Southeast Missouri State University regents approve partnership with Three Rivers Community College

In a move the Missouri commissioner of higher education compared to a remarriage, the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents approved a partnership with Three Rivers Community College on Thursday.

Pending further approval from Three Rivers, a local coalition of business and education leaders and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, the institutions will offer joint community college services in Cape Girardeau County starting fall 2010.

"Sometimes in a divorce you do get remarried," said Dr. Robert Stein, commissioner of higher education.

After starting the meeting with a closed session that lasted about an hour, Stein and coordinating board member Kathy Swan spoke to the board about the agreement. Stein and Swan answered regents' questions regarding the authority of the coordinating board, how the arrangement would be enforced and ramifications for not abiding by it.

"Are you going to be the policeman in this arrangement?" board president Brad Bedell said to Stein.

Stein said both institutions should put an agreement in place that could be canceled. Any disputes that arise would be brought before the Coordinating Board of Higher Education.

He also said Southeast and Three Rivers should make an agreement to prevent other competition from coming into the area.

"I know some institutions from out of state who would love to come to Missouri," Stein said.

In May, both institutions signed an agreement to establish a joint bachelor's degree program in social work. They had similar joint initiatives in place, but it was the first new program since Three Rivers sued Southeast in 2005. The college sued for breach of contract when Southeast eliminated Three Rivers' courses from its centers in Sikeston, Mo., Kennett, Mo., and Malden, Mo. The lawsuit was eventually dropped.

'We think it will work'

Thursday's agreement marks an advancement in negotiations between Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins and Three Rivers president Dr. Devin Stephenson, who took over the university's top position in July.

"We worked hard to get to a place where we think it will work," Dobbins said during the meeting. He said the arrangement would expand access to A+, a state program that helps pay for a community college education to qualifying students. Southeast, a moderately selective university, already has open-enrollment policies to serve students in the region, he said.

"Both SEMO and Three Rivers are more concerned with what the [prenuptial agreement] looks like than the marriage," said state Sen. Jason Crowell, who was at the meeting. He said the board seemed reluctant to enter the agreement. The institutions are focusing more on protecting their territory than serving students, he said.

"Not once was there discussion on what's best for the students," he said.

According to the plan, both colleges would offer courses at the Career and Technology Center for three years. Costs, revenue and course offerings would be equally split. During the three-year trial period, they will not grant associate degrees. Mineral Area College will continue to provide associate in applied science degrees.

Dobbins said it would cost between $200,000 and $250,000 per year for both institutions to operate at the center. He said he is looking to lease four classrooms and an office to serve 450 to 500 students during the trial period. Tuition would follow Three Rivers' rates. Students would not have access to services funded by Southeast's general fees.

During the meeting, board members also raised questions about how to measure the success of the project and which programs would be offered. The plan calls for an advisory committee, which would include representatives from business, schools and the participating institutions.

Three Rivers' board of trustees also met Thursday to discuss the agreement.

The arrangement will be considered by a coalition of local business and education leaders Tuesday and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education in December.

abusch@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO