Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Aug. 22, 2023

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Today is my last update on this year’s academic realignment.

With the changes in the William H. Darr College of Agriculture (DCOAG), the college embraces the concept of farm-to-fork integration.

Darr is a unique piece of the Missouri State University puzzle, bringing distinctive sites, such as the Journagan Ranch and the Missouri State Fruit Experiment Station to the forefront of student learning. Through realignment, the college will expand its meaningful work in modern ways.

Two schools of thought

The biggest change in Darr – and the key to the farm-to-fork movement – is bringing hospitality leadership under the college umbrella.

In so doing, departments will combine into two schools within the college.

The first school will include hospitality leadership and agribusiness, education and communications.

The second school will include animal science and environmental plant science and natural resources.

These schools will be named at a later date.

Leadership changes

Some changes have already taken place, and some are still in the works.

First, my thanks to Dr. Melissa Bledsoe for serving as interim dean as of June 1. We expect to launch a national search for the position in the fall.

Additionally, in June, Dr. Ken Brown transitioned away from the college to become chief academic strategy officer in the office of the provost. And Dr. Chin-Feng Hwang took on chancellorship of the Mountain Grove campus as of July 1.

Going forward, rather than department heads, each school will have a school director. An internal search was conducted in July, and the college appointed Dr. Kara Wolfe and Dr. Lacy Sukovaty as the school directors beginning Aug. 1.

Internal reorganization

The college also has worked with the efactory on an internal reorganization. This resulted in naming Matt Wommack, new assistant professor in environmental plant science, as farm operations coordinator, to support interdisciplinary research and education efforts at the college’s various properties, such as Shealy Farm and Kindrick Family Farm.

Ongoing work will adjust Darr’s advising model and boost its marketing and recruiting efforts.

More on the horizon

Darr is now positioned to focus on enhancing its statewide prominence and address food, forage and natural resources. The two new schools will offer a laser focus on the science and business/education sides of agriculture and are poised to further strategic leaders promoting innovative solutions.

Our build-out of the $5.2 million Agricultural Innovation Hub and the Small Animal Education Center projected for completion in 2025 comes at a perfect time for this college as it morphs in addressing 21st century needs.

It’s our hope these strategic changes will set the table for a streamlined farm-to-fork education.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State.

Clif

Clif’s Notes for Aug. 15, 2023

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Last week, I shared the fiscal year 2024 Action Plan presented to the Board of Governors during its most recent meeting. Today, I’m covering topics discussed during the remainder of that meeting.  

Funding formula for public colleges and universities 

The Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development commissioned a study that could change the way state funds are allocated to public colleges and universities. The study, conducted by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS), identified “adequate” levels of funding each institution needs to conduct basic operations, offer academic programs and serve students. The funding levels were based on peer institutions identified by NCHEMS and each Missouri institution’s unique mix of programs and students.   

To no one’s surprise, the study concluded Missouri State needs an additional $53 million a year to achieve adequate funding. Further, Missouri State is the most underfunded public university in the state as a percent, despite our recent $10 million+ in appropriations. 

The Department of Higher Education is working with the governor’s office and legislators to determine next steps. The report could be used to make funding recommendations for the FY 2025 budget and would likely be phased in over several years. We hope to use the report as leverage to again increase our state funding. 

Executive Vice President Zora Mulligan and MSU-West Plains Chancellor Dennis Lancaster served on an advisory committee to provide study feedback as it was developed. 

WP action plan 

The West Plains campus presented their action plan. Similar in structure to the Springfield campus, they will focus on: 

  • Reaffirmation of the Higher Learning Commission accreditation.
  • Recruitment and retention. 
  • Residential student housing. 
  • New and enhanced academic programs.
  • Facilities – including the completion of the nursing simulation lab in Looney Hall and the start of construction of the ASCEND student center. 
  • Athletics. 
  • Financial resources. 
  • System coordination. 

Operating reserves 

Governing policy G8.09 determines how operating funds cash reserves are handled and maintained at Missouri State. 

As directed by its Board of Governors, the university has established cash reserves for its operating funds requiring a minimum level of $40 million be maintained for the university system, which at the time was roughly equivalent to three months operating expenses.   

We’ve recently reached a record level of reserves thanks to former CFO Steve Foucart’s strategic management of our funds. The discussion centered on re-establishing a minimum level after experiencing significant inflation over the last several years.   

A major part of that discussion focused on how the university might strategically allocate some reserves in support of current opportunities to continue raising the profile of Missouri State, while also addressing our backlog of maintenance and repair projects. 

Missouri State University Leadership Chair 

The Board of Governors voted Aug. 4 to grant the University Leadership Chair to Provost John Jasinski and Zora. 

The University Leadership Chair was established in 2008 by the Board of Governors under the leadership of Mary Schrag and is awarded every other year. The board awards the endowed chair to members of the university’s central administration who have demonstrated superb leadership. Recent recipients include Steve, Rachael Dockery and Suzanne Shaw. 

My annual review 

I received my performance evaluation from the board at the end of the meeting. It’s been a very successful year for the university, which the board acknowledged. The highlights, which I’ve shared with you over the last year in Clif’s Notes, include: significant progress on academic realignment, substantial gains in enrollment, continued strong levels of capital funding and appropriations at both the state and federal levels, and the conclusion of the Onward, Upward campaign, reaching a record $274 million.  

As with you, I received a 5% across the board raise and will receive a retention bonus on Dec. 31. 

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State. 

