Southeast Missouri State University

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Tours

  1. Admissions Tour

    We are pleased to welcome you to Southeast Missouri State University! This guided tour will guide you to popular campus locations.

    Stops

    1. Academic Hall

      Academic Hall
      Welcome to Southeast Missouri State University! We're so glad you are virtually touring our campus.
       
      The tour begins at the iconic Academic Hall. Academic Hall has been the focal point of campus and the highest structure in the city of Cape Girardeau for more than 100 years.
       
      Academic Hall underwent a major renovation and reopened in 2013. While the building now boasts a refurbished copper dome and renovations, much of its unique character remains. This is especially apparent in the building's mezzanine, or the Dome Room. It offers a view of the historic chalked signatures within the footprint of the Dome, and features an enclosed walkway so Southeast students and alumni can continue to leave their mark on their alma mater.
       
      As a Redhawk, there's a good chance you'll have the opportunity to visit Academic Hall. It's home to several offices including the Registrar's Office, the Office of Admissions, Student Financial Services, Career Services, and even the President's Office.

    2. Kent Library

      Kent Library

       

      Our next stop is Kent Library, home to a rich collection of print and multimedia materials in addition to an online subscription database of over 6,600 magazines and scholarly journals. Students also have access to more than 17 million books through MOBIUS.
       
      Kent Library is also home to these unique areas:

    3. Houck Stadium

      Houck Stadium 
      Home of the defending OVC champion Redhawk Football and OVC champion Women’s Soccer teams.

      A brand new, state-of-the-art 32’ x 52’ videoboard was added in Spring 2020, one of the largest in the OVC.

      With a capacity of 10,000, there's plenty of room for fans to pack the stands. Current students have free admission to all regular-season home games held at Houck when they show their valid Redhawks ID at the student gate.

    4. Houck Field house

      Houck Field House
      Home of the defending OVC Tournament Champion Redhawks Volleyball team and a nationally-ranked Gymnastics team. Current students have free admission to all regular-season home matches and meets when they show their valid Redhawks ID at the door.

    5. Merick Hall

      Merick Hall
       
      Merick Hall sits conveniently close to Kent Library and the University Center. Rooms on the east side of the building have a great view of Houck Stadium with windows directly overlooking the field.
       
      Merick Hall offers double-occupancy suite-style living, with in-hall access to an open computer lab and Houck's Place, a campus dining facility included in a student's meal plan.
       
      Students who live in Merick Hall have access to a basement lounge and laundry room, no quarters required! There is no extra laundry machine charge at Southeast.

    6. Vandiver Hall

      Vandiver Hall 
       
      Vandiver Hall is a five-story residence hall on the south side of campus. It sits conveniently close to Kent Library, the University Center, and Houck Stadium.
       
      Vandiver Hall offers double-occupancy suite-style living with a large living room and kitchenette on each floor. Each floor also has a designated study room designed for 8-10 students to work on group projects, have a study session, or practice presentations.
       
      Vandiver Hall's laundry facilities are open for students to use free of charge.

    7. University Center

      University Center 
       
      The University Center (commonly called the UC) is a popular spot for students looking to grab a bite to eat or meet up with friends.
       
      The UC is home to Starbucks, Panda Express, Chick-fil-A, and offers other favorites like burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizza, sushi, and more; including the Copper Dome Cafe.
       
      Student organizations, area employers, and campus offices and departments hold different events and activities on the main floor of the UC during Common Hour. It's hard to tell what you'll see, but it's not uncommon for there to be puppies to pet crafts to do, and games to play over your lunch break, especially on Wednesdays.
       
      You'll also find other offices and services in the UC, including Greek Life, Campus Life, the Southeast Bookstore, U.S. Bank, and more.

    8. Grauel Building

      Grauel Building 
       
      Grauel Building, which opened in 1967 at the corner of Normal and Pacific, under went a renovation in 2016.
       
      Grauel is an academic building where a variety of mass media, communication, and English courses are taught, among others.
       
      The Grauel Building is also home to Rose Theatre.
       
      Dr. Harold Oscar "H.O." Grauel devoted 43 years to Southeast Missouri State University and the Cape Girardeau community. He grew up in Ohio and moved to Cape Girardeau after college to teach at Southeast Missouri State University (formerly Southeast Missouri State Teachers College and Southeast Missouri State College). He was an English professor from 1928 until his retirement in 1971. He died in 1995.

