The seminar was held in celebration of Southeast Missouri State University's 125th Anniversary. According to Dr. Gerald McDougall, dean of the Donald L. Harrison College of Business, it also provided an exceptional opportunity to learn about the dynamic changes taking place in the accounting services industry and the exciting opportunities for students wishing to pursue degrees in accounting and finance.

"The seminar generated a great deal of discussion and demonstrated the large benefits that are created by linking practitioners, faculty and students," said McDougall. "The impact of such linkages on student and the development of our business community was brought to the fore throughout the day."

In addition, the seminar honored Dr. John Crampton, who is retiring this spring after 34 years of service to the University. A reception was held in honor of Crampton's retirement and the John V. Crampton MBA Scholarship. Crampton has been a professor of accounting, finance and business law at Southeast since 1965. He served as the chair of the department from 1967 to 1985. A scholarship was then established this year in honor of Crampton. The Dr. John V. Crampton MBA Scholarship was established by the Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law at Southeast along with friends of Crampton. It will be awarded for the first time when the principle reaches $10,000. The scholarship will be given to a graduate student in Southeast's MBA Program, with an accounting option, or a senior, at the time of application, who has applied for acceptance into the MBA Program.

"No better example exists than the example provided by Dr. Crampton of the importance of developing our young people to the fullest extent possible with demanding and relevant business programs," said McDougall.

According to Dr. Debbie Beard, chair of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law, Crampton was an integral part of the growth of the department.

"Crampton was a pioneer in the establishment and growth of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Business Law, serving as our first chairperson and as mentor for thousands of our students," said Beard.

In addition to the scholarship named in his honor, Mayor Al Spradling III named April 29 as the first John V. Crampton Day to be celebrated annually in both the University and City of Cape Girardeau communities.

"I was very surprised and most appreciative of the honor of having not only the scholarship, but also having the Mayor of Cape Girardeau dedicate a day in my name," said Dr. John Crampton, "especially since Mayor Spradling used to be a student of mine years ago."

Later that evening, the Accounting and Finance Club/IMA Student Chapter hosted its annual banquet in the Dempster Hall Atrium. A variety of awards and special recognitions were presented.

“This is an important milestone,” said Dr. A. Louise Hart, chair of Southeast’s Department of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services “For years, we have been making a difference in terms of service to the region. Now, we are doing even more” to bring primary care to medically underserved areas.

Twelve family nurse practitioners will be hooded during a Department of Nursing Recognition Ceremony at 9 a.m. May 15 in Rose Theatre. The ceremony precedes Southeast commencement exercises scheduled for 2 p.m. in the Show Me Center.

Following commencement, the students are required to take and pass the national certification exam. After that, the dozen will disperse into rural health clinics in Doniphan, Mo., Farmington, Mo., and Southern Illinois and specialists offices, such as dermatology and ear, nose and throat practices in Cape Girardeau and throughout the region. One student plans to put her degree to work doing medical missionary work overseas in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board, beginning in January.

All will be providing primary health care, with increased responsibility and autonomy. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty. Nurse practitioners can diagnose and treat acute health problems such as infections and injuries, and chronic health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and depression. They also can prescribe antibiotic medications and other treatments, and can order, perform and interpret lab work and x-rays. Nurse practitioners also can perform physicals and women’s health exams.

Hart says nurse practitioners are cost effective and important care providers, especially in rural underserved areas. Occupational surveys consistently list advanced practice nurses as one of the fastest -growing and most needed professions in the rapidly-expanding health and human services field.

“Our continuous challenge is to define who we are to the public,” said Bobbi Morris, MSN teacher and a family nurse practitioner in the University’s Center for Health and Counseling. “Historically, in this community, family nurse practitioners were unknown, and acceptance of their role in provision of primary care has been slow.”

In just the past few years, however, in Cape Girardeau alone, family nurse practitioners have been hired by physician offices, rural health clinics, hospital walk-in facilities and the University’s Center for Health and Counseling.

Cathy Young, assistant professor of nursing and a family nurse practitioner in the University’s Center for Health and Counseling, says family nurse practitioners can do 85 to 95 percent of what primary care physicians do. Young says family nurse practitioners often are employed in walk-in clinics and rural health centers. There, she said they increase and improve access to care.

“Now, people are beginning to realize the value and the care we provide,” Morris said.

“The field is opening up and will continue to open up,” said Jane McClain, a soon-to-be graduate of the program.

McClain currently is employed in surgery at Southeast Missouri Hospital. Beginning May 20, she will go to work as a family nurse practitioner with Dr. Jan Seabaugh, an ear, nose and throat specialist in Cape Girardeau.

“Due to physician shortages and rising health care costs, it is really a field to go into,” she said. “It is going to be a really exciting field.”

Meredith Johnson, another student to graduate from the program, said becoming a nurse practitioner will be like a whole new profession for her.

“Nurse practitioners are essentially a new force in health care and nursing professions,” said Leigh Little, a student in the program from Scott City, Mo.

Family nurse practitioners work in collaboration with physicians, taking a team approach to primary care. Most of these soon-to-be graduates, who are currently practicing nurses, will realize a significant salary increase due to their advanced degrees. Most also will receive a number of benefits, including coverage for malpractice insurance, continuing education, professional memberships and subscriptions to professional journals.

Southeast’s nurse practitioner track is designed to improve access for people living in health professional shortage areas or medically underserved areas in Southeast Missouri; to provide education regarding health promotion and disease prevention to this needy population; and to promote access to preventive services for all individuals living in Southeast Missouri.

McClain says she has been pleased with Southeast’s 42-credit hour program, which requires students to complete 720 hours of clinical work. She says Southeast’s program requires students to complete more clinical hours than other programs, which she views as an added benefit. Students in the program perform clinical work both in rural settings and in the University’s Center for Health and Counseling.

“I think it’s a very good program,” she said. “It provides a wonderful opportunity for nurses in this area, who otherwise used to have to travel to St. Louis or Memphis.”

Students in Southeast’s Master of Science Degree Program in Nursing received a boost in 1997 when the program was awarded a $717,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Professions. The grant paved the way for the Department to purchase expensive equipment for nurse practitioner education and has allowed University faculty to participate in national continuing education conferences.

The only statewide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages, the Missouri Humanities Council has served as the Missouri affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.

“Faulkner and Twain: A Conversation Between Texts,” to be held on the Southeast campus July 12-23, will be directed by Dr. Robert Hamblin, professor of English and director of Southeast’s Center for Faulkner Studies. An internationally recognized Faulkner scholar and the 1998 recipient of the Missouri Library Association’s Literary Award, Hamblin previously has directed seminars for both the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Missouri Humanities Council.

Any Missouri secondary of elementary teacher, as well as any librarian or administrator, is eligible to participate in the program. Participants will receive a $200 stipend and a waiver of tuition for three hours credit.

The seminar will examine race, class and gender issues in Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” Faulkner’s “Go Down, Moses,” and selected short stories.

More detailed information regarding the seminar may be obtained by writing the Center for Faulkner Studies, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 or by contacting Hamblin at (573) 651-2628.