Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for June 11, 2019

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Yesterday Governor Mike Parson signed the budget, completing the state’s budgeting process for the coming fiscal year.

As you will recall, this year’s budget includes a $10 million core funding increase for Missouri State University as well as one-time funding to expand the university’s nursing program.

Please join me in thanking Governor Parson and our legislative leaders for supporting MSU.

Highlights from recent higher ed meetings

Last week the Missouri Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE) and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education met.

COPHE spent significant time discussing highlights from the legislative session. These include a list of troublesome bills that did not pass, such as legislation that would have:

  • Impacted the way universities handle Title IX allegations and investigations
  • Limited university boards’ authority to regulate the possession of firearms on campus
  • Prohibited public universities from charging health fees to students
  • Prohibited public universities from requiring students to live on campus after their first year
  • Limited campus free speech policies, required particular policies for religious student organizations, and restricted university boards’ authority to set tuition and fees

COPHE also discussed several bills that the legislature passed, such as legislation that:

  • Establishes Fast Track, a new grant program that will fund tuition and fees for qualifying nontraditional students to pursue degrees in fields that have a workforce shortage
  • Expands higher education benefits for veterans
  • Authorizes dual credit tuition reimbursement for community colleges and universities

MSU was actively involved in each of these legislative victories. Thanks again to everyone who helped make this year a success in Jefferson City.

Development of a funding formula

After the COPHE meeting, Commissioner Zora Mulligan asked me to participate in a meeting with NCHEMS, a nonprofit organization that is assisting the coordinating board to develop a per-student funding formula. I was encouraged by this meeting and the other conversations on this topic.

Our work to eliminate the gap between MSU and the next lowest funded university had a significant impact this year when the legislature increased our appropriation by $10 million. Based on my conversations over the last week, I am hopeful it will have a longer lasting impact as the coordinating board works to develop a funding formula designed to allocate funds based on weighted FTE enrollment.

Details on what this formula will look like and how it will impact universities throughout the state will emerge in the coming months.

Approving programs to address workforce needs

The coordinating board approved a new vision statement. The coordinating board also approved amendments to their rule on residency and transfer in response to CORE 42.

The coordinating board approved mission descriptions for all community colleges and universities throughout the state. This approval followed a years-long process that involved significant work from administrators at institutions throughout the state. Thanks to Dr. Frank Einhellig and everyone else who invested into this process.

The coordinating board also approved program designations for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant program. Missouri State University offers many academic programs that will qualify under the Fast Track program, and we are already working to determine how we can utilize the program at Missouri State to educate non-traditional students for careers in high demand fields.

The coordinating board also gave full approval to Missouri State’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program and approved Missouri State’s Visual Studies MFA program for a two-year follow-up.

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!

General Assembly approves $10 million equity boost for MSU

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Missouri State University would like to acknowledge the work of the Missouri General Assembly in passing a $10 million equity increase to the university’s state operating appropriation.

This adjustment is the largest appropriations increase the university has received in at least 20 years.

Missouri State currently receives 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.

This increase will allow the university to expand academic programs, keep tuition affordable and fund long overdue cost-of-living pay adjustments for employees.

During its May 16 meeting, the Board of Governors will discuss the university’s budget for next fiscal year, including changes to the tuition increase authorized by the state and approved at the April 17 Executive Committee meeting. A final budget will be approved at the June 21 board meeting.

Special thanks to Rep. Elijah Haahr and Sen. Lincoln Hough who led the equity increase efforts in the house and senate. Rep. Cody Smith and Sen. Dan Hegeman chaired the committees that supported Missouri State’s equity increase throughout the budget process. All members of the General Assembly — particularly our area legislators from southwest Missouri — were very supportive.

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!