SOUTHEAST GEARING UP FOR MONDAY CLASSES; ENROLLMENT TO REMAIN CONSTANT

Southeast Missouri State University students returned to the campus this weekend, moving into dormitory rooms and preparing for the start of classes. The fall semester begins Monday.

Leslie Cochran, university provost, said there's an air of excitement and anticipation about the start of school.

"I get particularly excited about the beginning of the school year because there is always a great optimism across college campuses," said Cochran.

"There's just a general atmosphere of excitement and enthusiasm and looking forward to new accomplishments," he added.

New students began moving into residence halls Thursday in advance of returning students, who arrived back on campus this weekend, university officials said.

Students were treated to an "ice cream pigout" Friday, followed by a block party on Saturday night.

Today, the freshman class will be formally convened by university officials at Academic Hall. In conjunction with that, students will sign a large scroll.

Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president at Southeast, said about 800 freshmen attended the ceremony last year.

At 5 p.m. today, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce will host a picnic at Capaha Park for all Southeast students.

Wallhausen said enrollment is expected to remain stable. About 8,800 students were enrolled in fall-semester classes last year.

Wallhausen said most of the dormitory rooms will be filled. He said 2,265 students are expected to live in campus residence halls this semester. He said that amounts to about a 94 percent occupancy rate.

Campus housing can actually accommodate 2,700 students. But because the university has converted some of the space to private rooms, residence halls are now set up to handle slightly more than 2,400 students, Wallhausen said.

While enrollment may show little change from last year, university officials have emphasized that this incoming freshman class ranks as the best academically.

That reflects a toughening of admission standards, university officials said. About 450 student applicants were rejected for the fall semester because they did not meet academic standards, university officials said.

"The long-term benefit is that we should retain more students. More students will be successful because they are better prepared," said Wallhausen.

The university will start the year with 35 new faculty members, which, Cochran said, is a good number. He said Southeast's early retirement program has been freeing up more positions every year.

"It brings in new faculty, with new ideas," he said.

There have been some major administrative changes at the university over the past year. "The structure of the university has been redefined and is coming together," Cochran said.

University President Kala Stroup has been in office for little more than one year.

"Last year, we had the advantage of the excitement of a new president (taking office) and this year I think the excitement continues," said Cochran.

Students have returned to find a new vice president for finance and administration, Kenneth Dobbins, and an interim vice president and dean of student services, Caryl Smith.

Wallhausen said, "It will be a year of transition. It will be a year when new directions are set for student services and a new permanent vice president is found."

This fall, Southeast will begin participating in Division I athletics.

"I think it is exciting when you take on a new venture like this," said Wallhausen. "It is a major step up for our athletic program. I think everybody will be curious how we are going to do."

Cochran said the university has made the transition from Division II to Division I sports. He said Southeast now has better athletes, an increased athletic budget and more scholarships.

"Division I is kind of the accreditation of athletics, the highest standard of excellence in athletics," he pointed out.

The university itself has been reaccredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Cochran said.

University officials said a concerted effort will be made this fall to inform the university community and the general public about Proposition B, the tax-hike-for-education measure that will be submitted to Missouri voters in November.

The university had to withstand major cuts in state funding. Cochran said $1.9 million had to be cut out of Southeast's budget for this year.

As a result of limited funding, no general pay raises were given to faculty and staff for this fiscal year.

Cochran said that the lack of pay raises and the funding cuts are "wearing on all of us."

But he said, "I think at this point of the year, you're kind of overwhelmed with excitement and enthusiasm as you start the school year."

He added that Proposition B offers a "ray of hope" for increased funding for Southeast and Missouri's other public colleges and universities.

"Right now, I think it (the funding situation) is on everybody's mind," said Cochran, "but there is this optimism and hope for the future."