What is MIHE?
Missourians Improving Higher Education (MIHE) is a group of advocates who want to see our public universities, faculty, and students thrive in Missouri. We recognize the unfair treatment in Missouri statute where one university system is granted full exclusivity over certain degrees, while imposing restrictive partnerships on additional academic programs. This preferential treatment is squandering the potential of our higher education system. It is time for a change and we want to be the catalyst. Read more about our efforts and join our cause to create an equal playing field for all public universities and their ecosystems.
The Present Law
Only one other state restricts programs that its non-flagship universities can offer to the extent Missouri does. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia are not so limited. Every tax-supported university in our state, other than the University of Missouri, is prohibited from offering research doctorates and degrees in fields such as dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. While programs in chiropractic, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, and engineering can only be offered by other universities through collaboration with MU. We are planning for the future and what is best for our students of tomorrow.
Our Efforts
MIHE worked to put forward bills in the 2024 legislative session that eliminate the barriers currently in statute that constrain other public universities from offering certain degrees. This would provide that all tax supported colleges and universities in Missouri stand on equal footing before the law. Join our cause to stay up to date on our efforts for the 2024 legislative session. Click the buttons below to read the bills for which we advocate.
Join the Effort
How can you engage?
Missouri lawmakers need to hear that constituents across the state believe that all public universities should be treated equally under the law. By signing up below, you will help us identify where our advocates are in the state and of whom they are a constituent. If given permission, we will then reach out when it is time to act and ask for the Missouri legislature to support these vital changes to our public higher education system.
KEEP UP WITH MIHE
What We Believe
We believe that all tax supported colleges and universities in Missouri should stand on equal footing before the law.
We believe that Missouri should join the many other states who do not arbitrarily restrict the programs its non-flagship universities can offer.
We believe that the Coordinating Board of Higher Education is a bipartisan body composed of well qualified people able to fairly administer its statutory charge.
We believe that the Coordinating Board of Higher Education is the best qualified body to determine what programs should be offered by Missouri tax supported universities.
We believe, if the Coordinating Board of Higher Education determines that a particular university can best serve our state by offering a program, the law should not stand in its way.
We believe that the Coordinating Board of Higher Education will fulfill its duty to see that programs are not needlessly duplicated and that unnecessary programs are not allowed.
We believe that the citizens of Missouri deserve the best education possible at the most appropriate location for the best possible price.
We believe that legislation addressing this issue will improve higher education in Missouri and will bring our state into the modern era.
Contact
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