MSSU Board receives update on medical school curriculum, admission standards

(From Southern News Service)

The Board of Governors at Missouri Southern State University received an update on the finalization of curriculum and admissions standards for the Yours to Lose – Advanced Medical School Acceptance program on Friday, Feb. 19, during a meeting at Missouri Southern.

In December, Missouri Southern formalized a partnership that will allow up to 25 students to be admitted into the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences at the same time as their acceptance to MSSU.

“While there are 25 guaranteed spots for KCU, there will be a total of 48 students accepted into each cohort at Missouri Southern,” said Dr. Paula Carson, provost/vice president for academic affairs. “The alternates will still be able to take full advantage of the special programs and enriching experiences and opportunities.”

This fall, Missouri Southern will begin identifying “transitional” students who will be eligible and ready to join the KCU program when the Joplin campus opens in 2017. The first cohort to go through the full, three-year Yours to Lose program will be admitted for the Fall 2017 semester.

A number of classes – from general education courses to those specific to the pre-med program – will be tailored toward developing the skills needed for medical school. They will range from adapting to rigorous curriculum and non-traditional scheduling to the communication needed for a good bedside manner, said Carson.

Each year, members of the cohort will be selected from around the region. Missouri Southern has already identified more than a dozen high schools in the Four State Area to serve as Yours to Lose partners, said Carson.

In other business, the board authorized the administration to set the out-of-state tuition rate at $357.22, a $3.16 increase per credit hour, for Fiscal Year 2017. Textbook rental fees will increase by $2 to $14 per credit hour.

The board also approved a proposal to keep tuition levels the same for the 2016-17 academic year, provided that Gov. Jay Nixon’s recommended 6 percent appropriation increase is authorized.

Should the appropriation increase not meet or exceed that recommendation, the board reserves the right to authorize the administration to set in-state and Lion Pride tuition rates at $178.61 – an increase of $1.58 per credit hour.