UM, MSU officials to talk in Springfield
The campus officials will discuss joint academic programs.
Published Nov. 8, 2005
UM system officials, including President Elson Floyd, are scheduled to meet with their counterparts from Missouri State University today to discuss cooperative academic programs between the two universities.
"We will cover a wide range of possibilities, including undergraduate and graduate programs, research opportunities and other possibilities," said Paul Kincaid, chief of staff for MSU President Michael Nietzel.
The meeting, which will be held at the MSU campus in Springfield, Mo., will be closed to the public. UM system spokesman Joe Moore said similar meetings are frequently closed and officials would speak about the meeting when it was finished.
"I believe we'll be in a position after the meeting tomorrow to discuss progress that we may have made," Moore said.
Under legislation passed by the Missouri General Assembly last year that allowed MSU to change its name from Southwest Missouri State University, MSU is allowed to offer engineering and doctoral programs only in conjunction with another university. MSU must first approach the UM system to sponsor the programs.
If the university does not respond within one year, MSU can ask another school to sponsor the programs.
The law also says MSU cannot duplicate professional programs offered by UM system schools.
Moore said MSU "has expressed interest in expanding their graduate offerings."
"As stipulated in the name-change legislation approved last session, new doctoral programs offered on the MSU campus would be offered jointly with the University of Missouri," Moore said.
Moore said this is the first meeting between the two campuses' leaders since MSU changed its name in March.
"This is an initial meeting to examine the terrain they will be traversing as they explore creating joint programs in the region of southeast Missouri," Moore said.
Kincaid said the campuses have worked together in the past.
"The University of Missouri-Columbia has offered a doctorate program in educational leadership on the Missouri State campus for the past eight years," he said. "It has been very successful."
Kincaid said the cooperation has helped keep students in Missouri.
"Before 1997, it was more convenient for individuals to travel to the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville to get a doctorate in education," he said. "By offering the degree here, we keep Missouri talent in Missouri."
Kincaid said Nietzel would attend the meeting with representatives from the office of MSU's provost and the university's vice president for research and economic development.
Moore said Floyd would attend the meeting with the UM system vice president of academic affairs and the chancellor and provost from both MU and the University of Missouri-Rolla.