Episode #46 - USD & Vermillion's Rich History with Joe Hoose & Alissa Matt

(upbeat music) - Welcome to Tips for Change. I'm your host, Tiffany Mewchler. Today we talked with Joe and Alyssa from the University of South Dakota. We covered the importance of the partnership of the community and the university and the impact they make together. I hope you enjoyed this episode and I look forward to partnering more with USD and the Vermilion community. - Hey Joe and Alyssa. - Hey, how's it going? - Good. - Thanks for joining me on my podcast today. - Absolutely. - It's gonna be a good one. We're excited to talk to you a little bit about your roles at the USD Foundation. So do you guys wanna take turns and just kinda tell us a little bit about yourself, your background and your current role? - Absolutely. I'll go ahead and get us started. Joe Huss, I am the Executive Director of Talent Management and administration at the University of South Dakota Foundation. Long way of saying I oversee talent management, HR functions for our organization. Been in Vermilion 15 years now. My wife and I moved here and we found Vermilion and it has just become a home for us. And we then shortly thereafter we started to see USD and the impact that it makes in the community and we're just excited by what they do. And it was always one of those questions where people were like, are you ever moving back? 'Cause most of our family is from Eastern Iowa and it's home for us now. So we have two boys. They love all things USD and it is truly just a great community and USD makes Vermilion a special community because of that connection. So at the foundation, you know, I've been there five and a half years and my role has evolved over the years but the central core of what I do is supporting our employees and making sure that they have the tools that they need to be successful and just looking for opportunities for our organization to continue to build on the community impact that we already have in Vermilion but also across the state of South Dakota and we have alumni all across the nation and so our role is to connect those alumni back. And so I just, I'm fortunate that the role came about and had this opportunity and really just love what I do and love USD and it's just very grateful for the opportunity to serve. - That's awesome. Thank you, Alyssa. - Yeah, so my name is Alyssa Matt. I am the Assistant Vice President for External Relations for the University. Prior to this position, I worked with Joe at the foundation and alumni association for about seven and a half years. So I should preface this with, I've only been in my current role for about two months now so if we could keep the zingers to minimum, that would be great. But essentially my job is to help the university both the main campus and then our Sioux Falls location connect with business industry and other stakeholders within the state of South Dakota and then beyond. It's a wonderful, it's kind of a dream job for me. I've got a couple of degrees from USD. My husband has a couple of degrees from USD. We're very proud coyotes and we're also very proud South Dakota. We've lived in Sioux Falls for over 10 years now and are really, really proud of our state. And as Joe said, really grateful to be able to serve the state, serve the university, serve current and perspective future students through our work at USD. That sounds like both of you are very passionate about what you do and that's great. So to kick things off, Alyssa, do you want to share some highlights about the University of South Dakota and its unique connection to Vermilion? Yeah, so how much time do we have? We can be here as long as you want. Okay, okay. So just for a little bit of a kind of background, so USD was founded in 1862. It is the flagship university for the state of South Dakota and it is the only public liberal arts university in the state as well. Some things that USD is known for would be academic excellence really across disciplines. I think that this is in one way illustrated by the university's track records, track record of national scholarship recipients. Last year USD had two Truman scholarship recipients, which is huge. We were one of two states in the entire nation to have that. And this year the only Truman finalist in the Dakota is a USD student. So we'll be cheering for her in the coming months or so. We're research institution also well known for just incredible faculty, both in Vermilion and Sioux Falls as well. And then alumni outcomes. You're probably familiar with the ask your billboards that are all around community of Sioux Falls and even beyond. A lot of leaders start at USD and go on to serve their communities in the state of South Dakota and-- Our leader did. Yes, I see you. Yes, exactly. So roughly, rough student populations about 11,000 that includes both main campus or Sioux Falls campus and then online. The other things that I would say would be worth noting is that USD has an accredited business school, the only medical school, the only law school within the state of South Dakota. And the other thing is that USD significantly outperforms our peers in terms of graduate degrees awarded. So what I typically say is you may start your education in South Dakota somewhere, but you will likely end up at USD for the student graduate degree. So as far as unique connection, the university and the community of Vermilion, town, gown, relationship, mutually beneficial. University employs hundreds and hundreds of people in the community of Vermilion. We bring thousands of students to the community when school starts each year. So it really provides that economic boost, that economic growth during the year. But it's mutually beneficial. You know, the community has invested in the university. Well, I'm sure we'll talk about this later on in the podcast. And the university does the same. So Vermilion is not-- it is not a large community and so having that partnership and having that mutual respect collaboration is really important. I also really quick-- sorry, I promise I won't talk too much, but I do want to acknowledge because I know it's new for-- well, it's relatively new for USD, but USD also has our Sioux Falls campus now. So this was established in 2022, previously known as the University Center, the Community College for Sioux Falls. It's had a couple names, but in 2022, University of South Dakota took sole ownership of that campus and really did so in an effort to address workforce needs within the region, specifically in the areas of healthcare, business, and