Regents to consider proposal to raise student fees

Southeast Missouri State University closed its old swimming pool less than three years ago and turned it into new quarters for the campus printing office. Now student leaders and the administration of school president Ken Dobbins want to build a new one.

The board of regents today will consider a student government proposal to raise student general fees by $2 a credit hour each of the next five fiscal years.

The money would go to construct an aquatic center in an expansion of the Student Recreation Center, fund more evening and weekend activities for students and provide added funding for athletics.

By the fifth year, the increase would amount to an additional $10 a credit hour and generate an estimated $1.95 million in added revenue, said Dr. Ivy Locke, vice president of business and finance at Southeast.

The meeting begins at 10 a.m. in the University Center Ballroom. The newest regent, Reginald Dickson of St. Louis, will be sworn in by Circuit Judge William Syler.

Gov. Matt Blunt recently appointed Dickson, who will serve until Jan. 1, 2011. Dickson, chairman and majority owner of an investment research and portfolio management firm, replaces Sandra Moore of St. Louis whose term expired Jan. 1.

Student government president Dane Huxel and other student leaders proposed the fee increases that would have students paying $20.70 a credit hour in general fees by fall 2009, up from $10.70 a credit hour this semester.

In the coming fall semester, general fees would climb to $12.70 a credit hour.

The student legislature in March voted 23 to 3 in support of the fee proposal.

"Student government is always trying to do what it can to improve campus life for students," Huxel said.

Southeast students, he said, want an indoor pool where they can compete in club sports like water polo and also just have fun.

"We could have pool bashes that student organizations could host," Huxel said. "It would be just another place for students to hang out."

But Cory Hutcheson, a 21-year-old commuter student from East Prairie, said the majority of commuter students likely wouldn't use the pool.

A student senator, Hutcheson voted against the fee proposal.

He questioned why students should pay for construction of a pool most won't use and shell out more money to fund athletics when they currently don't go to the games.

Hutcheson, who ran unsuccessfully for student government president this spring, said student government discussed the fee proposal with few students. "Very few members of the student body knew about the fee increase," he said.

Estimated $7.8 million

An aquatic center could cost an estimated $7.8 million, school officials said.

Dobbins said the center could involve both a lap pool and a leisure pool. The aquatic center would be an indoor facility that would involve constructing an addition on the north side of the Student Recreation Center, he said.

The regents Tuesday will consider authorizing the university to hire an architectural and engineering firm to design the aquatic center and come up with final cost figures.

Under that timeline, construction could start in spring 2006.

Dobbins said he's uncertain how long it will take to complete the project.

An indoor pool would help Southeast recruit students, school officials said.

"Every university we compete with for students has a pool," Dobbins said.

As for funding of athletics, Dobbins and student leaders said Southeast needs more funding to recruit athletes, pay travel costs and make the sports teams more competitive.

Huxel said more competitive teams would draw more students to games.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123