the great need for more nurses in the region and state of South Dakota, Western Dakota Technical College says it is expanding its Practical Nursing program with courses to be offered in Philip, S.D., in fall 2022.

The college made the announcement on Monday, Nov. 8.

The Philip location, in the former elementary school, will be the second satellite campus for WDTC Practical Nursing courses. The college has successfully offered its Practical Nursing program in Whitewood, S.D., since January. The Whitewood program currently has two nursing faculty and 16 students this semester.

“There is great demand for careers in the nursing field and Western Dakota Tech is helping fill that need,” said President Ann Bolman. “We greatly look forward to offering Practical Nursing courses in Philip and working with the school district, city, medical community, and everyone in the area. This is an exciting new partnership for us.”

The South Dakota Board of Nursing has approved for WDTC to offer the program in Philip. The site is pending Higher Learning Commission approval, which is anticipated in the near future. The school said the program will be capped at 16 students. The college plans to hire one full-time nursing faculty member to teach in Philip and will hire adjunct instructors as needed.