Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Jan. 19, 2021

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I have positive budget news to share.

In July, Gov. Mike Parson withheld $11.9 million of our state funding.

In October, Gov. Parson released $1.7 million. The board used this revenue to fund a $600 across-the-board pay increase for full-time faculty and staff hired on or before Nov. 30. The pay increase will begin this month for 12-month employees and in February for 9- and 10-month employees.

Earlier this month, Gov. Parson released the remaining $10.2 million of withheld state funds. When he released the funds, he directed that we spend $8.4 million on maintenance and repair projects.

I want to thank Gov. Parson for once again prioritizing higher education and Missouri State University when making decisions about which funds to release as the FY2021 state revenue situation came into focus.

Planning maintenance projects

The Executive Committee of the Board of Governors will meet later this week to discuss what projects to prioritize with the funds recently released by Gov. Parson.

I will recommend that the board invest $8.4 million in maintenance and repair facility projects as directed by Governor Parson and hold the remaining funds in reserves. These remaining funds — approximately $1.7 million — will then be available to allocate for FY2022, which will begin on July 1.

State FY2022 budget recommendations coming soon

These developments place us in a strong financial position as we begin to develop the university’s FY2022 budget. That budget process will begin soon.

We anticipate receiving Gov. Parson’s budget recommendations in late January. Our Executive Budget Committee will then meet in mid-February to begin assembling budget recommendations for the Board of Governors.

COVID-19 vaccination update

I also want to update you on our work regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.

The State of Missouri authorized vaccination for people in Phase 1A a few weeks ago. This group includes healthcare and long-term care facilities.

Last week and earlier this week, the state authorized vaccination for everyone in Tiers 1 and 2 of Phase 1B. This includes people 65 and older, people with certain co-morbidities, first responders, emergency services and public health infrastructure.

Unfortunately, vaccination has not yet been authorized for higher education. In the meantime, I would encourage all members of our campus community who are in Phase 1A and Tiers 1 and 2 of Phase B to get vaccinated.

The state’s decision on who can be vaccinated is only one piece of the puzzle. The other piece is the state’s decision on how to physically distribute the vaccine. Vaccine supplies are very limited.

We learned last week that we will receive a small number of COVID-19 vaccines early this week. These vaccines will be available through Magers Health and Wellness Center for employees who are eligible to be vaccinated (currently meaning they meet the requirements of Phase 1A and Tiers 1 and 2 of Phase B).

Eligible employees will sign up for this vaccination through My Missouri State online, similar to how employees sign up to receive the flu vaccination.

The university continues to work to obtain additional vaccine. As we receive additional vaccine and as additional groups of employees become eligible to be vaccinated, we will let you know through Inside Missouri State and the vaccination webpage on the COVID-19 Information Center.

View the town hall recording

Thanks to all who attended the town hall meeting last Friday. For those unable to attend, a recording of the presentation is available online.

If you have questions about the subjects discussed at the town hall meeting or any other topic, feel free to email them to me at president@missouristate.edu.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Dec. 1, 2020

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Earlier this month the Board of Governors Executive Committee met.

The committee awarded the contract to construct the Springfield Public Schools Agricultural Magnet School at Darr Agricultural Center to Larry Snyder & Company. This is a $6.7 million project funded entirely by private donations.

The committee also approved $800,000 in purchases to upgrade the efactory and JVIC to meet public health emergency guidelines. These purchases are funded entirely with CARES Act funds allocated by Greene County and the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

I also updated the board on the status of COVID-19 on our campus and our plans to finish this semester and start the spring semester without making changes to our academic calendar.

Cost-saving measures

I updated the board on the FY2021 budget.

The budget currently includes several cost-saving measures, including:

  • A 75% reduction in funding for facility repairs and classroom upgrades.
  • A 25% reduction in the President’s enhancement fund.
  • A 75% reduction in funding for academic equipment.
  • A 50% reduction in travel budgets.

These cuts are in addition to savings generated by the hiring freeze, eliminating the incentive payments for teaching online classes and delaying the completion of the new residence hall. Even with these reductions in place, we still planned to use $4 million of reserves to balance the FY2021 budget.

Thanks to all of your hard work, fall enrollment exceeded projections. Accordingly, it does not appear that we will need to use $4 million in reserves to balance the budget.

Additionally, Gov. Mike Parson released more than $1.5 million in state appropriations for the Springfield campus and more than $100,000 for the West Plains campus. Our leadership team worked with the Executive Budget Committee and the Board of Governors to develop a plan to revise the FY2021 budget and allocate these funds.

