UNDER THE DOME...FOSTER`ING' A SOLID FOUNDATION

For 24 years, Robert W. Foster has been a fixture at Southeast Missouri State University, as much a part of Academic Hall as the building's familiar dome.

His entire career at Southeast has been spent in administration.

During his tenure, he has served under four university presidents, and during the 1989-1990 academic year he served as Southeast's 13th president.

His career is now ending; the 61-year-old Foster, the university's executive vice president, is retiring Tuesday.

His duties as executive vice president will be assumed by Ken Dobbins, vice president for finance and administration; Don Ford, development director; and James Biundo, director of university relations.

"I don't really think of it as retiring but as moving to another way of living," said Foster.

"I will always love this university. There is no question about that," he said. "At the same time, I do expect to divorce myself from the administration of this university.

"I've had my turn and now it's time for someone else to do it," said Foster, who with his wife, Wilma, plan to celebrate by taking a Caribbean cruise in January.

Although he is retiring, Foster will retain ties to the university. Beginning in January, he will serve as executive director of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation, a part-time position funded by the foundation.

"It's an integral part of the university operation, even though it is a separate organization," said Foster.

The foundation raises money for the university.

In his part-time position, Foster will work out of the Wehking Alumni Center on the Southeast campus.

It's not surprising that Foster will be working with the foundation; he's been an integral part of it since its inception in 1983.

While his year as university president ranks as a highlight in his career here, Foster readily admits that he's most proud of the university foundation and its successful fund-raising efforts.

"Certainly the establishment of the university foundation has to rank as the top achievement in my view," he said.

Over the years, Foster, as part of his administrative duties at Southeast, has helped direct the efforts of the foundation.

The foundation raised $1 million its first year and now raises about $2.5 million annually. It is also approaching the successful conclusion of a $25 million capital campaign.

"It's difficult to think of any area of the university that has not been touched in a significant way by private donors," Foster said. "We would be a very different kind of university had we not had the foundation. Right now we are managing $20 million worth of assets in addition to the gifts that we have distributed to the university."

Foster said the foundation's success can be attributed to many people. "If the foundation were a one-person thing, it would be a very small operation," he stated.

Through the foundation, Foster was a key player in the development of the Bootheel Education Center at Malden. The facility provides higher-education classes for students in the Missouri Bootheel.

A lot has changed since Foster began working for the university in June 1967 as an assistant to then president Mark Scully.

In 1967, Southeast was basically a teachers college. Today, it is a comprehensive university.

But throughout it all, Foster said, it has remained "a good, solid institution."

"My job as assistant to the president was just the ideal position for an apprenticeship on the road to becoming an administrator," he recalled. "Dr. Scully used me as a troubleshooter, problem solver and expediter."

As a result, said Foster, he became acquainted with all facets of the university.

In 1972, his duties were expanded to include those of dean of graduate studies. In that capacity, he helped spearhead implementation of a specialist in education degree, needed for certification of public school superintendents and principals.

He served as both assistant to the president and dean until 1976, when he became vice president for financial services under then president Robert Leestamper.

Foster served in that post until 1983, when he was named executive vice president of the university. Following his year as university president, filling the gap between former president Bill Stacy and current university President Kala Stroup, he resumed his duties as executive vice president.

Foster said that going from president back to vice president "wasn't at all difficult."

Stroup, he said, made the transition easy. "Dr. Stroup has a great confidence in her own ability, I think, and she has been the spirit of graciousness to me."

Foster said that during his brief stint as president of the institution he focused on providing "a sense of continuity" and preparing for the next administration.

"I was anxious that we not leave any time bombs," recalled Foster, adding that he feels he accomplished that goal.

For years, Foster has dealt with budget matters at the university. Ironically, he doesn't have a background in accounting or finance.

Foster, who grew up in Weaubleau, a small town on the western side of the state, graduated from Southwest Missouri State University at Springfield with a degree in speech and English.

He received his master's degree and a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Foster said he gradually became involved in budget matters under Scully, accompanying the president on trips to Jefferson City to meet with lawmakers.

In recent years, Foster has had to deal with funding woes resulting from state budget cuts, a task that has proved challenging.

"It's satisfying though to be faced with a problem and come up with the best solution you can under the circumstances," he said.

"There are always frustrations, disappointments and headaches," he said. "I think these ingredients are necessary for progress and accomplishment."

He matter-of-factly admits to having an impact on the life of the university. "If I hadn't had an impact, I wouldn't be performing my job."

Throughout his career at Southeast, Foster has regularly talked of teamwork. "I think at this university more than others, people here are good team players.

"It's part of the fabric of Southeast Missouri," he said.

Even in retirement, Foster remains part of the fabric of the university and the community, where he has been active in numerous civic groups.

"I still intend to be a part of the community," he said.