MVU
Missouri Valley University
Dear Valued Valley Alumni,
Missouri Valley College is beginning an exciting new chapter as Missouri Valley University!
We recognize that a change of this significance may bring questions, particularly for the generations of alumni who proudly carry a Missouri Valley College diploma. That name represents friendships, traditions, championships, mentors, professors, coaches, and memories that will always be part of your Valley experience.
While our name is changing, our history, our values, and the Valley experience are not.
Why Missouri Valley University?
The transition to Missouri Valley University reflects the continued growth and evolution of our institution and our commitment to remaining strong and sustainable in a changing higher education landscape.
The decision followed 18 months of research, discussion, and engagement with all of our constituent groups including: faculty, staff, students, alumni, board of trustees and community members. We carefully considered the future of higher education and how Missouri Valley can continue to provide opportunities for students and the communities we serve.
The university designation better reflects our expanding academic programs, creating new career pathways, emphasizing partnerships with employers and communities, and investing in experiences that prepare students for successful careers. The Higher Learning Commission has fully endorsed Missouri Valley University as a nonprofit private university, maintaining our continuous accreditation.
This is a forward-looking step for Missouri Valley and one grounded in the institution's long history.
A University That Still Feels Like Valley
Becoming a university does not mean we are becoming a large or impersonal institution.
We anticipate thoughtful growth while remaining committed to the personal, close-knit experience that has always defined Valley. Our students will continue to know their professors, coaches, and staff personally, and relationships will remain at the center of the student experience.
We will not be replacing everything overnight. Signage, campus branding, apparel, promotional materials, and other physical elements will be updated strategically over time, allowing us to make the transition responsibly and be good stewards of our resources. At the same time, many of the iconic landmarks that have become part of Valley’s identity, including the columns and archway, will remain as they are, preserving important pieces of our history. Much of that history can also be explored in the Alumni Recognition Center and Museum, located on the second floor of Baity Hall, where the stories and accomplishments of generations of Valley alumni are proudly preserved.
Our mission, updated and approved by the Board of Trustees in May, reflects our commitment: Personalized education for life skills and career success.
Our goal is simple, to grow thoughtfully while preserving what makes Valley, Valley.
Moving Forward
Higher education is changing, and institutions across the country are adapting to new challenges and opportunities. Within the Heart of America Athletic Conference, 14 institutions have transitioned from college to university, including:
Central Methodist College → Central Methodist University
Graceland College → Graceland University
Mid-America Nazarene College → MidAmerica Nazarene University
Evangel College → Evangel University
Lindenwood College → Lindenwood University
Avila College → Avila University
Grand View College → Grand View University
William Penn College → William Penn University
Clarke College → Clarke University
Mount Mercy College → Mount Mercy University
Park College → Park University
Missouri Baptist College → Missouri Baptist University
William Woods College → William Woods University
St. Ambrose College → St. Ambrose University
Missouri Valley is joining a broader evolution in higher education while remaining grounded in the foundation established in 1889.
Our community's investment in Valley demonstrates the strength of that foundation. In the last three years, our unduplicated donor headcount has increased 476 percent. Additionally, a 2019 economic impact study found that Missouri Valley generated more than $23 million in economic activity through student, employee, and direct institutional spending.
These are signs of a community that believes in Valley's future.
Missouri Valley College Will Always Be Part of Our Story
For our alumni, this is perhaps the most important message: Missouri Valley College is not being erased.
Your Missouri Valley College diploma represents the education you earned and the experiences, relationships, and memories you made here. Nothing about this transition changes that.
Missouri Valley College will always be part of the history of Missouri Valley University, and you will always be a Missouri Valley College alumnus.
The name of the institution may change, but your place in the Valley family does not.
Staying Connected
We also see this transition as an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with alumni.
If you have questions or feedback, we want to hear from you. Our Alumni Relations and Advancement teams are available to listen, answer questions, and have meaningful conversations about what this change means for you.
Looking Ahead
Missouri Valley has been educating students since 1889. Our responsibility now is to ensure that the Valley experience continues for generations to come.
Missouri Valley University represents an investment in that future while preserving the personal attention, traditions, relationships, and community that have always made Valley special.
Thank you for being part of our story and for continuing to be part of the Valley family. We are excited about where we are going and grateful you will be a part of writing this next chapter.
Once a Viking, always a Viking. (OAVAAV)