• PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A report presented to the South Dakota Board of Regents says the Governor's Research Centers are meeting their goals of spurring competitive research and converting ideas into commercial endeavors.
• The South Dakota Legislature first funded the research centers in 2004 at the request of then-Gov. Mike Rounds.
• Regents Vice President of Research and Economic Development Paul Turman says South Dakota has traditionally lagged behind other states in competitive research. He says funding of the Governor's Research Centers has helped generate research that can provide economic benefits to the state.
• The report says 11 different research centers have been established over the years, but most have graduated to other sources of financing. The state currently funds five Governor's Research Centers. One works to produce high-purity germanium crystals for underground physics experiments.
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• MITCHELL, S.D. (AP) -- Dakota Wesleyan University has promoted Jesse Weins to dean of the College of Leadership and Public Service.
• The school says Weins, an assistant professor of criminal justice, replaces Donald Simmons, who announced his resignation earlier this academic year.
• Simmons also is resigning as director of the university's McGovern Center, but that position will be hired separately.
• The announcement was made this week by Dakota Wesleyan University Provost and Executive Vice President Amy Novak.
• She says Weins presents himself with quiet modesty, but his administrative thoughtfulness, commitment to academic rigor and his scholarly ambition have established him at the university.
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• ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) -- A South Dakota Board of Regents committee has endorsed a plan to create a training academy that could result in bringing 1,000 new tech jobs to South Dakota.

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