From the newsletter:

Earlier this week, a group of business and education leaders unanimously approved an agreement to bring a community college option to Cape Girardeau County. The plan is pending approval from the Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

Southeast Missouri State University and Three Rivers Community College officials said classes will start in fall 2010. While classes will be initially offered at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center, Three Rivers president Dr. Devin Stephenson said he thinks demand will quickly outgrow the facilities.

This is what it means for students:

More A+ access: The state program pays for two years of community college for qualifying students at participating high schools. Cape Girardeau Central High School has offered the program for years, but it was underutilized. Seniors at Jackson High School are the first class to have access to the program. At the new community college site, Southeast and Three Rivers will offer more general education classes and eventually associate of art degrees, which are designed to transfer to four-year universities. Mineral Area College already offers a more technical option, an associate of applied science.

Lower tuition: Tuition will be paid according to Three Rivers' fee structure. This means area students will pay out-of-district rates, $120.50 per credit hour. However, students will not have access to dorms or facilities on Southeast's campus. This also comes at a time when Gov. Jay Nixon has agreed to freeze tuition at four-year universities. Tuition at Southeast will remain $208.50 per credit hour for the second year in a row, if the state legislature approves his plan. Both tuition figures include general fees.

Transition: Southeast will take care of billing and financial aid. Students will receive credit through Southeast and Three Rivers and will be jointly admitted to both institutions. Three Rivers' open admissions policy will be followed.

See Tuesday's article for more details on the arrangement, including the financial impact on Southeast.