FEDERAL MONEY RELEASED FOR POLYTECHNIC BUILDING

The federal government has released a $1 million appropriation to Southeast Missouri State University for the Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building, now under construction.

After a 7 percent withholding by the government, the university will receive $930,000, school officials said.

The money will be used to equip the new building with computer labs, computer networking and instructional equipment for various technology labs.

Computers will be connected to the campus computer network and to industrial sites and outlying education centers.

"This funding will allow us to install the latest in computer-based instructional equipment into our new facility," said Dr. Randy Shaw, dean of the School of Polytechnic Studies. "It will allow students and faculty access to computer-networked labs and classrooms."

Dr. Dale Nitzschke, university chancellor, credited U.S. Sen. Christopher "Kit" Bond and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson for their help in securing the federal money.

"This really is a watershed event for us," Nitzschke said.

University officials announced the $1 million in funding last fall after it was earmarked as a line item in the federal budget. The funding is part of a $390 billion budget approved by Congress and President Clinton last year.

Construction is well along on the Polytechnic Building. Most of the structural steel framework is up at the construction site adjacent to the science buildings. Concrete floors on all three levels of the building have been poured.

The former Greek Housing dining center will be part of the new $8.8 million building. The dining center was gutted over the summer. New sewer lines have been laid on the ground floor, new piping has been installed and some studs are up too.

The roof should be on the 60,000-square-foot building by November, said John O'Malley, facilities management project manager.

The building is expected to be completed by May 21 and open for classes next fall.