EX-SEMO BOSS WIDENS SCOPE OF PROFESSION

JEFFERSON CITY -- As a university president, Dr. Kala Stroup focused on the needs of her campus. As Missouri's commissioner of higher education, her scope has become considerably wider.

"It is fun," Stroup said. "Being a university president is also very rewarding, but in this position I am able to bring together all the experiences I have had in 40 years in higher education, which enables me to see the big picture of what higher education in Missouri can be."

Stroup served as president of Southeast Missouri State University from 1990 to 1995. In September 1995, the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education appointed Stroup head of the Department of Higher Education.

The department oversees 13 public four-year colleges and universities, 17 two-year community colleges, one public technical college, 26 independent colleges and universities and 120 trade schools.

Looking at the overall higher education needs of the state and individual regions and how those needs tie in with other areas, such as economic development, is key to determining and pursuing Missouri's higher education goals, Stroup said.

"Those things go hand in hand," Stroup said.

One of the first tasks she pursued as commissioner of higher education was to help develop the Blueprint for Missouri Higher Education, which focuses on five initiatives: building a technical education system, building technical infrastructure, developing off-campus programs for adult continuing education, outreach to students in need of financial assistance and mission enhancement.

That last initiative refers to reviews every five years of the efforts and goals of individual institutions. The purpose is to periodically refine and specialize what each institution is expected to achieve, focus efforts on what each does best and eliminate what they don't do well. This enhances the distinctiveness of the state's institutions for higher education, Stroup said.

For example, Southeast's missions include emphasizing learning through experience, provide learning opportunities throughout its region, improving access for non-traditional and transfer students and promoting excellence in advanced manufacturing through its poly-technical school.

Truman State University in Kirksville, however, has different goals, focusing on becoming a nationally recognized liberal arts school, increasing the number of students who advance to graduate school and implementing a visiting distinguished scholars program.

"What we are trying to do is build a high quality system in Missouri," Stroup said. "Not every institution has every program, but you can get every program somewhere in Missouri."

Financial accessibility for students seeking advanced education is also an important issue for Stroup.

"We must ensure Missourians have access to an affordable education," Stroup said.

During her tenure, the department has worked to increase awareness of what financial assistance is available, she said, and has set up a hotline so students and parents can better access information on financial issues relating to education.

The department is also assisting in the preparation of a report on education affordability. The report is expected to be released in December.

In her role as commissioner, Stroup, who still visits the Southeast campus frequently, works most closely with the administrators and board member of the state's various educational institutions, rather than with students.

In order to retain that connection to the people higher education exists to serve, the department started an intern program to keep from losing sight of that perspective.

"I don't see as many students as I did (as university president)," Stroup said. "Sometimes you need to have students around to remember what this is all about."