Clif 

Clif’s Notes for Aug. 8, 2023

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Last Thursday and Friday, we held our annual Board of Governors Retreat in Kansas City. An important agenda item was the 2023-24 Action Plan. It includes the Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Plan and the Academic Affairs Continuous Agility Process (CAP) among other tactics for the coming year.

We have our Long-Range Plan (LRP) that provides strategic directional goals. The Action Plan is the tactical side of the LRP, where in the coming year we execute initiatives that support the LRP goals.

Some items of note included in the CAP are the college realignment changes, implementation of the new learning management system (LMS) that will replace Blackboard and preparation for the 2025 Higher Learning Commission (HLC) visit.

Important work within the SEM Plan focuses on recruitment – including growing fall 2024 enrollment and actions to drive long-term enrollment growth. There’s also significant work in student success – including continued progress in retention and increasing student engagement.

The other functional areas of the action plan include global engagement, inclusive excellence driving university success, community leadership and partnerships, infrastructure and funding, athletics, compliance and work within the West Plains campus.

Some of the more visible items in the functional areas include:

  • Construction projects across campus, including Blunt Hall, the braider facility and modernization of Cheek Hall.
  • The addition of two new women’s sports (to be announced later) in fall 2024 to maintain Title IX compliance.
  • Construction of the autism center on the West Plains campus.

It’s going to be a busy year for everyone on campus as we continue our work toward making MSU and Springfield a great place to learn and live.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State.

Clif

Clif’s Notes for Aug. 1, 2023

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Over the last few months, I’ve given updates on our academic realignment. This week, I’ll focus on McQueary College of Health and Human Services (MCHHS).

The changes in the college will better integrate practices in health, health care and health science. They’ll also help us align community integration with workforce needs.

Three new schools

McQueary will be reorganizing into schools. Those changes will occur over two years.

One new school was created this year. Counseling moved from the College of Education and is part of the new School of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences. It also includes psychology and social work.

Two other new schools will be created next July.

The first will include athletic training, communication sciences and disorders (audiology and speech language pathology), occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies and RStats. This will elevate our clinical doctoral programs, will join programs with similar foundations and provides seamless student pathways into medical and clinical careers.

The second school to be created next year will include biomedical sciences (with curricular changes), kinesiology and public health and sports medicine.

Names for the schools will be announced at a later date.

Moving from a department head model to a school model with school directors and program coordinators/directors reduces the number of small departments and provides opportunities for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Other changes within MCHHS

A new interdisciplinary major in Esports will be created to address the growing industry and area of student interest. It will be spearheaded by the current department of kinesiology.

As mentioned in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences realignment note last week, faculty from biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, kinesiology and public health and sports medicine will be making recommendations on reducing course duplications across the departments.

All curricular proposals to remove the duplications need to be submitted to college councils by Feb. 1, 2024.

I believe these changes position McQueary to meet the health care and workforce needs of our community now and in the future.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State.

Clif

Clif’s Notes for July 25, 2023

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As we head into a new academic year, I want to share some key changes included in the academic realignment plan within the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS).

The realignment will provide statewide leadership in research and tourism, as well as clarity in career advising.

Since the beginning, CNAS has prioritized creating space for interdisciplinary ideas that improve the human experience. I believe these changes will continue that focus.

Below are the changes coming to CNAS. They reflect our commitment to serving our students and faculty.

Introducing a new major

With tourism being the state’s second largest industry after agriculture, CNAS and the Darr College of Agriculture will offer a new interdisciplinary major in tourism. This degree is innovative and the first of its kind in Missouri.

Drs. Toby Dogwiler and Kara Wolfe are leading the development of the degree program.

Clear student pathways

Creating clear student academic pathways ensures students and academic advisors understand similar degree programs.

The pathways being updated include:

  • Mechanical engineering technology (MET) and mechanical engineering (ME).
  • Information technology and cybersecurity (ITC) and computer science (CSC).
  • Pre-health/pre-advising handbook.

The pathways will be completed by Feb. 1, 2024, and reviewed annually.

Ross Hawkins is leading the development of the new pre-health advisement handbook.

Faculty from MET, ME, ITC and CSC, along with dean approval, will review and revise the advisement worksheets.

Biology remains in CNAS

Biology (BIO) will remain a department in CNAS, but course duplication will be discussed with the McQueary College of Health and Human Services and biomedical sciences (BMS).

Faculty from BIO, BMS, chemistry, kinesiology and public health and sports medicine will be making recommendations on reducing duplications across the departments.

All curricular proposals to remove the duplications need to be submitted to college councils by Feb. 1, 2024.

Renovations and expansion

Last December, CNAS announced the renaming of Temple Hall to Roy Blunt Hall and the expansion project. The addition to Blunt Hall should be completed in early 2025, while renovations to the original part of the building should be completed by early 2026.

The addition will include:

  • Modern and fully furnished labs.
  • Office suites for departments housed in the building (biology; geography, geology and planning; and chemistry and biochemistry).
  • Office space for graduate students.
  • Collaboration space.

Those updates to Blunt Hall and additional renovations to Cheek Hall will improve the program’s visibility and provide space for new ideas in the field of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Building for the future

Planning for the future and developing successful students in and outside the classroom have continued to be the focus at Missouri State.

Creating new majors, providing updated space for innovative ideas and creating clear academic paths will benefit students and educators in the years to come.

These changes and additions reflect our commitment to preparing students for a successful future in STEM and tourism.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State.

Clif