One of the things I value most about Missouri State is we don’t stand still. 

Higher education is changing quickly. Enrollment patterns are shifting. Technology is reshaping how we teach and learn. Athletics continues to evolve. Our students expect to have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their university experience. 

Our responsibility is to pay attention, listen to our campus community and make thoughtful decisions about what comes next. 

That was evident at our recent Board of Governors retreat, where we discussed several initiatives shaping Missouri State’s future. We discussed enrollment, artificial intelligence, athletics and student representation on the board. 

A plan for enrollment growth 

Enrollment is one of the university’s most important priorities. Our strategic enrollment management, or SEM, plan gives us a coordinated approach to recruiting students, helping them succeed and keeping them on track to graduation. 

This work supports Igniting Opportunity, our 2025-30 strategic plan, and its goal of making Missouri State the institution of choice for students and employees. By 2030, we want to enroll at least 20,000 degree-seeking students and 30,000 students overall. 

Getting there will take more than recruiting a larger freshman class. Our strategy includes first-time students, transfers, graduate students, international students, adult learners and online students. It also means focusing on retention, student satisfaction, scholarships, the campus visit experience, and programs students want and employers need. 

A great deal of work has gone into developing this plan, and I’m grateful to everyone who contributed. Now, we move from planning to action. 

As part of that work, we are developing playbooks to help faculty and staff understand the role each of us can play in recruitment and retention. Enrollment is not the responsibility of one office. We all contribute to creating the kind of experience that helps students choose Missouri State, succeed here and stay on track to graduation. 

Demographic changes mean colleges and universities will compete for fewer traditional-age students in the years ahead. We intend to be proactive. 

Preparing students for an AI-influenced economy 

We also had an important conversation about artificial intelligence and curriculum. 

Faculty from various disciplines shared how Missouri State’s curriculum is preparing students for an AI-influenced economy. Specifics vary by field, but the approach is consistent: Students build AI literacy through instruction that also strengthens their critical thinking, judgment and problem-framing skills. 

Our focus on experiential learning is an important part of this preparation. It helps students gain applied, early-career insights that serve as the foundation for their long-term success.  

I’m grateful to academic affairs personnel leading this work. Faculty across campus have participated in learning communities and committees focused on AI and the curriculum. Their willingness to share ideas, ask important questions and learn from one another helps us prepare students to thrive and achieve their goals. 

Investing strategically in athletics 

We also discussed our athletics master plan. 

Our move to Conference USA has created tremendous opportunities. We experienced strong momentum during our first year, including record football revenue, increased season-ticket sales in four of five sports and significant gains in football attendance. Student football attendance increased 84.8%, while total attendance increased 43.4%. 

Now, we need facilities that support where our athletics program is going. 

The athletics master planning process examined roughly 20 programs and seven buildings or venues, including opportunities to consolidate or appropriately size facilities while serving the broader campus community. 

One of the first major projects under consideration is the renovation of McDonald Arena, including a new football locker room and potential additions such as a tunnel to Plaster Stadium, a weight room, and athletic training and support spaces. These improvements will be funded by donations. 

The larger plan also considers improvements to Plaster Stadium to improve circulation, accessibility and the game-day experience. 

These are strategic investments in our student-athletes, fans, national profile and the long-term success of Missouri State Athletics. 

Students asked. The board listened. 

I’m particularly pleased about another action taken by our Board of Governors. 

Under Missouri law, the governor appoints a student to serve as a nonvoting member of the Board of Governors, subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate. At times, however, that position can remain vacant. 

Students told us they wanted assurance their voice would still be represented at the board table. The board listened. 

The governors revised their bylaws so they can appoint a student liaison when a student member has not been appointed and confirmed. I think that matters.  

Our students spoke up about something important to them. Our board considered their request and acted. That is shared governance at its best. 

These topics may seem different, but they have something important in common. 

Whether we’re preparing for enrollment changes, helping students navigate emerging technology, investing in athletics or ensuring students have a voice in university governance, we’re thinking carefully about the Missouri State of the future. 

That means listening, adapting and making decisions that strengthen the university while staying focused on the people we serve. 

It’s a great day to be a Bear! 

Biff