University of Missouri approves of outside review of system

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The University of Missouri approves of a proposed outside review of the system's operations and rules.

Vice president for University Relations Steve Knorr said the university supported the proposal at a Senate Rules, Joint Rules, Resolutions and Ethics Committee hearing Tuesday.

"If outside expertise can be brought in, we welcome that," Knorr said.

The Columbia Daily Tribune reported if passed, Republican state Sen. Kurt Schaefer's proposal would establish a commission that would review the university system.

Schaefer said the review is an opportunity to solve long-term structural problems and answer critics who want to add degree programs at other Missouri-supported institutions.

"A lot of the reason it is not fixed -- some of it's inertia and some of it, you will just ruffle so many feathers of people who don't want change," Schaefer said. "So this is the ability to take an outside group and give an outside, objective perspective."

Eight non-lawmakers would be appointed to the commission if the resolution is passed by the Senate and House. The commission would be required to deliver its report by Dec. 31.

Last week, the Missouri House approved an $8.6 budget cut for the university system from $434.6 million in the current year to $426 million.

The university has received criticism from the Legislature for failing to fire assistant professor Melissa Click after videos of her attempting to prevent a student videographer from recording demonstrations Nov. 9 surfaced online.

Schaefer has criticized the system's ties to Planned Parenthood, the number of faculty receiving teaching waivers and how the university handled a leave request from Josh Hawley.

Hawley is Schaefer's opponent in the Republican primary for attorney general in August.

Information from: Columbia Daily Tribune, http://www.columbiatribune.com