Benefits
The Center for Power Systems Studies (CPSS) continues to be a quality source of summer
internships and jobs for SDSU students and graduating engineers. The close working relationship
each member company has been able to establish with the Coordinator has led to this industry
connection and has fostered the placement of students to the benefit of the students, industry
and the State of South Dakota.
Research
Each year the CPSS sponsors a student team to address a real-world problem or issue of importance
to the power industry. The Electrical Engineering student team, under the supervision of the CPSS
Coordinator or EE Department faculty member, works closely with CPSS member companies to address
the technical issue. Problem/topics addressed in recent years include Stray Voltage and EMF, and
Power Quality—very important concerns for not only the power industry, but also for South
Dakota’s farming operations and industries. The student projects culminate in a final presentation
to the CPSS member companies at the annual CPSS meeting, and a formal research project report that
is used by the member companies. Several member companies can attest to the benefit that CPSS
research reports have been in helping them solve customer concerns on special technical issues.
The independent perspective that the University brings to the issue lends a level of credibility
that benefits industry and the customer with the concern.
Faculty Development
Qualified and motivated faculty are a cornerstone to the success of the program. This fact has
been a benefit to the CPSS program and must be recognized as an important factor for continuing
the success of the program. Faculty experience and ability are of utmost importance to attracting
top quality students to the power program and appropriate motivation must be maintained to
attract and retain high quality faculty. The CPSS offers a unique opportunity for faculty
members to interact with industry in South Dakota and our region. This close interaction
benefits the faculty by keeping them involved with the current technical issues of importance
to our state and region, and facilitates their bringing these real-world issues into the
engineering classrooms at SDSU. In addition, the CPSS is now in the process facilitating a
Summer Faculty Internship program which will place EE Department faculty on the job at CPSS
member power companies during a portion of the summer. Providing this real world industrial
experience exposes faculty members to the important technical issues and challenges facing our
power and utility industry and will greatly benefit the faculty members, power company, and
ultimately the students.
Industry Funding
The CPSS operating expenses and student scholarships have been funded exclusively with industry
funding in the form of annual membership fees. By paying their own freight, Industry has
contributed to the public/private partnership that has been the mortar holding the CPSS bricks
together. The annual membership funding also provides the member companies with a sense of
ownership and direction in the Center and clearly portrays their continued commitment to CPSS.
Industry Placement
Ultimately the State of South Dakota desires to create rewarding employment for its citizens.
This program has been a shining example of a partnership that has helped train engineers for
South Dakota, provide scholarships for the sons and daughters of South Dakota taxpayers and,
through technology transfer, has created economic development activities that have created the
rewarding jobs we all so desire for South Dakota.