The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Governors approved a series of actions at its May meeting focusing on long-term academic strength, financial sustainability, and continued affordability for students. The decisions balance responding to workforce needs, supporting student success, and safeguarding institutional resources while maintaining a high-quality educational experience.
Tuition and Fee Schedule to Support Competitive Value and Address Rising Costs
The Board approved the 2026–27 Tuition and Fee Schedule. For domestic undergraduate students enrolled full time, the approved schedule reflects a combined 3.6% increase, maintaining SEMO’s competitive tuition position among competitors while supporting instructional quality and student services.
“We frequently hear from our students that affordability combined with the quality of our degrees is a primary reason they choose SEMO,” said Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success Dr. Stephen Schultheis. “When setting tuition rates, SEMO has been proud to have competitively priced undergraduate tuition for four consecutive years and seeks to maintain that standing for a fifth year while carefully balancing costs with educational value and career preparation.”
One strategy to manage costs, is SEMO’s textbook rental program which hasn’t seen an increase in seven years. The Board approved a modest change to the rental fee from $35 to $38 for undergraduate students and expanded access to the program for graduate students. Now, master’s level courses are eligible with a new $55 rental fee.
“This action expands textbook rental eligibility and responds directly to feedback from students,” said Schultheis. “Again, it’s striking that balance of keeping academic materials accessible while keeping total educational costs affordable.”
Academic Restructuring & Curriculum Actions to Support Sustainability and Student Success
The Board approved an academic restructuring plan, a strategic reorganization shaped by extensive shared governance input. The restructuring is designed to better align academic offerings with enrollment trends and workforce needs, enhance financial sustainability, streamline operations and improve interdisciplinary collaboration. Key elements include the creation of a School of Health Sciences and a School of Education, establishment of a Center for Aviation Studies, four strategic mergers of departments for operational and administrative efficiency, and program realignments to better reflect industry standards and disciplinary focus.
These changes enable the University to reallocate resources toward high-demand programs, create clearer academic pathways for students and enhance academic quality.
The Board also approved curriculum changes recommended through the extraordinary program review, a comprehensive evaluation process focused on ensuring academic relevance, efficiency, and sustainability.
“As we reviewed majors, minors, and certificates, it became clear there was an opportunity to transform 51 programs and to decrease eight academic options within majors,” said Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Doug Koch. “There were 13 degree programs identified for deletion. Students in affected programs will receive clear communication and advising support on how they can complete the current program.”
Koch said, in addition, the Board approved modifying 14 programs by changing the name, adding options or modality changes. Of those, eight will move to reduced credit hour degrees, decreasing to 90-105 hours from the traditional 120. Three new minors and 10 new certificates were established as well as six new degree programs added.
“Academic restructuring and extraordinary program review are responsible measures to ensure our degree offerings provide a relevant and in demand academic portfolio as well as address financial pressures,” said SEMO President Dr. Brad Hodson. “I commend our deans, chairs, and faculty for their thoughtful recommendations to strengthen the institution, better serve students, and align with regional workforce demands.”