The University of Missouri-St. Louis is one of four campuses that constitute the University of Missouri. Established in Columbia in 1839 on the ideals of Thomas Jefferson, the University of Missouri became a land-grant institution upon passage of the Morrill Act by Congress in 1862.
When the University of Missouri System was organized in 1963, the St. Louis campus was the only one that started as an entirely new university. The University of Missouri-St. Louis began as a consequence of the national movement to create public universities in metropolitan centers. UMSL was designed to educate the area’s professionals through research, coursework, and hands-on experiences in the region’s businesses, schools, hospitals, agencies, and arts organizations.
According to the campus’s history, The Emerging University: The University of Missouri-St Louis, 1963-1983, faculty were hired from prestigious universities with a vision of creating a university where graduates would be able to confront urban issues through research, critical thinking, and creativity. More than traditional workforce development, these leaders’ vision for UMSL was to educate students for lifelong learning, which would produce good citizens and effective leaders in the region’s organizations. That legacy continues because those early leaders created a culture of faculty excellence that persists today.
Since the doors of the old Administration Building opened on a golf course more than 50 years ago, UMSL has grown to encompass 470 acres in St. Louis County and has a mix of modern and historic academic buildings. The campus is now St. Louis's largest university in the number of students and is the third largest in the state.
The campus takes pride in the success of its students, faculty, and staff and highlights of these successes are posted regularly on the UMSL home page. Detailed information about the university is also available on the About UMSL site and the Student Consumer Information site. Student achievement data can be found on the College Portrait.
The University of Missouri St. Louis is the metropolitan, land-grant, research institution serving the most diverse and economically important region in Missouri.
Mission
We transform lives.
Vision
The University of Missouri St. Louis will be a beacon of hope, a force for good, and a leader in the pursuit of excellence in education, impactful research and community service. We boldly assert that education is for everyone who is willing and able to seek it out. We honor the duties inherent in our land-grant beginnings by positioning ourselves as partners in the search for knowledge, progress and positive change for ourselves, our communities, our world.
Faculty Senate and University Assembly
The Faculty Senate has primary responsibility for making educational policy decisions to create a rigorous, innovative, student-oriented environment for learning, research, and community service. The Senate and University Assembly together and through their committees advise the chancellor and other senior administrators on matters related to students, faculty and staff.
The Faculty Senate includes a faculty member from each department and approximately 10 at-large faculty members, as well as three administrators who are non-voting members. The University Assembly consists of the elected members of the Senate, five administrators, student representatives, and staff members. Non-voting members consist of vice chancellors and vice provosts not already included, deans of all colleges, the dean of libraries, and the president of the Student Government Association. The Faculty Senate meets monthly between September and May and the Assembly meets in alternate months during the year. Information about the Faculty Senate and University Assembly are available on the Senate's web site.
Staff Association
The University of Missouri—St. Louis Staff Association is a body formed to consider, to recommend, and to take such other actions as are properly related to the common concerns and best interest of those personnel at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The Staff Association fosters a spirit of unity and cooperation among all employees of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, to consider methods and means by which employment conditions may be improved and the operating efficiency of the University of Missouri-St. Louis increased; to receive and consider matters concerning working conditions of membership; to make such recommendations that it deems appropriate, and to provide a means of communicating problems of mutual concern between the Staff Association and the University of Missouri-St. Louis administration. Representatives of the Staff Association serve as voting members of University Assembly committees.
Student Government Association
The Student Government Association (SGA) of the University of Missouri St. Louis, housed in 366 Millennium Student Center, 314-516-5105, is the student governance body at UMSL. SGA is comprised of elected student representatives and a general assembly which includes representatives from all recognized student organizations. The purpose of the SGA is to represent student concerns at every level of governance within the university. This is done by ensuring adequate and capable student representation within the University Assembly, the policymaking and governance body of the university.
