- Record enrollment of 31,314 students at the University of Missouri in 2009, with high academic quality and retention rates.
- MU has seen strong growth in research funding and ranks 12th nationally in life sciences funding from the National Science Foundation. It generates over $4.4 million in external research funds per week.
- A new $9.1 million life science business incubator was dedicated in May 2009 to help commercialize research from MU scientists. Products invented at MU have generated over $845 million in revenue.
9. Ranks 12th in the country in National Science Foundation life sciences funding (2007)
10. Accounts for 73% of R & D dollars flowing to MO public higher education (2007)
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12. Life Science Business Incubator $9.1 million facility in MU Research Park dedicated May 4 Funding Sources
13. Profitable Ag Experiment Station New study finds MU agricultural research network delivers highest return on investment in continental U.S. over 40 years
14. Lafferre Hall Dedication November 5 College of Engineering Estimated $63M in renovations still needed to prepare next generation of engineers (1st of 7 phases completed)
15. Consolidated Health Care System Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Harold Williamson is responsible for all academic, clinical and business operations of the University of Missouri Health System. MU Health System encompasses: MU Health Care’s statewide network of hospitals, clinics and telehealth sites University Physicians School of Medicine Sinclair School of Nursing School of Health Professions
23. The Mizzou Advantage Food for the Future New Media One Health, One Medicine: The Convergence of Human and Animal Health Sustainable Energy Understanding and Managing Disruptive and Transformational Technologies
We are pleased to have you with us today as we celebrate in very challenging times the strong partnership between the University of Missouri and alumni and friends. I believe this partnership is one of the strongest tools we have to help us through unprecedented times ahead.
We broke records this year in total enrollment and in the number of African-American, Hispanic, international, transfer and graduate students. We are especially proud that our students are becoming increasingly diverse.National ACT average is 21.1 and state average is 21.5.MU’s ACT average of 25.6 puts us in the 83rd percentile nationally (top 17%).Pat Morton says we can’t go back further to determine our very highest ACT average because they re-based scoring.Highest retention rate was 85.4% (2008).Highest graduation rate was 68.9 (2006). Our retention and graduation rates are about 2/3rds of the way down the list when compared to other AAU institutions.
We received national media attention recently for our Freshman Interest Groups, or FIGs.Students in Freshman Interest Groups live in the same residence halls and attend classes together. This fall, we had 110 FIGs with 1,823 students.These communities, which are models for other institutions around the country, provide a strong academic and social foundation for freshmen and higher retention (88.2%) and graduation rates (73.7% for 6-year rate) .
Explain “externally sponsored research.” (We are using most current figures available.)
Our new Life Science Business Incubator, which we dedicated on May 4th, will enhance our economic development efforts. Space in the Incubator will transition MU research to the marketplace. There’s room for 14 companies that require lab space and an additional 30 work spaces for individual entrepreneurs.First tenants:EquinosisPetScreen Terminus Energy Value Ag Centennial InvestorsMU owns the Incubator and the Missouri Innovation Center operates it.Source of funds: $3 million in federal grants, $2.8 million from private donors and $3.3 million from campus ($9.1 million total; 33,000 gsf)
A recent example of MU’s power as an economic engine:A new study from the University of Nebraska found that the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station delivered a 37% return over a 42-year period, the highest from any agricultural experiment station in the continental U.S. (every dollar invested brings $1.37 back).This means that new technologies developed in Missouri are very good for Missouri producers as they reduce costs and increase productivity in the state.The Missouri station, established at MU in 1888, operates a system of centers, farms and forests across the state. These function as outdoor laboratories for agricultural life sciences research and demonstration projects. The station specializes in enhancing the productivity of beef and dairy production, forestry, natural resource development, and numerous farm crops such as soybeans.
A November 5th dedication ceremony and open house was held at the College of Engineering’s newly completed four-story addition to Lafferre Hall.A $2 million federal grant and a $19 million bond approved by the Board of Curators in 2006 funded the project.The $21M College of Engineering undergraduate laboratories project is the initial phase of a much larger and much needed full renovation of Lafferre Hall estimated to cost an additional $63M. Lafferre Hall is a complex of eight buildings cobbled together over the years 1892-1991 with the majority of the footprint built well before 1950. Investment in Lafferre Hall is needed to ensure we provide the quality facilities and effective combination of resources that are absolutely critical for training our next generation of engineers and creating new technologies and systems to support the future economy of Missouri and the nation and the welfare and security of its citizens.
