In this issue of Clif’s Notes, I want to announce plans for an open forum on April 30, and encourage you to attend the Public Affairs Conference and some of the end-of-year events spotlighting our students.
Campus Open Forum
On Monday, April 30, Provost Frank Einhellig and I will host a Campus Open Forum. It will be from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Meyer Library Auditorium. I hope you will plan to attend. There are three topics we want to cover at this forum:
- Review proposed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the 2011-16 Long-Range Plan: Fulfilling Our Promise.
- The KPIs will replace the old “scorecard.”
- They will be maintained and updated on the website.
- The KPIs will include the performance measures upon which future funding will be determined.
- We want campus input before we finalize these as a recommendation to the Board of Governors.
- Review proposed changes to the measures included in the long-range plan.
- We are approaching the end of the first year of the long-range plan.
- We had agreed that we would annually review the long-range plan to determine both the progress that had been made, as well as recommend any changes to the document.
- A year into the plan we want to affirm the objectives and our plan to work toward each of them. On the other hand, some of the recommended measures do not seem so clear or appropriate at this point, and we would propose some changes in several of these areas.
- Our commitment was to present these proposed changes to campus for input before taking the proposed changes to the Board for approval.
- Answer any questions you have on any topic for the remaining part of the 90 minutes.
We will post the KPIs and proposed changes to the long-range plan online several days in advance of the open forum. I will provide you with the links when these are ready to review.
Public Affairs Conference
The first meaningful experience I had with Missouri State University was attending the Public Affairs Conference. I was working at the Strong Law Firm, and Tom Strong recommended that I attend some of the sessions. I did, and I was hooked. I have not missed a conference since then.
I am writing to remind you of the conference and to encourage you to attend. And, I ask that you encourage our students to attend.
This year’s Public Affairs Conference is April 17-20 at various sites across campus. This year’s theme is “Culture of Connectivity;” you can access the full conference program online.
The line-up includes a wide array of speakers and artists, as well as many panelists. The sessions run during the morning, afternoon and evening, so you have plenty of opportunities to attend. I hope you will explore the website to learn more about all of the options.
The Public Affairs Conference is one of the signature events at Missouri State University. The inaugural conference was in 2005 as part of the Centennial Celebration to draw attention to the University’s statewide mission, which it has had since 1995. The conference has grown in both numbers and stature over the years.
I hope to see you at 2012 Public Affairs Conference. Gail and I plan to attend the Larry Kirwan event Tuesday evening and the plenary address by Naomi Wolf Wednesday evening. I also will attend the student presentations in the distinction in public affairs program Tuesday afternoon.
Spotlighting student accomplishments
This is the time of year when we highlight many student accomplishments. I ask that you consider attending not only the ceremonies in your colleges/units but also others open to the entire campus. I will draw your attention to three such activities:
- The 16th annual College of Health and Human Services Student Research Symposium is today, Thursday, April 12, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Plaster Student Union Ballroom West. The goals of the symposium are to promote student research and to provide a forum for students to gain experience presenting their research.
- The College of Natural and Applied Sciences Undergraduate Research Day is Friday, April 13, from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in the Plaster Student Union Ballroom. This event features poster presentations by undergraduate students.
- The Graduate College Interdisciplinary Forum (IDF) will be on Saturday, April 14, in the Plaster Student Union Ballroom and Theater. Oral and poster presentations from graduate students across the campus are scheduled from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., with refreshments provided. Frank and I will have the honor of bestowing the awards during the awards presentation at 2 p.m. in the PSU Theater.
Obviously, this is just a sample of the many such activities that are occurring in the next few weeks. Again, I encourage you to seek out and attend as many as you can.
Of course, the ultimate recognition occurs on Friday, May 18, in Springfield with three commencement ceremonies, and on Saturday, May 19, in West Plains with that campus’ commencement. I hope you will plan to attend those as well to honor the students you have worked with over the years.
Conclusion
The end of the semester and the year are within sight. I hope all of us will finish strong so we feel good about what we collectively accomplished in 2011-12. Thank you.
–Clif
More than 100 Missouri State University students participated in a three-day Blitz Build Weekend for Habitat for Humanity March 30-April 1. On March 30, I had the privilege of seeing the MSU Habitat Chapter officers present Springfield Habitat for Humanity a check of $15,000 to turn a dream into a reality for one local family.
During the weekend, students worked preparing the foundation and floor joists, laying the subfloor, framing both interior and exterior walls, completing the wall sheathing, setting the roof trusses and starting on the blue board. Since that weekend, the roof has been sheathed and shingled, and the windows and doors have been installed.
Overall, more than 100 students have volunteered more than 575 hours on the Missouri State University Habitat for Humanity-sponsored home thus far. These students volunteered with their residence halls, fraternities and sororities, volunteer organizations and individually.
The campus Habitat Chapter lives the public affairs mission. The students perform countless acts of service for the school community and the local Springfield community. The chapter helps students gain framing, siding and painting skills, but more importantly, these students learn leadership skills while serving the Springfield community.
“I have learned my skills on the Habitat work site, and I continue to pass them on to others as an unofficial site leader,” said MSU Chapter President Mark Sharp. “And other students will do the same, though the leadership won’t stop in the Legacy Trails subdivision. Students from Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas and hundreds of small towns will take these skills and lead others back in their hometown Habitat chapters.”
- Clif’s Notes for March 26, 2024 - March 26, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for March 19, 2024 - March 19, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for March 5, 2024 - March 5, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for Feb. 27, 2024 - February 27, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for Feb. 20, 2024 - February 20, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for Feb. 13, 2024 - February 13, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for Feb. 6, 2024 - February 6, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for Jan. 30, 2024 - January 30, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for Jan. 23, 2024 - January 23, 2024
- Clif’s Notes for Jan. 16, 2024 - January 16, 2024