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Contact: Jennifer Hollingshead

Office: (573) 882-0601

E-mail: hollingsheadj@umsystem.edu

University of ����ʪ President Elson S. Floyd and ����ʪ State University President Michael T. Nietzel showcased the unity of public higher education in service to ����ʪans during a joint appearance on Wednesday, August 16, in Springfield.

The presidents served as guest speakers at a special joint meeting of Springfield area Rotary Clubs. President Floyd and President Nietzel discussed current and future collaborations between their institutions, their dedication to improving need-based financial aid and assuring access and affordability for students, and shared principles of service by ����ʪ’s public higher education institutions.

“I am delighted to share the stage in Springfield with President Nietzel to talk with ����ʪans about how our state’s public higher education institutions are working to assure access, affordability and accountability,” President Floyd said. “Our institutions want to share this positive story at every opportunity, as we collaborate on ways to better serve ����ʪans.”

“This is a great opportunity to deliver an important message about public higher education together with President Floyd,” President Nietzel said. “When it comes to public higher education, we have a very positive story to tell. The public four-year institutions in ����ʪ are very effective and extremely efficient.”

This was the third of a series of events President Floyd is conducting with other public university presidents around ����ʪ. Previous events were conducted at Northwest ����ʪ State University with President Dean Hubbard and at Truman State University with President Barbara Dixon.

Upcoming public higher education unity events include Sept. 25 in Warrensburg with President Aaron Podolefsky of Central ����ʪ State University; Sept. 27 in Joplin with President Julio Leon of ����ʪ Southern State University; and Nov. 1 in St. Joseph with President James Scanlon of ����ʪ Western State University. Details of these and other public higher education unity events will be announced later.

For more information on public higher education unity, visit