HCS HB 777 -- State Institutions of Higher Education

SPONSOR:  Wright (Marsh)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
General Laws by a vote of 7 to 4.

This substitute renames Southwest Missouri State University as
Missouri State University.

It increases the number of members of the Missouri State
University's Board of Governors from eight to 10.  The substitute
also changes the name of Central Missouri State University to
University of Central Missouri.

The substitute specifies that the name change of any higher
education institution does not authorize the establishment of new
degree programs by procedures other than those established by
statute.  It also restricts Missouri State University from
duplicating the research, missions, professional doctoral
programs, and existing first professional programs of the
University of Missouri.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that Southwest Missouri State
University is no longer a regional university.  It now has
students from all 114 counties in Missouri, 48 states, and 80
countries.  Over the last 10 years, the university has doubled
the number of graduate programs.  They have also increased their
standards to selective admissions.  The name change will continue
to help the reputation of the university and recruit students and
faculty, as well as recruit new businesses to the Springfield
area.  The university has a good reputation in the state, but
changing the name would increase its reputation outside of
Missouri and encourage and increase alumni and private giving.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Marsh; Southwest
Missouri State University Board of Governors; Rafiel Warfield;
Thomas Strong; Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce; and
Southwest Missouri State University

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that there should be
justifiable reasons for a name change, such as something that
sets Southwest Missouri State University apart from other
regional universities.  They do not believe that there is a
justifiable reason in this situation.   This name change would
alter the structure of higher education in Missouri by creating
another tier of universities and could have an effect on how
funding is distributed in the future.  The University of Missouri
has historically been referred to as Missouri State University,
and the legislature can't give the name Missouri State University
to another institution.

Testifying against the bill were Associated Students of the
University of Missouri; Concerned Students of University of
Missouri-Columbia; University of Missouri Alumni Association; and
Central Missouri State University Board of Governors.

Amy Woods, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:13 am