DOBBINS FINALIST FOR UM SYSTEM JOB

Southeast Missouri State University's executive vice president, Dr. Ken Dobbins, is a finalist for a top administrative job with the University of Missouri System.

Dobbins heads up Southeast's finance and administration division. He is one of three finalists for a similar job as vice president for finance and administration for the University of Missouri System.

The new vice president will replace Jim McGill, who resigned in January to take a job as senior vice president at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

Dobbins is scheduled to visit with UM System officials today and Wednesday.

All three finalists will be interviewed by UM System President Manuel T. Pacheco.

The final decision rests with Pacheco in consultation with the Board of Curators.

The University of Missouri System involves four campuses, at Columbia, Kansas City, St. Louis and Rolla.

The job of vice president is a large one for the University of Missouri, said M.M. Manring, a spokesman for the university.

"We spend about $1.3 billion every year," he said.

"There is a lot of financial activity associated with the University of Missouri," said Manring.

Total enrollment stands at 54,000. The university also has an Extension Service, with offices throughout the state.

Manring said no salary has been announced. But the new vice president should receive a salary well over $100,000, he said.

Dobbins was hired as vice president for finance and administration at Southeast in 1991. He was promoted to executive vice president five years ago.

Dobbins was employed at Kent State University in Ohio from 1981 to 1991. The last three years there, he was director of university auditing. He served as a civilian administrator in the Air Force Audit Agency from 1972 to 1981.