Southeast regents to meet in executive session today

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents will meet via teleconference today to discuss personnel issues, according to a news release from the university.

The meeting will be at 9 a.m. in the President's Office in Academic Hall, room 144, the release said.

Regents will consider a motion to go immediately into an executive session to consider personnel issues, according to the agenda and the release. An announcement of actions taken during the session is not expected immediately after the meeting, the release said.

When the open session reconvenes, the only item on the agenda will be consideration of a motion to adjourn, the release said. If any action is taken, it will be announced within 72 hours, said Brady Barke, senior associate to the president.

It was recently reported that an announcement on a new provost would be made around Thanksgiving break.

Dr. Hamner Hill, chairman of the provost search committee, said a recommendation for a candidate to fill the vacant provost position has been made to president Kenneth Dobbins. But Hill said he doesn't have any direct knowledge that the regents will discuss this.

"I've not been informed one way or another, but the search committee has made its recommendations to the president," Hill said. "So now the decision is entirely in his hands and those of the regents."

Provost finalists are:

* Dr. William Eddleman, vice provost and dean of the School of Graduate Studies at Southeast.

* Jeffrey Morin, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

* Dr. Larry Daniel, dean of the College of Education and Human Services at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

* Dr. Gersham Nelson, dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.

The national search began after Dr. Ron Rosati left Southeast in the summer to accept a position at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. Dr. Gerald McDougall is serving as interim provost.

Hill said the search committee was pleased with the applicants for the chief academic officer's spot.

"I thought we had four outstanding candidates," Hill said. "They were quite different -- different strengths. It gives the president and the regents options about the direction of the university."

Pertinent address:

1 University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Mo.