President Best Highlights HLC Accreditation, Retention Efforts in State of the University Address

University of Central Missouri (UCM) President Roger Best gives his seventh State of the University address on Thursday, Sept. 19 in Hendricks Hall.

 

With a theme of celebration and progress, University of Central Missouri (UCM) President Roger Best presented his seventh State of the University address on Thursday, Sept. 19.

“Importantly, our university remains strong and in excellent shape,” Best told those gathered in Hendricks Hall and those who watched the live stream. “Today, I have the pleasure of sharing with you many of the significant accomplishments we had during the last year and some of the work that lies ahead to ensure that we continue to be that beacon that other universities look to.”

Best began by recapping the seven priorities for the 2023-24 academic year that he outlined in last year’s address: 

 

• Conduct a successful HLC visit: Best thanked the campus community for their “hard work and significant contributions” that led to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) reaffirming UCM’s accreditation earlier this year. He also highlighted the 48 faculty and staff members on the HLC Steering Committee and Subcommittees, thanking them for their many hours of collaborative work and commitment to the accreditation preparation process. 

• Launch a new marketing campaign: The “Redefining What’s Possible” campaign was launched this year by the Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications following a two-year research and development process. The initial culmination of this effort has resulted in the creation of a large volume of assets such as resource webpages, screensavers and digital signs, billboards, social media banners and digital ads, recruiting materials such as the new UCM Viewbook, and numerous videos highlighting student, staff and faculty stories.

• Continue to grow undergraduate enrollment and retention: Admissions representatives met with more than 7,000 high school students and nearly 900 potential transfer students during hundreds of visits last year. Those personal visits were supported by more than 9,000 phone calls and 9,000 original text messages to potential students in addition to processing more than 10,000 FAFSA applications.

The university’s collective efforts paid off, as the total number of undergraduates for the fall 2024 semester is 5.3% higher than in fall 2023. Best said this growth came through strength in retention, as UCM experienced an increase in fall-to-fall retention, new transfer students and undergraduate international students.

However, the number of first-time, full-time students is down slightly from last fall, about 30 students, something Best largely credited to issues with the delayed FAFSA rollout. Institutions with comparable student demographics saw similar trends.

 

In total, the university’s headcount for the fall is 12,857 students, up about 0.5% from the previous fall. 

• Progress on master plan and infrastructure: Facilities, Planning and Operations oversaw 27 capital projects involving more than $11 million in expenditures in addition to routine maintenance and emergency repairs during the last fiscal year. The University received another $9.9 million state appropriation for the Humphreys Building renovation, which will provide 100% of the funding, and donor funds allowed for the completion of renovations in the James C. Kirkpatrick Library and the Hough Education and Counseling Center in the Lovinger Building.

“Although we still have much to do, I appreciate the good progress we made on our infrastructure improvements during the last fiscal year,” Best said.

• Explore/integrate AI and Extended Reality (XR): Faculty and staff have incorporated XR and AI tools into classes and curriculum, especially in the Department of Digital Learning and Instructional Innovation. The Faculty Senate and the Office of Technology have also adapted to evolving technologies.

“It is critical that we remain at the forefront in understanding how to effectively use such tools and to ensure that we adequately educate our students on and with these advanced technologies,” Best said.

• Relaunch the President’s Commission: The group was renamed the President’s Commission on Access, Opportunity and Community to reflect the broad nature of the members' work in fostering access to UCM, helping ensure opportunities exist for all students. The Commission formed four groups to accomplish their work: Communication and Community, Physical and Academic Access, Supporting International and Graduate Students, and Gender and Sexuality.

• Continued alumni engagement and fundraising: The UCM Alumni Foundation hit an incredible milestone by achieving $100 million in endowed funds. The Foundation also received more than $7.5 million in outright donations, distributed more than $1.6 million in student scholarships, provided more than $30,000 in opportunity grants to faculty and staff, and had another record year with more than 30% alumni engagement.

Best focused the second half of his address on new priorities for 2024-25:

 

• Evolve enrollment strategies to grow and diversify

• Accelerate progress on infrastructure improvements

• Support AI and XR adoption and other innovations

• Improve processes and deliver curriculum efficiently

• Create a foundation for new strategic plan

• Remember the feeling: we are our best when we work as a team

“For our final priority for this academic year, it is my hope that you felt a tremendous sense of pride and accomplishment following the outcome of our Higher Learning Commission review,” Best said. “But what I hope even more is that it reinforces to all of us the importance of working as a team to accomplish our goals and fulfill our mission. Together, we are an amazing force for student success.”

Other highlights to round out the address included upcoming improvements to the UCM News Bureau, an update on the national search for a new provost, and a video spotlighting dozens of accomplishments, achievements and recognitions in 2023-24.