As midterms arrive and the end of the semester approaches, it’s the perfect moment to pause, celebrate how far we’ve come and prepare for what’s next.

Our October Board of Governors meetings included important updates and thoughtful discussions about the work happening across Missouri State University. Here are a few highlights:

Peace Corps Prep

Dr. Alan Tinkler, professor and Peace Corps Prep program coordinator, shared an inspiring presentation about the program, which brings our public affairs mission to life. Students get to connect learning with real-world global service, earning a certificate from the U.S. Peace Corps.

Missouri State is one of only 143 universities in the country — and one of just three in Missouri — to offer this program. Representing every academic college, 29 students have completed the program. They’ve gained valuable skills and are serving in countries like Jamaica, Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

With 13 students currently enrolled, the program continues to grow. It’s a wonderful example that aligns directly with our Academic Opportunities and Innovation goal in “Igniting Opportunity.” Thank you to Dr. Tinkler and his team for their effort in making this program a success.

SEM plan

As you’re aware, goal three in “Igniting Opportunity” is to become an Institution of Choice for Employees and Students. One of the priority strategies under this goal for 2025-26 is to develop a Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan to drive enrollment growth.

Dawn Medley, vice president for enrollment management, gave an update on steps we’re taking to improve recruitment and student success. One big step is how we manage scholarships. We’re moving to a more flexible format allowing us to better meet students’ needs while also using scholarships more strategically to increase enrollment. More focus on out-of-state students and degree-seeking students are also part of the strategy.

Strategic plan

Chief of Staff Jamie Birch shared updates on our strategic plan. Funding decisions for year one have been approved, and working groups are advancing first-year priorities. The first Strategic Initiatives Forum to review progress is this week, with outcomes and next steps to follow. Thank you to everyone for contributing as we implement our plan.

Cause for celebration

Today, we celebrate the completion of the Billy Long Advanced Technology Suites at the Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center with a naming ceremony. Located on the third floor of the 30,000-square-foot Brewer Science Innovation Annex, the new research and development space is about 12,000 square feet and will support additional JVIC corporate partners.

I’m grateful to former Missouri U.S. Rep. Billy Long for his help in securing the $2 million in congressional funding for this project. It’s an exciting addition that reflects our commitment to innovation and economic growth.

This Saturday, our music department will host the annual Choral Gala, one of the most uplifting events of the year. I’ll be attending and I hope to see many of you there as we celebrate and support our talented students.

Thanks for all you do. It’s a great day to be a Bear!

Biff