Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 27, 2020

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Election Day is one week from today.

This is an extraordinarily important election. Many say it is the most important election in modern history.

I hope all members of our university community will put the public affairs mission into practice and vote. Regardless of your political beliefs, we have many important decisions on the ballot, and I encourage you to make your voice heard by voting in this election.

Vote on campus

JQH Arena will be a central polling location for this election, meaning any voter registered in Greene County can vote there on Election Day regardless of their assigned polling location. We collaborated with Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller to move the polling location from the Welcome Center to JQH Arena to allow social distancing while voting and waiting in line.

If you are registered to vote in Missouri, you can find your designated polling location on the Secretary of State’s webpage. You can also learn about other voting options (such as absentee voting, voting by mail, etc.) through the Secretary of State’s “How to Vote” webpage or through resources provided by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Notaries are available at select times in Plaster Student Union and Glass Hall to assist with remote voting.

Learn about candidates, issues

There are many important decisions on next week’s ballot. We will vote for President and Vice President of the United States. We will also vote for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Attorney General. Representatives in the federal and state legislature are also on the ballot, along with candidates for several county offices.

We will also vote on two important ballot issues. The first would establish term limits for additional statewide offices. The other would ban lobbyist gifts, reduce campaign contribution limits and change the redistricting process.

Many of the candidates on this year’s ballot have Missouri State University or other higher education connections. Moreover, the decisions we make in this election will undoubtedly impact the university and our students, faculty and staff.

I encourage you to preview next week’s ballot online and research the candidates and issues.

Be civil, be heard

Because this election is so important, many of us have strong views on which candidates and ballot issues should win. This will result in some folks in our campus community feeling very disappointed with the results of the election, regardless of which candidates and issues receive the most votes.

Please keep the three pillars of the public affairs mission in mind as you make your voice heard before and after the election. As ethical leaders, we should all be prepared to articulate our values. However, we should also recognize and respect multiple perspectives and cultures.

Be attentive and acknowledge others. Be inclusive, listen and respect other views. Speak with courage, but act with compassion. Give and accept constructive feedback. Understand your environment, and take responsibility for mistakes and actions. Be civil and be heard.

Paws to the Polls

MSU operates a nonpartisan campus voting initiative called Paws to the Polls. You can find more information about this election and how you can vote through their pamphlet and website.

Topics covered include:

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 20, 2020

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The Board of Governors met last week.

At the Finance and Facilities Committee, the board reviewed financial statements from last fiscal year. The university had a $6.4 million decrease in its operating fund reserve on the Springfield campus and a $229,000 decrease in its operating fund reserve on the West Plains campus.

These decreases can primarily be attributed to withholds of our state operating appropriation. However, we were successful at decreasing our expenses to offset a portion of those revenue losses.

Financial review

I also updated the Finance and Facilities Committee on the current fiscal year.

As you know, our enrollment exceeded projections. For the Springfield campus, this resulted in $2.9 million in additional tuition and fees in the summer and fall.

Scholarship expenses were also $1.9 million less than budgeted, and the university saved $1.2 million in payroll and benefits through the hiring freeze.

Depending on the impact of COVID-19 on the spring semester, this additional revenue and expense savings may minimize the Springfield campus’s need to spend reserves to balance the FY21 budget as was initially anticipated.

Similarly, on the West Plains campus, additional tuition and fee revenue as well as scholarship and payroll savings will reduce the amount of reserves needed to balance the FY21 budget.

Parson releases appropriations

The board discussed Gov. Mike Parson’s recent decision to release $1.7 million of the university’s operating appropriation. I will reconvene the Executive Budget Committee in the coming weeks to discuss how to invest those funds in the university’s operations.

Parson also released $3.2 million for the Bright Flight program. This is half of the withheld funds for that scholarship program.

I personally met with Parson to advocate that the Bright Flight funds be released along with a portion of our operating appropriation. I am pleased those efforts paid off.

I hope you will join me in thanking Parson for supporting higher education, Missouri State University and our students during these difficult times.

Gourleys awarded Bronze Bear

The board voted to award the Bronze Bear to Robert and Marlese Gourley. Mr. Gourley is an alum of Missouri State University who worked his way through college and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation. Together the Gourleys started and owned a series of successful businesses in the Kansas City area.

For many years, the Gourley family has financially supported programs on the university’s West Plains and Mountain Grove campuses as well as scholarships and athletic programs on the Springfield campus. In 2015, the Gourley family made a significant gift to the MSU Foundation and the university named the 37,000 square foot addition to Glass Hall the Robert Gourley Student Success Center.