    9. Crisp Hall

      Crisp Hall 
       
      Crisp Hall is an academic building most recognized as home to Southeast's nursing program. The building recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation in 2020 and opened with new labs designed to replicate a real hospital.
       

    10. Carnahan Hall

      Carnahan Hall 
       
      Carnahan Hall is the oldest building on campus, originally constructed in 1901 as a science building. Since 1979, the building has been used as a Social Science and History Hall. The building was closed in 1994 for a complete interior renovation and reopened in the fall of 1998. At that time, the 22,000 square foot building was named after congressman and US ambassador Albert Carnahan. Albert was a Southeast alum and father to the late Governor Mel Carnahan.
       
      Classes taught in this building include history, anthropology, political science, philosophy, and religion.

    11. Serena Building

      Serena Building 
       
      Serena Building, which is often recognized for its large clock tower, was originally built as the University’s manual training facility. Constructed between 1905 and 1909, the building was named after Southeast’s eighth president, Joseph A. Serena. The east and west additions to the building were added in 1962 and 1983.
       
      Art classes are commonly taught here.
       
      The Serena Building is also home to KRCU 90.0, Southeast Missouri's NPR station.

    12. Brandt Hall

      Brandt Hall 
       
      Brandt Hall (sometimes still referred to as Brandt Music Hall) is an academic building that houses the Department of Criminal Justice, Social Work and Sociology as well as Southeast's Military Services offices.
       
      Many students use Brandt Hall as an easy shortcut from the north to the south side of campus to avoid Cardiac Hill.

    13. Gum Tree & Cardiac Hill

      Gum Tree & Cardiac Hill 
       
      Many generations of Southeast alumni will relate to today's students' struggle of climbing Cardiac Hill to get to class in a hurry. The steep incline behind the Towers Complex was dubbed "Cardiac Hill" by the football team years ago when they sprinted up it for training. They often complained they felt like they were going to have a heart attack from the strenuous trek up the hill at the end of the day.
       
      The Gum Tree is a Southeast landmark that sits at the top of Cardiac Hill. The Gum Tree (the third) has been around since… well we’re not sure. And we’re not sure where the tradition of sticking a chewed wad of gum to a tree trunk began either.
       
      Some say it started during the era of Southeast President Mark Scully who frowned upon students chewing gum on campus. They didn’t want to be caught with it, so they discarded it before they walked to class. Others suspect as students reached the top of Cardiac Hill, they were too tired to even chew it anymore and just ditched it on the spot. Regardless of why the tradition began, students have carried on the tradition to this day.
       
      The original tree died and was replaced in 1989 and was replaced again in 2018 when it fell during a storm. It was replaced once more after that with a sculpture made of metal rods to resemble a tree, created by the SEMO Art and Design Department.

    14. Towers Complex

      Towers Complex
       
      The Towers Complex (usually just referred to as "Towers") consists of four separate residence halls, two dining facilities, a 24-hour computer lab, an eSports arena, and more.
       
      Towers North offers four-person and two-person suite-style living, available to both new and returning Southeast students.
       
      Towers East community-style residence hall, meaning each floor shares a bathroom and shower room with private stalls. Each room has a desk, closet, and bed for each student with a shared dresser and sink in the room. 
       
      Towers South is an Upperclassman, single occupancy, community-style residence hall. Each floor is gender-specific and residents share a bathroom and shower room with private stalls.
       
      Towers West offers four-person and two-person suite-style living, available to both new and returning Southeast students.

    15. Group/Greek Housing

      Group/Greek Housing
       
      The Group/Greek Housing community consists of five buildings adjacent to the Towers Complex. The community-style living is reserved for active members of Southeast's Greek chapters and theme community student groups.
       
      Around 10% of Redhawks are involved in Greek life. Learn more about going to Greek or Special Interest Housing.

    16. Polytechnic Building

      Otto & Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building 
       
      The Otto & Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building is an academic building on the north side of campus.
       
      The 60,000-square-foot building has the finest classrooms, laboratories, and equipment in an ergonomic setting designed to promote student learning. Among the facilities available to students are labs for automated manufacturing, materials testing, industrial controls, telecommunications, networking, and electronics, as well as a Technology Resource Center to promote interaction with area industries.

    17. Recreation Center

      Recreation Center
       
      Just across the bridge from the Polytechnic Building, you'll find the Student Recreation Center and Aquatic Center. Here, you can take a group fitness class, find information about joining an intramural sport, climb the rock wall (on dry land or in the pool!), or just stop by to get active between classes.
       
