Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for June 18, 2019

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This Friday the Board of Governors will vote on proposed changes to the faculty handbooks on the Springfield and West Plains campuses and changes to the employee handbook that applies to all faculty and staff.

Changes to the employee handbook include:

  • An expansion of the tuition and fee waiver benefit to apply to an employee’s dependent grandchildren
  • An expansion of the funeral leave benefit to include additional extended family members
  • Clarifications regarding university closings and cancellations, 1,000-hour employment, employees’ personal information, resignation and retirement, leave without pay, service award processes, emeritus status, and appeals processes for disciplinary matters.

Changes to the Springfield faculty handbook include:

  • Allowing a faculty member to request an extension of their tenure probationary period to accommodate medical conditions or important family issues
  • Clarifications regarding sabbatical and developmental leave and dismissal from the university
  • Updated language related to sexual harassment

Changes to the West Plains faculty handbook include:

  • Changes to teaching load/work load provisions that (1) increase the teaching load for full-time ranked faculty in West Plains to 30 credit hours, (2) allow existing faculty to opt in or out of the new teaching load and (3) establish financial incentives for existing faculty that opt in to the new teaching load.
  • New provisions regarding evaluation of non-ranked faculty
  • Supplemental language regarding faculty promotion

People are our most important resource at Missouri State. The work we have done this year to provide across-the-board pay increases and expand benefit usage and availability reflects the value the board and our administration places on faculty and staff.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for June 11, 2019

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Yesterday Governor Mike Parson signed the budget, completing the state’s budgeting process for the coming fiscal year.

As you will recall, this year’s budget includes a $10 million core funding increase for Missouri State University as well as one-time funding to expand the university’s nursing program.

Please join me in thanking Governor Parson and our legislative leaders for supporting MSU.

Highlights from recent higher ed meetings

Last week the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE) and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education met.

COPHE spent significant time discussing highlights from the legislative session. These include a list of troublesome bills that did not pass, such as legislation that would have:

  • Impacted the way universities handle Title IX allegations and investigations
  • Limited university boards’ authority to regulate the possession of firearms on campus
  • Prohibited public universities from charging health fees to students
  • Prohibited public universities from requiring students to live on campus after their first year
  • Limited campus free speech policies, required particular policies for religious student organizations, and restricted university boards’ authority to set tuition and fees

COPHE also discussed several bills that the legislature passed, such as legislation that:

  • Establishes Fast Track, a new grant program that will fund tuition and fees for qualifying nontraditional students to pursue degrees in fields that have a workforce shortage
  • Expands higher education benefits for veterans
  • Authorizes dual credit tuition reimbursement for community colleges and universities

MSU was actively involved in each of these legislative victories. Thanks again to everyone who helped make this year a success in Jefferson City.

Development of a funding formula

After the COPHE meeting, Commissioner Zora Mulligan asked me to participate in a meeting with NCHEMS, a nonprofit organization that is assisting the coordinating board to develop a per-student funding formula. I was encouraged by this meeting and the other conversations on this topic.

Our work to eliminate the gap between MSU and the next lowest funded university had a significant impact this year when the legislature increased our appropriation by $10 million. Based on my conversations over the last week, I am hopeful it will have a longer lasting impact as the coordinating board works to develop a funding formula designed to allocate funds based on weighted FTE enrollment.

Details on what this formula will look like and how it will impact universities throughout the state will emerge in the coming months.

Approving programs to address workforce needs

The coordinating board approved a new vision statement. The coordinating board also approved amendments to their rule on residency and transfer in response to CORE 42.

The coordinating board approved mission descriptions for all community colleges and universities throughout the state. This approval followed a years-long process that involved significant work from administrators at institutions throughout the state. Thanks to Dr. Frank Einhellig and everyone else who invested into this process.

The coordinating board also approved program designations for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant program. Missouri State University offers many academic programs that will qualify under the Fast Track program, and we are already working to determine how we can utilize the program at Missouri State to educate non-traditional students for careers in high demand fields.

The coordinating board also gave full approval to Missouri State’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program and approved Missouri State’s Visual Studies MFA program for a two-year follow-up.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for June 4, 2019

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I am in Cape Girardeau today and tomorrow for meetings with the Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE) and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE). That means I will miss the university-wide ice cream social scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Plaster Student Union food court. 

 I hope you will plan to attend the ice cream social and enjoy leaving work early (remember, the university will be closed from 3 to 5 p.m.). You can find additional details about the event and university closure in last week’s Clif’s Notes.

Developing a plan

The end of the spring semester marks the beginning of the university’s planning processes for next year. The first major planning event for the 2019-20 academic year is a day-long retreat scheduled for July 11. At this retreat, academic and administrative leadership will meet to develop an action plan for next year. 

