Southeastern University Announces Major Expansion

An architect's drawingshows a building planned in Southeastern University's latest expansion, which was approved Thursday.

LAKELAND | Southeastern University's board on Thursday unanimously approved plans for at least a $25 million expansion that will feature three new buildings, a track and field area, and a parking garage.

Executive Vice President Brian Carroll said the school has been growing exponentially, and it needs to build to accommodate that growth.

"We are just bursting at the seams," he said. "We have had to do all kinds of things to create space."

Student enrollment was about 2,500 in the fall of 2011, 3,400 last year and is now at 3,434. The school expects the student count to hit 4,200 next year, he said.

"This expansion is part of our master plan we have been working on for the last four years," Carroll said. "The first phase was the new stadium and the College of Natural and Health Sciences Building. This is phase two."

The $7.5 million SEU Fire football stadium is completed. The $6.5 million Natural and Health Sciences Building is well underway and is expected to be completed by spring.

The projected cost of the new plan ranges between $25 million and $50 million, depending on contributions and other factors.

The projects will be paid for partially with reserve funds, in part with loans and partly with contributions, Carroll said.

There will be expanded office space, new sports training areas and new dormitory rooms plus new sports teams.

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Southeastern University Announces Major Expansion