With approval by the University of Missouri Board of Curators, Missouri S&T will move forward with three projects that will help advance STEM education and workforce development in the state. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The curators, meeting on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus today (Thursday, Sept. 7), approved the following projects for Missouri S&T:

• The addition and renovation of S&T’s Engineering Research Laboratory (ERL) to establish a teaching and research complex to support students, faculty and industry partners.
• Renovation of Schrenk Hall East to modernize classrooms and other teaching spaces for biological sciences and chemistry.
• Expansion of the university’s geothermal energy system to connect the ERL addition and three additional buildings: Harris Hall, Norwood Hall and Parker Hall. Since going online in 2014, S&T’s geothermal energy system has reduced utility costs by as much as $2 million per year. Expanding the system to include these structures is expected to further reduce utility costs in the future.

These projects are in S&T’s master plan, which is based on three priorities: to build research, innovation, and entrepreneurial thinking; to increase the university’s recognition and improve its rankings; and to increase recruitment and retention.

The projects will be funded by private gifts, university funds, and state appropriation.

In addition, the Board of Curators approved Missouri S&T’s proposal to create a new Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering. The degree proposal will now go before the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education for approval.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System and located in Rolla, Missouri, Missouri S&T offers 101 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top 10 universities for return on investment, according to Business Insider. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.