HCS HB 132, 173, 117 & 48 -- CERTAIN STATE INSTITUTIONS OF
HIGHER EDUCATION

SPONSOR:  Cunningham, 86 (Wright)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Education
by a vote of 16 to 5 with 3 present.

This substitute changes the names of state colleges and
universities as follows:  Southwest Missouri State University
will become Missouri State University; Missouri Western State
College will become Missouri Western State University; and
Missouri Southern State College will become Missouri Southern
State University-Joplin.  No state funds may be used to effect
the changes of name.  The name change for Southwest Missouri
State University does not authorize any new academic programs.
Members of the board of regents for Missouri Southern State
College will be drawn from within a 60-mile radius of the
college's district.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the name changes for all three
institutions are a reflection of the natural growth and
development that higher education institutions undergo.  The
change from college to university is important in recruiting
students from and establishing relationships with institutions in
other countries, where "college" connotes secondary school.  Name
changes should help with attracting faculty, grants, and fund-
raising in general.  Thirty other states have both "University
of" and "State University" designations.  Dropping "Southwest"
from the university's title should not diminish the premier
status of the University of Missouri system.

Testifying for House Bill 48 were Representative Schaaf; Kevin
Callaway, Missouri Western State College student regent; and J.
David Arnold, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs,
Missouri Western State College.

Testifying for House Bill 117 was Representative Schaaf.

Testifying for House Bill 132 were Representative Wright; Barbara
Burns, Southwest Missouri State University Board of Governors;
Stephanie Schlue, Vice President, Southwest Missouri State
University Student Government Association; and Michael Goodart,
Jr., Southwest Missouri State University student.

Testifying for House Bill 173 were Representative Stevenson;
Julio Leon, President, Missouri Southern State College;
Representative Richard, Missouri Southern State College
Foundation.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that Southwest Missouri
State University's name change may have negative consequences for
Central Missouri State University; many of Southwest Missouri
State University's reasons for dropping the regional part of its
name also apply to Central Missouri State University.  It would
be better to wait to see what the newly appointed Governor's
Commission on the Future of Higher Education has to say before
making changes like these.

Testifying against House Bill 132 was Bobby Patton, President,
Central Missouri State University.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:10 am