We are now MVU! – President Announces Name Change
President Joe Parisi announced that the Missouri Valley College Board of Trustees has approved a historic transition: Missouri Valley College will become Missouri Valley University.
For more than 135 years, Missouri Valley has educated generations of students through personalized education, dedicated faculty and staff, meaningful relationships, and a commitment to student success. The transition to Missouri Valley University marks a significant milestone in that history while positioning the institution for continued growth and opportunity.
This is more than a new name. It is an investment in Valley’s future.
The decision follows 18 months of research, strategic planning, discussion, and engagement with faculty, staff, students, alumni, trustees, and community members. The university designation reflects the institution’s continued evolution and its commitment to meeting the changing needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce.
As Missouri Valley University, the institution will continue expanding opportunities through:
- Broader academic pathways and new programs aligned with workforce needs
- Expanded graduate education opportunities
- Emphasized partnerships with employers and community organizations
- Increased opportunities for research and experiential learning
- Expanded online learning opportunities
- Career-focused experiences that prepare students for life beyond the classroom
“The transition from college to university is a visible milestone that reflects stronger and expanded graduate academic offerings, deeper partnerships, clearer pathways, and a greater impact for students and communities,” said President Joe Parisi.
The transition is supported by the Higher Learning Commission, which has endorsed Missouri Valley University as a nonprofit private university, maintaining the institution’s continuous accreditation.
A University Built on the Valley Experience
While the name is changing, the heart of Missouri Valley remains the same.
Valley’s 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.
Professors know students by name. Coaches, advisors, mentors, administrators, and staff members walk alongside students through challenges and successes. Those personal connections will remain central to Missouri Valley University.
The institution will grow thoughtfully without losing the close-knit community that makes Valley distinctive.
The transition also will not happen overnight. Signage, apparel, promotional materials, campus branding, and other physical elements will be updated strategically over time as the university moves forward responsibly and remains a good steward of its resources. Iconic campus landmarks, including the columns and archway, will remain as part of Valley’s history and identity.
That history is also being preserved in the Alumni Recognition Center and Museum on the second floor of Baity Hall, where generations of Valley stories and accomplishments are celebrated.
Honoring the Past While Building the Future
Missouri Valley University is joining a broader evolution taking place across higher education. Within the Heart of America Athletic Conference, 14 institutions have previously transitioned from college to university, including Central Methodist, Graceland, MidAmerica Nazarene, Evangel, Lindenwood, Avila, Grand View, William Penn, Clarke, Mount Mercy, Park, Missouri Baptist, William Woods, and St. Ambrose.
That momentum is reflected in the growing support of the Valley community. Over the last three years, Missouri Valley’s unduplicated donor headcount has increased by 476 percent. A 2019 economic impact study also found that the institution generated more than $23 million in economic activity through student, employee, and direct institutional spending.
These numbers represent more than growth. They reflect a community that believes in Missouri Valley and its future.
Missouri Valley College Will Always Be Part of the Story
For the thousands of alumni who earned a Missouri Valley College diploma, one thing will never change: your place in the Valley family.
Missouri Valley College is not being erased. The name represents generations of friendships, traditions, championships, mentors, professors, coaches, accomplishments, and memories. Those experiences are an essential part of the institution’s history and will remain part of the story of Missouri Valley University.
The name of the institution may change. Your Valley story does not.
The transition to Missouri Valley University is a milestone that belongs to the entire Valley community—past, present, and future. It honors the foundation built over more than 135 years while creating new possibilities for generations to come.
From the students who call Valley home today, to the alumni who carry their Valley experience wherever they go, to the faculty, staff, families, supporters, and communities who have invested in this institution—this next chapter belongs to all of us.
Missouri Valley University represents where we are going without forgetting where we came from.
Once a Viking, always a Viking.
Valley IS rolling!