Our buildings are places where students become illuminated by new ideas, practice real-world skills and make lifelong friends. You can help us expand in important, student-centered ways. These are some of our capital priorities for Onward, Upward. They have been carefully selected to move Missouri State forward for decades to come. However, this campaign isn’t just about our vision. We want your input. If you have ideas about facilities, feel free to contact us.

Proposed priorities:

• A show-cattle barn at the Darr Agricultural Center, with classroom space and student housing space.
• A classroom and equipment-storage facility at the Kindrick Family Farm.
• Additional support for the new John Goodman Amphitheatre, the permanent home for
• Tent Theatre located in the new Judith Enyeart Reynolds Arts Park.
• Renovations to Kemper Hall, including new classrooms, program offices and faculty/ staff work areas.
• Renovations to the information technology and cybersecurity lab in Glass Hall.
• Renovations to science facilities to ensure high-quality laboratory equipment, technology and supplies.
• Expansion of the IDEA Commons. In the 2000s, Missouri State leaders had a vision. We wanted to redevelop a portion of Springfield’s center city. With the help of city and local government, more than a decade later we have created an area that celebrates and encourages Innovation, Design, Entrepreneurship and Art. That’s why we call it IDEA Commons. IDEA Commons brings together corporations, the university, lofts, nonprofits and retail space. It’s a downtown community where people live, shop, learn, create and work.
• A new, planned expansion will be a transformational project for both Springfield and Missouri State University. This project involves a 30,000 square foot expansion of the Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center. The expansion also involves a new parking garage, central green space and a private technology-focused office building to be completed by The Vecino Group as a public-private development. The project will also include an outdoor rooftop event space at the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center. This will overlook the new central green space. In addition, there are plans to expand the efactory. This expansion will include a conference and event space for programs related to entrepreneurship. This efactory indoor space will support events of 300+ attendees, and will be connected to the rooftop space referenced above. This space will be used for numerous efactory, university and community events.
• An indoor practice facility for athletics. Bad weather often means loss of practice time for our athletic teams and for groups such as the Pride Marching Band and ROTC. Constructing an indoor facility would ensure our students get the maximum amount of time to prepare. This facility would serve more than 1,000 MSU athletes, performing groups and sports teams.
  Naming of the arena. Our basketball and special events arena in the heart of campus is the home of the Bears and Lady Bears basketball teams. The arena is widely considered the best of its kind in the Missouri Valley Conference. We are seeking a permanent name to showcase this exceptional facility and the many events it hosts for the region.
• Support for the Multicultural and Diversity Center, a dynamic and inclusive place that supports all students in their academic and personal journeys. Having a dedicated center in one location on campus will be a positive step to creating a community.
• Outdoor study and green space for the Ozarks Studies Institute. The institute, part of Missouri State University libraries, is a unique resource. Its goal is to preserve the heritage of the Ozarks. The institute is a multidisciplinary effort that stretches across the university and beyond. The Ozarks Studies Institute would like to have an outdoor space that encourages meetings, discussions and
  study opportunities.
• Support for an eSports space. ESports is a form of competition using video games. In eSports, multiplayer video games (such as Fortnite and League of Legends) are played competitively in front of spectators. Top eSports tournaments draw audiences that rival the biggest traditional sporting events. Universities around the globe now have eSports teams that compete on behalf of their schools. With a dedicated eSports space in Plaster Student Union, students can be given a platform to hone their skills and share their interest with others.
• Renovations and repair to the military science department’s academic facilities, including the rappel tower.
• GOCAT support on the West Plains campus. This campus has partnered with community stakeholders and local industries to form the Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Technology, or GOCAT. Through the GOCAT, MSU offers technical training programs in electronics and electricity, machining, CAD/CAM, PLCs, hydraulics, pneumatics and more. MSU has partnered with employers to offer three apprenticeship programs. We plan to add six more apprenticeship programs in the near future. We also plan to construct a level-three advanced welding technology lab to meet a regional and statewide workforce need for skilled welders. Missouri State seeks funding to support registered apprenticeships, GOCAT equipment/operations and the addition of an advanced welding technology lab.

The Onward, Upward campaign will allow MSU to focus on additional funding priorities for each college and capital priorities including a Center for Transformational Education for Life, Physical and Health Sciences, a current STEM facility at Cheek Hall, and renovations of the Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall.

Explore visioning guides for the Springfield, Mountain Grove and West Plains campuses.

Support a facility of your choice. Talk with us about your vision for the future of Missouri State!
Contact Brent Dunn or call 417-836-4143.

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