SEMO TAPS MINORITY RECRUITER

Southeast Missouri State University has hired a new recruiter of minority students as part of the university's efforts to attract more minorities to campus.

Gerald Hayes, director of pre-collegiate programs and minority recruitment, starts work Sept. 1. He currently directs the university's Project Upward Bound.

The new position was created as part of the university's effort to increase minority enrollment.

The goal is to increase the campus' minority population to 9.5 percent of the student body by 2000. Minority students make up 4 percent of the study body.

In addition to hiring a minority recruiter, Southeast's president, Dr. Dale Nitzschke, has established a 36-member president's commission on minority affairs.

The commission includes Olympic athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, who grew up in East St. Louis, Ill., and state Sen. J.B. "Jet" Banks of St. Louis, an influential member of the Missouri Black Caucus.

Nitzschke said the group serves as "sort of a brain trust" on how best to recruit minority students, faculty and staff.

Hayes will implement those ideas.

"This is a great opportunity for me to forge ahead," Hayes said. "My intention is to develop a relationship with our target populations and in St. Louis to enhance the university's minority population. You know, the Upward Bound program can be seen as a recruitment tool, so I feel very comfortable in this (recruiting) environment. I look forward to it."

Dr. SueAnn Strom, vice president for student affairs, said, "This is a natural transition from his past assignments. Through his current work, Gerald has established wonderful relationships and partnerships throughout the Southeast Missouri region, which will be extremely beneficial as he moves forward in his new role."

Hayes joined Southeast last August after a national search for a director of the Upward Bound program.

In addition to recruiting students, Hayes will also be responsible for coordinating and supervising the university's Pre-Collegiate Programs, which consist of Project Upward Bound, the Bootheel Educational Talent Search Program, the National Youth Sports Program, the university's Preparatory Academy and the Pre-Admissions Education Program.

These pre-collegiate programs bring high school-aged people to campus or help them develop skills needed for a successful college career.