Missouri Baptist University’s Board of Trustees expressed its intent to develop a petition for the Missouri State Board of Nursing for a school of nursing.

In addition, the board approved funding to hire a director of nursing as part of the University’s 2016-2017 budget. Admission of nursing students would depend upon approval by the State Board but the University would hope to begin admitting students in the fall of 2017.

University leaders have spent the last two years studying the efficacy of a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and a RN to BSN completion program. Currently, the University offers an Associate of Science degree with a concentration in Pre-Nursing.

In other business, the board approved:

• MBU’s Diversity Document. The document is a reflection of MBU’s Christian mission and emphasizes the University’s belief that diversity is an implication of the Gospel message. The document includes an action plan to: develop strategies to improve awareness of the need for diversity at MBU; enrich the climate and institutional culture at MBU; and provide professional development on the topic of diversity at MBU.
• A curricular proposal to begin offering a graduate certificate in sport marketing.
• A plan to launch an e-sports program. Competitive college video gaming has grown significantly in recent years across the country. This year, more than 10,000 students compete at the college level. In the collegiate realm, NAIA institutions such as Robert Morris (Ill.) and Columbia College (Mo.) have added gaming.
• The election of Travis Brown to the MBU Board. Brown, who is an MBU alumnus, is a retired director of athletics for the St. Louis Public Schools.
• A resolution of appreciation for the South County Baptist Church Foundation. The Foundation recently established an endowment to provide scholarships for MBU students.
• A resolution of appreciation for donors who contributed $1000 or more to MBU in the past year.
• The appointment of Amy Brinkley as an assistant professor of higher education leadership. Brinkley is expected to graduate in May with a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from St. Louis University.
• The promotion of the following MBU faculty members:
  • David Bailey to professor of psychology
  • Mary Ann Bouas to assistant professor of education
  • C. Allin Means to professor of journalism and communications
  • Mary Vedamuthu to professor of chemistry
  • Loftin C. Woodiel to associate professor of criminal justice and corporate security leadership.