The Board of Governors met last week.
The board spent a great deal of time in committee meetings evaluating the university’s budget.
The governor has recommended that the legislature appropriate $8.7 million less to Missouri State than they appropriated last year. Our fiscal year 2018 budget correctly anticipated that the governor would withhold $2.2 million of our appropriation. This means we have already accounted for the first $2.2 million of the cut recommended by the governor for fiscal year 2019.
However, this year’s budget must also account for a reduction in tuition and fee revenue due to a change in the mix of our student body, increases in pension costs, faculty promotions and other expense increases.
When we account for all of these factors, we face an $8 million budget gap on the Springfield campus and an $800,000 budget gap on the West Plains campus.
The board will take a measured approach to implement expense reductions and revenue increases to balance the fiscal year 2019 budget. We have begun to work through reductions in administrative expenses. We will also begin to draft next year’s fee resolution. This resolution will include an inflationary increase for in-state undergraduate tuition and required student fees. It may also include new fees and fee increases that the board will consider as it works to close the budget gap.
I will update you on the specifics of expense reductions and tuition and fee increases as our work on the budget continues. We continue to work with the legislature to restore funding so fewer reductions in costs and increases in fees are necessary.
New residence life projects
One of our guiding principles indicates that we “must continue to invest in programs, facilities and technology that will grow enrollment and increase revenue.” Guided by this principle, the board approved two sets of action items.
The first relates to residence life. The board approved two resolutions to renovate Woods House this summer. The first resolution awarded a contract for the construction work to DeWitt & Associates. The second resolution states the boards’ official intent to issue auxiliary bonds to finance the project.
Like our other recent residence life projects, the Woods House project is critical to continue our enrollment growth at Missouri State. Moreover, this project will not require the investment of any university operating funds. Payments for this project will be made entirely with auxiliary funds generated through residence life revenues.
The board also approved a contract to purchase property adjacent to our West Plains campus. This property will be critical for the construction of a campus amphitheater.
Again, this project will not require any university operating funds. Rather, the land acquisition and amphitheater project will be paid entirely with a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and donated funds.
Revisions to the shared leave program
The board also approved amendments to the university’s employee handbook. The most significant change will impact the university’s shared leave program.
Previously, employees were only allowed to contribute 36 hours of vacation leave, and participants could only receive 480 hours of shared leave under the plan in their lifetime. With the changes approved by the board, employees will now be allowed to contribute 48 hours of vacation leave, and the 480-hour limitation will be on a “per case” basis, creating an opportunity for employees to take advantage of the shared leave program for more than one health event during their employment at the university.
This is an important benefit expansion that continues to make Missouri State a great place to work.
Looking at wellness initiatives
The board concluded its regular meeting with a discussion on campus and community wellness initiatives for students. Dee Siscoe and staff from the Health and Wellness Center summarized the many wellness programs we offer on campus for students. Clay Goddard and his staff from the Springfield-Greene County Health Department presented on the health status, behaviors and needs in the Ozarks.
The presentation finished with a discussion of the Tobacco 21 campaign. Tobacco 21 (or T21) is a policy approach predicted to prevent or delay tobacco use in adolescents by increasing the minimum legal sale age for tobacco products from 18 years old to 21 years old. The board indicated its interest in supporting the campaign. Tobacco cessation initiatives like T21 have played a critical part in the university’s commitment to enhance the health and wellness of the campus community.
Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!
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