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Southeast Tech presenters report high job placement, strong local retention for class of 2025
Summary
Southeast Tech presenters reported that survey respondents from the class of 2025 showed near-universal employment and strong local retention, with programs in health fields among top payers; the board formally acknowledged the report.
Jackie Palmer, dean of academic excellence at Southeast Tech, and Alex Anderson, a student success adviser, presented the college’s annual graduate outcomes report for the class of 2025 and described the outreach and data-collection methods used to track employment and further education.
The presenters said they combined a first‑destination survey, direct outreach (email, phone, texts), faculty updates and publicly available sources such as LinkedIn and Department of Labor wage records to assemble outcomes data. Of the class covered, 875 of 977 graduates responded to the college’s outreach, the presenters said.
According to the presentation, all survey respondents who replied were employed; 94% of respondents were working in their field. The college reported a median starting salary of about $51,550, up from roughly $48,838 the previous year. Presenters flagged five programs with average hourly wages above $30, led by cardiovascular sonography at about $34.49 per hour, and noted that 40 programs achieved a 100% job-placement rating.
Palmer and Anderson also described transfer and degree-completion pathways: Southeast Tech has articulation agreements with about 15 universities and more than 80 transfer pathway programs, and the presenters said many graduates continue to higher education through stackable credentials. On geography, presenters said 84% of respondents remained in South Dakota and roughly two-thirds of those stayed in Sioux Falls.
Board members praised the report and its ties to the institution’s strategic plan, asked for clarification on employer engagement and on an anticipated five‑year follow-up from the state, and then moved to acknowledge the graduate outcomes report; the board’s acknowledgement passed with one member opposing.
The board did not take further action on the outcomes report; presenters said the data feed institutional planning and external reporting requirements to state and accreditation bodies.
