Chancellor reports on 2007 UMSL activities

Chancellor Thomas George gave his annual report to the University of Missouri-St. Louis community on May 20. The report outlined recent updates for the university for the 2007 fiscal year.

The University ranked 5th this year on the Academic Analytics Faculty Productivity Index among small research universities.

"The research conducted by our prolific faculty has significantly contributed to new highs for external grant funding and attracting record numbers of master's and doctoral students to UMSL," the chancellor was quoted saying in a press release.

There has been a 75 percent increase in external grants in the last ten years totaling $31 million Also reported is a 160 percent increase in the last five years from private gifts that totaled $20 million this year.

Chancellor George announced there were several University records reached during the academic year, including 3,150 degrees awarded from the University; 63 of those doctoral degrees and 734 were master's degrees.

Master's degrees in Business Administration were highest in numbers at about 150 with Education having the largest amounts of doctoral degrees at 27. These numbers are not official until the end of the 2008 fiscal year in June. The doctoral and masters students was also at its highest this year.

Additionally, Express Scripts Incorporated will be building a second facility on the UM-St. Louis campus, according to the chancellor's report. This will increase the number of ESI. employees from 1,500 to 2,500.

Also on the agenda are the University's plans for a new optometry and nursing complex. "The thought process is to create a building that can house optometry and nursing," Bob Samples said. He added that there is not yet money on the table for the building of such a complex.

Samples said the location could be on north campus or on Natural Bridge. Funding for the new building could come from state, federal, or gift allowances to the University.

Planning is still underway for the renovation of UM-St. Louis' oldest installment, Benton-Stadler hall, for which $28.5 million from the MOHELA loan sale has been earmarked.

Additionally, new University of Missouri system President Gary Forsee sent out a system-wide email on May 28, 100 days into his term.Forsee said the experience as system president "has been quite a whirlwind for me," and has been busy visiting campuses, legislators, and "key stakeholders" involved with the success of the University of Missouri system.

Forsee outlined his priorities for the university in his message, beginning with needing to "engage stakeholders and all who love this university and care about its success."

Other priorities included accelerating the economic development of the university, strategizing to improve university rankings and being an efficient and transparent system.

Forsee noted the importance of making the university accessible and supportive to student needs. "Our students are the lifeblood of what we do," he said.