Public radio station KUMR will change its name to KMST on Monday, July 16. The change takes effect at 12:01 a.m.

The station, which broadcasts from the University of Missouri-Rolla campus, is taking the lead in assisting the university with its own name change. UMR will become Missouri University of Science and Technology, or Missouri S&T, on Jan. 1, 2008.

KMST will continue to broadcast its signal at 88.5 FM in Rolla and at 96.3 FM in Lebanon, Mo. The station will continue to broadcast online, although at a new web address – www.kmst.org.

Since its first broadcast in 1973, KUMR’s name has reflected a strong connection to its home campus. As the campus prepares to change its name, KUMR staff and university officials felt it was important to continue that tradition.

KUMR staff point out that the format of the station will not change.

“Our name may be different, but KMST will still be the same station our listeners depend on for National Public Radio news and features and great local shows like Bluegrass for a Saturday Night and Sounds Eclectic says KUMR General Manager Jim Sigler.

UMR Chancellor John F. Carney III believes Missouri S&T will better define the university as a leading technological research university and help to differentiate this university in a highly competitive university market and provide a national competitive advantage.

Carney says the name change will help the institution build a stronger identity while remaining a part of the four-campus University of Missouri. More information about UMR’s name change is available online at namechange.mst.edu.