It was an eventful year at Southeast Missouri State University. The university saw its 12th consecutive year of record enrollment, the Board of Regents approved construction of a River Campus expansion and the university grew its agriculture program at its campuses in Sikeston, Malden and Kennett.
In 1994, Southeast enrolled approximately 7,900 students. Fast-forward to 2012, and the university now has 11,752. Southeast President Ken Dobbins calls this an outstanding record.
“It’s very encouraging for next fall,” Dr. Dobbins said. “We’re pleased about where we are.”
In an interview on KRCU’s Going Public, the president said the most important part of 2012 was the university’s reaccreditation. Academic Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) reviewers visited the campus in September and gave Southeast a positive review.
“We had one of the best results,” Dobbins said. “Obviously, we will get our accreditation reaffirmed.”
Southeast expanded its agricultural program south of Cape Girardeau. Forty percent of Missouri’s agricultural product comes from southeastern Missouri and Dobbins said many farmers wanted the university to offer more opportunities at its regional campuses.
“Now students can get a four-year agricultural program [degree] at Kennett, Malden and Sikeston. We actually have a planting plot at Sikeston by the regional campus there,” Dobbins said.
Southeast also expanded its cyber security program, which now has 50 majors. Cyber security will further expand as the Missouri National Guard brings its “Show Me Gold” program to Southeast. They will have between 100 and 125 cadets at the Cape Girardeau campus in about four years.
The Board of Regents recently approved a River Campus expansion to construct a new $23 million L-shaped building that will house students and hold academic space. It will be the first residence hall at the River Campus and will feature apartment-style living quarters, a choral rehearsal hall, a dance studio, an art education space and a dining facility.
The River Campus ran out of space, Dobbins said, and there are over 500 majors in the School of Visual & Performing Arts. “My guess is it will go to 600, 650, or 700, and we have the space to expand for faculty offices and rehearsal spaces,” Dobbins said.
The new building will be ready by the Fall 2014 semester.