Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for July 26, 2016

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Clif's Notes

Over the past year, the Missouri State Master Planning Committee has collaborated with stakeholders throughout campus to develop the newest edition of the university’s Visioning Guide. This guide assists the Board of Governors and administration in determining the best way to support the future facilities growth of the university. You can view the newest edition of the guide on the planning, design and construction webpage.

Aerial photo of Missouri State UniversityGuide outlines current, future construction plans

The guide separates projects into three categories: underway, planned and potential future projects.

Projects underway

This section includes three of the projects I described in last week’s Clif’s Notes along with the work underway in Meyer Library and the Professional Building.

Planned projects

This section includes projects for which plans are in place to identify and secure funding and begin construction. Planned projects include:

  • Hill Hall – Planned renovations will modernize and improve access to the building. Work will include electrical and mechanical systems upgrades and improvements to lab, office and classroom space.
  • New Residence Hall – Missouri State University is evaluating whether to build a new residence hall as a result of robust enrollment growth in the last five years.
  • Greenwood Laboratory School – Provided that secure funding can be identified, the university plans to add a multi-purpose addition to the southeast corner of Greenwood Laboratory School.
  • Plaster Center – The university plans to build out approximately 30,000 square feet of space in the Robert W. Plaster Center for Free Enterprise to accommodate the expansion of the cooperative engineering program.

Potential future projects

These are projects that the university is mindful of and would begin to develop plans to construct as resources allow and funding is identified. Possible future projects include:

  • Alumni Events Center
  • Carrington Hall renovation
  • Cheek Hall renovation
  • Craig Hall (Scene Shop)
  • Electronic Arts Building
  • Indoor Practice Facility
  • Intermodal Transfer Station/third parking garage
  • Jordan Valley Innovation Center expansion
  • Kemper Hall and Kings Street Annex renovations
  • Lot 24 Ramp (under Grand Street)
  • McDonald Hall renovation
  • Multicultural Center
  • Ozarks Science Center
  • Plaster Student Union expansion
  • Temple Hall renovation/expansion
  • Tent Theatre Pavilion
  • Theatre and Dance Building
  • Welcome Center (new bookstore) expansion

Design for Hall-Darr HallChanges for West Plains

While the visioning guide addresses only projects on the Springfield campus, I would be remiss if I did not also mention an important project that will soon be underway on the West Plains campus—Hass-Darr Hall. This project will renovate the building on the West Plains campus currently leased to the United States Postal Service to add academic space, space for student services and a student union for the campus.  Construction is scheduled to begin spring 2017 with targeted completion in spring 2018.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Budget and “Equity Funding” Compromise

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I am writing to provide some details about the $3,001,000 in “equity funding” that was allocated to seven four-year public institutions for next year (fiscal year 2013).

Compromise needed to meet deadline

In order to pass the budget by the constitutionally-mandated deadline, which is today (Friday, May 11), the House and Senate had to compromise on a proposal that would have added $2 million to the budget of Southeast Missouri State University. 

In the end, the compromise that was approved consisted of approving an equity pool to $3,001,000, which was allocated to seven public institutions based on their relative funding per student. The amounts for the seven ranged from $55,000 to $886,000.

With this compromise made, the entire $24 billion budget passed.

Reasons for excluding Missouri State

There were three reasons given for Missouri State University not being included in the proposal. 

  • The University of Missouri and Missouri State were identified as the two statewide universities, so they were separated from the other institutions.
  • Missouri State had benefited from the $2 million allocated last year to the University of Missouri-Kansas City for the Doctor of Pharmacy degree in a year where other institutions did not receive similar funding.
  • The inequity in funding for Missouri State was too significant for the pool of money that was available.

I was obviously disappointed in this decision. We were aware of the negotiations as they were occurring and aggressively lobbied our delegation to be included.

Committee to examine equity funding

While we were not awarded any additional appropriations, we were successful in having an amendment added to the bill that establishes a joint legislative committee to examine the question of equity funding for all institutions. Our legislative delegation has assured us that Missouri State will be a significant part of that discussion next year. This will be our first legislative priority next year.

You should know that several members of our area legislative delegation strongly voiced their concern that Missouri State was not included in the equity allocation. That is the primary reason the amendment was added. 

The data speaks for itself — Missouri State is relatively under-funded (third lowest) compared to the other institutions, and Missouri State will be included in any discussion about addressing that inequity.

Missouri State funded at same level as last year

On a positive note, the legislature has passed a budget which funds Missouri State at the same level as last year. Now we wait to see what withholding the Governor will make. We will know that within 45 days.

Missouri’s Public Universities: Adding to the State’s Bottom Line

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Missouri State Universities---Adding to the Bottom LineThe Council on Public Higher Education (COPHE) has issued a new publication that explains how investing in Missouri’s public universities creates opportunities and adds value to the state:

  • Public universities develop the advanced workforce of the 21st century.

  • Public universities “teach the teachers.” Our graduates are educating the state’s next generation of leaders, from preschool through doctoral programs.

  • Public universities fuel the economic engine of Missouri every day of every year.

  • Public universities improve the quality of life in Missouri by providing public benefits, as well as personal benefits.

Read complete publication

I encourage you to read and share this publication as we continue to make the case for investing in Missouri’s public universities.

About COPHE

Missouri’s 13 public four-year universities comprise the Council on Public Higher Education in Missouri (COPHE). Brian Long is the COPHE Director.