Southeast Missouri State University is moving forward this week with a process to procure professional services to sell the property at 603 N. Henderson in Cape Girardeau, which formerly housed the University’s Jane Stephens Honors Program.
The Stephens Honors Program moved into Memorial Hall during the spring semester to a facility that better met the needs of students. Southeast announced plans to raze the property after analyzing the amount of repair and renovation necessary for the building.
“We were asked by members of the community at the time if the property could be sold,” said Vice President for Finance and Administration Dr. Brad Sheriff. “When the governing body of the institution was a Board of Regents, the University did not have legal authority to sell property but based on our relatively recent change to a Board of Governors, we put our plans for the property on hold and sought counsel regarding the possibility of expanded Board authority. We received confirmation that the Board of Governors, unlike a Board of Regents, has the ability to sell property without legislative action.”
Southeast moved to a Board of Governors rather than a Board of Regents last year after Governor Mike Parson signed a bill designating Southeast to have a statewide mission in computer science, cybersecurity, and the visual and performing arts.
Sheriff updated the Board on this new development during its June meeting. Because the University will need professional services to sell the property, a competitive process is required of the University to move forward with a realtor. The University has been working on the process and issued a request for proposals for real estate brokerage services yesterday. Sheriff says the University will work with the agency awarded the project to determine market value and listing price.
“The new direction with respect to this property makes sense for the University, and we trust that it will be welcomed by many members of the community,” said Sheriff.