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kmul | Student Experience and Engagement | Board of Governors | Department of Communication and Digital Media Production | University News

UCM Board of Governors Highlights Student Experience, Approves Tuition and Academic Changes

By Alex Greenwood, April 7, 2026

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UCM President Roger Best, left, speaks with student panelists prior to their presentation to the Board of Governors’ Student Engagement and University Advancement Committee on March 26 in Warrensburg.
UCM President Roger Best, left, speaks with student panelists prior to their presentation to the Board of Governors’ Student Engagement and University Advancement Committee on March 26 in Warrensburg.

 

Students describing how hands-on learning, faculty mentorship and early professional experience shaped their time at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) took center stage at the Board of Governors’ March 26 meeting.


The student panel, which spoke to the Board of Governors’ Student Engagement and University Advancement Committee, was introduced by Dr. Shari Bax, vice president of Student Experience and Engagement. Students described gaining real-world experience through campus media outlets, internships and student-led organizations, often beginning in their first year, along with the importance of community and purpose in their academic journeys.


“I was sold on the opportunities that we have,” said Brad Hadank (pictured, below, right), a junior from Bolivar, Missouri, double-majoring in Digital Media Production and Communication Studies and serving as . “When you’ve done all of these things in the industry now, you can transition really smoothly into an actual job.”


“I really liked the idea that you could come and join a student organization or media outlet as a freshman and really gain that professional experience,” said Sadie Staker, editor in chief of student newspaper and a master’s student in Communications from Marion, Iowa.

Linda Alviar, left, and Brad Hadank participate in a student panel discussion during the UCM Board of Governors meeting on March 26 in Warrensburg. Hadank serves as KMUL sports director.Linda Alviar (pictured, right), a junior from Blue Springs, Missouri, majoring in Graphic Design and Digital Media Production with a Journalism emphasis and working in UCM’s Office of Integrated Marketing and Communications, said she hopes to build a career rooted in storytelling and impact. “I would love to do anything where I can tell stories and be creative and really be human-centered, while also having a positive impact on the world around me,” she said.


Board members pointed to the discussion as a strong example of UCM’s emphasis on experiential learning and career readiness, supported by engaged faculty and applied opportunities across programs.


Several board members also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for KMUL 100.3 FM following the committee meetings. Board President John Collier, UCM President Roger Best and Hadank were among those who spoke during the event, which highlighted another example of student opportunity and applied learning in action.


Students, faculty and University of Central Missouri (UCM) leaders gather for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for KMUL 100.3 FM on March 26 in Warrensburg. Several members of the UCM Board of Governors attended the event, which highlights hands-on learning opportunities in student media.

 

 

The board approved tuition and general fee rates for the 2026-27 academic year, effective with the Fall 2026 semester. Undergraduate resident tuition will increase from $297 to $310.90 per credit hour. Resident graduate tuition on the Warrensburg campus will increase to $430 per credit hour, while online, hybrid and Lee’s Summit graduate tuition will increase to $450 per credit hour as part of a multi-year effort to align rates across instructional formats. The board also approved a $ 2.45-per-credit-hour increase in student general fees. Additional rate adjustments were approved across select graduate, dual credit and specialized programs, reflecting program costs and market alignment.


University leaders said the increases reflect inflationary pressures and flat state funding while maintaining UCM’s position as an affordable option among peer institutions and continuing to support financial aid programs. The board also approved room and board rates for the upcoming academic year and graduate student graduation fees.


Academic updates included several program and department name changes designed to better reflect curriculum and organizational alignment. The Earth Science minor will be renamed Environmental Science. The Department of Marketing, Public Relations and Sport Management will become the Department of Marketing and Sport Management, while Public Relations will move to a newly named Department of Communication.


During the committee reports, board members reviewed spring 2026 enrollment data showing an overall decline, largely driven by international graduate enrollment, alongside growth in dual credit and military-affiliated students. Persistence rates for first-time students declined slightly, prompting continued focus on retention and student success strategies.


The board also approved a series of facilities and operational items, including technology upgrades, athletics facility improvements and construction projects such as the Marching Mules building and stadium enhancements.


Additional academic updates included a report on faculty promotions and tenure approved for the upcoming academic year, reflecting continued investment in faculty development and academic excellence.


The board also approved an additional holiday for the 2027 fiscal year. Reports on legislative affairs and university metrics were also reviewed during the meeting.


The meeting also included approval of emeritus status for three longtime employees: Catherine Seeley, director of the Office of Accessibility Services, who served UCM from May 18, 2005, to Feb. 28, 2026; Jeffrey Robinson, director of contracts, compliance, and risk management, who served from Oct. 21, 2002, to Feb. 28, 2026; and Teresa Cannon, manager of payroll services, who served from Aug. 16, 2006, to March 31, 2026.


For more information about the UCM Board of Governors and upcoming meetings, visit ucmo.edu/bog.

 

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