education. So a lot of opportunity for growth here in Sioux Falls as well through that campus and the areas that we're focused on out there. That's awesome. We have really noticed being new-ish to the community with our branch there and just the community is so strong and it's really the university helps bring a new life to it year after year. So it's really been a fun experience for us. So Joe, building on that as the talent management director of the USD Foundation, can you elaborate on the foundation's role in supporting the university's initiatives and the impact on the community? Certainly, and the list is kind of alluded to this. It's always interesting because I think from one perspective, people see us one and the same. And we absolutely are on paper. We're a separate entity. We're a separate 503C. But really, our priorities at the foundation are the priorities of the university. And so the work that we do, it is absolutely aligned with what is happening on campus. And we exist to inspire investment and engagement with the university. I always tell people, we're a conduit back to campus. And so whether that's through athletics events, whether that's through philanthropic support, whether that's through just keeping people aware of what is happening. But that's really what we-- why we exist. And when I think about what initiatives that we specifically gravitate towards, in my mind, the one that the projects, the special buildings or whatever may be happening may evolve over the years. But at the heart of everything, we exist because the scholarships that we provide to students. And fundraising for those scholarships, specifically I think about Kyle Beginnings, which is a needs-based scholarship. It helps bridge that gap for students. That is very important to what we do in providing that support and access to higher education. So at the heart of it, that's what we do. You know, Alyssa touched on this a little bit of the Vermillion community and how we sort of co-exist. And I think President Gastrin and before that President Abbott were very instrumental in fostering that relationship between the community and university. And so we see that all throughout our organization that people are invested in the community. They support the community. They serve in local capacities on different boards. And it's really about having that connection back and forth across the university. And so when we start to talk about initiatives and how we're supporting those, that's an important part of what we do. And that impact can be felt, not only on campus, but across the community. I think about the health sciences building that we opened a couple of years ago. Brand new beautiful building that houses are many academic programs. But there's also a community dental hygiene clinic that is this house there as well, which provides services to the community. And so that's an important part of the relationship between our community and the university. And what we do as an organization to ensure that we are finding ways to support those initiatives. The Dakota Dome is renovated recently. And the town is a buzz during a football Saturday. And that is not a university thing. It's not a community thing. It's very much like this is who we are. This is Vermillion. And so yeah, football Saturday, it is great. And we get to invite all of our alumni back for that. And it's just amazing. It's a good time. So picking back a little bit on the philanthropy and that aspect. Alyssa, how does philanthropy positively influence the university and the local community? And what role do the alumni play in that? Yeah, sure. So I think it's important to acknowledge just up front that really philanthropy is essential to higher education. It's public support for higher education kind of has decreased private philanthropy is needed to fill that gap. And as Joe said, scholarships can be the difference in somebody saying yes to a college experience and no. And so we are extraordinarily grateful to the honestly thousands of alumni, friends, and other donors who make that experience possible for current and future students. Joe had mentioned this, but it's really important that the foundation and the university, including faculty, staff, department heads, student services, really work together to make sure that we are all-- everybody understands the priorities. Everybody understands the need. And then as Joe mentioned, it's kind of the foundation's job to be able to connect that need with individuals who are passionate about it. So where we say philanthropy, it's not about me. It's about you. And it's that opportunity to help somebody connect with an area with an opportunity that is really uniquely meaningful to them. It's very rewarding in that sense. As Joe mentioned, philanthropy helps facilitate in addition to access to education, which the more students have access to education, the more students are in a community, which ultimately boosts the economic development, et cetera. But also from that experience perspective. The Dakota Dome was functional prior to the West Side renovation, but that renovation has made the experience that much more enjoyable for fans and guests who attend there. And that wouldn't be possible without private philanthropy. And you see examples of that all across the university. And so private philanthropy, it really is what makes the experience that much more meaningful and beneficial for students in the community as a whole. That's awesome. So Joe, from your perspective, how has philanthropy evolved in higher education? Yeah. I think if I look back over the last five years, things have evolved quite a bit. And I think it's just through how we engage with our constituent base. I mean, technology has-- I think the technology was always there, but COVID threw it in our face. That we can do things differently and in a very good way. And so now we have the opportunity to connect with donors and constituents in a very different way, whether that's through social media or Zoom or Teams. And that's not the only way we do it, but it's a way. And so you can connect people back in a different way. And you can have those touch points. And I think about the virtual offerings in the different ways that we have been able to bring USD to someone who lives in California or who lives in on the East Coast. It is a way for us to, again, find a way to connect people back. The other thing I think that I've noticed in coming on the heels of a very successful United for USD, which is our day of giving. Really, there's a appetite that