Lawmakers consider removing University of Missouri’s exclusive right to certain degrees

by Annelise Hanshaw, Missouri Independent
March 11, 2025

A Missouri Senate committee is considering legislation that would remove the University of Missouri System’s exclusive rights to certain degree programs.

State law currently bars other public colleges from offering research doctorates and first-professional degrees, which includes areas like dentistry and veterinary medicine. Public universities also are only allowed to offer degrees in podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathic medicine and engineering if they have a partnership with the University of Missouri in those programs.

A bill sponsored by state Sen. Lincoln Hough, a Republican from Springfield, seeks to remove these restrictions.

“This is about keeping, retaining and building the workforce this state needs over the next few generations,” Hough told the Senate Education Committee Tuesday morning.

Those speaking in favor argued the the bill would have a positive effect on workforce development.

“Removing the statutory restrictions allows us to be responsive to the marketplace,” said Richard Williams, president of Missouri State University.

He said a recently enrolled student asked about doctoral programs for after she finishes her undergraduate studies. The university said she’d have to go elsewhere because it is illegal for them to offer that PhD program.

Williams couldn’t answer questions about which degrees the university would add if the bill passed. He spoke from prior experience, saying he would not anticipate adding a medical school to the roster.

Peter Herschend, a former member of the State Board of Education, said not offering certain degree programs statewide would push students out of state.

“Missouri needs to be more competitive, not less,” he said. “We need the spirit of private enterprise to drive our education system just as much as it drives our business.”

Opponents said there would be a cost to spreading out the programs.

Jim Spain, vice provost for undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri, said degree partnerships with the university have saved taxpayers “tens of millions of dollars.”

“The passage of this bill will require additional financial resources from the state or from the student,” he said.

The bill’s fiscal note estimates that there will be no impact on the state’s general revenue, but universities would sustain administrative costs when they add programs. State funding might be partially redirected from the University of Missouri System to other institutions, the fiscal analysis notes as a concern of the system.

Carson Howe, a University of Missouri St. Louis student and legislative director of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri, said he fears students would be the ones to cover new expenses.

“We’re paying for that either directly through our tuition being increased, or we’re paying for it indirectly through our programs being cut or watered down,” he said.

The committee did not take action on the bill Tuesday.

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