CONTINUED LOCAL SUPPORT KEY TO BUSINESS BUILDING

Tight state revenues have made the task of securing state funding for major capital projects nearly impossible for Missouri's public universities. Southeast Missouri State University knows well the frustrations. Its proposed College of Business Administration Building remains on the drawing board - despite a critical need and impressive local support.

But Southeast is not one to give up in the face of funding setbacks. That's both admirable and necessary. The business building continues as the university's top priority, and a project of great importance to the region. It also remains among the top five capital priorities with the Coordinating Board of Higher Education. With perseverance and continued local endorsement, the building will one day earn state funding.

The business building was not included in Gov. Mel Carnahan's recommended Fiscal 1994 budget, which begins July 1. But the building floundered financially under the previous Republican administration as well. It's more an issue of not enough money to go around than one of politics. The governor's budget includes no funding for construction of new buildings on any of Missouri's college and university campuses.

Unquestionably, time causes fiscal headaches. The longer state funding is delayed, the more the project will cost. When the conceptual design of the 100,000 square foot building was approved by regents in October of 1991, the price tag was $12.5 million. It has since risen to $15 million. That's why it is essential funding be secured as soon as possible.

One factor working in Southeast's favor will be the critical space needs by the College of Business. The business program has grown dramatically - from 200 declared majors in 1960 to about 1,200 today. Yet the classes are spread out around campus. Southeast remains the only public institution in Missouri with a College of Business, but no clearly defined building. The building is also seen as critical to earning national accreditation for the business school.

But perhaps what sets this project apart from other new construction proposals in the state is the tremendous level of private donations. This should eventually work in our favor. The business building was a major focus of the recent foundation capital campaign. Southeast has already raised $2.85 million in donations and pledges for the project. In fact, local supporters have come through when the state has not. When additional planning money was vetoed by Gov. John Ashcroft last year, the university foundation gave $300,000 to allow continued architectural and engineering planning. But there's no way local supporters can carry the ball alone. The state is being asked to pay the lion's share of the project - $12.12 million.

Funding delays at the state level haven't diminished the critical need for a College of Business building on the Southeast campus. But the future of this project rests with the governor and the legislature. When statewide funding improves, we expect continued strong support at home will pay off in construction of a new university business building.