While there is snow on the ground from this weekend’s storms the Spring semester starts tomorrow at Missouri Southern in Joplin. On Friday the university announced a new degree and a new Provost. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Dr. Lisa Toms has been named as Missouri Southern State University’s next Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Toms was chosen for the position after a national search with more than 80 applicants. She currently serves as the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at the University of Central Missouri, and will join Missouri Southern next month.

Toms was introduced during the Board of Governors meeting held last Friday, during which a new degree program was also approved. The Bachelor of Science in Sport and Recreation Management. The new program will fit within the 120-credit-hour model and includes a 41-credit hour sport and recreation management core developed to provide students with employment-related skills in the athletics, recreation and leisure service agencies. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro