As a student-centered urban university, serving our mission of learning, discovery, research and service, the 2021 Master Plan responds to and reflects the goals of the 2018-2028 UMKC Strategic Plan. The plan was approved by the University of Missouri Board of Curators in June 2021; the planning process included robust engagement utilizing stakeholder meetings, focus groups, surveys, interactive presentations and open houses with internal and external stakeholders. Building upon a rich history of planning, the document addresses the key issues and opportunities facing the campus today with a forward-looking vision to respond to the competitive higher education climate.
UMKC has invested in facilities over the last decade with projects that include the Health Sciences Building, Henry W. Bloch Executive Hall for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise and Research Center, Miller Nichols Learning Center and Atterbury Student Success Center. The 2021 Master Plan recommends continued building renovations to align with modern learning and research while simultaneously reducing the footprint of buildings and focusing new construction to enhance the student experience, student success and engagement with the Kansas City community. The plan also recommends improvements to the arrival experience, identity and connectivity of campus through the use of consistent gateways, branding, signage and streetscape to tie the campuses together and the creation of a campus heart and active open spaces. Projects seek to elevate sustainability and accessibility throughout campus.
For more than 85 years, UMKC has been responsive and responsible to Kansas City. While the face of the campus may change, that commitment will not. The 2021 Master Plan sets an exciting vision within flexible planning framework that can adapt to future needs and guide the development of the campus over time.
View the Master Plan Brochure (PDF)
Draft Plan Review - May 5, 2021
Learn more about our planning principles
Campus community assessment summary
Learn more about the working committee
Watch the Master Plan presentation
Student Success
Promote professional and social mobility for all learners.
Identity and Connectivity
Celebrate UMKC’s unique identity and role as an anchor institution in Kansas City.
Physical Environment
Elevate the quality and condition of buildings, landscape and streetscape.
Impactful Engagement
Advance engagement for the benefit of the community and the university.
Resiliency and Stewardship
Ensure stewardship of UMKC’s mission, facilities and campus community.
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