UMKC leaped ahead in world-class status in 2025.
We celebrated our designation as a Carnegie Research 1 university, opened new facilities and impacted more students than ever. Our year wasn’t just celebration though; we set big visions for the future to keep the momentum rolling. From a record-breaking fundraising campaign to constructing new buildings and facilities, we’re putting our vision for the future into action.
Here are some of our top moments of the year:
Research
UMKC Joins Nation’s Top Research Universities with New Classification
UMKC was named a Carnegie Research 1 university, a prestigious designation that reflects years of dedication to research, innovation and community collaboration. With this achievement, UMKC joins an elite group of U.S. institutions reshaping the future of discovery and education.
UMKC Hosts Regional Stakeholders to Discuss Critical Materials Crossroads Project That Would Shape America’s Industrial Future
The Critical Materials Crossroads team, made up of more than 150 organizations and led by UMKC, officially advanced in September 2025 as one of 15 finalists out of nearly 300 proposals for the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines award. The project is an emerging regional movement focused on securing America’s supply of the critical materials that power modern life, from batteries and artificial intelligence systems to aerospace technology, medical devices and clean-energy infrastructure.
Mellon Foundation Awards $4 Million for Kansas City Monuments Coalition
The Mellon Foundation awarded the University of Missouri-Kansas City $4 million to create the Kansas City Monuments Coalition to help fund 16 preservation and commemorative organizations across Kansas City so visitors can enjoy historic sites for years to come.
Major Building Projects
UMKC Celebrates Grand Opening of New St. Joseph Medical School Building
UMKC and community leaders celebrated the grand opening of the new UMKC School of Medicine building in St. Joseph, Missouri, a milestone for medical education and rural health in northwest Missouri. The $14.5 million building adds classrooms, exam rooms and simulation labs designed to prepare students for a future in rural medicine.
UMKC Publicly Announces Campaign For Conservatory Expansion
UMKC unveiled a significant expansion of its campus home for music, dance and theatre. The plan includes a 35,000-square-foot addition to the Olson Performing Arts Center, adding crucial performance and rehearsal spaces in a striking glass-and-light-filled addition on the east side of building that will stretch toward Volker Boulevard.
Local Group Envisions Bringing New Life to UMKC Historic Epperson House
A local group comprised of Sunflower Development Group and hospitality veteran Jen Gulvik secured permission to proceed with a historic redevelopment project involving one of Kansas City’s most beloved assets: the Epperson House at UMKC.
Other building projects include the Healthcare Delivery and Innovation Building under construction and the Roo Plaza and the Victor Wilson Learning Collaborative that opened this year.
Student and Community Impact
UMKC Chancellor Unveils Bold Vision for the Future at State of the University
Chancellor Mauli Agrawal addressed the campus and community at the 2025 State of the University, celebrating UMKC’s momentum and unveiling bold new initiatives. Agrawal celebrated the university’s record-setting achievements and unveiled an ambitious plan for its next era — one marked by continued enrollment growth, national research recognition, new facilities and an unprecedented fundraising campaign.
UMKC Launches Record-Breaking Campaign to Transform the Future
UMKC launched Blue & Bold, the largest fundraising campaign in its 92-year history. With a goal to raise $700 million, Blue & Bold is focused on funding three priorities: scholarships and student support; innovation, technology and entrepreneurial education; and community engagement through services including healthcare, workforce development and other critical needs.
The University of Missouri-Kansas City Welcomes Record-Breaking Class
This fall, UMKC celebrated its largest incoming class of first-time college students in university history. First-time enrollment has increased each of the last three years at UMKC, and this year grew by 2% over the prior year.
KC Streetcar Now Open at UMKC
The KC Streetcar is now open for riders at the UMKC stop at 51st Street and Brookside Boulevard! For UMKC students, this means even easier access to job and internship opportunities. They also can use the streetcar to get to and from housing, restaurants, nightlife, museums and cultural events.