Dear friends, neighbors and community partners,

Fall is here, finally bringing the cooler temperatures that October promises. Month after month, we continue to find opportunities to celebrate and commit ourselves to the work of creating a thriving region. This month, we are proud to share that UMSL again leads the state for social mobility of our graduates. We were also pleased to report that our neighbor, Incarnate Word Academy, has approved plans to continue to serve students on their historic Bel-Nor campus.

As always, we hope you will explore the many events and activities happening this month in and around the university. Also, don’t forget that UMSL will once more serve as a St. Louis County Board of Elections polling place including early voting through Election Day, continuing our commitment to partnership serving the community.

UMSL in the No. 1 spot in Missouri for social mobility of graduates among public universities in the state

The latest US News and World Report rankings place UMSL in the No. 1 spot in Missouri for social mobility of graduates among public universities in the state. Since its founding as the first public university in the St. Louis region more than 60 years ago, UMSL has been expanding access to higher education and taking steps to make it easier for all students to earn their degrees. For the past six years, U.S. News & World Report has recognized that work with its list of “Top Performers for Social Mobility,” which highlights how well universities have graduated Pell Grant-eligible students. UMSL has made the list every year since it debuted in the 2020 rankings and is once again ranked No. 1 in this category.

UMSL also ties with the University of California, Berkeley at No. 18 in the nation for undergraduate international business programs. The program climbed seven spots from its 2026 ranking, highlighting its continued growth and recognition among undergraduate international business programs. UMSL ranks 8th among public universities. Read more about these rankings.

^{Incarnate Word Academy update, September 2026}

For nearly 100 years, Incarnate Word Academy has been a place where generations of young women have discovered their gifts, deepened their faith, built lifelong relationships, and prepared to make a difference in the world. Following two years of strategic planning, careful study, and extensive due diligence, IWA’s Board of Trustees has made an important decision about the future of our school. Incarnate Word Academy will continue to operate from a single campus and remain rooted at their historic Bel-Nor home.

This decision marks an exciting new chapter for IWA—a commitment to investing in the campus, expanding academic opportunities in areas such as STEM and the health sciences, and continuing to strengthen the faith, leadership, and sisterhood at the heart of the IWA experience. “Our future is here, and we are building it together” is IWA’s recent message. Read the Full Strategic Plan Update from IWA President Sharon L. Gerken.

^{St. Louis Public Radio,  Andrea Y. Henderson,  Sept. 28, 2026}

Jamaa Birth Village Cultural Heritage Center opened Missouri’s first midwifery school in Ferguson in September. Okunsola’s School of Traditional Midwifery will provide students a path toward becoming a certified midwife through African Indigenous and professional birthing methods.

Most midwifery schools across the country are not inclusive; oftentimes there are not many Black students and staff in the schools, which perpetuates bias and discrimination during birth, said Okunsola Amadou, founder of Jamaa Birth Village…Amadou said the school is desperately needed. In Missouri, Black women are 2½ times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as white women. She opened the Ferguson midwifery and doula care center in 2015 to help reduce Black maternal health disparities in the St. Louis region and to support pregnant people who want to give birth outside the traditional clinical settings. Read more about the midwifery school and their plans.

^{St. Louis Magazine, Ryan Krull, September 8, 2026}

Live like a chancellor for the price of a tenured professor—that’s how real estate agent Brian Elsesser is pitching the four-bed, four-bathroom, 3,300-square-foot home that hit the market in Bellerive Acres. The house has for 51 years been the official residence of the chancellor of the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The university is moving to a housing stipend system rather than having the residence at 9 Bellerive Acres be part of the compensation, UMSL spokesman Steve Walentik confirmed.  

Elsesser says that this represents the “chance of a lifetime…Chancellors are a little bit like emperors,” he jokes. “They get the finest.” Constructed in 1925, the house was built on the third hole of the Bellerive Country Club. When the country club moved west, the UM System purchased the land in the 1960s to construct the school. They bought the house in 1975. Read more and see photos of the house.

