Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 16, 2018

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Homecoming is one of my favorite times on campus. Alumni return and students cheer at pep rallies and competitions, build parade floats and participate in a variety of activities to create their own memories of Missouri State.

I encourage all members of the campus community to support our alumni and students by participating in Homecoming activities this week. Highlights include:

Saturday begins with the Homecoming Parade at 9 a.m. on John Q. Hammons Parkway, followed by Breakfast with Boomer at 10 a.m. in Meyer Library. Men’s and women’s basketball scrimmages will also begin at 10 a.m. in JQH Arena.

Pregame festivities in Bearfest Village will start shortly after the parade. Kickoff for the Bears football game against Western Illinois State University is at 2 p.m. I hope you will attend the game and cheer on the Bears to victory.

The full list of alumni and student Homecoming activities can be found online.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 9, 2018

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In June, I told you that if we received the funds appropriated by the legislature for fiscal year 2019, we would reconvene the Executive Budget Committee to evaluate options for a mid-year compensation increase.

We are over three months into the fiscal year, and I am pleased to report that we are on pace to receive the funds appropriated by the legislature. Many thanks to the Missouri General Assembly and Governor Mike Parson for restoring the funding cuts proposed earlier in the year.

As promised, the Executive Budget Committee met last week and developed its recommendation for a mid-year compensation increase. The committee will recommend that the Board of Governors approve an ongoing across-the-board compensation increase of one percent plus $600 for all full-time faculty and staff hired on or before Sept. 30, 2018. The proposed increase will be added to base pay starting on Jan. 1, 2019, for 12-month employees and on Feb. 1, 2019 for 9- and10-month employees.

This will cost the Springfield campus approximately $2.5 million in annual operating funds. This is the same cost as a 2.1 percent across-the-board raise. The Executive Budget Committee opted to structure the raise with a $600 flat component to soften the impact of increased premiums in the medical plan and to ensure that the pay raise helps our lowest paid employees the most.

Under this model:

  • An employee whose salary is $30,000 will receive a $900 pay increase (a 3 percent raise). A 2.1 percent raise would have resulted in a $630 pay increase.
  • An employee whose salary is $50,000 will receive a $1,100 pay increase (a 2.2 percent raise). A 2.1 percent raise would have resulted in a $1,050 pay increase.
  • An employee whose salary is $100,000 will receive a $1,600 pay increase (a 1.6 percent raise). A 2.1 percent raise would have resulted in a $2,100 pay increase.

Even with this increase, I recognize that our salaries at Missouri State lag behind national averages for all employee groups. Compensation remains a concern for the board and the administration, and we will continue to prioritize compensation increases as we develop budgets in the future.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 2, 2018

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Yesterday we had a good crowd for the State of the University address and the Medical Plan Town Hall meeting. Thanks to all who attended.

At the town hall meeting, we distributed a handout discussing the options for changing the plan. If you missed the meeting, you can find the handout on the website.

We would welcome your feedback as we finalize changes to the medical plan. After you have reviewed the materials, please give us your input by filling out the medical plan survey.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Sept. 25, 2018

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On Monday, Oct. 1, Frank Einhellig and I will make our annual presentation on the State of the University. The presentation will start at 12:15 p.m. in the Plaster Student Union Theater. I hope you will join us as we discuss the university’s many successes last year and look forward to the opportunities this year holds for Missouri State. The presentation will also be broadcast on OPT later in the week.

Following the State of the University address, at 1:30 p.m. we will host a Medical Plan Town Hall meeting in the Plaster Student Union Theater. We are in the process of revising the university’s group medical plan. Matt Morris and I will present the current plan and the proposed changes. We will then answer questions and solicit feedback from the university community. A survey regarding preferences in a medical plan will be available following the town hall. The Medical Plan Town Hall meeting will be a good resource to inform you as you complete the survey.

If you are not able to attend the Medical Plan Town Hall meeting, you can livestream it on the website or view it later on the university’s YouTube channel.

Hass-Darr dedication

Tomorrow we will dedicate an important facility in the Missouri State University system — Hass-Darr Hall in West Plains.

Hass-Darr Hall will provide a central location for a variety of services crucial to enhancing student learning and academic success. It will house the Carol Silvey Student Union, the William and Virginia Darr Honors Program, Drago College Store, tutoring services, the admissions office, the veterans center and other much needed classroom and administrative space.

Thanks to our supporters

I want to thank our donors and supporters who made this project possible.

Major contributions were made by the Hass Family: Mary Hass Sheid, Judge William R. and Jeanne Hass, Judge William T. Hass, and Tim and Missy Hass Myers. The other major contribution was made by Bill and Virginia Darr.

Other significant contributions include:

  • Dr. Mark and Kim Dake
  • Charles and Pam Drago
  • Dr. Herb and Mary Beth Lunday
  • Dr. Charles and Robin Morgan
  • Ozarks Independent Living
  • Arch W. Shaw Foundation
  • Richard and Carol Silvey
  • Joe Spears
  • The Sunderland Foundation

Many other loyal alumni and friends of the university also contributed to this project.

I want to also thank Governor Mike Parson and our legislators for making this project possible. $1.5 million of this project was funded through the State of Missouri’s higher education bonding package approved in 2015.

Hass-Darr Hall will play an important role in enhancing the student experience in West Plains, continuing to increase our retention and graduation rates, and developing the profile of the West Plains campus.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Medical Plan Town Hall

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Missouri State University will be making changes to the university’s group medical plan for 2019.

President Smart and Vice President for Administrative Services Matt Morris will discuss upcoming changes and potential options. Join them for a town hall at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, 2018, in the Plaster Student Union theater. It follows the State of the University address

Take the survey

Supplemental resources

Asking questions

During the event, you may ask questions in person and online: