MU campus master plan will look at challenges that include classrooms, traffic, dining
Work is underway for a campus master plan for the University of Missouri and faculty heard an update Wednesday at the Spring General Faculty Meeting in Memorial Union.
Emily Leary, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine, won the individual shared governance award, while MU Extension faculty won the group award.
Ayers Saint Gross design firm is developing the master plan for MU and the company's Jessica Leonard made the presentation.
Campus positives include the MU Botanic Gardens, a compact academic core and the Student Recreation Center. Challenges listed include unsafe crossings at busy roads and limited dining options.
The campus has many front doors, Leonard said.
The campus has many interesting buildings and features, she said.
"How do you maintain the legacy that makes Mizzou Mizzou," Leonard said.
Many classrooms are outdated, she said. There also are areas of safety concern related to traffic circulation.
Other areas may be considered as additional campus entrances, Leonard said.
"East Campus is not really a backdoor," Leonard said. "We can identify more gateways to campus."
The firm plans to present its draft plan to the University of Missouri System Board of Curators on June 27, she said.
The first question came about historic campus buildings that have been torn down in recent years.
The legacy of the buildings will be considered when campus changes are made, said Heiddi Davis, in the MU Division of Finance.
"There seems to be a scarcity of classroom spaces," came another faculty comment, with others raising their hands to signal that they have had trouble holding classes.
That was addressed by Mun Choi, MU chancellor and system president, later in the meeting.
"That's an issue that we have to solve," Choi said.
Classrooms aren't always accessible, said Kristin Flyn Peters, associate teaching professor of health professions.
"If you had more than one student with a wheelchair, there wouldn't be room for them," Flyn Peters said.
A faculty member based in Lewis and Clark Hall said they felt like outliers on the edge of campus. She wondered if there were ways to make it more connected.
"It's not far, but it feels far" from the core campus, Leonard said.
Mun Choi
Choi also addressed faculty questions.
Faculty Council chairman Tom Warhover asked Choi about the biggest challenges facing the univerity.
Choi listed an economic downturn and its Association of American Universities status.
"I think that is something we all have to focus on," Choi said of the AAU.
There are societal challenges to the significance of higher education or otherwise situation that can paralyze the campus.
While other universities stumbled over the Gaza conflict or COVID, Choi said MU successfully navigated those situations.
"I'm starting my eighth year," Choi said. "We have gone through so much."
Warhover also asked Choi about health care for faculty, including long waits for appointments with primary care doctors.
There are doctor shortages as a result of COVID and those remaining are working long hours, Choi said.
"We are hiring as fast as we can," Choi said. "I know that the erroneous billing and the scheduling difficulties can be overcome."
Educational information technology has been a problem for Jim Crozier, associate teaching professor in classics, archaeology and religion.
He experiences frequent glitches, he said.
"I can't do anything without PowerPoint, people," Crozier said.
Again, other faculty members indicated they had similar experiences.
The IT staff isn't to blame, he said.
"I think it's not so much the support, it's the infrastructure," Crozier said. "I rely on it so heavily."
Choi said the IT personnel would find solutions.
Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here's what MU faculty want to see addressed in campus master plan
