Missouri Southern State University

Missouri Southern State University is a public institution of higher education located in Joplin, Missouri, United States of America. It provides undergraduate and graduate degree programs across a range of disciplines, including the arts, sciences, business, education, and health sciences, delivering classroom instruction, laboratory work, and experiential learning opportunities to its student body. The university also engages in community outreach and continuing education initiatives that serve residents of the surrounding region. As a state-supported university, it operates under the authority of the Missouri Board of Regents, whose members are appointed by the Governor of Missouri, and receives funding appropriations from the state legislature to support its academic and administrative functions.

The university distinguishes itself through a focus on applied learning and career‑oriented curricula, particularly within its School of Health Sciences and School of Business, which aim to align program outcomes with regional workforce needs. It maintains a commitment to international education, offering study abroad opportunities and hosting international students to foster cross‑cultural understanding on campus. These attributes reflect its positioning as a regional comprehensive university that seeks to balance liberal arts foundations with professional preparation for graduates entering diverse sectors such as healthcare, education, and industry.

In January 2019, Missouri Southern State University experienced a cybersecurity incident in which attackers gained unauthorized access to employee Office 365 accounts through a phishing campaign. The breach prompted the engagement of forensic investigators, notification of law enforcement, and a mandatory password reset for all affected accounts. Personal information including names, social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers was present in the compromised accounts, and subsequent analysis confirmed that this data had been exposed. The institution delayed public notification until the investigation concluded, after which it issued breach alerts and provided complimentary credit monitoring services to the individuals whose information had been impacted.