News Releases

Due to hazardous road conditions, Missouri Western State University is closed and classes are cancelled Wednesday, Jan. 23.[Read More]

Because of anticipated winter weather, Missouri Western State University's campus will be closing at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22. All classes scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. or later are cancelled.[Read More]

Missouri Western State University will honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. with MLK Week activities Jan. 21-25. Monday, Jan. 21: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, campus closed Tuesday, Jan. 22: “We Are the Change Table” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Blum Student Union Lobby. Students will have the opportunity to sign a banner and take a photo. Wednesday, Jan. 23: MLK Drum Major for Justice Banquet, 6 p.m., Enright Community Room, Spratt Hall rooms 214-216. Drum Major for Justice Awards will be presented to a student, employee and community member.[Read More]

In a telephone poll Tuesday afternoon, the Board of Governors at Missouri Western State University approved the naming of the playing surface in the MWSU Fieldhouse after Hall of Fame men’s basketball coach Tom Smith. Effective Feb. 16, the floor will be named Tom Smith Court. The court naming will officially be unveiled in the Griffons’ regular season home finale on Saturday, Feb. 16 against Central Missouri. A ceremony will take place at halftime of the men’s game that afternoon with an open reception taking place after the men’s game. Fans in attendance that afternoon will receive a memento commemorating[Read More]

Selected prints from a large collection that has been donated to Missouri Western State University will be on exhibit in the Potter Art Gallery Jan. 14 through Feb. 15. An opening reception will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14 in the gallery. The collection donated by Dr. William Eickhorst, professor emeritus of art, and his wife Edith, includes more than 1,000 prints by a variety of artists, including Renoir, Matisse, Cezanne and Warhol. The Eickhorsts will be in attendance at the reception. The Potter Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.[Read More]

The Bushman Planetarium inside Agenstein Hall will host a public showing of “Journey to the Stars” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17. Witness the life and death of stars in our sky, including our own sun. Extraordinary images captured by telescopes on Earth and in space, combined with stunning never-before-seen images of physics-based simulations, will launch you through time and space for an incredible trek through our night sky. Tour stellar formations, explore new celestial mysteries and discover the fascinating story that connects us all to the stars. Those who come along for the journey may never see the sky in[Read More]

Dr. Cale Fessler, vice president for financial planning and administration, is leaving Missouri Western State University to accept the position of associate vice chancellor of budget and financial planning at the University of Arkansas. His last day will be Friday, Feb. 1. “I would like to thank Dr. Fessler for his years of excellent service at Missouri Western,” said Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s president. “These have been very challenging financial times, and Cale and his team have met the challenge with creativity and perseverance. I wish him the best of luck in this next chapter of his career.” Dr. Fessler came[Read More]

Missouri Western State University is extending an invitation for formal revenue bids on nine different sections of land for the cutting of hay for the 2019 crop year. Bids must be mailed or delivered in person; they are due by 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. There will be a mandatory pre-bid meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15 in the Physical Plant breakroom, located on Missouri Western’s West Campus. Missouri Western staff will provide more details about the parcels of land and answer any questions. Bid packets are available under the “Current Bids” tab at missouriwestern.edu/purchasing/. Packets can also be sent[Read More]

The Winter Commencement ceremony for Missouri Western State University will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15 in the arena of the M.O. Looney Complex. The commencement speaker will be Dr. Daniel Shepherd, chair and associate professor of education. The ceremony is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and doors will open at 9:45 a.m. For those unable to attend, Commencement will be streamed live online at griff.vn/fa18grad. The MWSU Alumni Association will host a free reception for graduates and their families after the ceremony in the Looney Small Gym. Other commencement-related activities include: International[Read More]

Downtown St. Joseph businesses invite Missouri Western State University students to come downtown and see the holiday lights, shop and be entertained during the Griffon Block Party from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. The first 100 students get free Frito Pies and hot cocoa with student ID at the concession stand at 7th and Felix Streets. The Griffon Block Party will include a celebration of Missouri Western football’s victory last Saturday in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl in Texarkana, Arkansas. Mayor Bill McMurray will present a proclamation to Coach Matt Williamson and the team at 7 p.m. in[Read More]

The Department of Music in the School of Fine Arts at Missouri Western State University will hold the fourth annual President’s Holiday Gala at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 in the Fulkerson Center. Admission is one can of non-perishable food for Missouri Western’s Campus Cupboard, the student food pantry. The President’s Holiday Gala rings in the holiday season with performances by all ensembles in the Department of Music. This year, the gala will also be a celebration of the work and legacy of Dr. Robert Vartabedian, who will retire next summer after 11 years as Missouri Western’s president. For more information, contact[Read More]

