Cape College Center name change is good step for partnership

A partnership between Southeast Missouri State University, Three Rivers College and Mineral Area College and operated in the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau has been interesting to watch since its inception in the fall of 2010. Here you have three higher education institutions, housed in a fourth educational facility, and all with a goal of helping meet an educational need.

It's not a community college. It's not a four-year university. But the combination has allowed for more students to cost-effectively pursue post-high school education that prepares them for the workforce or continuing education.

Students in the partnership can earn an associate of arts degree and 14 associate of applied science degree options.

Enrollment numbers, after some early growth, have settled. Still, there is a need for this partnership.

It's hard to have the institution name described in seven words, particularly when those words are vague and communicate little. This editorial board has previously endorsed changing the name to better reach more students. More specifically, we believe the word "college" should be in the name.

Recently the partnership advisory board voted to change the name to Cape College Center.

"I would say that the name change ... is going to have a positive impact. It's going to make it more marketable and more memorable. I agree with both Dr. Kurtz and Dr. Dobbins that it reflects what we're all about. I think we are now all three committed to fully and cooperatively working together to meet the needs of students, and that's the main focus of everything all three ... institutions do," Three Rivers College president Wes Payne said in a story by Southeast Missourian reporter Ruth Campbell.

Southeast Missouri State University president Dr. Ken Dobbins also said he is positive about the future of the center.

" ... I think you're going to find this is a partnership that's going to work and serve the constituencies here in Cape Girardeau and Scott County and others," Dobbins said.

We agree and commend the board for changing the name to Cape College Center.

There's more to an institution than a name. But having a name that catches more attention from students and parents puts the partnership is a better opportunity to move forward. That's good for students, the area and our workforce.