Mineral Area approved to offer courses at College Center

State officials Wednesday agreed to temporarily allow a community college to offer various academic programs at Cape College Center, ending for now what had become a contentious disagreement with the local university.

Members of the state Coordinating Board of Higher Education provisionally approved Mineral Area College's proposal to offer several dozen associate programs at the center for a five-year period. The programs involve lower-level academic courses an incoming university student would likely take in their first and second years of pursing a four-year degree.

Southeast Missouri State University opposed MAC's plan, contending it had jurisdiction over collegiate academic offerings in Cape Girardeau. At the heart of the debate were the facts that widely enrolled lower-level academic courses are more profitable for institutions of higher learning and students already enrolled in an institution of higher learning are more likely to continue their education there, rather than transferring.

Earlier this year, MAC acquired geographical jurisdiction for Cape Girardeau County from Three Rivers College, which had been authorized to offer academic courses at the college center. That move led to the oversight showdown. CBHE members directed MAC and SEMO officials to try to negotiate a settlement of the issue, and the deadline for that agreement passed at the end of May.

Wednesday's action was the first announced since that mediation directive.

Joe Gilgour, MAC president, said Wednesday's decision is a win for students and, ultimately, SEMO. He characterized MAC's lower-level academic course offerings at the college center as serving as a "feeder" for the university.

"This is so good for the community," he said in an email. "We will be able to help students finish technical degrees and transfer to the university. It will open doors for students who may not quite be ready for the university but want to go there."

SEMO officials were unavailable for comment Wednesday evening.

The issue came to a head when the Cape Girardeau School District terminated the contract of all parties involved with the college center, prompting a reckoning on whom would provide lower-level academic courses at the center.

Wednesday evening, Kristin Tallent, communications director for the school district, hailed the move as one that will well serve various constituencies.

"We are thrilled the CBHE listened to the needs of our Cape community and voted in a matter that supports students, families and our local businesses," she said by email. "Because of this decision, the door to post-secondary education and technical training is now open for more individuals, meaning we will be able to strengthen the applicant pool for employers in the region."

MAC has long provided technical training programs at the college center, but until it bought out Three Rivers's interests, it could not offer more profitable academic programs in Cape Girardeau County.

Gilgour said MAC's academic programs will add to the availability of higher education in the area.

"The community finally has a community college," he said. "We are excited to work with the community and the university to provide another access point to higher education and technical training."