Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Signs Historic Higher Education Plan for Maryville Students, Families
MARYVILLE– Gov. Matt Blunt today signed an historic higher education plan for Missouri students and families. The plan increases funding for student scholarships, introduces accountability measures, provides tuition stabilization and includes the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, which would provide $335 million for new state-of-the-art learning centers for Missouri students.
"The Center of Excellence for Plant Biologics will combine academic and state-of-the-art resources to ensure Northwest's students have a strong background in and understanding of the emerging biotechnology sector," Gov. Blunt said. "This legislation will put higher education in reach for more Missouri students and families than at any other point in our state's history. Significant improvements such as increased funding for Missouri's colleges and universities, tuition stabilization measures and added scholarships will open the door to higher education for thousands of students and families in Maryville and across the state."
Blunt signed Senate Bill 389 while visiting with students and educators at Northwest Missouri State University. The governor's higher education package:
- Includes $24.4 million for the Center of Excellence for Plant Biologics
- Increases the number of students receiving scholarships from Access Missouri from 190 to an estimated 2,193 students
- Increases Northwest Missouri State University operating budget by 4.2 percent
"Northwest students will be pleased to hear that our campus will now have the resources to use and study advanced technologies that will better the University and all of Missouri. This money will do great things for Northwest as an institution of higher learning and in terms of its economic impact on our state and region. Being a smaller school, we are appreciative that Governor Blunt and the General Assembly recognize the importance of our contributions to Missouri higher education and also the importance of Northwest's positive impact on the lives and careers of its graduates," said Alex Drury, Student Senate President.
"I believe this is one of, if not the most important higher education bill in our state's history," said Senate Bill 389 sponsor Senator Gary Nodler. "The Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, combined with the new Access Missouri Scholarship program and increased funding for both higher education and scholarships will not only turn higher education around in our state, but will also revolutionize our higher education institutions and the opportunities available to our students."
The legislation creates the Access Missouri Scholarship that more than doubles funding for needs based scholarships, increasing the funding available statewide from $27.5 million to $72.5 million and making them more available to thousands of Missouri families. The legislation also enacts the governor's landmark Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative.
The governor's Lewis & Clark Discovery Initiative is a partnership between the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) and the state that sells loans held by students in other states generating $335 million to strengthen Missouri's colleges and universities. The initiative will provide much needed funding for state-of-the-art learning and research centers to prepare students to compete in today's global economy where higher quality learning in areas such as math and science are crucial elements for students' future success.
"I applaud the General Assembly for sending me this bill that takes an enormous stride forward for higher education in our state," Gov. Blunt added.