NORTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

public, coeducational institution of higher learning in Kirksville, Mo., U.S. It is designated Missouri's public liberal arts and sciences institution. The university comprises 11 divisions and offers a range of undergraduate studies and 10 master's degree programs. Students may pursue studies in areas such as agriculture, business, education, computer science, arts and sciences, and the social sciences. Research facilities include laboratories for the study of organic chemistry, biofeedback, and human performance. Total enrollment is approximately 6,100. The university was founded in 1867 as North Missouri Normal (teacher-training) School and Commercial College. In 1870 it became the state's first public institution of higher education and was renamed First District Normal College. In 1919 it was made a four-year, degree-granting institution, and its name became Northeast Missouri State Teachers College. It was elevated to university standing in 1972. In the 1980s it became noted for its innovative student assessment program, which measured the quality of its education.