Background
The Center for Power Systems Studies (CPSS) was formally established by the South Dakota Board
of Regents on July 1, 1968. The resolution cited the following reasons for establishing a Center:
- To promote qualified professional faculty to teach and/or conduct research in the field of power system engineering.
- To address the shortage of young engineers entering the field.
- To address the shortage of financial support available to encourage aspirants to careers in this area; and
- To address the existing interest among utilities and manufacturers to provide more opportunities for young engineers in this area.
The Center was formed as an entity within the Electrical Engineering Department and the College
of Engineering of South Dakota State University.
Six charter industry members joined the voluntary association and began annual financial support
of the Center. The current number of members companies is ten with an additional 17 associate
members. These industry partners contribute to an annual budget in excess of $38,000.
The success of the CPSS can be measured in part by the number of graduate electrical engineers.
Since 1968 over 300 SDSU electrical engineering graduates have entered power/utility related
careers. Another measure of the success is the level of scholarship dollars awarded to students
annually. In 2006 the CPSS and its member companies awarded scholarships totaling $10,000 to
SDSU students.
While the traditional membership of the CPSS has centered on the electrical power industry,
changes in the industry point to additional electrical related organizations entering South
Dakota. These could be additional electrical service providers or manufacturers that may benefit
from an association with the CPSS. It is our expectation that as those organizations begin to
benefit from students trained at SDSU, and technology transferred from the University, that they
would become dues paying members of the CPSS.