Since the people who want the name change keep using this as an argument, I was wondering how many people have actually been approached with this question.

I haven't been asked if it is a school you go to before MU, but people have asked me if UMR is a 2-year tech school.

So they already knew it was a "tech" school? Everyone that I speak to, knows not only that UMR is an engineering University, but that it is a better one than UMC...

Well that is something similar to what I was asking, but the reason why I ask is because I was shocked when this point was brought up because I've never heard anyone say anything but good things about UMR.

UMR is tougher I think then UMC but not necessarily better, it depends on what you want to do. Engineering, UMR for sure, but liberal arts, etc...yeah UMC has us beat. It is interesting to see the flow of students from one campus to another, the number of people leaving UMR for UMC from what I've seen is much greater than those coming from UMC to UMR. Though there are a bunch of possible reasons for that.

~ K

Just to make clear that I mean the same thing as you. That said, I know that many people leave UMR for easier schools. Does that mean we should relax our curriculum to get more students? I sure as hell hope nobody will say yes....

When I was on co-op at NASA LaRC in Virginia, I got 1 of 3 responses when I told them I went to UMR.

1. Blank look. They'd never heard of it.
2. Ah, yes, I know a few people here who went there. Mainly engineering, right?
3. Fuck yeah. UMR is an awesome engineering school. Most of the engineers I've worked with from there were competent. Do you know Dr. Whoever?

I actually had two people who knew what MSM was but not UMR.

My exact same experience everywhere I've been and met people. Either no clue, they know a little about UMR, or anyone in the engineering profession who has worked with a UMR grad always knows how competent our gradutes are.

I always get asked if the UMR dropouts goto UMC

when i toured some of the other big name engineering schools, one of the questions i asked was always what other engineering schools they considered before going to the school they attended, why they went there, etc.

one time i asked if they considered UMC, just for grins, and they honestly laughed at their program. UMC is where people go to get engineering basics out of the way before they realize they should've gone to rolla.

Nope. Never.

Yeah I'm starting to get the idea that the people who are pro-name change just made up this question.

Exaggerated? Perhaps... Made up? I don't know about that... I think a lot of these examples came from our Admissions people, and I'd venture to say that they meet quite a wide variety of people, including many people who are not in the engineering/technology fields. I'd bet they get some pretty interesting questions regarding UMR.

But if they aren't in the engineering field, wouldn't that defeat the point of changing the name? Also, even if some in the engineering field don't know about UMR, is that a reason to confuse the majority that do?

I don't know if you were at the open fourm or not, but as I recall (I could be mistaken) the example they gave was while they were talking to high-school counselors at a recent conference, so I'd say that it's important that at least the counselors get it right. Is a name change the only way to do that? Certainly not. Is it the best way to do that? Not necessarily. Could it help? Possibly.

I'm still undecided on the matter, because I think there's a lot more to the big picture than I currently know, and unfortunately haven't had the time to do my own research and come to a conclusion of my own. I can see valid points on both sides of the argument, so hopefully the decision will be made that's in the best interest of UMR.