2020-2021 Calendar
Fall Semester 2020
16 Week Session
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| August 24 | Monday | Classes Begin 8:00 a.m. |
| August 30 | Thursday | Last day a student may enroll (enter a course for credit). |
| August 30 | Thursday | Last day Registrar’s Office will automatically move students from the wait list to open sections |
| September 7 | Monday | Labor Day Holiday |
| September 8 | Tuesday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| September 21 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from school without receiving a grade. |
| September 21 | Monday | Last day any student may place a course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| October 19 | Monday | Mid Semester |
| October 19 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from school without instructor approval. EX grade will be assigned. |
| November 16 | Monday | Last day a student may drop a course. Instructor’s approval is required. A grade of EX or EX-F will be assigned. |
| November 16 | Monday | Last day a student may withdraw from school. Instructors’ and Dean’s approvals are required. Grades of EX or EX-F will be assigned for each course. |
| November 21 | Saturday | Fall Break (Thanksgiving holiday) Begins 5:00 p.m. |
| November 30 | Monday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| December 12 | Saturday | Classes End, 5:00 p.m. |
| December 14 | Monday | Final Examinations Begin |
| December 19 | Saturday | Fall Semester Closes, end of day |
| December 19 | Saturday | Fall Commencement |
Fall Semester 2020
8 Week-1 Session
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| August 24 | Monday | Classes Begin 8:00 a.m. |
| August 27 | Thursday | Last day a student may enroll |
| August 27 | Thursday | Last day Registrar’s Office will automatically move students from the wait list to open sections |
| September 7 | Monday | Labor Day Holiday |
| September 8 | Tuesday | Classes Resume, 8:00 am |
| September 8 | Tuesday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from school without receiving a grade |
| September 8 | Tuesday | Last day any student may place a course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| September 21 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from the Eight week 1 session without Instructor approval. EX grade will be assigned. |
| October 5 | Monday | Last day a student may drop a course. Instructor’s approval is required. A grade of EX or EX-F will be assigned. |
| October 5 | Monday | Last day a student may withdraw from the session. Instructors’ and Dean’s approvals are required. Grades of EX or EX-F will be assigned for each course. |
| October 17 | Saturday | Fall Semester 8 Week 1 closes, end of day |
Final Exams are held during the last class meeting of the Session
Fall Semester 2020
8 Week-2 Session
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| October 19 | Monday | Classes begin 8:00 a.m. |
| October 22 | Thursday | Last day a student may enroll |
| October 22 | Thursday | Last day Registrar’s Office will automatically move students from the wait list into open sections |
| November 2 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from school without receiving a grade |
| November 2 | Monday | Last day to place an Eight week 2 course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. |
| November 16 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from the Eight week 2 session without Instructor approval. EX grade will be assigned. |
| November 21 | Saturday | Fall Break (Thanksgiving holiday) begins 5:00 p.m. |
| November 30 | Monday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| December 7 | Monday | Last day to drop an Eight week 2 course. Instructor approval is required. A grade of EX or EX-F will be assigned. |
| December 7 | Monday | Last day to withdraw from the Eight week 2 session. Instructors’ and Dean’s approval are required. Grades of EX or EX-F will be assigned for each Eight week 2 course. |
| December 19 | Saturday | Fall Semester 8 Week 2 Closes, end of day. |
Final Exams are held during the last class meeting of the Session
Winter Intersession - 2021
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| January 4 | Monday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| January 4 | Monday | Beginning the first day of the term there will be a $250.00 late registration fee assessed for students who have not previously registered for the Winter Intersession Spring 2021 term. |
| January 4 | Monday | Last day to add a Winter Intersession course |
| January 6 | Wednesday | Last day to drop a Winter Intersession course without receiving a grade |
| January 6 | Wednesday | Last day to place a Winter Intersession course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| January 9 | Saturday | Last day to drop a course from the Winter Intersession without instructor approval. EX grade will be assigned. |
| January 13 | Wednesday | Last day to drop a Winter Intersession course. Instructor's approval is required. Grade of EX or EX-F will be assigned. |
| January 16 | Saturday | Classes End, 5:00 p.m. |
Spring Semester - 2021
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| January 18 | Monday | Martin Luther King Holiday |
