JOPLIN, MO (SNS) – At the Missouri Southern State University Board of Governors meeting on Feb. 17, the Board approved a resolution in support of Gov. Matt Blunt's recent Lewish and Clark Discovery Initiative.

The Initiative inolves the sale of some of the assets of the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA). The proceeds from the sale would support higher education capital projects, including the building of a new Health Sciences building on the Missouri Southern campus.

"We feel that the resolution will support Governor Blunt's dedication to making quality improvements to higher education in the state, one of which is the funding of the Health Sciences building," said Dr. Julio León, Missouri Southern President. "We hope to play an active role in supporting the Lewis and Clark Initiative," he added.

Dr. León said that the Lewis and Clark Initiative would positively impact both students at Missouri Southern State University and the entire area.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS RESOLUTION

WHEREAS Governor Matt Blunt has proposed the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative which seeks to capitalize MOHELA assets and invest the proceeds to the benefit of Missouri higher education, and

WHEREAS, in addition to providing much needed financial aid to Missouri students, the initiative would provide an infusion of funds for capital improvements at higher education institutions across the state, and

WHEREAS the list of capital projects includes the sum of $19.5 million for the construction of a Health Sciences Building on the campus of Missouri Southern State University, and

WHEREAS the new health Sciences Building would house programs in Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Dental Hygiene, Radiologic Technology, Medical Technology, Paramedics, Psychology, and Kinesiology, and

WHEREAS continued training and education of high quality health care professionals is of vital importance to Southwest Missouri area hospitals and the health care industry, and

WHEREAS the Joplin area hospitals and health care providers are the main source of health care services for the four-state region of Southeast Kansas, Northeast Oklahoma, Northwest Arkansas, and Southwest Missouri, and

WHEREAS the health care industry in the Joplin area is of vital importance to economic growth and development in the area,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that, on this day, February 17, 2006, the Board of Governors of Missouri Southern State University votes to express its strong support of the initiative that will provide $19.5 million in funding for the construction of the Health Sciences Building on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.

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