BACK TO SCHOOL: SOUTHEAST HOPES FOR ENROLLMENT GAIN THIS FALL SEMESTER

Even loaded down with her textbooks, Jenny Stakenas couldn't help but smile.

The 18-year-old Southeast Missouri State University freshman from St. Charles said the Cape Girardeau campus stacks up well in her book.

Price and curriculum were big factors in her decision to attend Southeast this fall, said Stakenas, a business major who received a scholarship to Southeast.

"It's been really nice," Stakenas said as she left textbook rental service in the University Center Friday afternoon.

Many students arrived on campus Thursday and Friday. Fall semester classes begin Monday.

Preliminary enrollment figures won't be known until Tuesday, but Southeast President Dr. Dale Nitzschke said enrollment could be up a percentage point.

Last fall, 8,234 students were enrolled at Southeast at the time the final census was taken a few weeks into the semester.

Southeast hopes to boost enrollment to 10,300 by 2006. The university had hoped to reach that goal in 2000.

But Nitzschke said the 2000 target date in the strategic plan adopted by the Board of Regents in 1996 was always a "stretch goal."

Southeast is counting on attracting a lot of first-time freshmen like Stakenas to reach its enrollment goal.

"For the first time in quite a while, our first-time, full-time freshmen number is up," Nitzschke said.

School officials also predict more minority students will be enrolled.

The university has worked to draw more students from the St. Louis area.

About 2,000 students live on campus. The rest commute or attend classes in outreach centers at Malden, Sikeston and Perryville.

The university has reopened parts of three floors of the Dearmont residence hall to students. At the same, three of the Greek housing buildings have been shut down for renovations.

Returning students will find some changes at Southeast.

The most noticeable will be in the administrative end.

Several top administrators have retired in recent months. Dr. SueAnn Strom resigned as vice president of student affairs in a restructuring move. She has taken a job with a college in Macon, Ga.

The duties in the student affairs area have been divided and placed under the supervision of Provost Dr. Charles Kupchella and Executive Vice President Dr. Ken Dobbins.

Dr. Sheila Caskey had served as dean of graduate studies and extending learning, but with her retirement, the duties have been divided. Dr. Pat Lipetzky is the dean of extended learning. Dr. Velmer Burton has been hired as assistant provost for graduate studies and research.

The new director of Kent Library is Dr. Sarah Mort Cron, who also is dean of academic information services.

Dr. Fred Janzow is the new dean of the School of University Studies.

Regardless of the changes, Nitzschke said the university's mission remains the same: "We are really here for one reason and one reason alone, and that's to service students."