State approves Cape Girardeau community college agreement

State education officials gave the go-ahead for plans to establish a community college center in Cape Girardeau County.

The Coordinating Board for Higher Education approved the agreement Thursday at a meeting at Lake Ozark.

Higher education officials met several times between September and November to hammer out the details of an agreement, which was approved by a local community college coalition on Nov. 16. Southeast Missouri State University and Three Rivers Community College will primarily collaborate to staff and fund a center at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center. Classes are set to begin in the fall.

The agreement marked an advance in more than two years of negotiations between a group of business and education leaders. The group funded a $70,000 study to assess the higher education needs of the area. The results were released in March.

Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Robert Stein said the two-year process was the most arduous in his tenure as commissioner.

"In looking to the future, the Cape Girardeau region will benefit from enhanced educational opportunities and economic development," Stein said in a released statement.

Under the agreement, Southeast and Three Rivers split costs and revenue. Students will be jointly admitted into both institutions under open admissions guidelines.

Mineral Area College, the Cape Girardeau School District and Southeast Missouri Hospital College of Nursing and Health Sciences will also sign the agreement.

With approval from the Coordinating Board, the agreement still needs approval from the governing bodies of the participating institutions.

"It spells a wonderful opportunity," said Three Rivers President Dr. Devin Stephenson.

He said he will approach the Coordinating Board in the spring to request approval to grant associate of art degrees at the center.

abusch@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

1080 South Silver Springs Road Cape Girardeau, MO