Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for June 4, 2019

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I am in Cape Girardeau today and tomorrow for meetings with the Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE) and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education (CBHE). That means I will miss the university-wide ice cream social scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow in the Plaster Student Union food court. 

 I hope you will plan to attend the ice cream social and enjoy leaving work early (remember, the university will be closed from 3 to 5 p.m.). You can find additional details about the event and university closure in last week’s Clif’s Notes.

Developing a plan

The end of the spring semester marks the beginning of the university’s planning processes for next year. The first major planning event for the 2019-20 academic year is a day-long retreat scheduled for July 11. At this retreat, academic and administrative leadership will meet to develop an action plan for next year. 

As I have mentioned previously, we anticipate an enrollment decline in the fall. We expect this decline to reduce the university’s revenue by $4.7 million. Indicators project that we could face another enrollment decline a year from now. 

Accordingly, next year’s action plan will focus on enrollment. The plan will include strategies to expand high demand programs, reduce enrollment barriers, enhance student recruitment and reinvigorate retention efforts. 

The enrollment concerns are not only for university leadership to work on. The enrollment decline will impact all members of our campus community, so it makes sense that we all come to the table with ideas and input. 

If you have ideas on enrollment (or any other matter) that you’d like leadership to consider as we develop next year’s action plan, please email them to me at president@missouristate.edu. 

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State! 

Clif’s Notes for May 21, 2019

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The Board of Governors met last week.

The Finance and Facilities Committee reviewed recommendations from the Executive Budget Committee. We are very fortunate to have new revenue in this year’s budget due to a substantial increase in state appropriations, a modest tuition increase and reallocation of $2.4 million in existing resources.

However, we are anticipating a 2.8% enrollment decline next fall. This will cost the university approximately $4.6 million in lost revenue.

Investing in our employees

The Executive Budget Committee has recommended that the bulk of the revenue remaining after we account for the enrollment decline go toward our employees. Highlights include:

  • $4.7 million in compensation increases for employees (including a cost-of-living adjustment, faculty promotions and the full professorship incentive program, and a student minimum wage increase)
  • $1.3 million in a mandatory increase in the university’s pension contribution
  • $200,000 in increased usage of employee fee waivers
  • $400,000 in stipend and fee waiver increases for graduate assistants
  • $300,000 in new positions

The compensation increases include a 1.9% across-the-board cost-of-living pay adjustment for employees. If approved by the board in June, this increase will go into effect on July 1.

We also plan to set aside $800,000 in a scholarship and recruitment fund to develop strategies to increase enrollment.

Commendations and awards

During its regular meeting, the board approved this year’s slate of inductees into the Wall of Fame. This year’s inductees are:

  • Earle Doman
  • Neosha Mackey
  • Virginia Mee
  • Linda Pettijohn
  • Denny Pilant
  • Burnie Snodgrass

As in years past, we will have an induction ceremony honoring these individuals during Homecoming week.

The Board also acknowledged this year’s recipients of the Excellence in Public Affairs Award:

  • Heather Blades
  • Lyle Foster
  • Janice Greene
  • Carol Miller
  • Sheryl Ruff-Hensley
  • Katie Stinnett

The board also approved commendations for Tom Dickey (outgoing chair of faculty senate) and Jon Lee (outgoing chair of staff senate) as well as our SGA President Isaiah Villarreal and SGA Vice President Dillon Cordon. Congratulations to all of you on a great year. The university is a better place because of your leadership.

The board concluded its meeting with a discussion of the department of defense and strategic studies (DSS). The program is highly acclaimed for its emphasis on practical application as well as theoretical comprehension. DSS plans to submit a proposal for approval of a professional doctorate degree program to the Missouri Department of Higher Education this summer.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for May 14, 2019

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Our team was in Jefferson City last week advocating for Missouri State in the state budget. I am pleased to report that the legislature completed its work on the budget last week.

The final budget includes:

  • A $10 million equity increase to Missouri State University’s ongoing core appropriation.
  • A $10 million appropriation for the University of Missouri’s precision medicine program.
  • All other universities will receive a $1 million core operating appropriation increase.
  • Appropriations for the MoExcels program, including a $2.85 million appropriation to expand MSU’s nursing program.

As you know, we currently receive less state funding per student than any other university in the state. The $10 million equity adjustment eliminates the disparity between MSU and the next lowest funded university. With this funding, we can expand academic programs, keep tuition affordable and fund cost-of-living pay adjustments for employees.

Efforts for this equity increase were led by Rep. Elijah Haahr and Sen. Lincoln Hough. Rep. Cody Smith and Sen. Dan Hegeman chaired the committees that supported Missouri State’s equity increase throughout the budget process. Please tell our representatives and senators how much you appreciate their support.

