First Friday Coffee highlights University progress

With freshmen enrollment steadily increasing and a new residence hall on the horizon, President Ken Dobbins believes the sky is the limit for Southeast Missouri State University.

And Dobbins believes much of that success is due in part to Southeast Missouri's relationship with the community.

"In my 28 years of involvement in higher education, I've never been at a university with such an outstanding relationship with a town and community," Dobbins told business leaders at the monthly First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau. "What you do for Southeast Missouri State University makes us successful."

The university's freshmen enrollment was 1,362 in 1998. Today that number stands at 1,828.

Dobbins said that has a direct effect on a boost in overall enrollment, which has increased from 8,494 in 1998 to 10,814 in 2008. He expects that number to level off at 11,400 by 2014.

"People are realizing that we're a university of first choice," Dobbins said. "We have high academic programs and moderate costs.

"While we have those who are wanting to stay here in Cape Girardeau for college, we also have about 50 percent of our student body from the St. Louis area," he continued. "To me, that says that students from St. Louis are looking for a residential campus environment that's not far from home."

The increase in enrollment also has led to the construction of a $23.2 million residence hall, with a fall 2009 target date of completion. Once complete, it would be the tenth residence hall on campus. About 2,750 students live in the residence halls.

Dobbins said he hopes to one day build a residence hall and hotel at the River Campus location.

"We're exploring it but have made no designs," he said.

Later in his presentation Dobbins reminded business leaders of the university's efforts to enhance its students' innovation skills through the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. In June the center launched the Missouri Rural Entrepreneurial Through Action Learning program aimed at promoting entrepreneurial education among the state's grade-school students and teachers by studying innovative and enterprising business concepts. And from Nov. 17 through 21, Southeast will join millions of students from more than 75 countries for Global Entrepreneurship Week, which will feature panels, presentations and competitions aimed at representing the diversity of real-world entrepreneurs.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628