March Board Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2007
Dr. Julio León
(417) 625-9501

 

JOPLIN, MO (SNS) – Members of the Board of Governors at Missouri Southern State University learned today that the Higher Learning Commission has approved the creation of a joint degree in Criminal Justice between Missouri Southern and Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

 

Dr. Richard McCallum, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Missouri Southern, told Board members that graduate classes could begin as early as this fall.

 

He said that a total of approximately 35 students are engaged in master’s degree programs at Missouri Southern but said that number should increase dramatically when the Criminal Justice degree program becomes a reality.

 

Dr. McCallum also told Governors that plans are underway for a joint commencement ceremony in May with Missouri State University. He said the first-ever cohort of Master of Arts in Teaching degree students will graduate this spring. The joint degree between MSSU and MSU was one of the first graduate programs created after Missouri Southern was elevated to University status in 2003.

 

Missouri Southern State University President Dr. Julio León gave Board members an update on a visit made by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt to the MSSU campus earlier today. Dr. León said the Governor visited the campus to express his support for proposed Senate Bill 389, a measure that would vastly increase in the total number of need-based financial aid packages.

 

Dr. León said at this time approximately 183 students at MSSU are receiving about $200,000 in need-based funding. He said the passage of the bill would increase that number to 900 students receiving $1.8 million at MSSU alone.

 

“The financial aid part of the Senate Bill is quite significant to us,” Dr. León said.

 

The Student Senate representative to the Board, Eric Norris, told the Board that ticket sales have been brisk for the “Cross Canadian Ragweed” at Missouri Southern. He said $8,000 in tickets have been sold with over two weeks of sales remaining before the concert on April 18.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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