SEMO MAY ADD HOUSING

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. -- Southeast Missouri State University may build a new residence hall for students to handle the school's growing enrollment.

The Board of Regents discussed that possibility during a weekend retreat at the Lodge of the Four Seasons.

The regents reviewed a consultant's preliminary housing plan but made no final decisions.

"We are probably going to have to make a decision within six to eight months," said Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents.

Southeast hasn't built a new residence hall since the mid-1960s when the Towers high-rise buildings were constructed.

Dickerson and Dr. Ken Dobbins, school president, discussed the housing issue Saturday afternoon at the conclusion of the two-day retreat.

Southeast had nearly 9,000 students enrolled in classes last fall. "Based on all the projections we have right now, we are going to be well over 9,000 next school year," Dickerson said, adding that the university could reach its enrollment goal of 10,300 students within the next four to five years.

Southeast had about 2,300 students housed on campus last fall. More than 2,100 are housed on campus this semester.

Dobbins said a large incoming freshman class next fall will increase the need for more student housing. Many of the students housed on campus each year are freshmen and sophomores.

It's estimated 200 to 300 more beds would be needed. Dobbins said any new residence hall probably would be a maximum of three stories tall. "We don't foresee building a high-rise," he said.

Dobbins and Dickerson said they don't know where the building would be constructed on campus. School officials expect to receive a final report from the consultant within the next several months.

Dobbins said there are two possibilities for funding the project. The university could finance it through the issuance of bonds that would be retired with money from student housing fees, or hire a private firm to build it and maintain it.

The advantage of the latter method is that the university won't have to issue bonds, Dobbins said.

Dickerson said the regents also are looking at the possibility of making greater use of aging Dearmont on the south side of campus. The building isn't air conditioned. Still, it could be used possibly for another 10 years.