SEMO cuts back on operation of higher education centers

Southeast Missouri State University will cut back operations at its higher education centers in Sikeston, Malden and Kennett, Mo., starting Aug. 1, leaving students without access to computer labs, advising, class registration and other office services on Fridays.

School officials say the move, which could lower utility bills, coupled with the termination of a career counselor at the Malden center and cutbacks in part-time help at the other two centers, could save at least $60,000 over the 2002-2003 academic year. The cost-cutting effort includes eliminating most day classes on Friday in the spring semester.

Full-time staff at the centers will work longer days to get their 40 hours in over four days rather than the five-day schedule now followed.

University officials say the cutbacks are necessary because of state budget cuts that have the school scrambling to slash expenses on the main campus in Cape Girardeau as well as the outlying centers.

"I don't think that this will inconvenience any students," said Dr. Dennis Holt, Southeast's vice provost who supervises the higher education centers.

He said there are few Friday classes at the center.

Computers the concern

But students at the Sikeston center say computers, not classes, are the big concern. They use the campus computers to do everything from homework to seeking out financial aid.

"If the computer labs closed, that would be bad," said nursing student Amber Taylor of Charleston, Mo., as she and two other fellow nursing students took a break from classwork outside the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center on Monday. "A lot of our work is done on the computer," she said.

Dennis Banks Jr. of Sikeston spent six years in the Army. Today, he works full-time for Manpower, a company that provides temporary workers to businesses. He is married, has three children and his wife is pregnant with their fourth.

Banks, who was discharged from the Army in 1999, said he had planned to spend a lot of time in the Sikeston center's computer labs on Fridays this fall as he pursues a teaching degree.

The budget cut will eliminate that possibility. "If they close the resource center, then I would have to use the public library," he said.

Students said they fear they won't have access to copy machines at the Sikeston center if the offices are closed.

University officials have touted the education centers as a way to provide college access to Bootheel residents who otherwise couldn't attend school.

Doyle Privett, a Southeast regent from Kennett, said he and other regents hate to scale back operations at the centers. But Privett said state funding cuts leave the university with no other options.

"My concern is that we keep the centers operating," he said.

Open several years

The Sikeston center has been in operation for four years, including the last two in a new building.

Both the new Sikeston center and the Kennett center opened in 2000. The Bootheel Education Center at Malden has operated since 1988.

Last spring, the three centers had a combined enrollment of 1,662 students. The figure included students enrolled in Southeast classes as well as those taking classes offered by Three Rivers Community College. The highest enrollment was at the Sikeston center which had 787 students.

Southeast officials said enrollment has grown at the centers. The Sikeston center has seen enrollment more than double over the past four years.

Judy Buck, director of the Sikeston center, said the computer labs and offices will continue to be open throughout the day and until 9 at night, Monday through Thursday.

Many of the students attend night classes. "A lot of those people work and they need those services here in the evening," Buck said.

Buck said eliminating office and computer services on Friday shouldn't pose a problem. "It is a slower day for our center. I don't think it is going to impact students," she said.

Holt said the centers will continue to offer special classes as well as customized training for businesses on weekends.

Holt said he isn't sure how much money the university will save from its cost-cutting moves, particularly in terms of utility costs. Closing offices and turning off lights should lower the university's electric bills, he said. Holt said utility savings may be small.

Southeast currently spends about $1.2 million a year to operate the three centers, which includes personnel costs, as well as utility and other expenses. In that context, saving $60,000 may not seem like much.

But Holt said the university is pinching pennies everywhere it can. "We are looking for every dollar we can get and looking for every efficiency we can find," he said.

mbliss@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123