As I have mentioned previously, we anticipate an enrollment decline in the fall. We expect this decline to reduce the university’s revenue by $4.7 million. Indicators project that we could face another enrollment decline a year from now. 

Accordingly, next year’s action plan will focus on enrollment. The plan will include strategies to expand high demand programs, reduce enrollment barriers, enhance student recruitment and reinvigorate retention efforts. 

The enrollment concerns are not only for university leadership to work on. The enrollment decline will impact all members of our campus community, so it makes sense that we all come to the table with ideas and input. 

If you have ideas on enrollment (or any other matter) that you’d like leadership to consider as we develop next year’s action plan, please email them to me at president@missouristate.edu. 

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State! 

Clif’s Notes for May 28, 2019

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There will be much fun to be had on campus this summer. Here’s the line-up of a few activities.

First, we are kicking off a new event for faculty and staff. At 2 p.m. on June 5 we will have a university-wide ice cream social in the PSU Food Court. I encourage all members of our faculty and staff that are at work that afternoon to take a few minutes to eat free ice cream and socialize with colleagues and coworkers.

As an added incentive to encourage people to attend the ice cream social, we will close the university from 3 to 5 p.m. after the event. Issues related to essential personnel, time reporting, and compensation for this closure are addressed in section 2.15 of the Employee Handbook. Supervisors will work with their staff on how to coordinate coverage, if coverage is required.

Attend annual picnic

On May 31, Staff Senate will host the annual MSU Staff Picnic in the pavilion at Phelps Grove Park. The picnic will start at 5 p.m. Food and drinks will be provided, and the event will be family-friendly.

Take part in Tent Theatre tradition

The tradition of Tent Theatre continues this summer with three outstanding productions:

  • “Grease” (starting June 12)
  • “The Mousetrap” (starting June 27)
  • “Catch Me If You Can” (starting July 10)

We will also celebrate the life of Byrne Blackwood, cofounder of MSU’s Tent Theatre, at several activities on the weekend of June 14 – 16.

Grab tickets for big entertainment

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Jim Gaffigan will perform at JQH Arena on July 28 and Aug. 15.

Big shows at JQH Arena are also planned for the fall, including Professional Bull Riders (PBR), Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert.

You can buy tickets for Tent Theatre and JQH Arena events on the Missouri State TIX webpage.

Campus hosts camps throughout summer

We will also host students of all ages at summer camps and conferences, including:

I encourage each of you to participate in summer activities on campus and welcome campers and other summer guests to our campus.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for May 21, 2019

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The Board of Governors met last week.

The Finance and Facilities Committee reviewed recommendations from the Executive Budget Committee. We are very fortunate to have new revenue in this year’s budget due to a substantial increase in state appropriations, a modest tuition increase and reallocation of $2.4 million in existing resources.

However, we are anticipating a 2.8% enrollment decline next fall. This will cost the university approximately $4.6 million in lost revenue.

Investing in our employees

The Executive Budget Committee has recommended that the bulk of the revenue remaining after we account for the enrollment decline go toward our employees. Highlights include:

  • $4.7 million in compensation increases for employees (including a cost-of-living adjustment, faculty promotions and the full professorship incentive program, and a student minimum wage increase)
  • $1.3 million in a mandatory increase in the university’s pension contribution
  • $200,000 in increased usage of employee fee waivers
  • $400,000 in stipend and fee waiver increases for graduate assistants
  • $300,000 in new positions

The compensation increases include a 1.9% across-the-board cost-of-living pay adjustment for employees. If approved by the board in June, this increase will go into effect on July 1.

We also plan to set aside $800,000 in a scholarship and recruitment fund to develop strategies to increase enrollment.

Commendations and awards

During its regular meeting, the board approved this year’s slate of inductees into the Wall of Fame. This year’s inductees are:

  • Earle Doman
  • Neosha Mackey
  • Virginia Mee
  • Linda Pettijohn
  • Denny Pilant
  • Burnie Snodgrass

As in years past, we will have an induction ceremony honoring these individuals during Homecoming week.

The Board also acknowledged this year’s recipients of the Excellence in Public Affairs Award:

  • Heather Blades
  • Lyle Foster
  • Janice Greene
  • Carol Miller
  • Sheryl Ruff-Hensley
  • Katie Stinnett

The board also approved commendations for Tom Dickey (outgoing chair of faculty senate) and Jon Lee (outgoing chair of staff senate) as well as our SGA President Isaiah Villarreal and SGA Vice President Dillon Cordon. Congratulations to all of you on a great year. The university is a better place because of your leadership.

The board concluded its meeting with a discussion of the department of defense and strategic studies (DSS). The program is highly acclaimed for its emphasis on practical application as well as theoretical comprehension. DSS plans to submit a proposal for approval of a professional doctorate degree program to the Missouri Department of Higher Education this summer.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!