I'm out of town for a couple of days, with limited computer time. So if you don't see your comment, please be patient. I'll get to it as soon as I can. Thanks for your patience.
While we're on the subject of comments, let me repeat the request from this blog's inaugural posting: Please "keep your comments focused on the topic, cordial and respectful in tone, and as brief as possible." I've been very hands-off in terms of editing comments, but a few of them have strayed from the topic of the name change, and a few are little more than lengthy jeremiads.
I'm going to start scrutinizing the comments more closely. But if you stay on topic, cordial in tone and brief, your posts should have no trouble getting through untouched.
I support any name which leads toward fiscal and political independence of this campus. I have a rough plot of State support as a percentage of expenditures vs. the past 30 years. This plot illustrates a fundamental reason fees have risen faster than the cost of living in Missouri: Student fees must cover the reductions in State support as well as the cost of doing business.
Change the name, but always move toward independent, National status.
I didn't search long enough to see if this has come up before, but don't forget to look at the abbreviations. MTU (empty U?); MUST?; MUSE? I don't think any of those work.
Rich Bryant 1970 EE
I disagree with Mr. Bryant. I think the acronym MUST would bring great possibilities when planning a campaign to get future students to come to our school. MUSE might also bring those possibilities.
I don't think a name change will do squat for UMR. The chancellor is just wanting to leave his scent on the school. What's else is in his bag of surprises? Changing Joe Miner? Removing St. Pat's festivities? The next thing you know, you'll be saying "I went to the university formerly known as UMR, formerly known as Missouri School of Mines, but now goes by the symbol '?'." Give me a break! The money and time being spent on changing UMR's name could be better spent on improving facilities, lab equipment, etc. LEAVE THE NAME ALONE!
I agree with Amy - LEAVE IT ALONE. The name change serves no usefull purpose. If you had to change it, change it to MIT (Missouri Institute of Technology). Since that is the caliber of institution UMR wants to become, take the name. You would be remembered as the other MIT. I know in the refining industry, UMR has a reputation of producing top notch engineers - I like that. Coming from a school with a goofy name or acronym will not enhance the reputation of the actual institution.
Leave it alone.....
There is nothing wrong for every chancellor to put some legacy behind. However, changing the name of the school will not bring students from all over the world to knock the doors of UMR. Earlier, I posted the top 100 technological schools of the world on this website. Very few schools have technology word in their description. Like many posters have said, I would like to reiterate that it is the amount of research budget together with fantastic research facilities and the reknown faculty memebers that would put UMR on the map. It goes without saying that officials of Rolla city in concert with UMR administration need to do something about the city itself so that it becomes attractive for the students who would like to engage in other activities. I was searching for the research at Univ of Florida in their Mech & Aero Dept. Now, here is the dept that has 45 faculty members, 280 grad students, and close to 900 undergrads. Not only that, they have $20 million research budget. Obiviously, they are placed well above their counter part at UMR. The present chancellor means well for the school and he does say that he would like to increase the research budget. The decision to change the name, like many have said on this platform, has already been made. UMR must do something to fetch more research money. That is the bottom line and the reputation will automatically will follow.
I think MO Tech sounds more like DeVry or Vo-Tech than is does GA Tech or VA Tech. The only name change I would like to see is back to MSM. The campus has cheapened the value of the degree (take and replace grades, reducing hours required to graduate, focus on retention instead of turning out top tier engineers, etc.). There was a reason freshman chemistry was called a weed-out class. I think sometimes campus would rather be featured in People Magazine than Popular Science.
Today's (Feb 28) standoff with a student at the campus has put UMR on the world's map, albeit in a notorious way. It is little bit dispappointing to see the headlines like referring to UMR as: Missouri College, Missouri University, US University etc., when you Google Rolla for the news. This will probably give the impetus for the name change!!
Most folks in the metals industry still do not recognize UMR as a major metallurgical/materials science school. It is only when one says "formerly Missouri School of Mines" that they realizeto which institution one is referring. Still another name change could result in even less name recognition for this very fine engineering school.
Try asking this guy.....http://www.ctc.com/learnaboutctc/c4isr.cfm