Education

Before embarking upon his annual manufacturing trip throughout southwest Missouri, Congressman Billy Long Tuesday visited with business leaders in Springfield, where he applauded efforts to enhance economic growth. KSMU’s Scott Harvey reports.   

It’s the first time in five years that the Missouri General Assembly has increased funding appropriations for Missouri State University. As KSMU’s Scott Harvey reports, the additional $25 million lawmakers set aside for higher education, which still awaits the signature of Gov. Nixon, means an additional $2.4 million for MSU.

There are more than 60 facilities in the Springfield Public Schools' system, with the average age of those buildings 48 years. So every little bit helps when it comes to updating existing infrastructure. On Monday, school administrators applauded the recent donation of a local church for safety and security upgrades. KSMU’s Scott Harvey was there. 

Months after thousands of dollars in missing funds were discovered and then a subsequent investigation found even more stolen from the Missouri State University Bookstore, a number of corrective actions have been taken to avoid a similar occurrence. KSMU’s Scott Harvey spoke with MSU President Clif Smart and has this story.

In an active shooter situation, one person is killed an estimated every 15 seconds. And data shows that during a lockdown, instructing students to get under their desks or huddle toward the back of the classroom isn’t the safest way. On Thursday, students at Drury University in Springfield were introduced to the “Run, Hide, and Fight” strategy. KSMU’s Scott Harvey was there.

[Sound: Air horn]

Those are simulated gun shots.

[Sound: Mock intruder enters classroom]

It was a nail biting finish to the Drury University and Metro State National Championship game Sunday. KSMU’s Scott Harvey reports.

With severe weather season on the horizon, education administrators are among the officials analyzing current procedures ahead of any potential storms.

At Missouri State University, those who sign up for the school’s notification system will be alerted of, among other things, inclement weather which could affect university operations. The practice is not uncommon these days, with smartphones offering immediate and advanced notifications.

Students attending Missouri State University this fall will pay higher tuition and fees, following approval Thursday by the Board of Governors. KSMU’s Scott Harvey has the details.

Undergraduates who are Missouri residents will pay roughly $4 extra, or $204 per credit hour for regular instruction courses. Out-of-state students will see an $8 bump to $420 per credit hour. In and out-of-state fees for graduate students will increase $5 and $10 per credit hour, respectively.

New funding for higher education is among the proposals this year from Gov. Jay Nixon, who said during his State of the State address in January he’d like to dedicate $34 million to the state’s colleges and universities based on their performance.

For Missouri State University, that means an additional 4.3 percent in funding, or roughly $3.3 million, for achieving all five performance measures.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon made himself available to reporters today to address questions on his proposed Medicaid expansion, a measure he’s been pushing since late last year. KSMU’s Scott Harvey spoke with the Governor by phone and has this report.

Students at Drury University Thursday were offered a glimpse into the world of National Public Radio’s social media senior strategist, Andy Carvin. His presentation was part of the school’s series highlighting how media and technology are changing the way we communicate. KSMU’s Scott Harvey sat down with the guest speaker and has this report.

Gov. Jay Nixon Wednesday reiterated his proposal for $34 million in additional funding for higher education during a stop in Springfield. KSMU’s Scott Harvey reports.

The Governor first made the announcement for the performance-based model during last week’s State of the State Address.

Wednesday morning, he congratulated MSU for achieving all five of its performance criteria, which makes the school eligible for an additional $4.3 percent in funding, or $3.3 million.

Efforts to make a business more efficient to keep pace with the changing times and climate is nothing new. At Missouri State University, officials say the recent addition of a chilled water loop is one example, helping save on air conditioning costs. But its reliance on coal has many asking what other sources can be used instead.

In December, students urged the Board of Governors to focus on wind, solar and geothermal technology to derive 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources. So is that possible?

Missouri State University President Clif Smart says roughly 50 percent of the school’s graduates have a job lined up before they receive their diploma.

Citing figures compiled by the institution’s Career Center, the President says there’s been more job activity this time around than the last couple of years. The ascent has been rather slow, however.