COMMUNITY COLLEGE EXTENDS TO EAST CAPE

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill Shawnee Community College, located near Ullin, is experiencing growth in its off-campus academic centers and will be opening new centers at East Cape Girardeau and in Johnson County near Vienna this fall.

"We're trying to reach out in the area," said Marti Roberts, public relations coordinator at the college.

Extension centers opened at Cairo and Anna two years ago, and will open near Vienna Monday.

Classes will start at the East Cape center Tuesday at 6 p.m.

"Two courses will be available Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday," said Roberts. "The East Cape center won't be a full-fledge center this year, but we'll be offering a number of classes this fall which can be transferable to Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University."

Tuesday and Thursday courses will be held 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the East Cape Community Building. Tuesday classes will be business law and English composition. Thursday classes will be U.S. history and introduction to psychology.

Saturday courses will start at 8:30 a.m. Accounting will be offered from 8:30 to noon, and college algebra will be held from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

A few classes were offered at the East Cape Center last year.

"This is ideal for Missouri students," said Roberts. "If we get the response and interest we hope to offer more and more courses."

Roberts said Shawnee enrollment, which jumped 25 percent last year, includes a growing number of Missouri and Kentucky students.

"We have a good population of residents from these two states," said Roberts. "Shawnee is closer to Missouri than any other community college. We see a lot of potential for increases in Missouri enrollments."

A special out-of-state rate will be offered for the East Cape center $46 per semester hour.

Students interested can receive more information by calling the college at 618-634-2242, or by contacting Don Shaner in Cape Girardeau at 334-5263.