SMSU Agree to Offer Joint Master's Program Missouri Southern News Bureau FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2004 Contact: Dr. Julio León (417) 625-9501 E-Mail: News Bureau Voice: (417) 625.9399 FAX: (417) 625.3142 |
JOPLIN, MO (SNS) - Missouri Southern State University continues to move toward increasing educational opportunities. Local residents will be able to enroll in a Master of Arts in Teaching degree program offered jointly by Missouri Southern State University and Southwest Missouri State University. On Monday, Nov. 29, the MSSU Board of Governors approved a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect during its regular monthly meeting. The SMSU Board gave its nod to the agreement on Nov. 19. The 17-point agreement identifies the obligations and duties of each institution in providing the degree program Dr. Richard McCallum, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Missouri Southern, says the Missouri Department of Education must give the final green light to the degree program He says if the Department approves the request, the joint program is expected to begin in the summer of 2005. The joint degree program is a result of Senate Bill 55. Sponsored by Sen. Gary Nodler (R-Joplin) and passed in 2002, SB 55 authorizes Missouri Southern and other state colleges and universities that do not offer graduate programs to enter into agreements to provide graduate programs to citizens of their regions. Further, the bill authorizes the Coordinating Board of Higher Education to “promote and encourage” the development of such cooperative programs. “We want to provide students in our area with the graduate-level programs they want and need,” said MSSU President, Dr. Julio León. “This program will allow MSSU and SMSU to combine their strengths to benefit the people of Southwest Missouri and the Four-states region," he added. “This is just another example of what Missouri Southern’s University status is bringing to the table for the people of our area,” Dr. León stated. The 39-hour program will be delivered through traditional or distance education format. Teaching of the courses will be shared. |
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