Some organizations and institutions embed their mission statement on every possible surface. At Missouri State University, public affairs – ethical leadership, community engagement and cultural competence – is who we are and what distinguishes us from all the rest.
How do you keep public affairs fresh all year? We didn’t ever want it to become stale. In order to engage the Missouri State community and local community, we developed seven signature events. These annual events share a common thread to be not only educational, but also aspirational.
In 2012-13, we adopted a new general education program which emphasizes the public affairs mission and integrates student learning outcomes. We also added High Impact Educational Experiences, or HIEE, as a consideration for new courses, which includes service learning, learning communities, internships, study away and interdisciplinary courses.
These measures ensure that we stay on track as we push toward our goal of educating our students and instilling a broad personal sense of ethics in their daily interactions.
Honors students are subject to rigorous curriculum, but a new pathway was formed during this period that enhances the tangibility of public affairs in the honors courses as well.
In addition to encouraging awareness and involvement in becoming a global citizen, we also made significant changes to build more of a community within the Honors College.
In fiscal year 2015, 46.35% of undergraduate students participated in High Impact Educational Experiences (HIEE). At the beginning of the long-range plan, only 21.87% participated.
What is the hallmark of a Missourian? To us, it’s someone who’s genuine, tenacious, engaged and values-driven. It only makes sense to highlight people who embody these characteristics and become world changers.
In 2014, the first inductees were added to the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame, honoring individuals, who through their academic, personal or professional achievements, demonstrate active civic engagement to improve the lives of others.
Though spearheaded by leaders at Missouri State, these recipients are not just alumni – in fact, it’s only a requirement that the recipient has some tie to the state of Missouri.
It’s been our way of saying thanks to all the great Missourians who’ve made such an impact. We believe that the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame showcases that Missourians uphold what our mission stands for.
One way to promote more integration of public affairs into everything we do has been to bring amazing speakers to campus. These individuals challenge members of the Missouri State and local community to think differently, to stand out and to make a difference!
We are proud to bring speakers of national (or international) acclaim to Missouri State to teach life lessons, share a global perspective and motivate crowds.
"You can't always get the game-winning hit, and you can't always make the game-saving catch. It's all the things you can do in between those two that will define your value."
John Goodman, a native of Affton, Missouri., came to Missouri State in the 1970s to play football. In 2013, he accepted an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at the New Student Convocation.
Eric Greitens penned "The Heart and the Fist," a memoir. He spoke before a large crowd at the Public Affairs Convocation. In 2015, he was inducted into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame.
At the 2015 New Student Convocation, Kyle Dean Massey offered words of advice to students at his alma mater: "This is a chance to redefine yourself – a chance to change."
When fitness expert Jillian Michaels opened the 2016 Public Affairs Conference, she took off her shoes and got real with the audience: "I cannot motivate you. But I can help you find your motivation."
Wes Moore, author of the 2015 Common Reader, presented the Public Affairs Convocation. His book examines the lives of two children of the same name who had disparate fates.