We’re nearing the end of the first year of implementing Missouri State University’s strategic plan: “Igniting Opportunity.” Our plan includes several big, bold goals, and we’re making significant strides toward achieving them.

It’s hard to believe that it was only about 10 months ago that we officially unveiled the plan at the State of the University. Since then, 22 groups have been working to move these goals forward. More than 150 faculty, staff and students have contributed to the effort.

Year one has been about turning the plan into action. Across campus, teams have worked to build the foundation for long-term progress while also delivering visible wins in academics, enrollment, student success, employee engagement, community partnerships, athletics, advancement and brand identity.

Some of those first-year accomplishments include:

• Missouri State received 10 interdisciplinary PhD proposals, held open forums with faculty and staff, assessed research infrastructure, and began comparing our research capacity with peer institutions.
• Teams reviewed benchmark institutions’ general education programs, identified transferable skills in demand by employers and launched a graduating senior survey to better understand career outcomes.
• Faculty began self-reviews of online courses, additional faculty enrolled in the Improving Your Online Course workshop and the university collected student and faculty feedback to identify barriers and opportunities in online learning.
• A framework was developed for a potential Innovation Institute to strengthen creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and entrepreneurship, so students are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
• Two centralized expertise directories are in the works: the University Center Directory and Faculty Expert Directory. These will help connect internal and external partners with Missouri State expertise.
• The university funded experiential learning pilot projects, provided direct support for student organizations, internships and education abroad, and continued strengthening applied learning experiences.
• Through efactory and the Small Business Development Center, the university conducted more than 165 professional development trainings with more than 5,000 participants.
• Student-focused programs, such as the Community Engagement Intern Program and efactory Entrepreneurship Intern Program, connected students with meaningful work experiences and helped employers access Missouri State talent.
• The university developed its Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan, deployed an AI chatbot through CollegeVine and continued work on transfer tools through Edvisorly.
• The university implemented the Great Colleges to Work For survey and launched additional survey work to better understand employee development, career pathways, leadership, communication and retention.
• Significant improvements to our athletics facilities were completed, including upgrades to Plaster Stadium and the installation of new field lights and turf. We also improved fan engagement, competed in a bowl game during our first year of Football Bowl Subdivision and continued preparations for Conference USA.
• University Advancement raised more than $10 million for the Clifton M. Smart III University Advancement Center, launched the Hive of Bear Pride engagement and giving initiative, strengthened partnerships across campus and expanded digital giving opportunities.
• The university advanced its brand refresh by approving and sharing interim brand guidelines with campus. Carnegie also completed brand research and competitive analysis, and that work is being used to guide future brand strategy, messaging and creative work.

As we turn to year two of implementation, work already underway includes expanding online course opportunities; continuing development of a potential Innovation Institute; building a production-ready version of the University Expertise database; expanding the SEM Plan; developing targeted action plans around employee and student satisfaction;  strengthening student engagement; increasing analytics-driven fundraising; improving athletics event experiences; and using brand research findings to prepare for a refreshed brand launch.

This kind of work doesn’t happen without people across campus working together toward the same goals.

We also received encouraging feedback during our recent Higher Learning Commission visit about the strength of the plan and the level of campus engagement around it. That feedback reinforces that “Igniting Opportunity” is not sitting on a shelf. It’s being used to guide decisions, align priorities and move the university forward.

I want to extend sincere gratitude to everyone involved in this work, whether you’re in a formal role implementing the strategic plan or you’re supporting it through the work you do each day. Together, we’re making important progress and should be proud of the momentum we’re building.

Kudos to athletics

I’d also like to recognize athletics for receiving national recognition from Collegiate Licensing Company for the Party in the CUSA event held last August. We were named a 2026 CLC Best Campus Integration Award winner.

The award recognizes programs and partners whose creativity and collaboration made a meaningful mark on collegiate licensing this year. Party in the CUSA was a great example of partnership across campus as we celebrated Missouri State’s move to Conference USA.

Finally, I want to congratulate our baseball team on its postseason play and the success our athletics programs continue to achieve as we compete in Conference USA.

It’s a great day to be a Bear!

Biff