Missouri State University resumed its Merit Badge University (MBU) program by holding a one-day camp Jan. 25, 2025, on the Springfield campus.

In total, 116 scouts from St. Louis, Kansas City, Joplin, Lebanon, Webb City, Aurora, Carl Junction, Carthage, Ozark, Clever, Springfield, Republic, Nixa, Branson, Rogersville and St. Robert participated in the event.

Program director Dr. Michael Suttmoeller, associate professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and coordinator of the Conservation Law Enforcement Certificate, said several RCASH faculty volunteered to help the scouts earn various merit badges.

Suttmoeller acknowledged MSU’s faculty and RCASH Associate Dean Dr. Jason Jolley for their support and effort. “I really appreciate all of the hard work and preparation that they each did to deliver high quality courses for the scouts,” he said.

Reviving a great idea

When Suttmoeller learned that MSU had hosted a merit badge program several years ago, he decided reviving the program would be a great idea. He immediately began organizing the event, recruiting faculty and arranging the logistics.

“A merit badge university was previously held at MSU, with the last date being 2016. None had been held since that time until 2025,” Suttmoeller said.

“I have been exposed to merit badge universities at other institutions and recognized that this was a program that could benefit both Scouting America as well as MSU.”

Providing more opportunities for scouts

Merit badge universities benefit all scouts by providing them with opportunities to advance through various scouting ranks, according to Suttmoeller. The program is especially important because it provides opportunities for scouts to earn merit badges that they may otherwise not be able to access.

Suttmoeller cited a successful example during the 2025 camp to illustrate.

‘’A 13-year-old female scout was attending that had earned 118 of the available 138 merit badges,” Suttmoeller said. “She was able to earn the movie making merit badge at our merit badge university. She said that she had been trying to find a way to earn that badge, and our merit badge university provided that opportunity.”

Benefits to Missouri State

Missouri State also benefits from hosting a merit badge university camp, Suttmoeller said.

“Merit badge universities provide a pre-college experience for the scouts that attend,” he explained. “It is an opportunity for the colleges, schools and departments on campus to showcase their facilities and their expertise to youth that may be interested in attending college in a few years.”

In particular, the program generates interest by allowing scouts to experience college life at MSU, even if just for one day. “A lot of the scouts went to the PSU for lunch and really enjoyed exploring that area of campus,” Suttmoeller said.

Highlighting the public affairs mission

The program reinforces and highlights MSU’s public affairs mission as well, Suttmoeller added.

“There are merit badges that teach cultural competence,” he said. “Scouts were able to earn American Cultures, Citizenship in the Nation and Citizenship in the Community badges. All of these badges address a person’s role within society and their responsibilities as members of society.”

Plans for MBU 2026 underway

Plans are underway for next year’s event, tentatively scheduled for Jan. 24, 2026. Suttmoeller decided to continue the program in part because of the positive feedback he received about the 2025 experience.

“Several leaders and parents told me before they left that they really appreciated MSU hosting the event, that their scouts had a great experience and [they] were hopeful that it would continue in the future,” he said.

Suttmoeller also heard positive comments about the quality of courses at the 2025 MBU. One specific goal now is to expand the program’s curriculum with more learning options for attendees.

“I am hopeful we will be able to expand the merit badge offerings both within RCASH and also across the campus and get other colleges, schools and departments involved,” he said.

For Suttmoeller, the best part of the entire experience was seeing the positive interactions between scouts and faculty during the event.

“I think everyone had a great time.”

Merit Badge University 2025 faculty

John Schmalzbauer (American Cultures), Josh Albers (Animation), Jim Kaatz (Citizenship in the Community and Citizenship in the Nation), Samantha Tjaden (Crime Prevention), Bill Sandel (Emergency Preparedness), Mike Kyle (Fingerprinting), Kaitlin Titus (Fingerprinting), Marcus Howell (Graphic Arts), Jordan Riddell (Law), Nathan Patton (Movie Making), Jon Mabee (Movie Making), Inna Hambel (Public Speaking), Kexi Chen (Public Speaking), Ethan Amidon (Traffic Safety), Chloe Solstad (Traffic Safety) and Lauren Sanders (Emergency Preparedness).