Missouri Board of Curators Approve New Mission Statement, Rule on Leave, Room / Board Rates
University launches new mental health app
ST. LOUIS, Mo. — During their meeting last month, the University of Missouri Board of Curators strengthened their commitment to free expression, affordability and mental health awareness as they approved several items that will impact how the UM System conducts business and supports the university community in the future.
At the conclusion of its report in July 2018, the University Task Force, led by Curator Darryl Chatman, suggested review of the UM System mission statement for possible revision. Following additional input over several months from chancellors, provosts and other leaders – including faculty, students and staff – today the board approved the updated mission statement that now reads:
The mission of the University of Missouri System, as a land-grant university and Missouri’s only public research and doctoral-level institution, is to achieve excellence in the discovery, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge. With an unwavering commitment to academic freedom and freedom of expression, the university educates students to become leaders, promotes lifelong learning by Missouri’s citizens, fosters meaningful research and creative works, and serves as a catalyst for innovation, thereby advancing the educational, health, cultural, social and economic interests to benefit the people of Missouri, the nation, and the world.
The board also approved room and board rates for all four universities in the System. Increases ranged from 0.2% to 2.4%, which are below the average increase of other Missouri institutions. Rates are effective for the summer sessions beginning in June 2020.
In other action, the Board approved a change to the leave policy that would allow eligible faculty or staff to receive up to 30 consecutive calendar days of paid leave after donating an organ or up to seven consecutive calendar days of paid leave following a bone marrow donation.
Later, UM System President Mun Choi sent a note to every campus, providing updates on the Shared Leave Program that was established two years ago and announced the launch of a new application designed to support mental health. Under the Shared Leave Program, employees can donate accrued vacation to a shared pool. To date, the program has supported 45 employees across the system, providing 5,800 hours that covered more than $150,000 in wages.
This month, the university launched Sanvello, a mobile- and web-based app that offers support to relieve mental health symptoms and program healthy habits and behaviors. It is free to all University of Missouri employees and students.
