UMSL Chancellor Tom George
Tom George, chancellor of the University of Missouri–St. Louis, announced today a gift of $500,000 from Ameren Corporation to benefit construction of a new building for the College of Business Administration. He also announced a new five-year contract to continue the UMSL/Washington University Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program. Speaking before a crowd of nearly 700 people at America’s Center downtown, George delivered the 34th annual Chancellor’s Report to the Community.
UMSL hopes to raise $25 million in gifts and pledges for the business college for construction of a $15 million building and $10 million in endowed professorships and scholarships. The business building campaign is part of the university’s larger Gateway for Greatness Campaign, which seeks to raise $100 million by 2012.
“This gift will help ensure that UMSL continues to provide St. Louis with innovative, award-winning academic programming and diverse alumni who assume leadership roles in companies and organizations large and small,” George said.
Created in 1993, the joint engineering program was the first of its kind in the nation. Students complete general education and pre-engineering classes at UMSL and then complete upper level engineering classes at Washington University in St. Louis. Civil, electrical and mechanical degrees are granted by UMSL and students pay UMSL tuition.
In his address, George also reported:
* Record enrollment this year of 16,548 students with a 10 percent increase in first-time, full-time freshmen. Graduate and minority enrollments also broke records.
* External funding for research climbed to a record $35 million, a 75 percent increase since 2000.
* UMSL ranked 14th nationally in the “Saviors of Our Cities” survey for its economic, social and cultural impact on surrounding metropolitan area.
* UMSL received a “Greater St. Louis Top 50 Award” for its positive impact to local business community’s future.
Jim Kirchherr, who has been at KETC-TV (Channel 9) for nearly 20 years as a host and executive producer, served as master of ceremonies.
Download the chancellor’s Microsoft PowerPoint presentation at http://www.umsl.edu/chancellor/assets/ppt/CRC2010.ppt.