Pay increase

This plan includes a $600 per year across-the-board pay increase for full-time faculty and staff hired on or before Nov. 30, 2020. The increase will begin in January for 12-month employees and in February for 9- and 10-month employees.

The increase will be spread throughout the year the same way a percentage increase would be spread. For example, an employee in a 12-month exempt position paid once each month will receive an extra $50 (before taxes and withholdings) per month beginning with their paycheck at the end of January 2021.

The university typically implements across-the-board pay increases as a percentage of each employee’s salary. If we were to do that in this situation, we would have provided a 1% raise.

We decided to structure this increase differently because the financial impact of the pandemic and of forgoing raises in July disproportionately affected our lowest paid employees. Our lowest paid employees also benefit more from a $600 raise than a 1% raise.

Moreover, almost all of our employees who were placed on 2/3 pay during the spring and summer will benefit more from a $600 raise. We believe it is important to recognize their loyalty in returning to work after their temporary pay reductions.

The plan also funds adjustments to our salary ranges to match the calendar year 2019 employment cost index.

The remaining $700,000 will be allocated to temporarily restore a portion of the reduced funding for facility repairs and classroom upgrades. Because the $600 raise is being implemented in the middle of this fiscal year, only half of the annual cost of the raise must be allocated in the FY2021 budget.

Accordingly, we have tentatively tagged the $700,000 used to partially restore funding for facility repairs and classroom upgrades as available to fund most of the remaining cost of the $600 raise in the FY2022 budget.

We will present this plan to the board for approval at their December meeting.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 20, 2020

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The Board of Governors met last week.

At the Finance and Facilities Committee, the board reviewed financial statements from last fiscal year. The university had a $6.4 million decrease in its operating fund reserve on the Springfield campus and a $229,000 decrease in its operating fund reserve on the West Plains campus.

These decreases can primarily be attributed to withholds of our state operating appropriation. However, we were successful at decreasing our expenses to offset a portion of those revenue losses.

Financial review

I also updated the Finance and Facilities Committee on the current fiscal year.

As you know, our enrollment exceeded projections. For the Springfield campus, this resulted in $2.9 million in additional tuition and fees in the summer and fall.

Scholarship expenses were also $1.9 million less than budgeted, and the university saved $1.2 million in payroll and benefits through the hiring freeze.

Depending on the impact of COVID-19 on the spring semester, this additional revenue and expense savings may minimize the Springfield campus’s need to spend reserves to balance the FY21 budget as was initially anticipated.

Similarly, on the West Plains campus, additional tuition and fee revenue as well as scholarship and payroll savings will reduce the amount of reserves needed to balance the FY21 budget.

Parson releases appropriations

The board discussed Gov. Mike Parson’s recent decision to release $1.7 million of the university’s operating appropriation. I will reconvene the Executive Budget Committee in the coming weeks to discuss how to invest those funds in the university’s operations.

Parson also released $3.2 million for the Bright Flight program. This is half of the withheld funds for that scholarship program.

I personally met with Parson to advocate that the Bright Flight funds be released along with a portion of our operating appropriation. I am pleased those efforts paid off.

I hope you will join me in thanking Parson for supporting higher education, Missouri State University and our students during these difficult times.

Gourleys awarded Bronze Bear

The board voted to award the Bronze Bear to Robert and Marlese Gourley. Mr. Gourley is an alum of Missouri State University who worked his way through college and enlisted in the U.S. Army after graduation. Together the Gourleys started and owned a series of successful businesses in the Kansas City area.

For many years, the Gourley family has financially supported programs on the university’s West Plains and Mountain Grove campuses as well as scholarships and athletic programs on the Springfield campus. In 2015, the Gourley family made a significant gift to the MSU Foundation and the university named the 37,000 square foot addition to Glass Hall the Robert Gourley Student Success Center.

McClure selected for Government Excellence Award

The board also voted to award the Government Excellence Award to Mayor Charles Kenneth (“Ken”) McClure. McClure has tirelessly advocated for Missouri State University and the Springfield community throughout his career.

As mayor, he has provided an unprecedented level of leadership to protect our community during the coronavirus pandemic by establishing a mask mandate, facility occupancy and gathering restrictions, and other policies designed to mitigate spread of the virus. He also championed legislation to change the name of our university to Missouri State University during his time as chief of staff to Gov. Matt Blunt.

