Southeast board narrows new residence hall options to two

Southeast Missouri State University is housing more than 2,600 of its students this year, a number that eclipses the previous record set during the 2003-2004 academic year. In response to rising enrollment, increasing requests for single rooms and the goal of developing communities of like-minded students, the university is closing in on a plan to build new student housing.

The university has narrowed the project to two options: a Greek Village to be built north of the Aquatic Center or a residence hall extending from the land occupied by radio station KRCU toward the west end of Houck Stadium. Both present challenges. "We don't have a lot of viable space available for building either kind of structure," conceded Dr. Dennis Holt, vice president of administration and enrollment management for the university.

The Board of Regents took a preliminary step Monday toward issuing $25 million in bonds to finance the project. They approved a resolution enabling the university to be reimbursed for "soft costs" that could preface issuing the bonds. An example of those costs is taking core samples to check for rock at the proposed Greek Village site. The resolution does not obligate the board to issue the bonds, but they must issue the bonds within 60 days to recoup the costs.

Increasing requests for single rooms represent a change in the student culture, Holt said. The university had more than 200 requests this year for the 77 single rooms available.

Current members of Greek organizations and Greek alumni were consulted over the summer to determine the best location for the Greek Village, referred to as Option A. They agreed that the undeveloped land near the Aquatic Center and the Shivelbine and Graystone properties would work best, Holt said.

Construction of the wood-frame and brick buildings would provide 350 new beds and enable the university to dedicate the current Greek housing complex to the development of learning communities for students with similar interests, such as the performing arts. "We want to promote for natural congregations of students who relate to each other and are therefore inclined to stay," Holt said.

Option B would construct a 200-bed residence hall that would include non-residential floors to be used as locker facilities and a training area for teams visiting Houck Field and a booster meeting area.

The board also approved sending the university's proposed 2008 operating budget of $106.4 million to the governor's office. After receiving proposals from all the state universities, the governor will submit a higher education budget to the legislature by Sept. 1.

University president Dr. Ken Dobbins briefly discussed plans for the public dedication and grand opening of the River Campus on Oct. 21. Events for the Alumni council and Copper Dome Society are planned Oct. 19, with the opening of the new alumni center and tours scheduled for Oct. 20. Muralist Gary Lucy will make presentations about his "Inland Waterways: The Highways of our Heritage" mural at the River Campus both Oct. 20 and 21.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

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