SHAWNEE COLLEGE WILL ADD TWO NEW EXTENSION CENTERS

ANNA, Ill. -- Shawnee Community College officials have outlined plans to open new extension centers in two communities at Anna and Cairo this fall.

"We're looking forward to these cooperative endeavors," said Dr. Jack Hill, president of Shawnee College, during visits to the two communities Monday. "These centers will open the doors to residents of the Anna and Cairo areas, as well as some counties in West Kentucky and Southeast Missouri."

Academic offerings at both sites will include math, business, social work, health, speech, English, history and other subjects.

"We want to make higher education possible for the hundreds of non-traditional students who are unable to travel long distances to college," said Hill, during his visit to Anna Monday afternoon. "Hopefully, these two new centers will make it convenient and economically feasible for residents to attend college."

Attending the session at the administration building at the Clyde Choate Center in Anna were Hill; several representatives of the Shawnee College, including four Board of Trustee members Bob Cross, the Rev. Scott Harner, Katie Poulos, and Wesley Wright; Mayor Ken Kohler of Anna and Mayor John Gardner of Jonesboro; Shawn Jeffers, superintendent of the Choate Mental Health Center; and Robert Brutcher, superintendent of Anna-Jonesboro schools.

The Oaks Building, located on the southeast corner of the Choate Center grounds, will be made available to the college for day classes as a separate extension center.

"But, the Oak Building won't be ready until the spring semester," said Hill. "Fall classes will be conducted in the administrative building at the Choate Center. Evening classes will continue to be held at Anna-Jonesboro High School."

Day and evening classes will be held throughout three locations at Cairo. The administrative office will be housed at the Senior Citizen Center, 305 23rd St.; day classes will be held at the Adult Education Center, 1615 Commercial; and evening classes will be held at Cairo High School.

Starting with the fall semester, residents of five Southeast Missouri counties Cape Girardeau, Mississippi, New Madrid, Scott and Stoddard and two Kentucky counties Ballard and McCracken may attend Shawnee Community College at special out-of-state tuition rates.

"The college's board of trustees recently approved a resolution which allows these out-of-state residents to attend Shawnee College at a rate of $46 per semester hour," said Hill. The normal out-of-state tuition rate is $120.95.

"With the new centers at Cairo and Anna, residents of the surrounding counties in Kentucky and Missouri will have shorter driving distances," said Hill.

The main Shawnee campus is located near Ullin, Ill. The school opened its first extension center in Metropolis in 1983.

"The Metropolis center has been a successful venture," said Hill. "It has proven beneficial not only to the college, but to the residents of Massac County and surrounding areas. Enrollment has grown each year."