our younger generation, our younger students, our students, want to be involved and want to find ways to give back. And that seems to be starting at a much younger age. And they're thinking about how they can impact things right now. And so when I talk about United for USD, largely the success of that day of giving is impacted by our students. And whether they're sharing the message, whether they're donating $5 and they're telling their friends to participate. But it is really much that word of mouth spreading the news. And then just honestly, the students and the community of USD showing up and being at whether it's the events or just sharing the messaging of the United for USD. And so really when I think about it, that's a place that continues to. We see that trend happening. So turning to challenges, what obstacles have you faced in fostering philanthropic support for the university in its programs? I can take this one. I think I'll start with competition. There's just a lot of opportunities to give back right now, whether it's within your church, other nonprofit organizations, other social services programs. And so there's just a lot of need right now. And so kind of breaking through and making our opportunities uniquely meaningful is something that we're always going to have to work toward. The second piece-- and I mentioned this a little bit earlier in the podcast, but it's really doing a good job of connecting university need, university funding priorities with a donor's passion. And so we've talked about the Dakota Dome a couple times. People, the Dakota Dome is kind of that sexy project. It's that fun building tangible thing. Well, the truth is our number one need is always going to be scholarships. It is always going to be scholarships. And so it's helping to make sure that our alumni, our donor community really understands that. And then that we are able to facilitate those meaningful opportunities to give back in a way that supports a student's access to education. Certainly not saying that the Dakota Dome is in a wonderful project, we're thrilled that we had it. But just really, really emphasizing, really making sure that we're clear with individuals about what kind of what those priority needs are. And then the last thing I would say is just the things that we can't control, like inflation, market volatility, things like that. We had a magic wand. We would wave it, but we don't. And so that can be difficult. You can talk to my toddler about a magic wand, she thinks it saves everything. So, Joe, on the foundation side, can you discuss some of the challenges that you see? Yeah, I think specific to Vermillion, we're very mindful of the relationships that we have within the community and we're a small community. And so the same people, organizations, they get tapped for local projects as well as larger projects. So I think within our community, we're very mindful of those relationships. And I think that's where we leverage our community engagement from our staff and from our university partners that we are aware of what is happening locally. And so we're very, you know, just that awareness is important. And so I think that's one of the challenges that we see and also try to make sure that we're, you know, look for ways to mitigate some of those things. I think the other of the ways that we sort of address some of those challenges within our community is just offering multiple opportunities for the community to engage with USD and understand, you know, who we are and what we offer. And I think those relationships, and I go back to, again, the relationships that have really been, you know, supported and fostered by President Guestering and President Habit with the city and the community, our wellness center expansion that is happening, our brand new pool, brand new facility that's going to house state of the art equipment is happening because of a partnership with the city of Vermillion. And that doesn't happen without being very mindful of what is happening. And again, so again, fostering those relationships, understanding what is happening within Vermillion is very important to what we do in order to overcome some of those challenges of a small community and not tapping the same person twice. - Yeah, it's great that you guys have such good community by and that the city is so on board. So moving over to talent, 'cause that's a critical part of any university's success. How does the university with the support of the foundation approach talent management and what opportunities does it present for Vermillion residents? - So I would say, it had two primary areas, the first being developing employees, series of professional development trainings, ongoing professional support, other development opportunities, and then, you know, regular performance feedback. The second area being kind of that motivating staff, culture, creation, development, kind of creating that sense of belonging and purpose that you are part of the Cuyote family and we want you to be here. So you see this done through a number of different things on boarding, our internal Yolt Life program. Other things like making sure faculty, staff have access to free tickets to football games and basketball games, which is done in partnership with the Presence Office and the foundation. But the other thing that I want to mention here is that, you know, when you talk about, kind of with the support of the foundation, again, and going back to that private philanthropy, through private philanthropy, through funding in that sense, we're able to offer programs on campus, more opportunities, you know, access to different equipment or different trainings or different services, you know, endowed faculty positions and endowed chair and endowed professorship. That's, again, where we talk about philanthropy being able to come in and just elevate those experiences and as a staff member, if you have the opportunity to have those additional resources, we know you will be that much more committed to your work. Joe, from your perspective, what are your thoughts on that? Yeah, absolutely. I think, you know, the past four years, the scope of talent management has changed a lot, you know, from COVID to remote work to, you know, the great resignation phenomenon to now here we are and this is sort of the, you know, this is the new normal that we operate in. I think as an organization, we've always tried to remain nimble and in responsive to the needs of our employees and I think that's one way to retain employees and to continue to make sure