What’s next

The next step in the state’s budget process is for Gov. Mike Parson to sign or veto the budget. Our team has already begun working with Gov. Parson’s office to advocate that he approve the equity increase for Missouri State University.

The executive budget committee recommendations for the university’s budget will be presented to the Board of Governors later this week. Those recommendations will include revenue increases through state appropriations and a modest tuition increase. Unfortunately, a significant portion of those increases will be offset with an anticipated enrollment decrease of between 2 and 3 percent and an increase in the university’s required contribution under the state pension plan.

I’d encourage you to join the Legislative Network to keep up with the progress in Jefferson City and how it is affecting our campus.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for April 30, 2019

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Last week the Missouri Senate passed its version of the state budget. This version includes:

  • A $10 million equity increase to Missouri State University’s ongoing core appropriation
  • A $10 million appropriation for the University of Missouri’s precision medicine program
  • All other universities received a $1 million core operating appropriation increase
  • A block appropriation for the MoExcels program ($2.85 million designated for expansion of MSU’s nursing program)

As you know, we currently receive less state funding per student than any other university in the state. The $10 million equity adjustment would completely eliminate the disparity between MSU and the next lowest funded university.

This is a monumental step forward. If approved, this appropriation will forever change our university.

It will allow Missouri State to keep tuition affordable and substantially reduce the amount of tuition and fees students would otherwise have to pay next year. It will also allow the university to fund cost-of-living pay increases, minimum wage increases for student workers and expand academic programs.

Supporters of the equity increase

Sen. Lincoln Hough led the charge in the Senate for our equity increase.

Hough on floor

The Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Dan Hegeman, worked exceptionally hard to include the $10 million equity adjustment in the budget.

In addition to Sens. Hough and Hegeman, several other senators on the Senate Appropriations Committee also demonstrated exceptional support, speaking in support of the committee’s higher education funding recommendations:

Please join me in thanking our legislators for their support of Missouri State University.

The next step

The next step is for the House and Senate to create a conference committee to reconcile differences between their versions of the budget. Among the differences to reconcile are the differences in amount of equity adjustment for MSU ($4.7 million in the House budget and $10 million in the Senate budget).

The reconciled budget will then go to the House and the Senate for a final vote before being delivered to Governor Parson for signature or veto.

We have interacted with the Governor’s office throughout legislative session, and we will continue to do so as we approach the final stages of the state’s budgeting process.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for March 19, 2019

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Last week the Budget Committee in the Missouri House of Representatives voted the state’s budget out of their committee. This version of the budget includes:

  • $4.7 million in an ongoing equity adjustment for Missouri State University’s core operating appropriation
  • $11 million in one-time maintenance and repair funding for public universities, $1 million of which is designated for Missouri State
  • $2.85 million from the Missouri Excels program that is designated for expanding Missouri State’s nursing program

We are very pleased with this progress. As you know, we receive less state funding per student than any other university in the state. The $4.7 million equity adjustment approved by the House Budget Committee will have a dramatic impact on our ability to fund cost-of-living pay increases and the minimum wage increase for student workers, keep tuition affordable and expand academic programs.

I want to thank the members of the House Budget Committee for their hard work and commitment to Missouri State University. The entire committee deserves credit, but several members of the committee demonstrated exceptional support for our equitable funding request:

We anticipate the House will debate, amend and pass the budget next week. The budget will then move to the Senate.

There is still a long way to go in the appropriations process before outcomes are certain. However, we will continue to work with legislators to advocate that the equity adjustment that is now in the budget be maintained and increased.

Fun at the ballpark

Several weeks ago I asked you to send me “where’s the fun” ideas. We received great feedback. I am impressed with the ideas our faculty and staff have for creating an interesting and convivial atmosphere on campus.

We have put one of these ideas into motion immediately. On March 26, the Bears baseball team will play the University of Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. at Hammons Field. This promises to be a good game against a serious opponent and a regional rival.

We have decided to make this game free for all faculty, staff and their families and friends who accompany them to the game. To get your free tickets either go to the JQH Arena ticket office prior to the game or go to Hammons Field on game day. You will need to show your BearPass at the ticket office to verify that you work at Missouri State.

I would also encourage you to do more than just show up to the game. Use this as an opportunity to meet up with your colleagues for dinner or a drink before the game to build relationships and enjoy a fun night together. My experience has been that going to a game is always more fun with friends.

If you have other “where’s the fun?” ideas, please email them to me at president@missouristate.edu.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!