With two months to go before UMR becomes Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T), the university is launching a web-based video campaign to introduce the new name – and the university community – to the online world.

The university’s “hello" website launched today (Thursday, Nov. 1), and it features video clips of UMR students, alumni, faculty and staff introducing themselves on camera. The subjects say “I am Missouri S&T" on camera – or, for videos of groups, “We are Missouri S&T." Creators of the site hope more students, alumni, faculty and staff will submit their own content to the site.

The site’s web address is hello.mst.edu. Initially, the site will also be accessible from the university’s main website.

Students, alumni, faculty and staff are encouraged to submit their homemade videos to the site. The videos may be as simple or as elaborate as individuals wish to make them. The main requirement is that the videos include the phrase “I am Missouri S&T." Videos from student groups, departments and other groups are also welcome.

The site also provides background information about the name change, which was unanimously approved by the University of Missouri Board of Curators last April. In October 2006, UMR Chancellor John F. Carney III first suggested the university community explore the idea of a name change to better define its standing as a technological research university.

“The University of Missouri-Rolla is unique among the four University of Missouri campuses because of our focus as a technological research university," Carney said at the time. “We believe a more distinctive name would afford UMR several advantages in recruiting students on a national level."

The “hello" website is managed by UMR’s communications office.