A proposal for a new student center in the heart of campus was tabled Wednesday by the Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents.

The plan, put together by student leaders and the university administration, calls for a $12.5 million renovation and expansion of Parker Hall to provide a modern student center. About $10.6 million would come through the sale of bonds.

The university administration proposed a $5-per-credit-hour increase in the general fee to be phased in over five years to fund the project. The fee would be increased by 50 cents a credit hour this fall.

But Regent Don Dickerson, who chairs the board, suggested it could be more economical to build a bigger addition to the Student Recreation Center to house a student center. The university already is moving ahead with a $5.3 million project to expand the Student Recreation Center.

Dickerson said the project could be expanded to house a student union.

During a break in Wednesday's meeting at the Show Me Center, the regents walked to the adjoining Student Recreation Center for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of that project. Regents and school officials ceremoniously turned dirt with red shovels. The dirt was piled in wooden bins set up in front of a temporary stage inside the center.

In tabling the University Commons project, the regents asked the university administration to provide detailed information on usage of the University Center. They also want more information about how the University Center would be used if the University Commons is built.

"I have some real concerns about what we will do with the old University Center," said Regent Kim Mothershead of Benton. "I think we might be jumping the gun."

She also expressed concern about plans to raise student fees to pay for the project.

The University Center currently serves as the student center and also houses many of the campus conferences.

Student Government President Jason Lane told the board that students need a more centrally located student union. But Dickerson wondered if the University Center wouldn't better serve the needs of commuter students.

Regent Loretta Walker of St. Louis said the university needs to look at campus parking needs as it considers whether to proceed with construction of a new student union.

Dickerson said the board would take a second look at the proposed project once it receives additional data.

Students have been divided over the merits of building a new student union. Lane said the proposed project has prompted more student debate than any campus issue of recent years. Student Government passed a resolution Monday supporting a 50-cent-a-credit-hour hike to help finance the University Commons project.

In tabling the project, the regents also tabled action on a proposed fee hike.

Still, students will be paying more to attend Southeast the 1998-1999 school year. The regents hiked incidental fees as well as room-and-board charges, established an off-campus service fee and special course fees, and raised fees for processing returned checks and international student applications.

A non-scholarship, undergraduate student living in campus housing and taking 12 credit hours will pay $6,400 to $7,444 next school year. In-state undergraduate students next fall will pay $103.50 a credit hour, a $3.50 credit-hour hike in incidental and general fees. Out-of-state undergraduate students will pay $186.50 a credit hour, a $6.50 credit-hour increase. In-state graduate students will pay $112.50 a credit hour. Currently, students pay $106 a credit hour. Out-of-state graduate students will pay $203.50 a credit hour, an increase of $12.50.

Dr. Ken Dobbins, executive vice president, said the university plans to raise graduate fees over the next five years. The goal is to raise graduate fees until they are 20 percent higher than undergraduate fees. The increased funding would be earmarked for graduate programs, he said.

In hiking room-and-board charges, the regents approved the sale of $9.7 million in bonds to help fund major renovations to Towers complex and Greek housing. The project is expected to cost $11.6 million.

In adopting the fee schedule, the regents approved an $8.86 million budget for the operation of campus housing.

Under the fee schedule, room-and-board charges will increase by varying amounts, from 2.4 percent for students living in Myers Hall to 4.2 percent for those living in the renovated Towers North and West residence halls. At the low end, students will pay $3,910 a year to live in Dearmont. At the high end, students will pay $4,960 a year to live in Towers North and West.

Board of Regents

Agenda

Wednesday, April 29

The Board of Regents:

Conferred degrees for 1998 spring commencement.

Approved resolutions honoring Student Government President Jason Lane, the women's track and field team, retiring faculty and staff, and supporters of the Bootheel Education Center at Malden.

Approved various academic programs, including new degree options in athletic administration.

Agreed to seek federal funding from the Missouri Department of Transportation for construction of a transit way for the shuttle buses and a parking garage.