During Friday's meeting of the Southeast Missouri State Board of Regents in St. Louis, the board approved the addition of a Priority One objective for the strategic plan to deal with athletics.

The item becomes one of six Priority One areas. More detailed steps to meet the goal of the objective will be outlined prior to the board's next meeting in December.

University president Dr. Kenneth Dobbins said he supported the objective and that it was approved by unanimous consent of the board.

The objective reads:

"Evaluate and enhance the quality of all athletic programs, including providing opportunities for student participation as both student athletes and fans; strengthening and enhancing funding and facilities; enhancing the educational experience, retention and graduation rates of student athletes; and cultivating meaningful relationships with fans and benefactors."

The university, as part of its strategic planning process, contracted with Carr Sports Associates in the early part of this year to provide an athletics department review and make recommendations.

The review was completed in the spring and included a number of Title IX areas that were addressed. It also recommended some restructuring of the athletics department to provide another administrator to assist the athletic director in external issues such as fundraising and marketing.