DOBBINS GOES TO CLASS, DINES WITH STUDENTS

Ken Dobbins hasn't cut any classes since becoming Southeast Missouri State University's 17th president this summer.

Of course, he's only been to three classes. But Dobbins plans to attend more classes at the invitation of faculty.

He attended his first class -- an economics class -- in July.

"I sat in the back row and then I spoke to the students at the end," said Dobbins.

He also sat in on a criminal justice class and an introduction-to-dance class.

"Thank goodness, they didn't ask me to dance," he said.

Dobbins said he tries to visit one classroom a month.

"It really gives me an opportunity to see what is going on in the classrooms," he said.

Some faculty privately have questioned Dobbins' academic credentials. He came from the business side of the school. He directed university finances before being named to the top post.

But Dobbins repeatedly has stressed academics since taking office.

Dobbins said his classroom visits are designed to send a message.

"What this does, it focuses on what we are here for and that is to teach students," said Dobbins.

Thanks to his son, Paul, a student at Southeast, the university president has his own Web site.

The office of the president's site is one of two Web sites for the university this year.

The other is the Rumor Mill, a page developed by Paul Dobbins. Students can post questions via electronic mail and receive an official answer from the university. The questions and answers are posted on the Web site.

At a recent Media Day gathering of reporters, the university president joked about the Rumor Mill.

"I really never thought we would say we wanted an on-line Speak Out," he said, referring to the Southeast Missourian's telephone comment line.

Interviewed later, Dobbins said the Rumor Mill offers a good way to answer students' questions and concerns.

Dobbins said he always looks at the questions. The university relations office answers the questions and posts the items on the Web site.

The president's Web site includes a welcome statement from Ken Dobbins as well as a detailed biography, a history of Southeast's presidents, news, an interactive office and a guest book.

In the interactive office, students can fill out an on-line form to have lunch with the president at Wildwood, the former home of the school's presidents.

Although Dobbins doesn't live in the home, he uses it to entertain guests in his role as school president.

Dobbins has dined once with students and plans to be host to three other luncheons with students this semester.

Similarly, faculty and staff can fill out on-line forms to have breakfast with the president at Wildwood.

Dobbins wants to be accessible to faculty, staff and students.

Dobbins said he isn't looking for a crowd. He doesn't want to dine with more than a dozen or 14 students at one time.

The idea is to provide an informal setting where students are free to voice their concerns and talk with the president.

Sophomores Patrick Dunham and Chris Foeste, both of Cape Girardeau, were among five students who dined with Dobbins earlier this semester.

Both are friends of Dobbins' son.

They welcomed the opportunity to talk with the university president.

"As a student, you always see these people, but you never get to sit down and talk with them one on one," said Dunham.

"It was real informal. We talked about different concerns we had," Dunham said.

"We talked about university food and prices," he said. "Some of the prices were too high."

Dunham, who lives off campus, said commuter students who grab a bite on campus shouldn't have to pay "$6 or $7 for a hamburger."

Student parking also was discussed.

But Dunham said lack of parking is always an issue. "It's something you learn to live with."

Foeste said the luncheons offer students a chance to voice their views to the president.

Foeste, who lives off campus, said he had often walked past Wildwood on his way from the commuter parking lot to his classes. But Foeste had never been inside Wildwood until a few weeks ago.

"It was very nice," he said. The students and Dobbins ate at the dining room table.

"It was a real fancy lunch, better than what I am used to, just coming home and grabbing a sandwich," said Foeste.

After lunch, the students received a quick tour of the home.

Foeste said Dobbins didn't dictate the agenda. "He was quite open, that was what struck me the most."