News Releases

A new master’s degree option at Missouri Western State University will prepare graduates for K-12 cross-categorical special education licensure from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This new Master of Applied Science in Assessment option will be available beginning this fall. “The need for effective educators who know how to teach students with mild or moderate disabilities becomes more critical every year,” said Dr. Dan Shepherd, chair of Missouri Western’s Department of Education. “Severe shortages of qualified special education teachers continue to persist locally, regionally, statewide and nationally, and this new option specifically designed to prepare graduates for state[Read More]

The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University has approved a balanced budget with no spending from reserves for fiscal year 2017-2018, but administrators caution that additional cuts may be necessary. “In response to a mid-year withhold of state appropriation in the current fiscal year, we have already taken a number of cost-saving measures,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “With a cut in state appropriation next fiscal year and a possibility of additional withholds, we will continue to emphasize efficiency.” The operating budget for 2017-2018 totals approximately $54.5 million. The budget includes a $3.2 million increase in revenue from[Read More]

Missouri Western State University announced the names of 332 students selected to the President’s Honor Roll for the spring semester 2017. Students who carried 12 hours or more for graded credit and earned a grade point average of 4.0 qualify for the honor. The Missouri Western students named to the President’s List are: Agency, Missouri Lucas Anderson, Hannah Gabriel, Jordan Shellenberger Alexandria, Virginia Amelia Cribb Amity, Missouri Jade Hahn, Delanie Maize Atchison, Kansas Mccown Leggett, Brittany Pickman, Elizabeth Rimmer Bellevue, Nebraska Dallace Hamel Belton, Missouri Sarah Bledsoe, Devin Braley, Aaron Person Bethany, Missouri Cody Osmon, Rebecca Prest, Kelsey Stephens, Jacob Wagner Bettendorf, Iowa Kayla Ruff Bevier, Missouri Candice Jenkins Blue Springs, Missouri Melody Johnson, Nick Jorgensen,[Read More]

Missouri Western State University announced the names of 537 students selected to the Dean’s Honor Roll for the spring semester 2017. Students who carried 12 hours or more for graded credit and earned a grade point average of 3.5 or better qualify for the honor. Missouri Western students named to the Dean’s List are: Agency, Missouri Miranda Biller, Jake Blessing, Brianna Burnett, Miranda Coleman, Angela Dennis, Wesley Sisk Amazonia, Missouri Miranda Clark-Poulson, Bobby Purcell Ankeny, Iowa Lauren Coon Atchison, Kansas Dillon Aversman, Brittany Hess, Allysen Owens, Jacob Teaford Barnard, Missouri Tyra Penton Basehor, Kansas Riley Trowbridge Belleville, Illinois Jordan Beishir Bellevue, Nebraska Nicholas Pavel Belton, Missouri Noah Baker, Madisan Wilson Bethany, Missouri Danielle Hayden, Devin Klindt Bevier, Missouri Francesca Lenzini, Jeremee Nute Blockton, Iowa Callyn[Read More]

Missouri Western State University’s Department of Biology is participating in the sixth annual Herp-o-rama, an event celebrating the diverse and unique lives of Missouri’s amphibians and reptiles, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, at the Remington Nature Center, located at 1502 MacArthur Drive in St. Joseph. Expect to see both native and non-native amphibians and reptiles, including an Eastern Cottonmouth, Copperhead, the state-endangered Prairie Massasauga Rattlesnake, large pythons as well as many other live specimens. Featured also will be a craft for the kids, hands-on opportunities to touch turtles, snakes and other creatures and hourly talks about amphibians[Read More]

The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University approved by telephone poll two bids for work in Popplewell Hall this summer. The board accepted the low bid of $144,960 from St. Joseph Plumbing and Heating for phase two of the installation of Daikin HVAC units on the first and second floors of Popplewell. The board accepted the low bid of $367,425 from Jim Walters Construction Company to do renovation work on the first and second floors of Popplewell. The work includes new fixtures, floor and ceiling tile replacement, painting walls and improvements to the restrooms. Both projects will be paid for by[Read More]

The Craig School of Business at Missouri Western State University announced that Jorge Belcher and Jacob Blaylock, who graduated with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degrees last month, have won business opportunities through the school’s franchise program. Blaylock and Belcher were the two finalists from a senior-level applied entrepreneurship class this spring who prepared business plans and presented them to a panel of judges that included Steve Craig, benefactor of the Craig School of Business, other business leaders, representatives from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Missouri Western graduates who won franchises in previous years. The plan was to award one[Read More]

In a trial effort to save utility costs, Missouri Western State University will go to a four-day work week for four weeks in June. The campus will be closed on four Fridays: June 9, 16, 23 and 30. The campus will also be closed on Monday, July 3 to extend the Independence Day holiday. “We hope that a four-day work week in June will provide most of our employees an added benefit while saving money,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “This is a one-time trial; we will evaluate our savings and our productivity to decide whether we continue, discontinue[Read More]

Kurt McGuffin, Missouri Western State University’s director of athletics since 2011, has accepted the position of director of intercollegiate athletics at the University of Tennessee at Martin. His last day at Missouri Western will be June 27. “Kurt has shown steadfast dedication to our student-athletes, coaches and the community,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “He has a lot to show for his time here, including facility improvements, the addition of six sports and the athletic and academic success of our student-athletes.” McGuffin became Missouri Western’s director of athletics on Oct. 31, 2011. The athletic department has produced six MIAA team[Read More]