Note: as of October 1, the house was listed as under contract

All residents of St. Louis County who are registered voters will be able to cast their votes on campus in the general election this year. The UMSL Millennium Student Center at 117 Arnold Grohman Drive will serve as a polling place for St. Louis County voters on  Tuesday, Nov. 3 in one of the third-floor rooms. Additionally, UMSL will serve as a satellite site for returning absentee ballots or casting absentee ballots in person.
• Weekdays, Oct. 20 thru Nov. 2, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

• Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

• Tuesday, Nov. 3, 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Check out this video to learn more about voting in St. Louis County. 

Learn more about what is on the ballot and other polling locations. 

Last year, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) was expanded to include certain zip codes of St. Louis and St. Louis County including

63121, 63114, 63134, 63135, and 63145. RECA provides compensation for individuals and families harmed by radioactive waste from the U.S. nuclear weapons program. This expansion aims to address long-standing health crises and economic struggles due to radioactive contamination. Additional information can be found on the Missouri-focused RECA webpage.

Received this as a forward? Subscribe for future newsletters.

Register for a community card to receive benefits and discounts at UMSL events and facilities.

Learn more about job opportunities at UMSL. Check back regularly for new listings.

Interested in bidding on projects at UMSL?
Procurement Bids
Construction Bids

Learn more about community development trainings and programs.

Innovate USA Summit

2026 
Tues., Oct. 13, through

Thurs., Oct. 15, 2026

multiple locations

This event features pitches, panels, and interactive exhibits showcasing founders, builders, investors, and the joy of innovation and exploration, alongside the kickoff of the nationwide 33.5-hour AI hackathon. A recent article on the event showcases how it came together and who is involved.

UMSL 5K Run/Walk 
Sat., Oct. 17, 2026

8:30 AM 

UMSL Alumni Circle

Hosted by the UMSL Alumni Association, this campus tradition brings together Tritons past and present, families and friends for a fun race through the heart of the UMSL campus. Thanks to sponsor, Walter Knoll Florist, every runner crosses the finish line to a beautiful rose. All proceeds will benefit UMSL Athletics.

A Red Circle’s 2nd Annual Harvest Hootenanny 
Sat., Oct. 24, 2026

8:00 AM - Noon

North County Community Nexus, 9300 Lewis and Clark Blvd.

Celebrate the end of another growing season with A Red Circle and People's Harvest. Kids will get to play in the bounce house, enjoy a hayrides, decorate pumpkins, make s'mores, snack on popcorn and hot cocoa, and enjoy games, music, dancing, and more! Attendance is free, but the tickets for activities and food can be purchased online or at the entrance.

St. Louis Dance Theatre Fall Series
Sat., Oct. 24, 2026

7:30 PM 

Sun., Oct. 25, 2026

2:00 PM

UMSL Touhill Performing Arts Center

The lineup opens with a powerful trio of world premieres by renowned creatives. Kirven Douthit-Boyd molds various movement genres to create bold narratives that transform and inspire audiences.

Rena Butler has been described as percussive and emotionally direct in her choreography, which spans the globe. Keerati Jinakunwiphat emphasizes connectivity – work built on relationships between dancers. The weekend serves as a world-class sampler of what is to come in STLDT’s next chapter. Tickets range from $50 - $95 each. 

UMSL Tiny Tritons   Trunk or Treat
Sat., Oct. 31, 2026

12:00 noon

UMSL MSC Parking Lot E

UMSL families and the surrounding community are invited to this safe and fun way for families to enjoy Halloween.

Attendees will walk from trunk or trunk and enjoy the "Trunk-or-Treating" and will get a goody bag filled with candy and toys. Additionally, there will be a face painter, balloon artist, and ice cream truck. 

We'd love to hear your questions and comments about UMSL and stories about great things happening in our communities. Your thoughts will help shape content covered in future newsletters to be pertinent to you and your neighbors. Leave any suggestions, questions or stories on Community Connection's feedback form. Thank you!