UM Board of Curators amends transfer policy, approves FY26 budget
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The University of Missouri System Board of Curators met at the St. Joseph Country Club ballroom on Thursday to attend to a wide variety of subjects affecting the state of Missouri as a whole.
The University of Missouri has made a notable amendment to an item in its transfer policy, expanding from only allowing students from nine qualifying states to transfer with 60 credits and an Associate of Arts degree from a two-year college, to now allowing all students nationwide.
The UM Board of Curators also unanimously approved a $5.3 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year 2026, a slight increase from $4.9 billion from FY 2025.
This budget increase comes despite a reduction of roughly $7 to $8 million in federal grant revenue for the system and amid larger discussions of federal spending cuts in Washington, D.C.
However, the 2026 operating budget does include $539 million in state of Missouri appropriations.
The consent agenda approved by Curators on Thursday also included an appropriations request for FY 2027 for $16 million for a new UMKC Dentistry program in St. Joseph.
The Board of Curators also approved a plan to design and construct the Energy Innovation Center, a facility where researchers will study new methods of energy production.
“The Energy Innovation Center is essential to addressing our nation’s security, workforce and economic growth,” University of Missouri President Mun Choi said. “This facility aligns incredible resources with world-class faculty to transform energy production and policy for the future.”
Inside the center, researchers from engineering, physics, computer science, chemistry and biochemistry will advance energy production, storage and distribution.
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