SEMO REGENTS TO MEET TODAY

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents will consider plans for the Sikeston Area Higher Education Center when it meets today.

The regents will meet at 11 a.m. in the council chambers at Sikeston City Hall.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new center will follow at 2 p.m. in the Sikeston Industrial Park. Gov. Mel Carnahan will attend the ceremony.

Site work will begin this fall with construction expected to start next spring, university officials said. The nearly 33,000-square-foot building is slated for completion by January 2000.

The Sikeston Area Higher Education Center will offer college courses and technical training.

The new facility will house classrooms, technology labs and an interactive television area. It will be situated on 25 acres of land donated by the city of Sikeston.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast's executive vice president, said the design of the building has been changed slightly.

The project is budgeted at $4.8 million. About $3 million of it will come from a city sales tax and another $1.5 million will come from state funds. Private donations will pay for the remainder of the cost.

In other action, the board will consider approving a publication titled "Results II," which details the progress made to date towards the goals of the university's strategic plan.

Following the groundbreaking, the governor and university officials will participate in a 3:30 p.m. dedication ceremony on the Cape Girardeau campus for A.S.J. Carnahan Hall.

The social science building is being named for the governor's father, who was a former congressman and Southeast graduate.