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New bill cuts restrictions for universities to make graduate programs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Two bills, one introduced in each chamber, would make it easier for some of Missouri’s less well-known four-year universities to offer degrees.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, and Rep. Kevin Austin, R-Springfield, have filed legislation that would remove the development of cooperation between four-year colleges and universities as a condition to establish a graduate program, which should make it easier for schools not associated with the University of Missouri system (which can easily make agreements between its campuses) to establish graduate degree programs.

The bills, which are nearly identical would allow the governing boards ofUniversity of Central Missouri, Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri State University, Northwest Missouri State University, Missouri Western State University, Missouri Southern State University, Harris-Stowe State University, and Truman State University to independently create graduate programs.

Schmitt
Schmitt

Austin says many of these schools lack graduate programs in certain fields, and that status hurts Missouri’s chances at retaining students.

“We want all of Missouri’s public universities to be competitive in the educational marketplace, but not all of the state’s public universities can offer the advanced degree programs necessary to equip students for gainful employment,” Austin said in a statement. “This places Missouri at a competitive disadvantage when competing against other states for quality, affordable education. The overall result is fewer Missourians entering the workforce with the advanced education required for highly skilled jobs in the areas of agriculture, business, health, math, science and technology.”

Schmitt agreed.

Austin
Austin

“I am ready to help every college student in Missouri have access to the advanced degrees necessary to succeed,” Schmitt added. “Without the corrective actions found in this legislation, many of Missouri’s brightest minds are forced to leave the state to pursue an education and a career elsewhere.”

The bill already has one fan. The Missouri Foundation for Equity in Higher Education (MFEHE) supports the legislation because it eliminates barriers those schools, especially those in more rural areas, face.

“We applaud the efforts to remove these statutory prohibitions that put the State of Missouri at a competitive disadvantage when competing against other states for quality, affordable education,” said Jay Hahn, executive director of MFEHE.