The Bushman Planetarium at Missouri Western State University will offer public showings of “Mystery of the Christmas Star” several times in December. The planetarium is located inside Agenstein Hall. “Mystery of the Christmas Star” journeys back over 2,000 years to Bethlehem seeking to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus. This modern retelling of the Christmas story is sure to charm and captivate audiences of all ages. “Mystery of the Christmas Star” will be shown at 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 3; Friday, Dec. 7; Tuesday, Dec. 11; Thursday, Dec. 13; and Wednesday,[Read More]

The Legal Studies Association at Missouri Western State University is sponsoring two events on Nov. 29 in celebration of International Human Rights Day. Both events are free and open to the public. Human Rights Fair, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Blum Student Union, first and second floor lobbies. Approximately 30 posters from social work, criminal justice and legal studies classes will be displayed. Students are working on projects in several classes including readings and research related to local and global human rights issues. Panel Discussion, 1 p.m., Hoff Conference Rooms, Blum Student Union 218-219. This panel, titled “Myanmar[Read More]

The Chamber Singers at Missouri Western State University will perform in St. Joseph with ensembles from area high schools on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 29 and 30. “This annual concert series provides the opportunity for high school students and university students to collaborate and share their love for choral music,” said Dr. Elise Hepworth, director of choral activities and music education. The concerts are at: 7 p.m. Nov. 29 with the Raytown Chamber Choir, conducted by Alex Kolster, at Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church, 5502 Frederick Avenue 7 p.m. Nov. 30 with the Staley High School Chamber Choir, conducted by Tracy Resseguie, at[Read More]

The Department of Theatre, Cinema and Dance in the School of Fine Arts at Missouri Western State University presents “Short and Sweet,” a collection of short plays and films directed by students and faculty, Nov. 29-Dec. 2 in the Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall room 101. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $10 for Missouri Western faculty and staff, $6 for students and free for Missouri Western students with valid ID. Tickets may be purchased at the door, or in[Read More]

The Bushman Planetarium at Missouri Western State University presents a public showing of "Nine Planets and Counting" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13. The planetarium is located inside Agenstein Hall. “Nine Planets and Counting” gives viewers a tour to explore the variety of objects that populate our solar system. Along the way, we’ll examine each planet individually and then step back to look at the big picture: rocky worlds compared to gas giants and more. What is a planet, anyway? The answer may surprise you. The Bushman Planetarium features a Digistar 4 projection system and a dome that is tilted slightly, rather[Read More]

The Potter Art Gallery at Missouri Western State University celebrates the sixth Annual MWSU Juried Art Student Exhibition with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9. The exhibition will run November 5-30, with the gallery open for viewing Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and during events in Potter Theater. The reception and exhibition are free and open to the public. The exhibit features a selection of artwork by students currently enrolled in Art Department courses. This year's exhibition was juried by Eric Dodson, director of Kiosk Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri. The following students had artwork[Read More]

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has appointed Kayla Schoonover of Fairfax, Missouri, and Lee Tieman of St. Joseph to the Missouri Western State University Board of Governors. Schoonover earned a Bachelor of Science in Recreation from Missouri Western. She has worked for the Mound City R-2 School District since 1998 and is currently a special education instructor, head volleyball coach and athletic trainer. Before her teaching career, she worked at Missouri Western as an assistant athletic trainer, head softball coach and assistant women’s basketball coach. She previously served briefly on the board in 2016. Schoonover fills a term that has been vacant[Read More]

The public is invited to a forum with the firm helping coordinate the search for Missouri Western State University’s next president. Dr. Garry Owens and Kimberly Templeton, executive search associates with AGB Search, will be on campus to meet with students, faculty, administrators, alumni and community members to learn more about what Missouri Western is looking for in its next president. The public is invited to an open forum as part of the process at 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 5, in the Kemper Recital Hall, Spratt Hall room 101. Those who are unable to attend or who would like to provide additional[Read More]

The seventh annual Walk for the Homeless will be held on Friday, Nov. 2 in Downtown St. Joseph. Check-in begins at 4 p.m. at Sixth and Messanie, with the walk starting at 4:30 p.m. The walk will follow the migration path followed by the homeless to access services downtown. The walk raises awareness and funds for the Downtown Health Center’s Homeless Fund to help the homeless in our area with transportation costs, medical expenses, job searching and miscellaneous needs. Registration is $20, and includes a t-shirt. Participants can register in advance at runsignup.com/Race/MO/StJoseph/WalkfortheHomeless. Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing[Read More]