Missouri Southern Celebrates 20 Years of University Status

Former Missouri Governor Bob Holden will be the guest of honor at an event on Wednesday, July 12th when Missouri Southern State University celebrates 20 years since he signed Senate Bill 55, which elevated the institution from a college to a university. The public is invited to attend.

The event starts at 10:30 am in the Walton Black Box Theater on the MSSU campus. Parking is available behind that facility off Duquesne Road.

In addition to Gov. Holden, speakers will include current MSSU president Dr. Dean Van Galen and former State Sen. Gary Nodler, who shepherded the legislation through the Missouri Senate. A reception will follow the event.

The passage of Senate Bill 55 and its signing by the governor at a ceremony held on campus on July 12, 2023, was the culmination of many years work by both Dr. Julio Leon, then MSSC’s president, and members of the local legislative delegation. Concurrent bills were sponsored in both the House and Senate with Rep. Bryan Stevenson carrying the bill in the House and Sen. Nodler in the Senate. Ultimately, it was the Senate bill that made it through both chambers and to Gov. Holden for signature.

Not only did the bill change the institution’s name from college to university, but it also provided the opportunity for Missouri Southern to offer graduate programs. In the last 20 years, Missouri Southern State University has added numerous graduate degrees in areas such as business, education, and justice studies. That list of graduate programs continues to grow to this day. Recently, the university’s Board of Governors approved new graduate degrees in healthcare administration and data analytics.