(LISTEN): MU vice provost Dr. Jim Spain discusses degree legislation on "Wake Up Missouri"

The Missouri Senate could vote this month on legislation that would repeal the law that says Mizzou is the exclusive grantor of degrees like medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law and engineering. A Missouri Senate committee has voted to repeal the law. Missourians for Improving Higher Education co-founder Tom Strong, who’s a Mizzou donor, is pushing for repeal. He tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Missouri” that repeal would help students in rural southeast Missouri. Mr. Strong joined us live on "Wake Up" on Wednesday, saying Southeast Missouri State would love to have an engineering program. The University of Missouri opposes the bill. Mizzou vice provost Dr. Jim Spain testified at the Statehouse in Jefferson City recently and joined us live this morning on "Wake Up." Dr. Spain tells listeners that this is about efficiency with the funding that is available. He emphasizes that Mizzou's priority has been on student success. Dr. Spain also says all schools compete for students and emphasizes Mizzou is not against the other schools in question like SEMO or Missouri State: