REGENTS MAY START PRESIDENT'S SEARCH NEXT WEEK

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents may meet next week to begin the search for a new president.

The university's current president, Dr. Kala Stroup, is scheduled to leave at the end of August to become state commissioner of higher education.

Stroup's hiring Thursday was no surprise to regents, who on Wednesday agreed to release her from her contract.

"It was expected because we felt all along that she was a leading candidate for the job," Regents' President Donald Harrison said.

He said the regents will hold a special meeting to decide on a search process.

The school's last presidential search lasted about a year. Harrison hopes to shorten the process.

Regents said the first step will be to name an interim president.

Harrison said the university already has a good management team.

"We feel all the bases are covered," he said. "We just need a team leader and a spokesman."

Regents Lynn Dempster and Don Dickerson agreed.

Dickerson expects the board to look internally for an interim president. Two of the school's top administrators are Executive Vice President Ken Dobbins and Provost Charles Kupchella.

"I am sure the board will look at both of them and possibly some others," Dickerson said.

The regents said the school will miss Stroup.

But Dickerson said Stroup would do "a bang-up job" as commissioner.

It will be good to have a state commissioner who understands the unique problems of the Southeast Missouri, he said, adding:

"Number one, we have the highest illiteracy rate in the state. We constantly are battling to try and improve our basic education."

The region also has few community colleges, which Dickerson said puts an extra burden on the university.

Dempster said, "I don't think she will show favoritism, but she will certainly show fairness."