PERRYVILLE -- A new higher education center could be operating in St. Mary's of the Barrens Seminary buildings as early as next summer or fall.

That's the assessment of Dr. Dale Nitzschke, Southeast Missouri State University president.

Nitzschke has discussed the issue with Perry County civic leaders and the Congregation of the Mission, the Catholic organization that owns the seminary buildings.

Through the efforts of the Perry County Industrial Development Authority, a local committee has been formed to spearhead the project.

The committee plans to solicit private donations in the coming weeks to hire a consultant to conduct a needs assessment.

The committee wants to raise $30,000 to $50,000, said Bob Ray, executive director of the Perry County Industrial Development Authority.

Nitzschke said the needs assessment itself could cost from $3,000 to $10,000, possibly more.

He said additional donations could be used for other expenses, including perhaps the cost of renting or leasing the buildings from the Congregation of the Mission.

The buildings themselves aren't for sale, said the Rev. F. Joseph Hess, provincial treasurer of the Congregation of the Mission.

But the Catholic organization has indicated it might rent or lease the buildings for use as a higher education center.

Nitzschke said a needs study could take two to four months to complete.

It would look at the geographical area that could be served, as well as the educational needs of the residents and businesses.

"It pigeonholes specifically what that community, its people and its business and industry want to have," Nitzschke said.

The results of the study would be used by Southeast and Mineral Area College at Park Hills to decide on the courses to offer at the center, he said.

Plans for the center likely would be finalized next spring, Nitzschke said.

A higher education center could offer both graduate and undergraduate courses, as well as technical training and continuing education programs.

If the seminary buildings can be used at little cost, the cost of operating a higher education center could be minimal, Nitzschke said.

He said the community would have to pick up the operating costs for the center. Courses would be offered by both Southeast and Mineral Area College.

Ray said the Perryville area needs skilled workers.

"Our major problem is training for our industries and further education for our engineers and degree people working in those industries," he said.

The proposed center could help attract more industry to the region, he said.

Perry County has a higher education center, housed in a former grade school at Sereno, five miles north of Perryville on Highway 51.

But that center is small in size and has limited course offerings, university and local officials have said.

"It is in a remote location," said Ray.

The proposed center would be in Perryville. It could attract students in a 20- to 25-mile radius of Perryville, Ray said.