University of Missouri System

University of Missouri
	File:University of Missouri seal.png
Type	Public
Established	1839
Endowment	$893,419,000
President	Dr. Gordon H. Lamb (interim)
Academic staff	7,478 (Fall 2006)
Students	63,783 (Fall 2006)
Location	Columbia, Missouri, USA
Website	www.umsystem.edu

The University of Missouri is a public land-grant research university system. A centralized administrative structure provides support for four main, separately accredited universities and several other programs and facilities:

University of Missouri–Columbia (MU or Mizzou)
University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC)
University of Missouri–Rolla (UMR)
University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL)

The Columbia campus is the oldest and largest, offering the largest range of programs, while the Rolla campus emphasizes science, computing, mathematics and engineering. UMKC and UMSL, in addition to their undergraduate programs, offer several professional programs unique in the state, such as UMKC's School of Dentistry and UMSL's College of Optometry.

In addition to the four main campuses, the University has a state-wide extension program offering classes and resources at facilities in every county in the state and through Mizzou Online. The University also owns and operates an extensive health care system with several hospitals.

As part of its economic development mission, the University owns and operates five research parks to support high tech growth in the state: the Missouri Research Park in Weldon Spring, the Technology Park at Fort Leonard Wood in St. Robert, Innovation Park in Rolla, Discovery Ridge in Columbia and a developing research park on the campus of UMSL.

Mission

The University’s mission is to discover, disseminate, preserve, and apply knowledge. The University promotes learning by its students and lifelong learning by Missouri's citizens, fosters innovation to support economic development, and advances the health, cultural, and social interests of the people of Missouri, the nation, and the world.

In addition, each campus has specific missions.

Governance

The governing body is the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri, which consists of nine members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Missouri Senate. Curators serve six-year terms. Not more than one person can be appointed from the same congressional district, and no more than five curators can belong to the same political party. In addition, there is a non-voting Student Representative to the Board of Curators, likewise appointed and confirmed, who serves a two-year term. The post is rotated among the four campuses.

The Board of Curators selects the president of the University, who reports to the Board. The University’s interim president is Dr. Gordon H. Lamb. A nationwide search for a new president now is under way. Each campus is led by a chancellor, who reports directly to the University System president, as does the CEO of University of Missouri Health Care.

History

The University of Missouri was founded in 1839 in Columbia. It was the first public institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi River. It became a land-grant university after passage of the Morrill Act of 1862. In 1870, the University established the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla.

The system was created in 1963 when the University of Kansas City, which had been a private institution, was acquired and renamed UM–Kansas City. The same year UM–St. Louis, a new campus, was created. In 1964 the School of Mines was renamed UM–Rolla. Effective January 1, 2008, UM-Rolla will become Missouri University of Science and Technology.

For a detailed history of the University, see:

The University of Missouri, 1839-1939, by Jonas Viles, E.W. Stephens Co.
A History of the University of Missouri, by Frank Stephens, University of Missouri Press, 1939
The University of Missouri, An Illustrated History, by James and Vera Olson, University of Missouri Press, 1988.

Current Events

The University has created 266 new need-based scholarships by leveraging $4 million in unanticipated state funding with money from private donors. The endowed scholarships are earmarked for students on the four campuses with the greatest financial need. University of Missouri students received nearly $588 million in grants, loans, work programs, scholarships, fellowships and other aid in fiscal year 2006.

As part of efforts to hold down tuition increases, the University of Missouri is implementing a plan to generate some $20 million in administrative savings, representing a 16 percent reduction in administrative costs. The money will be redirected to not only help limit tuition increases, but also to directly benefit students by improving access and strengthening academic programs.

To better coordinate research and economic development activities the University of Missouri established the Office of Research and Economic Development to link campus researchers with emerging and existing firms from across the state. The office also serves as a conduit for local, state and federal agencies interested in strengthening the economy.

External links