In August 2008, we reorganized our health care entities to form a single, unified system. Dr. Harold Williamson Jr., our Vice Chancellor for the University of Missouri Health System, is responsible for MU Health Care, the School of Medicine and University Physicians, Sinclair School of Nursing and the School of Health Professions. He serves as the operating executive responsible for all academic, clinical and business operations.Previously, Dr. Williamson led MU’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, which consistently ranks 2nd or 3rd in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. Our newest addition to MU Health Care is the University of Missouri Psychiatric Center, which opened in July (previously Mid-Mo).This reorganization has enabled our three schools and MU Health Care to better work together on patient care, teaching and research. It also has helped us meet our budget goals; we are projecting a positive bottom line of about $30 million for FY’09. However, this $30 million is not profit. It goes back into the schools, buildings, etc., which, in the long run, saves the state money.
Successful academic health centers are able to negotiate the intersection of academia and business. Our vision for the consolidated health system is partly a response to that. And our relationship with Cerner Corp. is an excellent example. MU and Cerner have collaborated for more than a decade to develop electronic patient medical records.New Tiger Institute for Health Innovation is positioning MU among the top health systems in the country for advanced patient-centered health care information technology.Cerner’s capital investment will support Activities required to achieve stimulus funding Expansion of research and development collaborations between Cerner and MU Advanced analytics for quality outcome initiatives Digital infrastructure that connects all MU Health Care hospitals, clinics and pharmacies (goal to eventually connect health care providers across the state)
The health status of Missouri’s urban residents is influenced by many factors, including income, education, race and ethnicity, cultural influences, environment and access to quality medical services. I’d like to give you a preview of a new program designed to improve access to health care.MU Extension’s Urban Initiative is developing impact teams to promote research and program development to reduce health disparities in the state. There will be three teams based in Missouri’s largest urban areas: St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield. Each will explore a different strategy.Health care access (Kansas city) – address barriers in seeking health care, including lack of health insurance, availability of clinics, and language and cultural differencesHealthier communities (St. Louis) – explore ways to increase access to fresh foods, safe recreational facilities, clean air and safe housing and neighborhoods.Work force development (Springfield) – Increase cultural competency in health care work force and promote medical education/careers for minority residents.
Although there are challenges ahead, we are still focusing on ways to invest in MU.Three years ago, the university community began discussions about how to increase MU’s stature and effectiveness based on current strengths. A task force was developed and members received input from hundreds within the university community and external constituents. The task force explored Mizzou’s “competitive assets” – things about MU that set it apart from other universities. Task force members identified five competitive assets that could be developed from those unique strengths. Collectively, we now refer to these assets as the Mizzou Advantage.The Mizzou Advantage now becomes a major thrust in our strategic planning.
The activities related to each competitive asset will be driven by a network of faculty members, centers, colleges, departments, corporate partners, other universities, etc. The networks will be very broad in composition. A set of certification programs will be created to meet educational needs.Currently, about $200 million is spent in these areas for faculty salaries, support staff, operational funds, grant support, scholarships and other student aid.Through Mizzou Advantage, MU will invest an additional $6 million a year to increase the impact of research and instructional activities. These efforts will result in more grants, opportunities to network with the most prominent scholars, and the ability to recruit renowned faculty members. All of this together will increase MU’s stature, have a major economic impact on the state of Missouri, create jobs and improve the quality of life for Missourians.
No presentation would be complete without mentioning our excellent athletic program. We currently lead the Big 12 in Academic Progress Rate for the fourth straight year, and 13 of our 20 sports recently posted a team GPA of 3.00 or better.We also are proud that our student-athletes won four 2008-09 championships (football, Big 12 North; and men’s basketball, women’s softball and women’s soccer all won their Big 12 tournaments). And just three weeks ago our soccer program won its first-ever Big 12 Conference regular-season championship.We’re looking forward to an outstanding basketball season. Last year, the Tigers reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and won a school-record 31 games.