      Your membership is included as a Southeast student, so you can visit as little or as often as you like.

    18. Show-Me Center

      Show Me Center
       
      As a part of the same complex, the Show-Me Center is a shared venue between Southeast and the City of Cape Girardeau. A variety of events including national concert tours, trade shows, and athletic games are held here. The Show Me Center is home to Redhawks Basketball.
       
      This is where you'll attend New Student Convocation before your freshman year, and where you'll walk across the stage in your cap and gown at Commencement.
       
      Across the parking lot is the Department of Public Safety which houses our Campus Police Department in partnership with the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

    19. International Village

      International Village
       
      The International Village serves as a hub for internationally-related activities on campus. In addition to being the home for the Office of International Education and Services and the Intensive English Programs, the International Village provides different venues for people from the campus and community to gather to share and learn about the world around us and among us.

    20. LaFerla Hall

      LaFerla Hall
       
      LaFerla Hall is conveniently located near the Towers Complex, the Student Recreation Center, and the largest parking garage on campus.
      LaFerla Hall is a suite-style community with double occupancy rooms connected by a shared entrance and bathroom. The residence hall has multiple small living rooms throughout the building, a large game room/kitchenette, a laundry room, and multiple study lounges on each floor.

    21. Johnson Hall

      Johnson Hall 
       
      Johnson Hall is an academic building. It serves as home to the Department of Mathematics.

    22. Magill Hall

      Magill Hall 
       
      Magill Hall of Science is an academic building with multiple labs including a Magnetic Materials Lab, Forensic Chemistry Lab, DNA Analysis Lab, and Microwave Spectroscopy Lab.
       
      Stop by Magill Hall's open courtyard space for a study break!

    23. Rhodes Hall

      Rhodes Hall 
       
      Rhodes Hall is also home to multiple labs including the Electronics Lab, Geoprocessing Lab, and Powder X-Ray Diffraction Lab.

    24. Dempster Hall

      Dempster Hall 
       
      Dempster Hall is one of the finest comprehensive facilities in the state of Missouri to support undergraduate business programs.
       
      Dempster Hall is also home to Southeast's Cyber Range and the new experiential lab.

    25. Scully Building

      Scully Building 
       
      Along with housing the EDvolution® Center, the Scully Building is home to education, psychology, and counseling classrooms.

    26. Parker Building

      Parker Hall 
       
      The Parker Building is home to the Allied Health, Kinesiology, and Sport Science department. It also features a Dasherboard Court on one end of the building and Parker Gym gymnastics facility on the other.

    27. Memorial Hall

      Memorial Hall
       
      If you need help with anything, chances are you're going to find it in Memorial Hall. This building houses the Information Technology Help Desk and the Jane Stevens Honors Program.

    28. Rust Media Center

      Rust Center for Media
       
      The Rust Center for Media is 13,000 square feet of innovative media laboratories in the heart of Downtown Cape Girardeau's Media Row.
       
      It's home to The Arrow, Southeast's student newspaper; SECreative, Southeast's student advertising firm; Riverfront PR, Southeast's student public relations firm; and TV studios.

    29. River Campus Main Complex

      River Campus 
       
      The River Campus is home to the Earl and Margie Holland College of Arts and Media, a world-class entertainment venue for student and touring performances. The River Campus is the only campus dedicated solely to art, dance, music, and theatre in Missouri.
       
      It houses the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall, the Rosemary Berkel and Harry L. Crisp II Southeast Missouri Regional Museum, the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre, and the Robert F. and Gertrude L. Shuck Music Recital Hall as well as the historic Seminary Building.

    30. Dobbins River Campus Center

      Ken and Jeanine Dobbins River Campus Center 
       
      Ken and Jeanine Dobbins River Campus Center Residence Hall is a residence hall designed with arts students in mind. The hall features its own fitness center and dining facility for busy students who may not have time to travel to the main campus between projects and rehearsals. Residents also have access to practice studios for music, theatre, and dance, accessible any time creativity strikes.
       
      This residence hall is a suite-style community with double occupancy student rooms connected by a shared entrance, kitchenette, living room, bath, and shower room. Rooms on the east side of the building have a scenic view of the Mississippi River.
       
      While Dobbins is ideal for arts majors, students can choose to live here regardless of major.

    31. End of Tour

      You've seen the highlights, but there's still a lot to explore! Find more info about scholarships, majors, and more at semo.edu/admissions