SEMO TEACHERS, STAFF VOICE EXPECTATIONS

Southeast Missouri State University needs to get bigger and better.

That is the view of some of the approximately 30 faculty and staff members who attended an open forum Tuesday afternoon with two consultants who are aiding the school in its search for a new president. The forum was held at Academic Auditorium.

Nicholas Tibbs, chairman of the geosciences department, said he wants to see the university grow to about 10,000 students over the next five years without lowering academic standards. He said the school needs more graduate students and programs. "I think we are way too small in our graduate community."

Mike Dougherty, personnel services director, wants to see customer services to students improved. He suggested the university extend its services to the region and offer more programs and classes at off-campus sites.

Loren Rullman, University Center director, said the school needs to raise more money from the private sector, particularly in the area of endowments. He also suggested the university develop a clear mission that focuses on what the school does well.

Student Jeremy Hinton wants the school to hold down student fees while continuing to increase the academic quality of the institution.

Student Nathan Cooper didn't speak at the forum. But he spoke to consultant Allan Ostar at a meeting with several student leaders earlier in the day.

Cooper said after the forum that Southeast's next president should be more of an administrator than an educator, perhaps even someone who already works for the school.

The forum was one of several meetings that Ostar and fellow consultant William O'Connell Jr. have had with community leaders, students, faculty and university administrators this week.

The consultants will wind up their meetings today after having met individually or in group sessions with about 60 people. The sessions included a Tuesday morning conference call with former Southeast president Dr. Kala Stroup. Stroup left the university at the end of August to become Missouri commissioner of higher education.

The consultants will report back to the search committee on Nov. 9.

Ostar said the input from the various meetings will help identify goals and priorities for the institution, which will be used by the search committee to develop a set of characteristics wanted in a new university president.

Ostar said community and business leaders want a strong partnership with Southeast.

"There really is a strong base of support for this university in the region," Ostar said.