| January 19 | Tuesday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| January 25 | Monday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit) |
| January 25 | Monday | Last day Registrar's Office will automatically move students from the wait list to open sections |
| February 15 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from school without receiving a grade |
| February 15 | Monday | Last day any student may place a course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| March 15 | Monday | Mid Semester |
| March 15 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from school without instructor approval. EX grade will be assigned. |
| March 27 | Saturday | Spring Recess Begins, 5:00 p.m. |
| April 5 | Monday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| April 19 | Monday | Last day student may drop a course. Instructor's approval is required. A grade of EX or EX-F will be assigned. |
| April 19 | Monday | Last day a student may withdraw from school. Instructors' and Deans' approvals are required. Grades of EX or EX-F will be assigned for each course. |
| May 08 | Saturday | Classes End, 5:00 p.m. |
| May 10 | Monday | Final Examinations Begin |
| May 15 | Saturday | Spring Semester Closes, end of day |
| May 15 | Saturday | Spring Commencement |
| May 16 | Sunday | Spring Commencement |
Spring Semester 2021
8 Week-1 Session
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| January 18 | Monday | Martin Luther King Holiday |
| January 19 | Tuesday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| January 22 | Friday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit) |
| January 22 | Friday | Last day Registrar’s office will automatically move students from the wait list into open sections. |
| February 1 | Monday | Last day to drop an Eight Week 1 course without receiving a grade |
| February 1 | Monday | Last day any student may place an Eight Week 1 course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| February 15 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from the Eight Week 1 without instructor approval. EX grade will be assigned. |
| March 1 | Monday | Last day student may drop an Eight Week 1 course. Instructor's approval is required. A grade of EX or EX-F will be assigned. |
| March 1 | Monday | Last day a student may withdraw from the Eight Week 1 session. Instructors' and Deans' approvals are required. Grades of EX or EX-F will be assigned for each course. |
| March 13 | Saturday | Spring Semester 8 Week 1 Closes, end of day |
Final Exams are held during the last class meeting of the Session
Spring Semester 2021
8 Week-2 Session
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| March 15 | Monday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| March 18 | Thursday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit). |
| March 18 | Thursday | Last day Registrar’s office will automatically move students from the wait list into open sections. |
| March 27 | Saturday | Spring Recess Begins, 5:00 p.m. |
| April 5 | Monday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| April 5 | Monday | Last day to drop an Eight Week 2 course without receiving a grade |
| April 5 | Monday | Last day any student may place a course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| April 19 | Monday | Last day to drop a course or withdraw from an Eight Week 2 course without instructor approval. EX grade will be assigned. |
| May 3 | Monday | Last day a student may withdraw from an Eight Week 2 course. Instructors’ and Dean’s approvals are required. Grades of EX or EX-F will be assigned for each course. |
| May 3 | Monday | Last day a student may withdraw from the Eight Week 2 session. Instructors’ and Dean’s approvals are required. Grades of EX or EX-F will be assigned for each course. |
| May 15 | Saturday | Spring Semester 8 Week 2 Closes, end of day |
Final Exams are held during the last class meeting of the Session
Summer Sessions - 2021
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| January 4, 2021 | Monday | Registration begins for all students and all sessions |
Summer Session I (4 Weeks)
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| May 17 | Monday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| May 19 | Wednesday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit) for Session I |
| May 19 | Wednesday | Last day Registrar’s Office will move students automatically from the wait list to open sections |
| May 24 | Monday | Last day to drop a Session I course without receiving a grade. |
| May 24 | Monday | Last day a student may place a Session I course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day Holiday |
| June 1 | Tuesday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| June 1 | Tuesday | Last day to drop a Session I course without instructor approval. EX grade will be issued. |
| June 7 | Monday | Last day a student may drop or withdraw from a Session I course. Instructor's approval is required. EX or EX-F grade will be issued. |
| June 12 | Saturday | Session Closes, end of day |
Summer Session II (4 Weeks)
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| June 14 | Monday | Classes begin 8:00 a.m. |
