South Dakota State University is changing a core value in its Pathway to Premier 2030 strategic plan.

The change from “Diversity” to “Opportunity for All” reflects an effort to have a “more direct, action-oriented” phrase, President Barry Dunn said in a campus wide email Tuesday morning.

“Many of us have invested time and effort to not only develop these core values but also live each of them daily,” Dunn said in the email. “But as we have seen, especially in recent years, there is a need for everyone to be nimble and adapt in ways that allow us to continue to gain strength.”

The change was first publicly announced in Dunn’s Monday Morning Message on Apr. 28.

SDSU’s Pathway to Premier 2030 strategic plan, released more than seven years ago, previously outlined five core values: People-Centered, Creativity, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

The email said the other four values will remain the same.

Dunn said he has had conversations with South Dakota Board of Regents staff and leaders across campus, some as recently as last week.

Last Tuesday, the SDSU Students’ Association met with Dunn and approved Resolution 25-1-R by a 16-0 vote, supporting the change to the core values.

Student body president Sophie Spier said she doesn’t think any university practices will change.

“It’s just a word change. I don’t foresee any issues arising from this. I will say, the Students’ Association did support this because we felt that it was necessary, so there was no opposition on our end.”

She also said that the change goes a long way in clarifying what is already practiced at SDSU.

“We still welcome so many people and it’s a great campus,” Spier said. “So just that ‘Opportunity For All’ is more of an action-based statement, and we just felt that, you know, that would do no harm to the practices of what is happening at SDSU.”

The strategic plan’s “Diversity” section previously stated: “We are committed to diversity of community and ideas. We believe in a supportive, inclusive, collaborative and cohesive environment with a focus on access and opportunity for all. We actively seek collaboration, and we respect individuals with differing perspectives, backgrounds and areas of expertise.”

The “Opportunity for All” section will state, according to the email: “We believe in a supportive, collaborative and cohesive environment with a focus on access and opportunity for all. We actively seek collaboration, and we respect individuals with differing ideas, experiences and areas of expertise.”

Dunn said the change aligns the university with the on-campus Wintrode Student Success and Opportunity Center and the Board of Regents’ opportunity statement.

The original version of this story was published at 11:03 a.m.