McClure selected for Government Excellence Award

The board also voted to award the Government Excellence Award to Mayor Charles Kenneth (“Ken”) McClure. McClure has tirelessly advocated for Missouri State University and the Springfield community throughout his career.

As mayor, he has provided an unprecedented level of leadership to protect our community during the coronavirus pandemic by establishing a mask mandate, facility occupancy and gathering restrictions, and other policies designed to mitigate spread of the virus. He also championed legislation to change the name of our university to Missouri State University during his time as chief of staff to Gov. Matt Blunt.

Recognizing dedication to public affairs

The board also approved a resolution acknowledging this year’s Excellence in Public Affairs Award recipients. This year’s faculty recipients include:

  • Dr. Kevin Evans
  • Dr. Lisa Hall
  • Dr. Elizabeth Sobel

This year’s staff recipients include:

  • Samantha Francka
  • Diana Garland
  • A’dja Jones

The award recognizes individuals with an established record of distinctive work and accomplishments in support of the university’s public affairs mission. Each awardee receives a $1,500 grant to be used for research, travel or projects related to their public affairs activities.

Other board updates

The board also received updates on key performance indicators and the long-range plan and strategic enrollment management plan processes.

Finally, the board elected officers for next calendar year. Beginning in January, the board will be chaired by Gov. Amy Counts, and Gov. Carol Silvey will serve as vice chair. I am excited to work with them as we continue to move the university forward.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 13, 2020

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This week we will celebrate Homecoming. Due to the pandemic, this year’s festivities will be different than prior years. However, we have modified our array of Homecoming activities to allow our university community to interact with health and safety precautions in place.

Homecoming activities in which you may be interested in participating include:

  • Rockstar, a student musical talent competition, is tonight at 7 p.m. The event will be livestreamed.
  • MoState Live, a student skit competition, is Thursday at 7 p.m. The event will be livestreamed.
  • The coronation of this year’s Homecoming king and queen is 1 p.m. Saturday at Plaster Stadium rather than during the football game to reduce the size of the crowd.
  • Bears and Lady Bears basketball scrimmages will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hammons Student Center. The number of attendees will be limited.
  • The Bears football game against the University of Central Arkansas is Saturday at 7 p.m. at Plaster Stadium. You can purchase tickets online. If you would like to attend the game, you should plan to purchase tickets as soon as possible because the number of attendees will be limited to facilitate social distancing.
  • On Sunday we will host two commencement ceremonies for spring and summer 2020 graduates. The number of graduates and guests will be limited.

We canceled several of our traditional Homecoming events to protect our community against COVID-19. We will not have a parade this year. We will also not have Bearfest Village on campus. Any pre-game gatherings in campus parking lots will be limited to 20 people or fewer.

Unfortunately, we will also not have a Wall of Fame induction ceremony. We have tentatively postponed that ceremony to Homecoming 2021.

We were able to continue other traditions with modifications. For example, the Class of 1970 reunion celebration will be virtual, and The Golden Bears annual gathering will be a webinar.

Masks and social distancing will be required at all Homecoming events.

You can find information about Homecoming activities organized by Student Activities Council and activities organized by the Alumni Association online.

Big news for MCHHS

Earlier this month the Missouri State University Foundation announced that it received a seven-figure gift from Ann Kampeter. In honor of that gift, this week I will recommend that the Board of Governors rename the Professional Building the Ann Kampeter Health Sciences Hall.

Ann is an alumnus who spent many hours in the Professional Building when she was a student. Thanks to her gift, the building will undergo extensive renovations, including:

  • A state-of-the-art student access and advisement center.
  • Updates to the Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic.
  • Additional meeting and study spaces.

I am excited about this gift and the future of the McQueary College of Health and Human Services. The work we do changes student lives. It is inspiring when those students become alumni who give back to their alma mater.

End the semester strong

I hope each of you took advantage of the break last Thursday and Friday to get some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Please join me in giving a special thanks to our custodians and other workers that cleaned the campus and performed essential services on those days. We couldn’t provide a safe learning environment for our students without your hard work.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 6, 2020

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The end of this week marks the mid-point of the fall semester. As you know, we will close campus this Thursday and Friday for deep cleaning. I hope you will take a well-deserved break and recharge for the second half of the semester.

This semester has been different from any other academic term we have experienced. The challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic have been significant. However, we have demonstrated that even the biggest obstacles can be overcome.

Through our collaboration and hard work, together we have achieved success. This success is due to the positive attitudes, flexibility and resiliency of our faculty, students and staff. Thanks for your good work.

