UMSL Chancellor Tom George gives his annual report to the community on May 10 at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. (Photo by August Jennewein)
The University of Missouri–St. Louis looks pretty good from where UMSL Chancellor Tom George stands. Fifty years ago, the university’s founders crammed 672 students and 32 faculty members into what was the clubhouse of the former Bellerive Country Club. Today, UMSL has nearly 17,000 students, more than 85,000 alumni and an outstanding reputation regionally and nationally. The university is also celebrating its Jubilee with events throughout 2013.
“During the last 50 years, hundreds of thousands of people helped build the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and despite the challenges and its youth, UMSL has become a most highly regarded and essential community asset,” George said May 10 at the annual Chancellor’s Report to the Community.
Nearly 800 business and community leaders, alumni, faculty, students and staff attended the annual event at America’s Center in downtown St. Louis. The CRC is a tradition that began in 1976 with Arnold Grobman, UMSL’s fourth chancellor.
Among the report’s highlights:
- The seven-year Gateway for Greatness Campaign raised a record $154 million.
- For the 10th year in a row, U.S. News & World Report ranked UMSL’s Undergraduate International Business 15th. The publication also ranked the doctoral program in criminology and criminal justice fourth.
- Forbes Magazine ranked UMSL one of “America’s Best Colleges.”
George also announced several university enrollment records:
- The university achieved its largest incoming class of new students since 1999 – nearly 2,000 transfer students and 535 freshmen.
- The average ACT score has risen to 24, a campus record.
- The Pierre Laclede Honors College now enrolls 600 students.
- Undergraduate enrollment in the College of Nursing rose 20 percent over last year.
- The UMSL/WUSTL Joint Undergraduate Engineering Program has grown to 426 students from 326 students since 2008.
The building and renovation report included:
- The $30 million renovation of the Benton-Stadler science complex is scheduled for completion in 2015.
- The $36 million recreation and wellness center is also scheduled to open in 2015.
- Funding for the new College of Business Administration building, Anheuser-Busch Hall, has reached $15 million.
- The $20 million MODOT/East-West Gateway “Great Streets” project will transform Natural Bridge Road between Hanley and Lucas and Hunt roads into a vibrant destination site. It is scheduled for completion in December 2014.
A 2.6 MB Adobe PDF copy of the report is available to download.
Media coverage:
St. Louis Beacon