Recognizing dedication to public affairs

The board also approved a resolution acknowledging this year’s Excellence in Public Affairs Award recipients. This year’s faculty recipients include:

  • Dr. Kevin Evans
  • Dr. Lisa Hall
  • Dr. Elizabeth Sobel

This year’s staff recipients include:

  • Samantha Francka
  • Diana Garland
  • A’dja Jones

The award recognizes individuals with an established record of distinctive work and accomplishments in support of the university’s public affairs mission. Each awardee receives a $1,500 grant to be used for research, travel or projects related to their public affairs activities.

Other board updates

The board also received updates on key performance indicators and the long-range plan and strategic enrollment management plan processes.

Finally, the board elected officers for next calendar year. Beginning in January, the board will be chaired by Gov. Amy Counts, and Gov. Carol Silvey will serve as vice chair. I am excited to work with them as we continue to move the university forward.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Clif’s Notes for Feb. 18, 2020

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Earlier this month the Springfield campus Executive Budget Committee held its first meeting to discuss the fiscal year 2021 budget. This year’s chair is Dr. Richard Gebken, and each college has an elected faculty representative on the committee. Leaders of Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, the Student Government Association also sit on this committee.

The purpose of this meeting was to evaluate preliminary budget numbers and discuss strategies to increase revenue and reduce expenses to fill the budget shortfall. The Executive Budget Committee makes recommendations that the Board of Governors considers when finalizing and approving the university’s operating budget.

Reviewing the current budget

Before beginning to work on next year’s budget, the committee first reviewed this year’s budget.

This year’s budget includes:

  • A modest tuition increase that was substantially less than the increases at most other public universities in Missouri
  • $9 million in new revenue due to a substantial increase in state appropriations (this is net of the state’s standard 3% withholding and the West Plains campus’s share of the increase)
  • $1.4 million in additional interest income
  • $6.9 million in payroll and benefit increases
  • $2.4 million in expense reductions and re-allocations

Unfortunately, we also had to budget for $4.6 million in reduced revenue because of a decline in credit hour enrollment.

Planning for next year

As we begin to work on next year’s budget, we will start with a carry-forward of $3.2 million in revenue. We intentionally left this carry-forward in this year’s budget because enrollment projections indicate another enrollment decline in fall 2020.

Next year’s budget assumptions include:

  • More than $300,000 in faculty promotions
  • Funding for enrollment strategies that were rolled out this year, such as the application fee waiver, the Academic Advising and Transfer Center, the Center for Academic Success and Transition, and scholarship program changes
  • Increases in the cost of employment benefits, such as a $900,000 increase in the university’s pension premiums, $1 million in increased health care costs and more than $200,000 in increased usage of the credit course fee waiver program.
  • A $1.3 million reduction in the support the university’s auxiliary system can contribute to the operating budget

Unfortunately, our enrollment model continues to project another enrollment decline in fall 2020.  This will impact the budget with:

  • Another $5.2 million decrease in tuition revenue
  • A $700,000 decrease in anticipated auxiliary student fee and parking revenue

If Missouri State increases undergraduate in-state tuition by the maximum amount allowed by the law, we will still have an anticipated budget shortfall of nearly $7 million that must be filled for the upcoming fiscal year.

How we move foward

We are developing several strategies to address this budget shortfall.

First, we are implementing cost reductions of $2.9 million across campus. I have asked all cost centers to begin the thoughtful process of identifying where these reductions can be taken.

Second, we are working to improve our enrollment situation for the fall semester. Due to state and national demographic shifts, we will not have increased (or even flat) enrollment in fall 2020. However, we are working on strategies to reduce the amount of our enrollment decline. Some indicators show that these strategies are making an impact, but we will not know for sure until the fall semester begins.

Third, we are advocating for an increase in operating appropriations from the state. Last week Chairman of the Board of Governors Craig Frazier and I traveled to Jefferson City and met with legislators to discuss the importance of year-over-year operating appropriation increases for Missouri State. You can find additional information about these meetings and the other work we are doing in Jefferson City in the most recent MSU Legislative Network update.

Board will discuss this week

We will present this same information to the Board of Governors later this week during the Finance and Facilities Committee meeting. Discussion at that meeting will focus on tuition and fees for the 2020-21 academic year.

Due to last year’s appropriations increase, we were able to hold the tuition increase for in-state undergraduate students to 2.87%. Our tuition increase was significantly lower than the increases at other public universities throughout Missouri. This allows us flexibility to increase tuition in the coming year while still being competitive with our affordability.

If you have input on any issues relevant to the university’s budget, please feel free to reach out to the members of the Executive Budget Committee. You can find the roster in the university’s Committees Handbook.

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!