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University of Missouri Facts (PDF 8.4 MB)
An important national conversation on the future of higher education is underway, led by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, University of Missouri President Elson S. Floyd told curators at the Oct. 6 board meeting in Kansas City.
Spellings recently released an “action plan” based on a report by the U.S. Commission on the Future of Higher Education. Recommendations from the report fall into three categories: access, affordability and accountability.
The University of Missouri is keenly focused on access, Floyd said, and has changed some of its admission policies to reflect that.
“We want our institution to be the institution of first choice,” he said. An enhanced admissions policy approved by the board last year guarantees admission to high-achieving Missouri students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class, complete the college preparatory course-work and take the appropriate standardized test.
“We also are maintaining the affordability of our institution, doing all that we can to control and contain our costs and making sure that we are directing those resources toward the highest priorities — for us that is teaching and research responsibilities,” Floyd said.
The administrative streamlining plan, in which the University will redirect some $20 million in administrative funds, is consistent with the report. About $18 million will be directed to priorities that benefit students, with the long-term objective to improve efficiency and control future tuition increases without compromising quality.
“Accountability is crucial for what we do both now and into the future,” he said. “The University will never waiver from our accountability to the public.”
Floyd said the next board meeting will include a roundtable of key individuals to discuss the report and the impact it could have on the University of Missouri.