SOUTHEAST INCREASES TUITION, ROOM FEES

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents Friday hiked tuition and other student charges for the 2001-2002 school year but refused to impose a fee to study the feasibility of renovating and expanding Parker Hall for use as a student union.

Regents advised Dr. Ken Dobbins, university president, to find a way in-house to clearly determine what students want and how much they are willing to pay in student fees rather than seek an outside consultant and charge students a fee.

Regent Kim Mothershead said she didn't want to impose another fee on students since the board earlier in the meeting had voted to hike tuition and room rates for next school year.

She also questioned why the university couldn't do the study rather than hire a consultant. School officials said the university staff doesn't have the time or expertise to do the study.

Southeast's administration had recommended the board impose a $1-per-credit-hour fee to pay for a consultant to help determine the programs and activities students would want in a student union, how much they would cost and whether students would be willing to pay higher fees to build such a structure. But after lengthy discussion the proposal died on the table for lack of a motion.

A proposal to convert Parker Hall into a student union has been under discussion off-and-on since 1997.

Board President Don Dickerson said after the meeting there isn't a consensus among regents regarding the project, and he isn't sure about the future of the project.

Need questioned

During the meeting in the University Center, regents questioned if the majority of Southeast students would spend time in a new student union.

"I'm not sure a student union wherever it is will capture a lot of students," Dickerson said.

He said he couldn't justify building a new student union if it will be "just a pretty place to hang out."

Dickerson said the only reason to build a student union is to provide new programs and activities that would enhance student life on campus. He suggested the University Center could be renovated to serve students' needs.

Development of the River Campus arts school in downtown Cape Girardeau would free up space in existing buildings on the main campus. That could provide other possibilities for a student union, Dickerson said.

Regent John Tlapek said he isn't convinced students want a new student union.

But student Regent Doug McDermott and Dr. Pauline Fox, vice president for administration and enrollment management, said students want a commons building. McDermott argued it would bring students closer together and build a sense of community at the school.

Earlier in the meeting, Student Government President Luke Dalton urged the regents to approve the $1-per-credit-hour fee for further planning for a student union and urged school officials to pay greater attention to student affairs.

"In my opinion, you lack a long-term plan or vision for student life at Southeast," he said.

At the daylong meeting, the regents hiked tuition and room rates on identical 5-1 votes with Mothershead casting the dissenting votes. "I just want to hold the costs down for the kids," she said during a break in the meeting.

Acting on the recommendation of university officials, the board raised room rates by 2 percent to an average of $3,135 a year. School officials said the fee hike will cover increased operating expenses as well as provide students with copies of the Southeast Missourian and St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspapers.

Meal charges will remain the same as this year's or an average of $1,721 depending on the meal plan.

School officials said they kept the meal charges the same by reducing the number of bonus meals and because more students will be living in the residence halls in the coming school year.

The regents boosted tuition by $4.50 a credit hour for in-state undergraduates, $9 per credit hour for out-of-state undergraduates and graduate students, and $18 per credit hour for out-of-state graduate students.

Under the new rates, tuition will range from nearly $108 per credit hour for in-state undergraduates to more than $242 for out-of-state graduate students.

The regents also hiked the Residence Hall Association activity fee by $20, raising it to $35 a semester for every student who will be living in campus residence halls. The university will use the money to provide direct Internet connections to students' rooms. Students won't be assessed the added charge until Internet service has been provided to their particular residence hall.

School officials said it could take two to three years to complete the project.

REGENTS ACTIONS

Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents, Friday, May 5

Action taken

*Swore in Brad Bedell of Sikeston as the new student regent

*Conferred degrees for spring commencement

*Approved a revised university strategic plan

*Amended the Garden School charter

*Approved tuition and other fee hikes.