Name Change Announcement
On January 1, 2008 the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) will change its name to Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS&T). The new name will more accurately describe the university’s true focus. MS&T was founded in 1870 as the first technological university west of the Mississippi River. The original name was Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy. In 1964 the university was re-named the University of Missouri-Rolla in an effort by the state of Missouri to consolidate the names of the four campuses which form the University of Missouri system.
New website/email:
The UMR Coatings Institute will now be known as MS&T Coatings Institute. All our web sites and E-mail addresses are also changing. In the past our email addresses were @UMR.EDU but now will be @MST.EDU, so you can reach us at coatings@mst.edu. Our website will now be http://coatings.mst.edu.
Short Courses:
The MS&T Coatings Institute also announces its 2008 short courses. On March 24-28 and September 15-19 in Rolla, Missouri we will offer “Basic Composition of Coatings”, on May 19-23 and November 3-7 “Introduction to Paint Formulation” will be given in Rolla, MO and on July 23-25 “Introduction to Coatings Composition and Specifications” will be held in Rolla, MO. Details on these courses can be found on our web site at http://coatings.mst.edu. To register, E-mail us at coatings@mst.edu or call 573-341-4419 and we can help. For answers to your questions ask for Michael Van De Mark, Director. If you are in the area please stop in and visit our facility. Visitors are always welcome.
Education/Recruitment:
The name change will not change the excellent educational programs at MS&T but will help students identify the university as a technological and science based campus. MS&T has been increasing its enrollment over the past 5 years from less than 5,000 to over 6,000 students. The current plan is to increase the enrollment to over 7,000 in the next 3-5 years. This increase will be balanced between undergraduate and graduate student enrollments.
With the aid of the FSCT, NPCA, as well as the St. Louis and Kansas City Coatings Societies, we will be increasing our recruitment of coatings students from the region and nationally. The need for qualified coatings scientists has been increasing due in large part to the ever increasingly restrictive regulatory process. MS&T believes that a highly educated workforce will continue to make our industry highly competitive with imports. We look to the industry to visit high schools in their areas and encourage students to enter programs in coatings at universities such as MS&T. An excellent career can be found in coating, from a research chemist to a chemical engineer to a civil engineer or in sales or plant design. Our industry is complex and will become more technology driven as the VOC level decreases and global competition increases. Missouri University of Science and Technology will continue to educate and develop technologies for this industry into the future.
If you would like to help recruit students into our industry please contact Michael Van De Mark at 573-341-4419 or E-mail mvandema@mst.edu.