The direction for the COE and the COE Budget Committee has changed since Governor Nixon’s State of the State Speech, January 19. The Executive Budget Committee has issued new guidelines and targets to the collegiate budget committees. These new guidelines are available on the web. For the COE it means that work done so far this year will allow the COE Budget Committee to evolve into a planning for the future committee. These new directions also gives us some additional time to develop our plans.
I wanted to outline a process we will use as we move forward with these new guidelines. On Thursday, January 27, 2011 I will be meeting with the department heads to discuss the concept of “Decisions for Distinctiveness”. As President Cofer explained we are looking for initiatives that will make Missouri State University unique. In 2005 MSU was given a state-wide mission of public affairs. MSU graduates more teacher educators in this state than any other Missouri college or university. While that fact makes us unique from a numbers perspective, what initiative or initiatives will contribute to our positive reputation and quality of our graduates, while also meeting our public affairs mission.
After the department heads discuss some possible initiatives, I will ask them to share these ideas with their faculty and to solicit some additional initiatives. Then in early February we will call another COE Budget Committee meeting and start the process of vetting these ideas. I consider this opportunity an excellent one to reallocate 2% of our current budget towards one or more initiatives that will make a difference in teacher preparation and ultimately P-12 student learning. Initiatives that are interdisciplinary may also garner some matching funds from the President.
I anticipate the 2% (approximately $200,000) will primarily come from retirements, resignations, and more efficient use of per course funds.
