Brandon Parigo
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal at the 2025 UMKC State of the University address.
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal focused his UMKC’s 2025 State of the University address on a new fundraising campaign, a new dentistry program and appreciation of past achievements.
For aspiring dentistry students, Agrawal announced a new proposal for a satellite dentistry program to begin in St. Joseph. Though the proposal still needs approval and funding, it is expected to launch in 2027 on Missouri Western University’s campus.
“It’s designed to address the severe shortage of dentists and dental hygienists in the surrounding counties,” said Agrawal.
Also in St. Joseph will be the new $14.5 million School of Medicine added to the location’s educational infrastructure.
Many changes to the Kansas City Volker campus are coming soon as well. In April, students can expect an announcement to celebrate the opening of Roo Plaza, an outdoor space that occupies the Cherry Street block.
“Our new, safe, traffic free plaza,” said Agrawal. “We are going to transform the space with art, furnishings and string lights.”
This summer will bring the completion of the renovations of the fourth floor of the Miller Nichols Library into the Victor Wilson Learning Collaborative. In addition to these completed renovations, the Atterbury Student Success Center will begin construction of its complete renovation.
“I’m really excited about the new student success spaces,” said Senior Vice Provost for Student Success Kristi Holsinger. “I’ve been working on those projects, so it’s going to be really fun to see those come together.”
Holsinger also shared her interest in the new UMKC StreetCar stop opening this fall.
“I think it’s just going to open up the city in a really new way,” said Holsinger. “There are a lot of community partnerships we’ll be able to better utilize with this kind of accessibility.”
Among all the announcements, Agrawal also addressed a growing concern of state and federal funding that UMKC is expecting to drop.
“We will continue to move forward, but with increased caution and restraint,” said Agrawal. “You will receive additional communication from me on this in the near future.”
One of the ways UMKC is planning to continue supporting its rapid development with declining state and federal funding is the launch of Blue and Bold in October. Blue and Bold is a $500 million fundraising campaign, and Agrawal said it is UMKC’s most ambitious one yet.
“We are living in extraordinary times,” said Agrawal. “Times of both tremendous achievement, but also tremendous challenges.”
In his address, Agrawal also acknowledged the many historic UMKC achievements of 2024. These included upwards movement amongst national rankings, the Carnegie Research 1 designation and individual professor and student achievements.
“To be recognized on the national stage is really critical for UMKC, but also for the students who work so hard,” said Dean of Students Todd Wells.
hs4b7@umsystem.edu