PIERRE, S.D.(DRGNews)- Beginning with the 2024 spring semester, eligible state of South Dakota employees will be able to pay half price for online courses offered by the state’s public universities.

Board of Regents Executive Director Nathan Lukkes (lucas) says up until now, state employees have only received the discount if they attended classes in person, on campus.

Lukkes says the tuition reduction applies at the six public universities and their satellite offices.

The Board of Regents made the reduced price tuition effective immediately so state employees who want to take classes this spring are able to do so.

He says the 50% discount is applied when the state employee registers for the course.

For state employees wanting to get onto a different career path, Lukkes says this is a great opportunity.

Under this new discounted rate, Lukkes says state employees will be accepted as “last student in,” meaning their admission will be subject to course capacity. He says this provides an opportunity for state employees to take up to six credits without any additional expense to the state.