Drury University looking for feedback on possible expansion in Cape Girardeau area

As discussions continue over whether to establish a community college in the Cape Girardeau area, a Springfield, Mo.-based private university has been quietly reviewing whether to bring its adult education programs to the area.

At the Jackson Chamber of Commerce offices Tuesday, Barbara Weathers, director of outreach in Drury University's College of Graduate and Continuing Studies, met with community and business leaders to gauge the needs and whether her school can fulfill them.

Any programs offered by Drury University would likely not begin until the fall of 2010, Weathers said. And the classes would have to complement, not compete with, offerings from institutions like Southeast Missouri State University or the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center.

"One reason I am here is to get feedback, to see if there is a need or a gap," Weathers said.

Jackson Chamber of Commerce executive director Brian Gerau said he began discussions with Drury several months ago after the school initiated contact. He's helped provide information and the meeting at the chamber offices was the next step in the research, he said.

With the community college discussion, Gerau said, the area seems ready for additional higher education options and Drury's interest shows that there are options in addition to the community college idea.

"It is good we are in a wanted area," Gerau said. "We want to have different options for students who won't go to a four-year college."

Drury University was founded in 1873 by the Disciples of Christ. It offers a liberal arts education, with its main campus in downtown Springfield. Drury also offers courses at 10 additional locations. In some places, like Cabool, Mo., it operates a stand-alone campus. In other cities, such as Rolla, Mo., or Monett, Mo., the courses are offered in space leased from the local vocational school. In Thayer, Mo., Ava, Mo., and Licking, Mo., the courses are offered in space leased from the local high school, Weathers said.

Drury University builds relationships with both area community colleges and vocational schools to take students with associate degrees or training certification and allow them to build on that education and obtain more advanced degrees, Weathers said.

To meet Drury University's objectives for starting a new program, Weathers said, the school would have to find an interest in its degree programs, especially among people who are older than the traditional college student. Many people find it hard to return to school full time while working, she said.

Southeast Missouri's economy has a number of large manufacturing companies, Gerau noted. While many advanced jobs in those factories do not require a four-year degree, additional education beyond high school is required.

"We want to prepare our work force as well as we can," Gerau said.

While it is too early to discuss firmly where classes might be located, Weathers said she has toured Jackson High School and believes it would be suitable for Drury's needs. The college would consider building its own facility once it was convinced the demand for its courses would support the move.

"We want to assess the need before we make a large economic investment," she said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

125 E. Main St., Jackson, MO

900 N. Benton Ave, Springfield, MO