Southeast may limit increases in tuition

Dr. Ken Dobbins said that without the plan the university risks state intervention.

Southeast Missouri State University may cap future tuition increases under a plan proposed Thursday rather than wait for lawmakers to do it.

School president Dr. Ken Dobbins suggested a tuition cap to take effect next fall.

The university, he told the board of regents, needs to consider such a method to control student fee increases or risk having lawmakers and Gov. Matt Blunt regulate tuition.

Dobbins wants to limit tuition increases each year to a maximum of twice the change in the Consumer Price Index or $450, whichever is greater.

Under such a policy, the university would have the flexibility to increase tuition up to the maximum. That could equate to a $15-a-credit-hour increase, which is well above the usual $6- or $7-a-credit-hour increase.

But Dobbins said the university would strive to keep tuition increases to a minimum.

Dobbins plans to discuss his proposal with community leaders and students in the coming weeks. He promised to report back to the board in October.

The regents had spending on their mind. They unanimously voted to proceed with construction of an $8.3 million aquatic center.

The 28,175-square-foot addition to the Student Recreation Center will include a lap pool, recreational pool, whirlpool and water slide.

It's expected to open in April 2007.

Southeast plans to issue bonds that would be retired with money from student fees.

The tuition proposal by Dobbins surfaced amid efforts by the University of Missouri to ease the burden on families struggling with the high cost of a college education.

University of Missouri president Elson Floyd has toured the state to promote a guaranteed tuition plan that would lock in the cost of education for each freshman class.

Such a plan would put a financial burden on each freshmen class, Dobbins said, and force a university to impose large tuition increases to help cover expenses over the next four years.

Regent Edward Matthews of Sikeston, Mo., said it's risky to lock in the price of tuition for incoming students for four years.

Regents questioned whether the university can set limits on tuition costs when there's no guarantee on how much state funding the school will receive. Dobbins said the university could operate within the proposed cap limit.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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