that we're supporting them where they're at and how to do that. I think as an organization, we've also, you know, we have a location in Vermilion, we have an office in Sioux Falls. Those are obviously two very, you know, important communities for USD to be a part of, but also it's an opportunity for us to attract, you know, from different talent pools. And so I think as an organization, we have to be mindful of that. You know, recently we have expanded to a regional fundraising model where we have in key communities, Minneapolis, Phoenix and now Denver. We have someone that works and lives out of those communities and their specific role is to connect with alumni in those areas and it's a touch point and it's a presence that we have that we didn't have before. And again, we're able to attract a different talent pool and we're able to say like, who is in those communities that can help, you know, serve our mission. And so I think, you know, for us, it's continuing to look at how do we meet our employees where they're at. I think the other component of our organization that, you know, when you think about from a talent management HR perspective, we have been very mindful of understanding what the workforce needs from a compensation benefits perspective. And so recently, we launched a, you know, 12-week, fully paid parental leave program. And I think that's an important, that's an important thing for young, young families, important thing that people are looking for. And so like we, we look at those things, what is, you know, what is training, what are our employees needs so that we can, again, evolve to what people are wanting. That's great. That's a huge perk for, especially young moms like me. So in the context of engaging with the local community, what strategies does the university employ to attract and retain individuals? People, students and faculty and how does this contribute to for millions growth? Yeah, sure. So Tim Piggy back on what Joe was just saying as far as attracting great talent goes, you know, try to do this through market-based competitive pay and benefits, you know, building that culture that attracts great people, both faculty staff and also students, and kind of working through different employee engagement opportunities, strength, finders, things like that. So that's kind of to answer your question about attracting talent. But then retaining talent, again, as Joe mentioned, doing this through expansion of benefits, knowing that some of that, you know, is limited. We are a public university through the Regental System, but using different, you know, different strategies, different other perks that we can offer faculty staff to continue to help make sure they're enjoying their job. I think it's also important to note, you know, the governor and the legislatures support of state and employee pay increases the past couple years. It makes that makes a huge difference and has been very, very well received. I think all of this, you know, though, it does, it goes back to culture and making sure that we are, you know, we are facilitating these kiosk community, these kiosk family experiences that are meaningful for faculty staff and then students. It's a pretty special place. And I think Joe and I can attest to that. And we know that once people really embrace that, they're going to be committed to it. So do you have anything you want to add to that? I think I think you sounded pretty well. And I always going to speak to the kiosk community and what it means. And Vermillion is a small community, but the kiosk community expands all across South Dakota. And it's just, it's great. So looking ahead, what exciting development projects can we look forward to with the continued collaboration between the U.S.D., the U.S.D. foundation and the local community? You want me to go? You can start. I'll go. OK, I'll go ahead and start this one. So I would say I mentioned earlier that with our Sioux Falls campus, there's tremendous growth opportunity here, again, really focusing on the areas of health care, education, and business and doing so in a way that is meeting workforce needs. That is the purpose. That's our goal up here. And so the opportunity is for corporate partnerships, corporate development in that space. I think we'll be plenty moving forward. The other thing that I think is worth noting, as Joe mentioned earlier, as data, as technology continues to evolve, university stepping up, meeting needs through, making sure that our programming is reflective of workforce needs. So AI is a huge program. It's a program that continues to grow at the university and one that will continue to do so. And there are other examples of that as well. The university and the U.S.D. Sioux Falls, we have a statutory mission to serve the state of South Dakota. And that is what we do. And so responding to those workforce needs as they evolve is something we're committed to. That's awesome, Joe. Yeah, I would touch on this earlier, but I think the wellness center-- I mean, that is not finished, but in the next year, it will be. And that is just-- Just walked through it. It was crazy. It's amazing. It's going to be so cool. And I think the other thing I would mention is we have a new athletics director who is very passionate about Kyle Sports and the Kyle Community and U.S.D. And I think there's a strong partnership between the foundation and U.S.D. athletics when it comes to fundraising. And so I think carrying out that vision, we're going to see some exciting things there. And so that's very exciting as well. And then I would be remiss to not mention it again. Kyle beginnings-- there's such a strong-- I'll be remiss if I didn't mention Kyle beginnings. There's a lot of momentum behind that program and that support. And I think it's important for us to continue to build off that momentum. Scholarships, again, I go back to it. It's something that sometimes you can't touch it. You can't see it. You can't walk through the building. But it's so important. And the stories that people tell from their time at U.S.D. oftentimes, they talk about the experiences and the opportunities they had because of those scholarships they received. And I think it's just important to continue to highlight that. Thank you. And thank you both for joining me today. This was really fun. I'm learning more and more about the Vermilion community as we have been there longer. So thank you both. Thank you. Thank you for having us. Yeah, of course. And thank you for tuning into Tips for Change. We'll see you next time. [MUSIC PLAYING]