SOUTHEAST PM

Southeast Missouri State University wants to tailor new evening and weekend classes to meet the needs of the region. To that end, the university will distribute about 10,000 questionnaires in Cape Girardeau, Scott, New Madrid, Perry and Butler counties. Another 1,100 survey forms were mailed to the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce. University staff also interviewed about 150 people at a Cape Girardeau shopping center. Non-traditional students -- who may be older or commute to campus -- are among those surveyed.

These are good ways to measure public sentiment. This survey effort represents a smart business move on the part of the university.

Southeast wants to grow its enrollment back to the boom days of the 1970s and 1980s. The university's strategic plan has targeted an ambitious goal of boosting enrollment from 8,100 to over 10,000 students in five years.

An aggressive night school will be imperative to achieving those kinds of numbers.

In turn, the key to a successful night school program will be judging what potential students want to take. That is where the surveys come in.

The university wants to begin an extensive offering of weekend and night classes -- called Southeast PM -- this fall. Students would be able to graduate in certain degree fields without ever taking a day class. This would certainly be a windfall for students with other full-time commitments, such as work or family matters.

The surveys also seek input on a wide range of scheduling possibilities. Options posed by the university include evening classes once, twice or three times a week, weekly Saturday classes and classes Friday night through Sunday afternoon once a month. Expanded scheduling seems a viable way to attract a growing student pool.

Most of Southeast's graduate classes are offered at night. In contrast, only a handful of undergraduate programs are scheduled in the evening. Southeast PM would change all that. As many as 20 or 30 undergraduate night classes could be offered this fall. Evening and weekend classes would be taught by regular faculty.

Southeast PM will not only help the university. More accessible higher education will better the region. The result will be a better educated work force and more opportunities for career advancement. Southeast PM is a great idea, and the university's surveying tactics should help ensure a successful start this fall.