UNIVERSITY'S 'WISH LIST' INCLUDES $54 MILLION IN PROJECTS

Southeast Missouri State University's wish list is a long one.

The Board of Regents voted Friday to request $54 million from the state for fiscal 2001-2002.

The university doesn't expect to get all of that money. But the board's action will bring proposed projects to the attention of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education.

Southeast's top priority remains the River Campus project. The university expects to receive $4.6 million from the state in fiscal 2000.

Next year, the university will lobby for another $13.2 million for the project. Southeast plans to develop a former Catholic seminary into a school for the visual and performing arts.

The second priority for capital funding is $13.5 million for renovation of Academic Hall.

Upgrading the science complex would cost $13 million. Improvements to Kent Library would take another $12 million. Remodeling the Grauel language arts building would take about $2 million.

The regents also approved spending of $7.2 million on capital and maintenance projects for fiscal 2000, which begins July 1. The projects include beginning improvements to the River Campus.

Don Dickerson, president of the Board of Regents, was pleased with the Legislature's recent decision to provide $4.6 million for the River Campus project.

"This has been a very good spring for us overall," he said.

In other action, the regents adopted an "Academic Fresh Start" policy which policy allows students, returning to college after an absence of at least three years, to eliminate past bad grades in the calculation of their grade point averages.

The regents also established the Regional Public Service Institute to assess social and economic needs in the region and secure grants to help agencies and communities meet those needs.

Dr. Velmer Burton, associate provost for graduate studies and research at Southeast, was named dean of the graduate school. He also will continue to handle the duties of associate provost.

Southeast Missouri State University

Board of Regents

Friday, May 14

Action Items

* Conferred degrees for 1999 spring commencement.

* Approved a statement on students called into active military service.

* Created a new major in management information systems.

* Approved off-campus degrees in child care and guidance, agribusiness/horticulture and industrial education.

* Established an Academic Fresh Start policy.

* Approved Faculty Senate bills dealing with emeritus faculty and student evaluation of instruction.

* Approved a resolution honoring retiring faculty and staff.

* Renamed the personnel service department as the human resources department.

* Adopted the fiscal 2000 capital budget.

* Agreed to request future funding for a number of construction projects.

* Established the Regional Public Service Institute.

* Appointed Dr. Dennis Holt as interim provost.

* Named Dr. Velmer Burton as dean of the graduate school.