SOUTHEAST REGENTS TO CONSIDER TRCC PACT EXPANSION

Three Rivers Community College at Poplar Bluff soon might take on more of the appearance of a four-year institution.

Southeast Missouri State University's Board of Regents today will consider expanding its Bootheel Education Consortium agreement with Three Rivers Community College (TRCC).

The regents will meet at 2 p.m. in the University Center Party Room.

The community college's board of trustees recently approved the plan, which would allow students to obtain four-year degrees without ever setting foot on the Southeast campus.

Southeast officials said the plan merely expands the existing two-plus-two program in nursing. Under that program, TRCC students can obtain bachelor's degrees in nursing.

If approved by the regents, the plan would still have to be approved by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education, officials said.

Under the plan, Southeast would offer courses at Three Rivers leading to bachelor of science degrees in interdisciplinary studies, with areas of emphasis in industrial management, criminal justice and university studies.

"This would be a very flexible degree," said Sheila Caskey, dean of graduate studies and extended learning at Southeast.

The industrial technology department at Southeast is scheduled to offer a course at Three Rivers beginning this fall.

But Art Wallhausen, assistant to the president at Southeast, said the real impact won't be felt until later. "There won't be a dramatic change this fall, because the fall schedule has already been made up."

Wallhausen said the whole arrangement "really is just an enlargement of the whole idea of the off-campus course."

In other action, the regents will consider hiking tuition by $2 a credit hour for Missouri residents. The university's administration is proposing to implement the hike this fall.

Also on the agenda is a proposed $4 per credit hour "designated general fee." It would replace the Student Recreation Center, student activity and student athletic fees, which total about $55 per semester for students taking at least seven credit hours.

The change is not expected to affect the amount of revenue received from students, school officials said.

The regents also will consider approving a temporary funding plan for the renovation of the Parker Building.

Wallhausen said the university wants to proceed with the renovation work so it can be completed before the start of the fall semester.

Southeast is seeking state funding for the project, but the money won't be available until July 1.

Wallhausen said the proposal before the regents would allow the university to proceed with the bid process "so we can start at least part of the work on the Parker renovation before the end of the current fiscal year, with funding to be provided on a temporary basis through the (Southeast Missouri University) foundation.

"That way, you can have it ready by August," he said.

State legislative leaders have assured school officials that the state budget will include an appropriation for the Parker project, Wallhausen said.

The project would involve construction of four classrooms and faculty offices in the building in order to alleviate overcrowding of other academic buildings, Wallhausen said.