Contact
Travis Zimpfer
(573) 882-6212
ZimpferT@umsystem.edu
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Today, University of ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº System President Mun Choi, University of ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº-Columbia Chancellor Alexander Cartwright, University of ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº-Kansas City Chancellor Mauli Agrawal, ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº University of Science and Technology Interim Chancellor Christopher Maples and University of ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº-St. Louis Chancellor Thomas George issued the statement below following the signing of Senate Bill 807 by ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº Governor Mike Parson.
“We fully support this legislation and thank Governor Parson and the leaders in the ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº House and Senate for their deep commitment to higher education in ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº. As the culmination of three years of work by ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº universities, lawmakers and higher education leaders, Senate Bill 807 grants greater flexibility to public universities. We have worked hard to ensure every university in the UM System remains affordable and provides access to students from all backgrounds, and we will continue to achieve this mission. This bill enables our universities to better adapt to economic downturns as we fulfill our commitments to students, faculty, staff and the people of ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº. Furthermore, the bill clearly states that the University of ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº System’s universities are the only public research institutions in the state and the sole providers of ‘research doctorates’ as well as degrees in professional schools like medicine, engineering, pharmacy, law and dentistry. This helps clarify the important role that our universities play in educating future professionals in a variety of fields to serve the citizens of ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº.
“Bill 807 will streamline how quickly the Department of Higher Education can approve programs that are already within an institution’s core mission. This allows changes to happen more quickly and helps universities be more responsive to needs in both the workforce and the student body, ultimately benefiting ÑÇÖÞÓ°Ôº citizens. Bill 807 is a renewed investment in the flexibility, responsiveness and fitness of higher education by our legislators and leaders, and we look forward to paying dividends on that investment.”
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Reviewed 2018-07-06