UNIVERSITY, CAPE SCHOOLS MAY JOIN FORCES ON VO-TECH CENTER

Southeast Missouri State University wants to build a $5.5 million vocational-technical center that would provide training in advanced manufacturing technology.

University officials said Friday that a 40,000-square-foot facility could be built in conjunction with plans for a new vocational school for the Cape Girardeau School District.

Dr. Charles Kupchella, Southeast's provost, said the university wants to set up what would amount to a new kind of polytechnic institute that focuses on technical training.

A facilities committee for the Cape public schools has recommended the district build a 90,000-square-foot facility costing about $7 million.

At 60,000 square feet, the current vo-tech school is running out of space.

Harold Tilley, director of the vocational school, said such a project would require voter approval of a bond issue to pay for at least part of the project.

The school district possibly could receive some state funding as well, he said.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education will meet today to study facility improvement plans, which include the vo-tech project.

If the plans of the Cape Girardeau public schools and the university mesh, the result could be a vocational-technical complex, where the buildings would be connected or adjacent to each other.

Such a complex would support high school, tech-prep, associate and baccalaureate degree programs, as well as customized training for industries.

Southeast would move all of its industrial technology programs out of the Serena Building, which has become inadequate for its needs, said Dr. Randy Shaw, industrial technology department chairman.

In August, Shaw is moving to a new job in the provost's office.

Technical programs would be offered by the university, Three Rivers and Mineral Area community colleges and the Cape Girardeau vocational-technical school.

A consortium would be formed involving these entities and nine other vocational-technical schools to deliver customized training programs in the region.

Educational partnerships are key to the plan. Regent Don Dickerson said it only makes sense for tax-supported schools to work together.

The project is part of a threefold enhanced mission proposed by Southeast.

The Board of Regents studied the plan Friday and will consider endorsing it next month. The plan will be submitted to the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education and in turn the legislature.

Southeast wants millions of dollars over three years to fund various programs and projects, Kupchella said.

No exact price tag was given Friday.

Besides technical education, the university wants money for general improvements. Those improvements include internships and experiential learning, a program to help minority students, and extension of the school's National Public Radio station signal farther into the Bootheel.

The third priority is information technology improvements, including interactive television for long-distance learning.

Southeast wants to improve electronic access to Kent Library and possibly rent laptop computers to students.

The university also wants to establish an education center in Sikeston, patterned after the Bootheel Education Center in Malden.

Two other centers could be established by the year 2000.