The University of Missouri Flagship Council members serve as advocates for the historic flagship campus of the University of Missouri and shall, in all endeavors, help support, build and strengthen the University to maintain and enhance its traditional role as Missouri's premier public research and teaching university.

Our goals are:

• To promote the benefits of the University of Missouri to the community, state citizens, and to local, state and federal elected officials and other state and national leaders.

• To effectively influence legislative and regulatory issues and University policy that the University of Missouri supports or desires to support or oppose.

• To lend advice and counsel to the University of Missouri administration on local, state, national and international public policy issues of the day.

University of Missouri Flagship Council Legislative Priorities for 2012

With more than 32,000 students, MU has continued to increase enrollment with state support stagnant below FY2001 levels. In order to maintain a high quality of education, research, service and economic development, MU can best serve the state with its operating budget at least sustained.


Operating Budget
Highest priority for the 2011 legislative session is protecting the core appropriation of $427.9 million.
An additional $124.2 million would support competitive ranked faculty compensation, student enrollment growth, caring for Missourians Program and ongoing maintenance and repair efforts.


Capital Improvements
Top priority - renovation and new construction including Lafferre Hall (MU) at $64.8 million.
Support initiatives to provide funding for higher education capital needs.
Creative solutions including bonding are needed to fund critical project needs.


Revenue Enhancements are critical. The State needs new revenue stream(s).
The Flagship Council recommends:
1.) Consideration of a cigarette tax increase (Missouri has the lowest cigarette tax in the nation at 17 cents; the national average is around $1.50.)
2.) A thorough review of the tax credit program to make sure the investments made produce the returns anticipated.

The University of Missouri Flagship Council strongly supports economic development, research and extension, e.g. the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA). The Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act provides a predictable, stable source of funding for building the entrepreneurial infrastructure necessary to support the growth of science and innovative companies in Missouri.