It never ceases to amaze me how quickly the time flies between the first day of classes and finals week. It’s been a packed semester and we’re still packing more in this week.

Finals week is upon us

I hope you were able to drop by the Holiday Open House yesterday in the PSU Ballroom. It was a good crowd and Teri Trickey and the Chartwells team always present a beautiful holiday display of savory food and desserts. Thank you!

Last night, we also treated our students to the President’s Finals Breakfast in the Blair-Shannon Dining Hall — served by Administrative Council and the Academic Leadership team. It was a great student turnout. It might be 9 p.m., but the students can really put away a lot of breakfast food as they study for finals. I might have been captured in a few selfies with the students.

Board of Governors meetings

This Thursday, we’ll convene the Board of Governors meetings in the PSU. Three committees – Risk Management and Audit, Finance and Facilities and Programs and Planning will meet in the morning starting at 8:30 a.m. and wrapping up at 11:45 a.m. The regular meeting will begin at 1 p.m. in the Traywick Parliamentary Room and should be done by 4 p.m.

As always, these meetings are open to the public.

Citizen Scholar recognition

The Citizen Scholar Award is the highest award available to Missouri State University students. Since the award’s inception in 2007, 95 exceptional students have been recognized for their stellar achievements with academics, community engagement and leadership.

We’ll feature this year’s Citizen Scholars at the regular board meeting on Thursday. That evening, we’ll honor the students and their families at a dinner. I’m always blown away by these students and their accomplishments during their tenure at Missouri State. It’s an honor to learn more about them throughout the day.

Look for the news release later this week that will present these talented students.

Commencement

I love commencement. It’s so exciting for our graduating students, their families and friends.

It’s an especially rewarding moment for our first-generation students. One third of our entering first-year students each fall are first gen. MSU’s focus on access, student success and retention means these students have an even better chance of graduating. And that’s why we’re here.

This is the schedule for our fall commencement:

10 a.m. ceremony

John Goodman will receive the Bronze Bear Award. He’ll be the keynote speaker via video. We’ll recognize students graduating from the:

• College of Education. 
• McQueary College of Health and Human Services. 
• Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. 

1:30 p.m. ceremony

Gabe Gore will receive the Government Excellence Award and deliver the keynote speech. We’ll recognize students graduating from the:

• College of Business. 
• College of Natural and Applied Sciences. 
• Darr College of Agriculture. 
• Interdisciplinary Academic Programs. 

Thank you for all you do for Missouri State.

Clif