Regents Reduce Credit Hours

    VERMILLION, S.D. (AP) - Students at South Dakota's six public
universities are going to be able to graduate a little quicker
starting next summer.
     The Board of Regents voted Wednesday to adopt a new policy that
reduces the number of credit hours students need in order to
graduate with an associate's or bachelor's degree.
     Under the new policy, students working toward a bachelor's
degree will need to earn 120 credit hours, down from the previous
128 hours. Associate degree programs will require 60 credit hours,
down from the previous 64.
     Regents' executive director Jack Warner said that while the
change could help some students graduate earlier and with less
debt, the academic programs will remain rigorous.
     He said 120 credit hours is the common minimum standard across
the country for a bachelor's degree.