COLUMBIA, Mo. — The University of Missouri System is celebrating the latest legislative session by thanking legislative leaders and Gov. Mike Parson for historic funding support during the 2022 legislative session. The state’s budget, the largest in Missouri’s history, increased the core funding of the System’s four universities to approximately $463 million, an increase of approximately $31 million.
“The University of Missouri System and our four universities are grateful to our elected leaders, who recognize the value investments in higher education bring not only to our students, but also to the state through transformative research, workforce development and economic impact,” said Darryl Chatman, UM Board of Curators chair. “These investments from the state will ensure we’re able to continue to deliver on our mission of excellence.”
As part of the System’s core funding, it received $94.7 million to support first professional doctorate degrees, $27.5 million funding for its land-grant mission as well as $74.8 million to support research and development operations.
In addition to increases in its core budget, the University of Missouri-Columbia also received additional one-time funding for three programs: the School of Law’s Family Violence and Criminal Prosecution Clinic received $400,000, the T.E. “Jake” Fischer Delta Research, Extension and Education Center for the Rice Breeders Association received $120,000, and the Graves-Chapple Extension and Education Center received $400,000.
“We are deeply grateful to our legislative leaders and Gov. Mike Parson for their continued support,” said UM President Mun Choi. “The investments they have made in our four universities ensures we can build on our momentum and create lasting impact in the communities we serve, the state of Missouri and beyond.”
American Rescue Plan funding
As part of the MizzouForward initiative, MU received $104 million to expand the university’s radiopharmaceutical center through the NextGen Precision Health initiative, MU Research Reactor and animal science teams. The T.E. “Jake” Fischer Delta Research, Extension and Education Center, which provides research and educational programs unique to the Southeast Delta region of the state, received $1 million for maintenance, repairs and capital improvements. Additionally, MU’s Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment received $31.5 million to support clinical services research and training. The Missouri Foundation Seed program, which works to increase and distribute agronomically superior varieties of seed, received $3.24 million.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City received $40 million for Health Sciences District development. The university will build a new teaching facility for health professions that will provide interprofessional training for future doctors, nurses, pharmacists and dentists. This will help increase primary care physician graduates by 25% to help address the state’s rural physician shortage. Additionally, an updated dental clinic will continue to offer significantly reduced rates to vulnerable populations
The University of Missouri-St. Louis received $40 million to establish a business and workforce district along the Natural Bridge Road corridor, consolidate programs and research in high-demand fields within that district. This will ultimately eliminate $36 million in facilities needs and reduce operating costs by $1 million annually through renovations and demolitions.
The Missouri University of Science and Technology received $41.25 million for the construction and renovation of the Missouri Protoplex, an advanced manufacturing research and development facility that will anchor the university’s manufacturing technology and innovation campus. The facility will provide shared space, equipment and technology to an ecosystem of manufacturers.
MOExcels Projects
The MoExcels Workforce Initiative of the Missouri Department of Higher Education funds programs that facilitate development and expansion of employer-driven education, training programs and initiatives to sustainably increase educational attainment. All four System universities received MOExcels funding to support educational programs
• | MU — $1 million for Advancing Adult Learning Paths. |
• | UMKC — $1.5 million for Student Career Paths (Mobility Escalators). |
• | Missouri S&T — $815,000 for Re-engineering Missouri’s STEM workforce. |
• | UMSL — $49,000 for Geospatial Workforce Development and $1 million for the Industrial Engineering degree program. |