| June 16 | Wednesday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit) for Session II |
| June 16 | Wednesday | Last day Registrar’s Office will move students automatically from the wait list to open sections |
| June 21 | Monday | Last day to drop a Session II course without receiving a grade |
| June 21 | Monday | Last day a student may place a Session II course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| June 28 | Monday | Last day to drop a Session II course without instructor approval. EX grade will be issued. |
| July 5 | Monday | Independence Day Holiday |
| July 6 | Tuesday | Classes Resume |
| July 6 | Tuesday | Last day a student may drop or withdraw from a Session II course. Instructor's approval is required. A grade of EX or EX-F will be issued. |
| July 10 | Saturday | Session Closes, end of day |
Summer Session III (4 Weeks)
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| July 12 | Monday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| July 14 | Wednesday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit) for Session III |
| July 14 | Wednesday | Last day Registrar’s Office will move students automatically from the wait list to open sections |
| July 19 | Monday | Last day to drop a Session III course without receiving a grade |
| July 19 | Monday | Last day a student may place a Session III course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| July 26 | Monday | Last day a student may drop or withdraw from a Session III course without instructor approval. EX grade will be issued. |
| August 2 | Monday | Last day to drop or withdraw from a Session III course. Instructor's approval is required. EX or EX-F grade will be issued. |
| August 7 | Saturday | Session III Closes, end of day |
Final examinations are held during the last class meeting of Summer Sessions I, II, and III.
Summer Session IV (8 Weeks)
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| May 17 | Monday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| May 20 | Thursday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit) for Session IV |
| May 20 | Thursday | Last day Registrar’s Office will move students automatically from the wait list to open sections |
| May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day Holiday |
| June 1 | Tuesday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| June 1 | Tuesday | Last day to drop a Session IV course without receiving a grade |
| June 1 | Tuesday | Last day a student may place a Session IV course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| June 14 | Monday | Last day a student may drop or withdraw from a Session IV course without instructor approval. EX grade will be issued. |
| June 28 | Monday | Last day to drop or withdraw from a Session IV course. Instructor's approval is required. EX or EX-F grade will be issued. |
| July 5 | Monday | Independence Day Holiday |
| July 6 | Tuesday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| July 7 | Wednesday | Final Examinations Begin |
| July 10 | Saturday | Session IV Closes, end of day |
Summer Session V (8 Weeks)
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| June 14 | Monday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| June 17 | Thursday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit) for Session V |
| June 17 | Thursday | Last day Registrar’s Office will move students automatically from the wait list to open sections |
| June 28 | Monday | Last day to drop a Session V course without receiving a grade |
| June 28 | Monday | Last day a student may place a Session V course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| July 5 | Monday | Independence Day Holiday |
| July 6 | Tuesday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| July 12 | Monday | Last day to drop a Session V course without instructor approval. EX grade will be issued. |
| July 26 | Monday | Last day a student may drop or withdraw from a Session V course. Instructor's approval is required. EX or EX-F will be issued. |
| August 4 | Wednesday | Final Examinations Begin |
| August 7 | Saturday | Session V Closes, end of day |
Summer Session VI (12 Weeks)
| Date | Weekday | Event |
|---|---|---|
| May 17 | Monday | Classes Begin, 8:00 a.m. |
| May 21 | Friday | Last day any student may enroll (enter a course for credit) for Session VI |
| May 21 | Friday | Last day Registrar’s Office will move students automatically from the wait list to open sections |
| May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day Holiday |
| June 1 | Tuesday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| June 7 | Monday | Last day to drop a Session VI course without receiving a grade |
| June 7 | Monday | Last day a student may place a Session VI course on Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis |
| June 28 | Monday | Last day to drop a Session VI course without instructor approval. EX grade will be issued. |
| July 5 | Monday | Independence Day Holiday |
| July 6 | Tuesday | Classes Resume, 8:00 a.m. |
| July 19 | Monday | Last day a student may drop or withdraw from a Session VI course. Instructor's approval is required. EX or EX-F will be issued. |
| August 4 | Wednesday | Final Examinations Begin |
| August 7 | Saturday | Session Closes, end of day |