Missouri-Rolla proposes name change

Associated Press Writer

ROLLA, Mo. (AP) -- The University of Missouri-Rolla may soon have a new name.

University chancellor John Carney III announced Friday a proposal to change the name to Missouri University of Science and Technology, or MST.

The change must still be approved by the Board of Curators, which will consider the change at a meeting April 5-6 in Rolla. The change would take effect Jan. 1.

Carney says the current name gives the false impression of a regional university. While the school has a strong reputation among employers, prospective students often believe it's a community college, he said.

Several other Missouri schools have changed names in recent years. Northeast Missouri State became Truman State, Southwest Missouri State became Missouri State, and Central Missouri State became the University of Central Missouri.

"Believe me, people think we're a branch campus of Columbia," Carney said. "Some people ask if we spend two years down here and then we move up to Columbia.

"It behooves us to do this to attract the best and the brightest students from other parts of the country."

The university surveyed alumni, students, faculty and staff. The vast majority favored a name change, except for the students, who were about evenly split.