November 4, 1999
Contact: Tom Hutton, University Relations, (785) 864-8866.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The University of Kansas and the University of Missouri-Kansas City will join forces to make Kansas City a nationally recognized center for life-sciences research and education, university leaders announced today, Thursday, Nov. 4.
Speaking to the Greater Kansas City Civic Council recently, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway announced the partnership, which encourages joint strategic planning, life sciences programs for students in grades K-12 and community colleges, and research in life and health sciences. The goal of the cooperation is to draw national attention, additional federal research dollars, create new jobs and spur urban Kansas City development.
The Partnership for Progress was signed by Hemenway and UMKC Interim Chancellor Gordon H. Lamb. KU and UMKC have a long history of cooperative programs. For example, Kansas residents pay resident tuition at the UMKC School of Dentistry and Missouri residents pay resident tuition at KU's School of Architecture and Urban Design. That cooperative agreement avoided unnecessary duplication of programs.
In recent years, the schools worked cooperatively with the Marion Merrell Dow Foundation to support collaboration between university-based scientists and to operate research facilities used by both UMKC and KU faculty. Additionally, schools of nursing at both universities received grants to train nurses in midwifery.
"This latest example of cooperation between our two schools is another example that together we are stronger," Hemenway said. "Both institutions will benefit, but the true winners are the people of Kansas City, who will see economic and personal benefits as a result of this partnership."
"Business and community leaders have called on local organizations to help Kansas City become a world-class life sciences center," Lamb said. "By pooling our resources, UMKC and KU look to turn this vision into reality for Kansas Citians."
The partnership's goals include
-- Helping Kansas City achieve a rank in the top 10 percent of U.S. cities based on public health indicators.
-- Attracting new companies to Kansas City that specialize in life sciences.
-- Creating new jobs in Kansas City related to the life sciences.
-- Making Kansas City home to a nationally recognized K-12 and community college science program.
-- Helping Kansas City recruit life science companies to the city's urban core.