In this issue, I want to update you on our new Board of Governors members, the Shared Leave Pool, the long-range plan and observations about the Penn State situation.
New Board of Governors members
As you know, we now have three new members of our Board of Governors. We are in the process of meeting them, providing them background information and otherwise preparing them for their first meeting on Dec. 16. Several of us know one or more of the new Board members, and we look forward to working with them.
I also want to again thank the outgoing Board members for their tireless work on behalf of Missouri State. The University is a better place because of their efforts.
Here is a brief summary of the three new appointments:
- District 2 in St. Louis – Stephen “Steve” Hoven (replaces Mike Duggan)
Steve is corporate vice president of public affairs for SSM Health Care. He is an alumnus of Missouri State, having received both his BS degree in finance and general business in 1977 and his MBA in 1978 from the University. - District 5 in Kansas City – Stephen “Steve” Bough (replaces Phyllis Washington)
Steve is attorney and founding partner of The Law Offices of Stephen Bough. He received his BS degree in political science from Missouri State in 1993. - District 8 in Southeast Missouri – Peter Hofherr (replaces Mary Sheid)
Peter is the CEO of the St. James Winery, which was opened in 1970 by his family. His undergraduate degree is from Auburn University and his MBA from Georgia State University, and he is working toward a PhD in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri. He previously served as deputy director, and then director, of the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Shared Leave Pool
At the October meeting, the Board of Governors approved a Shared Leave Pool. We were pleased to have this program approved since the Staff Senate had advocated for it the past several years.
The plan will be implemented for the first time in fiscal year 2013 (July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2013). The Shared Leave Pool will apply to eligible staff (i.e., at least 9-month employees) as well as 12-month academic administrators. Participation in the program is voluntary, but you must donate at least 24 hours (3 days) to be eligible to benefit from the Shared Leave Pool.
The purpose is to provide a safety net against salary interruption for employees who have a qualifying event causing them to be unable to perform their assigned job duties. Some examples include major surgical procedures, cancer treatments, stroke or other serious health conditions. Donations of leave hours by employees provide income to an affected employee who would otherwise be on unpaid leave.
The detailed shared leave policy that was approved by the Board is available online.
A committee will review the requests. I have now named that committee, which is composed of representatives from Staff Senate, human resources and the administration.
The members are:
- Dr. Jim Baker, vice president for research and economic development and international education (two-year term)
- Pam Campbell, MSU-Springfield, benefits specialist, office of human resources (two-year term)
- Alyssa Collins, MSU-West Plains, procurement/HR specialist (two-year term)
- Scott Fiedler, director, student services/certification officer, College of Education (two-year term)
- Peggy Jones, executive assistant III, provost’s office (one-year term)
- Kent Thomas, special assistant to the president (two-year term)
- Ed Choate, director of human resources (ex-officio)
Ken McClure, vice president for administrative and information services, will convene the committee in the near future and give the members their charge. Then the committee will determine the steps necessary to prepare to implement the Shared Leave Pool beginning July 1, 2012.
Long-range plan
Recently, the Administrative Council and I had a mini-retreat to discuss the status of the long-range plan, Fulfilling Our Promise. Our purpose was to recap what progress had been made, to identify what objectives need more attention and to talk about parts of the plan we might want to consider revising based on our work with it over the past several months. I know many of you were involved in preparing materials for that mini-retreat.
Here are the two major conclusions we reached as a result of our discussion:
- Overall the plan remains solid. The overarching and enduring commitments, the mission, the six major themes and the objectives will still serve the University well over the next five years.
- There are a few specific measures and tactics that need to be refined, replaced or eliminated. The beauty of having those details on the Web is that we can make those adjustments easily. We believe there should be an annual process for these changes that includes a University-wide discussion. We will develop that timeline and present it by early 2012, but it will likely include an invitation for the campus to submit proposed changes followed by a list of recommendations, open forums and ultimately review and approval by the Board of Governors.
To be effective for us, Fulfilling Our Promise must be a “living document” that guides us, not shackles us. I look forward to working with you to update and improve the plan each year.
Lessons from Penn State
Obviously, the accusations and overall situation at Penn State are very disturbing and unfortunate. We must protect all young people, especially children. Penn State’s experience is rippling through all of higher education. I know it has been a topic on campus, so I wanted to make a couple of observations.
First, there is a distinction between what is required by law and policy, and what all of us, I hope, would see as our moral responsibility as human beings.
At most institutions, including Missouri State, both laws and policies require employees in certain positions to report any suspected illegal acts to the proper authorities. Those employees required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect are those who work with under age students and other groups. At Missouri State, that would include employees who work in Greenwood Lab School, the Child Development Center, Taylor Health and Wellness Center and those who work in our camps. The proper authorities include not only their supervisor, but law enforcement and state agencies. These people are mandatory reporters.
In addition, Missouri State policy requires that if an employee (typically those who are supervisors or have responsibility for student activities) has knowledge of discrimination or harassment (which includes sexual assault), he or she must notify the office for institutional equity and compliance and their supervisor within three business days. The fact that the victim does not wish to file a complaint does not relieve the employee of this responsibility. In an egregious situation like what occurred at Penn State, I would hope reporting would occur immediately.
The complaint procedures operating policy that deals with these situations is located online.
No matter what the reporting requirements are, we all have a moral obligation as educators, as employees at a public affairs institution and as human beings to do more than the minimum if we ever witness an act of sexual abuse. I am confident Missouri State employees are up to this task. Know that your administration will support you in these situations.
Conclusion
It continues to be a great honor and pleasure to serve as your interim president. Please have a great Thanksgiving holiday. Enjoy the special time with family and friends.
–Clif
Tyler Durham, a freshman from Nixa, is a music composition and electronic arts double major. He has been playing piano, percussion and singing most of his life.
His routine this past summer differed from your average teenager. He got up every morning at 6:30 to write a symphony. His dedication and early mornings paid off when his symphony, titled “The New Frontier,” was chosen as a winner in the full orchestra category of the national Young Composers Challenge.
Tyler’s symphony modernizes the “American sound” created by Aaron Copland. His work was performed for the first time in public by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the challenge’s sponsor, on Nov. 13, a performance Tyler and his parents were able to attend.
As you can tell, Tyler has a passion for writing music for television and film. He hopes to score a larger film by graduation. And I, for one, won’t bet against him. In fact, through the connections he made in a short film contest and another independent film project, Tyler is currently working on the music for a new locally filmed television project titled “Morning Light.”
Tyler is excited to continue developing his portfolio at Missouri State, where he received the Claude T. Smith Composition Contest Scholarship for his work titled “Piece for Piano, Marimba and Cello.”
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