REGENTS DISCUSS IMPROVEMENTS

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents Thursday gave the go-ahead to investigate funding of improvements to the Student Recreation Center and outdoor recreation fields.

The board reserved approval of the projects until more details on funding are available.

New regents -- Kim Mothershead of Benton and Loretta Walker of St. Louis -- were sworn in at the regents meeting. Both said they would like additional time to review the projects before making a decision.

Also at the meeting, regents put plans for a new university commons building on the back burner.

Expansion of the Student Recreation Center would cost an estimated $5 million. The expansion would include two NCAA-sized basketball courts and added space for weight rooms, aerobic dance and offices. A new entrance would be developed.

Another $3 million would be spent on upgrading the recreation fields at Sprigg and Bertling to include new tennis courts, off-street parking, lighting and restrooms. A road and walkways would be built to connect the Student Recreation Center to the outdoor fields.

The regents previously authorized site work for the field improvements. Dirt work is under way.

The $8 million project would be funded through tax-free bonds that would be paid off by an increase in student fees. Ken Dobbins, university executive vice president, said the maximum increase would be $1.50 per credit hour. Students already pay $3.75 per credit hour.

"I'd like to build everything we saw up on that board today -- if we had the money," said Don Dickerson, president of the board.

But he said the primary function of the regents is to protect the financial integrity of the university. "The only place that can be paid off is on the backs of students," Dickerson said.

Dickerson asked for specific information on bond rates, financial reserves and payback schedules before the board makes a decision.

School officials also had proposed converting Parker Hall into a student commons and moving academic offices and classrooms to the University Center. Making the switch would require legislative approval.

The University Center is an auxiliary building operated without state funds; Parker Hall is an academic building supported by state funds.

In addition, Dickerson questioned if moving the University Center closer to the center of campus would benefit the university.

"Unless the new commons building will help increase our enrollment, I'd say you'll have a hard time selling this board," Dickerson said.

Focus group discussions and a survey of students showed that students prefer a university commons closer to the center of campus. Parker Hall is at the center and the University Center at the southwest corner of campus.

Regents also approved moving ahead with conceptual design and site selection for a proposed polytechnic institute on campus. The preliminary step would cost about $25,000, Dobbins said.

While the university hasn't received state money for the project, school officials are confident the project will be funded.

Having preliminary plans would be helpful in gaining funding at the legislative level, Dobbins said. "We will be able to show them exactly what we have planned here at Southeast."

A similar strategy was used successfully with the university's new business building.