Published on Aug. 19, 2024
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,
Welcome to another year at the University of Missouri! We are thrilled to have our exceptional students, faculty and staff back together on campus. We have so many exciting events planned for you, as well as ways to get involved and stay connected.
Mizzou is one of America’s leading research universities, and it’s our land-grant mission to educate the next generation of leaders improving lives in Missouri, the U.S. and the world. With all of us working together, we can build a better future and make a difference in society.
This year, we will welcome nearly 6,000 first-time students (an increase of 16%) and nearly 1,200 transfer students (an increase of 8%). They join more than 22,000 students who are returning to campus. They chose Mizzou because of our reputation for educating future leaders (we are ranked 13th among all public universities by Time Magazine) and our incredible value (we are ranked 7th among all flagships by U.S. News & World Report). We are proud to be an SEC school, and we’re coming off a Cotton Bowl victory! I’m so excited about the momentum of Mizzou Athletics’ programs.
Mizzou has so much to offer in academic excellence, study abroad, research, internships, clubs and student resources. Please explore your interests and learn by discovering new areas of experience and inquiry.
Excellence for All
Achieving excellence for all is at the core of the University of Missouri’s mission. In order to accomplish our mission, we must begin with the principle of respect for all. Our students, faculty and staff encompass a wide array of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, including first-generation, rural, and international students; individuals from under-represented groups; veterans; people with different abilities; and many others. An inclusive environment promotes respectful debate that explores differing perspectives about complex topics – intellectual pluralism – and enables all of us to achieve the excellence we seek in teaching and learning, research and engagement. In striving for an inclusive university, we must not exclude individuals with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
Our Commitment to Freedom of Expression and Campus Safety
In the past year, many universities have witnessed antisemitic and Islamophobic harassment and violence. These disturbances compromised the safety of students, faculty and staff. Such disturbances have no place at the University of Missouri. With your understanding and cooperation, we were able to avoid similar situations. Our commitment to free expression has been on display throughout the year, as members of the Mizzou community have shared a range of perspectives while acting with peace, integrity and respect. As we welcome all of you to campus, we want to reflect on our shared commitment to freedom of expression and our collective responsibilities to ensure a safe and respectful place of learning, research and engagement. Our commitment clearly includes the right to assemble, engage in civil discourse and to peacefully protest. We are also committed to ensuring accountability for those that violate our policies. As outlined in our policies on free expression, we support peaceful protests and civil discourse, but activities may not:
- Use or make a genuine ‘true threat’.
- Use force or engage in violence.
- Engage in antisemitic and Islamaphobic harassment.
- Significantly disrupt university activities inside or outside of buildings.
- Significantly disrupt previously scheduled campus events (including campus tours, examinations, commencements, campus celebrations, etc.).
- Use any sound amplification or illuminated devices that disrupt adjacent university activities.
- Camp or use temporary shelters (e.g., tents).
- Affix items, such as posters or signs, to any permanent structure or grounds.
If individuals or groups do not uphold these standards of conduct, we will enforce the university accountability policies as stated for students, faculty and staff, which may include suspensions, expulsions or campus trespass orders.
Thank you for choosing Mizzou. We look forward to meeting you at one of the many events that we have planned for you.
M-I-Z!
Mun Y. Choi, Ph.D.
President
Matthew P. Martens, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs