THREE RIVERS DEGREE MAY BE OBTAINED HERE

Students in Cape Girardeau can complete a two-year degree from Three Rivers Community College without ever stepping foot on the Poplar Bluff campus.

The program is a collaboration between Three Rivers, the Cape Girardeau School District and Southeast Missouri State University.

The idea for the associate-of-applied-science degree started as a way to help local industries provide training to employees, said Bev Hickam, adult-education supervisor at the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School where classes will be offered.

About five years ago a group of 13 industries worked with the vocational school to offer mechanical, electrical and electronics training. The courses are offered one night a week, and it takes a student two to three years to complete the program. Students earn a certificate.

Starting this semester students can take that training one more step and earn the two-year degree in industrial maintenance.

The general education courses have been added to the technical courses to complete the junior-college degree.

"Mineral Area College is now giving college credit for those programs," Hickam said. "Those courses will also transfer to a university if the student wants to pursue a higher-education degree."

Students will receive their diplomas from Mineral Area College at Farmington but may take courses from Three Rivers Community College and Southeast Missouri State University. The schools share in delivery of courses for the benefit of students.

The majority of classes will be held at the vocational school, but some classes may be held at Central High School or on the Southeast campus.

The junior-college courses are open to anyone, not just those participating in the industrial-maintenance program.

"We are very pleased to offer this opportunity to the community," Hickam said. "This increases our mission to work with area businesses to provide training."

Mineral Area College conducted a needs assessment of Cape Girardeau area industries and determined the two-year degree would be beneficial. According to a survey of more than 100 employers, 71 percent said the associate-of-applied-science degree in industrial maintenance is needed.

"In addition to offering a necessary degree program at a convenient location for students, a community college degree is a very affordable option," said Hickam.

The tuition rate for courses offered in Cape Girardeau will range from $47 to $59 per credit hour.

This spring three general education courses are being offered. English composition I and beginning algebra will be offered at the vocational school. Microcomputer applications will be offered at Central High School.

Students must take a placement test to enroll in the math and English courses. The test will be given at 7 p.m. Monday. It costs $10. No placement test is needed for the computer class.