A new statewide plan for higher education that calls for sharing of resources and expertise should work, said presidents at Southeast Missouri State University and two regional community colleges.
The presidents are confident because the three institutions already are doing many of the same programs outlined in the higher education blueprint.
Dr. Kala Stroup, Missouri's commissioner of higher education, spoke at a forum Tuesday at the Show Me Center. About 100 people attended. Also speaking were Dr. Dale Nitzschke, president of Southeast Missouri State University; Dr. Charles Kupchella, provost; Dixie Kohn, president of Mineral Area Community College in Park Hills; and Steve Poort, president of Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff.
Stroup has been holding forums around the state since September to explain the blueprint for higher education. The Cape Girardeau meeting was the 10th such forum. Another tentatively is scheduled for Oct. 29 at Rolla.
The blueprint ties together high schools, area vocational schools, community colleges, private colleges and state colleges and universities and businesses. Partnerships are encouraged.
For example, Stroup said, Missouri needs more technical education. Highly skilled, technical jobs are going unfilled because of a shortage of trained workers.
Delivery of technical education programs will involve vocational-technical schools at the high-school level, community colleges, private career schools and some four-year schools such as Southeast.
"It's one thing to talk cooperation; it's another thing to practice cooperation," said Poort.
Three Rivers is practicing partnerships. For example, four-year nursing degrees are taught at Three Rivers by faculty from both Three Rivers and Southeast. A similar program is available for criminal justice degrees.
At Sikeston, a new partnership is in the works with Three Rivers, Southeast and the vocational school, with local businesses playing a role.
Southeast is at work in Perryville, Jefferson County and community colleges in St. Louis.
Cooperation is slated to grow, said Kupchella. This summer a doctoral degree in education administration will be offered at Southeast through a partnership with the University of Missouri. Next fall a master's degree in social work will begin, also through a partnership with Missouri University.
State Sen. Peter Kinder questioned if the plan means the traditional role of Southeast as a four-year institution would be watered down to a glorified vo-tech school.Stroup said the idea is to preserve Southeast's four-year institutional mission while offering more educational opportunities in Southeast Missouri.
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