MO SB163

Changes University of Missouri Board of Curators from "not more than one person" to "at least one but no more than two" members appointed from each congressional district, with existing members allowed to complete their terms after redistricting on August 28, 2011.

Creates a new Department of Higher Education and abolishes the Commission on Higher Education, replacing it with a nine-member Coordinating Board for Higher Education that serves as department head and approves new degree programs, oversees institutional cooperation, and establishes admission and transfer guidelines.

Coordinating Board members must be U.S. citizens with two years Missouri residency, cannot be active educators or administrators at higher education institutions, serve six-year terms, and may not exceed 25 full-time equivalent staff employees.

Changes Missouri State University's governing board from "no more than one" to "at least one but no more than two" voting members appointed from each congressional district, expanding the total board from nine to ten members including one nonvoting student member.

Authorizes the Coordinating Board to establish rules for regulating out-of-state public institutions seeking to offer degrees in Missouri, with such institutions held to standards no lower than Missouri public institutions.