As I mentioned last week, our enrollment increased this fall because of your efforts. In light of our enrollment success, last week I worked with our leadership team to roll back a portion of the hiring freeze that we instituted earlier this calendar year. We also eliminated the freeze on maintenance and repair projects.

We still have a lot of work to do. In the current environment, many analysts have warned that enrollment success in the fall does not necessarily translate to enrollment success in the spring. Please continue your efforts to support our students and help them overcome the barriers they face.

Give generously

The Missouri State Way and United Way campaigns have kicked off. Missouri State University faculty and staff make a difference on our campus and in our community by participating in these campaigns.

Your contribution to the Missouri State Way campaign helps change lives of our students and helps them manage their education and their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing internet devices from the Emergency Student Fund, donations to the Bear Pantry, personal protective equipment or scholarships, the MSU Foundation uses funds raised through the Missouri State Way campaign to ensure that MSU students can attend class and continue their studies regardless of their financial background or difficult circumstances.

The United Way campaign addresses the urgent needs of some of our most vulnerable community members in Springfield and the Ozarks. The United Way of the Ozarks connects communities, people and hope. It has convened community leaders for a coordinated response to the pandemic, provided critical supplies, and raised and distributed more than $164,000 in funds to help our community respond to COVID-19.

Learn more about how the United Way of the Ozarks has helped our community through the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

To continue to support our local community, the United Way needs our support.

You will receive a Missouri State Way and United Way campaign packet in campus mail this week. You can also find information on the campaign webpage. Please join me in contributing to each of these important organizations.

After you complete your forms, please plan to attend the free virtual celebration event at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 13. Details can be found on the campaign webpage. We will draw for prizes at the event, and everyone that attends will receive a bookstore coupon.

Recognizing staff

Finally, I want to encourage you to recognize your colleagues who have done exceptional work.

The Staff Excellence in University Service Award recognizes excellence in service to the university among staff employees. Through this award, the university recognizes staff who strive to do their jobs well on a daily basis, who go beyond the call of duty in a special situation, and who have contributed in a significant way to the success of the university.

Each year, six full-time staff receive this award (which includes a one-time $1,500 award).

Currently enrolled students, employed staff, faculty or administrators are encouraged to nominate full-time staff employees for the Excellence in University Service Awards.

The deadline to nominate a staff member is Nov. 13. You can review the selection criteria and complete a nomination form on the Staff Excellence in University Service Award webpage.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Sept. 29, 2020

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Next Thursday and Friday, fall break will mark the midpoint of the fall semester. To mitigate spread of the coronavirus, we will augment our ongoing efforts to clean and sanitize classrooms and certain other high touch spaces by performing additional detailed cleaning.

To make this possible, we need to reduce the number of personnel on campus as much as possible. Accordingly, campus will be closed on Oct. 8-9.

In accordance with the School Cancellation Policy, staff are not to report to work on these days unless they are notified or have been given prior instructions to report as part of essential services. Exempt and nonexempt staff will be paid for these days in accordance with university policy on campus closures.

Folks, I know we have all been working really hard since March with very few days off. While this is very short notice, I would like to advise that all Zoom/virtual meetings scheduled for Oct. 8-9 be rescheduled in order to give everyone the break they deserve.

Focus on enrollment

Last week we completed our census enrollment report for the fall 2020 semester.

Before the pandemic, we anticipated an enrollment decline of 834 continuing undergraduate students. This was due to many factors, including graduating two very large senior classes in 2019 and 2020 as well as national and regional demographic shifts.

To address these shifts, last fall we began to analyze long-term enrollment strategies through a strategic enrollment management planning process.

We also implemented a series of access initiatives:

The pandemic presented a new set of challenges. However, our faculty and staff banded together to continue to recruit new students and support our existing students.

Overcoming a challenging environment

This year’s enrollment report is a testament to that work. Enrollment on the Springfield campus grew by 37 students to 24,163. System enrollment grew by 15 students to 26,016.

We also grew in strategic areas where we have invested significant time, effort and resources.

  • We achieved a first to second year retention rate of 79.2%. This is the highest rate ever since we began tracking our retention rate.
  • Our graduate enrollment grew by 4.5% to 3,985.
  • Students from underrepresented groups grew by 7.3% to 3,300.
  • New transfer undergraduate enrollment grew by 2.3% to 1,468.
  • Dual credit enrollment grew by 14.8% to 3,967.

I hope you are as proud as I am of our university’s enrollment success this year. This success would not have been possible without your work to increase access and offer an array of seated, blended and online classes this fall.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!