Two South Dakota universities could be adding doctoral programs in physics to their curriculums in part to support work being done at the Sanford Underground Research Facility at Lead.
The state Board of Regents on Wednesday is to vote on adding the programs at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City and the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.
The programs would begin next fall if they're approved.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard's proposed budget for the Board of Regents includes nearly $2 million for the new doctoral programs. Both universities would add four physics faculty members and six graduate assistants.