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Ten Points of Emphasis with 2005–06 Outcomes
Provide quality graduate and professional education commensurate with the best of AAU
MU is one of only 34 public U.S. universities, and the only public institution in Missouri, to be selected for membership in the Association of American Universities Some examples that exemplify our national status include:
According to a November 2005 New York Times article, MU ranks 7th in the nation in the number of graduates who are chief executive officers of companies listed in Standard and Poor’s 500 Index. Examples include Gary Rainwater, BS EE '69, Ameren; Matthew Rose, BS BA '81, Burlington Northern; and Dave Novak, BJ '74, Yum! Brands. Two of the nation’s governors also are MU alumni.
MU Law School students have had the highest passing rate on the Missouri Bar Examination.
The New York Times announced in May 2006 that journalism graduate student Casey Parks was chosen from 3,800 applicants as the winner of the paper's essay competition.
MU creative writing graduate students Steve Gehrke and Nadine Meyer, husband and wife, each won a prestigious National Poetry Series award in 2005. Only five are awarded nationally each year.
Recruit and retain a growing number of quality undergraduate students
In fall 2006, MU welcomed the largest enrollment in its history: 28,285 students from every county in Missouri, every state in the nation and 100 countries. We expect growth in ethnic diversity at least this high and diverse next fall.
Mizzou’s six-year graduation rate of 68.9 percent is the highest it’s ever been and ranks first among the state's public institutions. The national graduation rate is 56 percent.
MU has more than 500 student-athletes involved in 20 sports in the state’s only Division I-A athletic program. Fifteen of the 20 sports qualified for post-season play last year. Academically, MU led the nation in the number of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients in 2005.
Strengthen quality infrastructure to ensure faculty productivity
MU currently has $314 million in building projects in design or construction. Projects include the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute; the renovation of Thomas and Nell Lafferre Hall, formerly known as Engineering Building East; a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory; the Clinical Support and Education Building in the School of Medicine; the Mid-Missouri Technology Business Incubator and the Research Reactor’s Cyclotron.
Attract and retain quality faculty from top AAU and other peer quality programs
MU attracted world-renowned scientist M. Frederick Hawthorne to MU this year to serve as director of the new International Institute for Nano and Molecular Medicine. Hawthorne, who comes from the University of California at Los Angeles, has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences since 1973.
Other MU faculty who are National Academy members are James Davis, professor emeritus of physiology; Linda Randall, professor of biochemistry; and Mike Roberts, curators professor of animal sciences and biochemistry, Gerald Perkoff and Jack Colwill, professors emeritus of family and community medicine.
Strengthen private fundraising to support key academic programs
The For All We Call Mizzou campaign reached its initial $600 million goal and has raised the bar to a new goal of $1 billion. So far, private gifts have supported 453 new scholarships and 66 endowed faculty positions. As of September 30, 2006 the campaign has reached 727 million or 73% of goal.
Enhance the quality of infrastructure for student experiences, residential life, athletics, and strengthen linkages with alumni
MU just opened four new residence halls on campus — the Southwest campus housing project and the College Avenue Housing complex — as part of the Campus Residential Life master plan, which will be complete by 2018
In September 2005, Sports Illustrated on Campus named the renovated and expanded Mizzou Student Recreation Complex as the No. 1 college facility in the country. MU students voted to increase their fees to pay for the $50 million complex, one of the ten largest facilities of its kind.
Mizzou’s Campus Dining Services received a 2005 Restaurants & Institutions’ Ivy Award, one of the most prestigious national honors for restaurants and food service operations. Past Ivy winners include Tony’s Restaurant in St. Louis, the Ritz-Carlton in Boston and the Rainbow Room in New York.
Provide leadership statewide for the economic role of the university-Land Grant role
MU’s $220 million of total research and development spending generated approximately $440 million in economic activity and supported 9,000 jobs last year. This means significant new dollars for the Missouri economy that create jobs and generate economic benefit for Missourians.
Improve campus climate for diversity, intellectual curiosity, and social concern
Five global issues forums were held on campus this year to stimulate conversation among the University family about intellectual and global issues.
MU has secured outside funding for projects designed to enhance campus diversity. MU received a $100,000 grant from Ford Foundation to develop a program to support scholarship, teaching and civil dialogue about challenging political, religious, racial and cultural issues in undergraduate education. Drs. Galen and Nilon secured a $600,000 NSF grant to provide undergraduate mentoring for under-represented minority students in environmental biology.
Develop clear path to strengthen and diversify the funding base for MU
While we were pleased to receive a 2 percent increase in state funding this year, MU must work hard to keep costs affordable for all qualified students. Since 2000, total student enrollment has increased by 20 percent while MU expenditures for financial aid have increased by 42 percent to $69 million. This figure does not include loans or employment.
Increase extramural research funding from diverse sources
Our Research and Development expenditures approximate $220 million annually with externally sponsored research approaching $180 million. MU ranks No. 1 among all institutions in the Association of American Universities in growth of federal research funding over the past decade.