The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University renewed its contract with Royall & Company to provide enrollment management support during a special meeting May 15. The contract renewal is for two years, fiscal years 2018 and 2019, with the ability to opt-out for the second year. Missouri Western contracted with Royall & Company last year to address ongoing enrollment challenges. Among other services, Royall has provided Missouri Western with an expanded pool of prospective students, helped the university communicate to those prospective students earlier in the college selection process and streamlined the university’s application process. Missouri Western will pay Royall[Read More]

Missouri Western State University’s Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation will offer two opportunities for youth to learn recreational skills that can be used throughout life for fun, health and fitness. The Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy, for children ages 8-12, and the Adventure Sports Academy, for children who have completed grades 6 through 8, will be held June 5-9. The Children’s Lifetime Sports Academy began in 1973. Instruction is offered from 1:30 to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Ages 8-10 receive introductory instruction in a number of lifetime sports. Ages 11 and 12 receive intermediate instruction, with an emphasis on[Read More]

Missouri Western State University honored ten employees who are retiring and ten award winners at its annual Faculty and Staff Awards and Retirement Reception on May 2. Award recipients were: Missouri Western Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence Pam Clary, assistant professor of social work and director of the BSW program Shauna Hiley, professor of chemistry Mark Mills, associate professor of biology Missouri Western Foundation Award for Staff Service to Students Susan Garrison, director, Center for Academic Support Missouri Western Foundation Award for Staff Service to Colleagues Hawley Rumpf, procurement card/employee reimbursement, Accounting Services Missouri Western Foundation Award for Staff Service to University Stacy Turner, special[Read More]

Marsha Dolan, coordinator of Missouri Western State University’s Health Information Management program, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Missouri Health Information Management Association during their annual meeting this month. Student Sara Maxey and alumna Darlisa Finney were also honored by the association. The Distinguished Service Award is MoHIMA’s highest honor. It is awarded to an individual whose record in the HIM field over many years is truly exceptional. Specifically, the nominee must have at least 10 years in the field, including various management positions, participation in MoHIMA or American Health Information Management Association committees, and service as a trainer or[Read More]

The Spring Commencement Ceremony for approximately 500 graduates of Missouri Western State University will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6 on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium. Stadium gates will open to guests at 9:30 a.m. The Missouri Western State University Alumni Association will hold a reception for graduates and their families following the ceremony in the home concourse area of the stadium. Connor Samenus, business major from Kansas City, Missouri, will give the student commencement address, “What It Means to be a Griffon.” In the event of inclement weather, the commencement ceremony will be held inside the Looney Complex[Read More]

The Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University approved tuition and room and board rates for the 2017-2018 school year. For undergraduate, in-state students, tuition will rise 2.4 percent, or $4.77 per credit hour, to $204.14 per credit hour. The increase is in line with limits set by state statute. All other rates, including out-of-state undergraduate and all graduate, online and KC Northland campus tuition rates, will rise between .5 and 2.5 percent. Room rates will increase between 2.5 percent and 3 percent, or $68 to $96 per semester, depending on the hall chosen. Board rates will increase between 2 and[Read More]

Missouri Western State University graphic design seniors will present their final portfolios at the 2017 Design Portfolio Review from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at the emPowerU campus, 518 S. 6th Street in downtown St. Joseph. The portfolio review is free. The public is invited to view the portfolios and visit with 12 seniors graduating from the graphic design program this spring. Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri[Read More]

Primitive structures created by students in Missouri Western State University’s 3d Design classes will be displayed in an open house from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, April 28. Light refreshments will be served. The open house is free and open to the public. The students have created primitive structures using only natural materials. The students researched primitive dwellings and survival manuals, then gathered downed trees and limbs and built eight structures that could be used for shelter in the wild. To get there, follow the signs outside of Agenstein Hall (about a five-minute walk), or head toward the woods across from the[Read More]

Dr. Julie Jedlicka, assistant professor of biology at Missouri Western State University, and faculty colleagues at Humboldt State University in California have won a $250,000 National Science Foundation grant to study the roles of birds, insects and climate change in the ecology of coffee production in Kenya. The International Research Experiences for Students grant will allow the researchers and students from each university to travel to Kenya for five weeks each year for the next three years. “This is another shining example of Missouri Western’s commitment to providing our undergraduate students with applied learning opportunities that are often not available at[Read More]

The Missouri Western State University Concert Chorale will participate in the final concert of the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra’s 2016-2017 Concert Series, “Mastery of Mozart and Beethoven,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 29 at the historic Missouri Theater in Downtown St. Joseph. The Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Elise Hepworth, will join the St. Joseph Community Chorus to sing Mozart’s final masterwork, his Requiem in D Minor, one of choral music’s most popular works for orchestra and voices. The St. Joseph Symphony is conducted by Rico McNeela, who is also director of orchestral studies at Missouri Western. For more information and tickets,[Read More]

The Department of Theatre, Cinema and Dance in the School of Fine Arts at Missouri Western State University will hold two events on Sunday, April 30 in the Potter Hall Theater. Spectrum: A Dance Showcase will be held at 2 p.m., and the Griffon Film Festival will be held at 7 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. Spectrum will include performances by Missouri Western dance students as well as community dancers who have applied. The Griffon Film Festival will feature students films created during the 2016-2017 school year. For more information, contact the Department of Theatre, Cinema and Dance[Read More]