Last fall, we began the process of developing a new 2025-30 Strategic Plan for Missouri State University. Fast forward to this summer, I’m excited to have the completed plan in my hands!

As I noted at the start, this plan won’t be my plan — it’ll be our plan and indeed it is. Titled “Igniting Opportunity,” this plan is the result of months of collaboration, reflection and determination. My heartfelt thanks go out to the Strategic Planning Committee co-chaired by Ken Brown and Zora Mulligan, and project manager Rowena Stone, for leading the effort with guidance from consultant Dr. John Welty.

I also want to thank every one of you who engaged in the process by sharing your valuable insights. Your participation during each phase helped shape this thoughtful and ambitious vision.

“Igniting Opportunity” represents more than just a document. It’s our shared commitment to move Missouri State forward with boldness, creativity and purpose. It includes new mission, vision and values statements for the university, centered on our statewide mission in public affairs. Together, they will guide and inspire us to make a meaningful impact in Springfield, the region, state and beyond.

Mission – Missouri State University is a community of citizen scholars committed to public affairs. Our innovative teaching, research and service create transformative experiences that benefit individuals and society.

Vision – Missouri State will be the nation’s leading public affairs university, delivering on our mission by cultivating civic responsibility and igniting social and economic opportunity.

Values – As a vital component of our public affairs mission, Missouri State has long embraced ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement as the three foundational pillars of our institutional identity. We reaffirm and elevate these enduring commitments by formally adopting them as our core university values.

The new plan also lays out five main goals, and today I’ll highlight the first one. Each of my next four Words of Williams letters will cover another goal.

Academic Opportunities and Innovation

The Academic Opportunities and Innovation goal leads the way because at our core, we’re an academic institution. Everything we do starts with providing a strong academic experience for our students.

This goal will drive us to elevate teaching and learning at Missouri State. Specifically, we’ll focus on:

• Experiential learning – increase the number of students engaged in experiential-learning opportunities.
• An interdisciplinary approach – develop administrative policies to incentivize interdisciplinary scholarship, programming, assignments and curriculum throughout all colleges.
• Relevant curriculum – remake the general education curriculum with a focus on transferrable skills and institute processes to monitor student outcomes and market needs.
• Access – offer more high-quality online programs.
• Public affairs – integrate the public affairs mission into the curriculum beginning with first-year courses and general education.
• Research – foster increased research productivity by pursuing an R2 designation.

With this goal in mind, we’ll be committed to responding to evolving educational needs. Our aim is to prepare students not only for tomorrow’s careers, but also for lifelong success.

Hello, Conference USA

Also, a heads up that today, Missouri State officially moves over to Conference USA! We’re excited for the opportunities this change will bring and look forward to what’s ahead. Welcome to the new era.

Enjoy the long weekend coming up and have a safe and fun 4th of July celebration.

Thanks for checking in. It’s a great day to be a Bear!

Biff