UM System President Mun Choi, curators of diverse educational departments within the university and public officials gathered at the MU Student Center to watch Chancellor Alexander Cartwright deliver a public address in honor of one year as chancellor.
In his speech, “Where People Meet Possibilities,” Cartwright discussed updates to new initiatives he previously announced and has been working on, the development of new scholarship opportunities, welcomed new tigers to Mizzou’s staff and expanding the university’s mental health care.
“I knew how exceptional this university was when I came here last August, and this past year has deepened that knowledge,” Cartwright said.
Cartwright announced that he will not be beginning any new initiatives, but instead, delivering on the ones he announced earlier this year, as well as continuing to boost enrollment at the university.
“We are seeing the highest student retention rate in MU’s history,” Cartwright said. “Our residence halls are almost at full capacity with 29 percent more returning students choosing to live on campus. Diversity in our freshman class is up this year.”
According to the Office of the Chancellor, Cartwright has been working towards several initiatives geared towards innovation: the Academy of Curators Professors, the Artist in Residence Program, the Mizzou Innovates Program, the National Research Centers, the Office of Research Advancement and the Double NIH and Industry Sponsored Clinical Trials Funding.
The “generosity” of the university’s donors “helped us cross the billion dollar mark in our MIZZOU: Our Time to Lead Campaign,” Cartwright said.
Cartwright said that those dollars are an important investment that helps fund scholarships and research.
In 2019, under Vice Chancellor Marshall Stewart, the university will open the MU Office of Extension and Engagement.
“The most important goal of our extension and engagement [is] producing results that lead to real benefits,” Cartwright said.
Cartwright has also worked towards making Reserve Officers’ Training Corps scholarships available.
“Many of our efforts this year have focused on expanding scholarship opportunities,” Cartwright said. “We have made existing scholarships more accessible and added new ones, such as the ROTC scholarship.”
The chancellor said he is listening to student’s concerns and working to improve campus resources, including student health options.
“We are reducing wait times for mental health care and forming the chancellor’s standing Committee on Student Health and Well-Being, which will include students to explore how we can meet even more of your needs,” Cartwright said.
Cartwright also introduced two of the tiger family’s newest members: Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Latha Ramchand, who he said has “extraordinary” plans for students, faculty and programs, and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Kamrhan Farwell.
Dean of the College of Engineering Elizabeth Loboa was also named the Vice Chancellor for Strategic Partnerships during Cartwright’s address.
“It’s important first to note the tremendous strength of this university,” Cartwright said. “Mizzou has been a champion of education, culture and economic excellence for Missouri, the nation and the world for the past 180 years. We should all be proud of that legacy and our contributions to that excellence. Together we are building the next era at Mizzou.”
_Edited by Caitlyn Rosen | crosen@themaneater.com_
