By MATT PIKE
Missouri Western State University President Elizabeth Kennedy traveled with a group of community leaders to Jefferson City to take part in Great Northwest Days last week.
Kennedy says the event is a great chance to advocate for the university with state legislators, especially around the topic of requesting $4 million more in state appropriations of core funding
“I have talked about this for two years now, presented it at the Public Affairs Coffee and those kinds of things, but here’s why we need the four million, first of all we are the second lowest funded public university in the state of Missouri, not necessarily the lowest enrolled, but the second lowest,” Kennedy says on the KFEQmunni8ty show. “And we have been working over the last few years to increase our processes, become more efficient, we have done very modest increase to tuition to offset the costs, but as I always say our fixed costs are just outpacing our state appropriations.”
Kennedy says while discussions on this topic have been ongoing, with local state representatives, reception during Great Northwest days was very positive
‘I had a really wonderful meeting with Representative Chris Brown, whose from I think the Kansas City area, but he’s the chair of the higher education committee in the house, so telling our story and educating people,” Kennedy explains. “And I think the realities are, as we’ve all heard, it’s a tight budget, we know that, but I think we’ve demonstrated we’ve done everything the state has asked of higher education in this state, and I think we have a very good story and can demonstrate that we’re worth the investment.”
MoWest was well represented among the several community members that took part in Great Northwest days in Jefferson City.
Along with Kennedy, a group of students and administrators traveled down for the event to volunteer and meet with elected officials
Kennedy says the event was a great and unique opportunity for students
“I think the opportunity to see the bigger world, to see what else you can do, and to see what government in action looks like,” Kennedy says.
Kennedy says another good opportunity for students came when a student in legal studies had the opportunity to ask the keynote speaker, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, a question
“Asked her about how did you survive your college days, law school, undergrad, those kinds of things,” Kennedy says. “And to be able to ask the state AG, the Attorney General, a question about how did you make it through college, that’s phenomenal.”
Kennedy says students getting the opportunity to speak to state leaders and ask questions such as that, gives them the bigger picture of what is beyond their education at MoWest.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.
