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Clif’s Notes for Jan. 13, 2015

January 13, 2015 by Clif Smart

Governor Nixon

Clif's Notes

Welcome back to campus. I hope you’re as excited as I am about the start of a new semester.

Missouri State Capitol Priorities for upcoming legislative session

For me the start of the second semester always involves leading our teams as we advocate for University interests in Jefferson City. The 2015 legislative session has started. Our goals for this session include:

  • A capital appropriation for high-priority maintenance and repair projects.
  • An increase in our ongoing operating appropriation.
  • Releasing the $1,325,000 operating appropriation for fiscal year 2015 health program initiatives and protecting it from being withheld in future years.

Last Wednesday I met with a number of legislators and government officials at the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast in Jefferson City. I am confident that many of our elected leaders appreciate the great things we are doing at Missouri State and will work with us to achieve our legislative goals this session.

Governor Nixon speakingListen to State of the State address

The Governor will give his State of the State address at 7 p.m. Jan. 21. You can live stream the address at www.mo.gov. At that time we will know more about his recommended appropriations for fiscal year 2016.

We have already scheduled our first executive budget committee meeting for this year, and we will be prepared to respond to the Governor’s appropriation recommendations and begin preparation of our budget.

Stay tuned for more information about state appropriations and our progress in achieving our legislative goals.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Legislative Session, Smart Tagged With: budget, fy15, goals, governor, Smart

Clif’s Notes Vol. 4, No. 6

December 2, 2014 by Clif Smart

Facilitated discussion

Clif's Notes

In this issue of Clif’s Notes, I give an update on the visioning project, provide information about the University’s educational programs related to the Ferguson situation, provide an update on the head football coach search and summarize the University’s priorities for the 2015 legislative session.

Students on campusMissouri State Vision: Our Passion for Excellence

As you know, we are working on a visioning project titled Missouri State Vision: Our Passion for Excellence. The visioning steering committee has met three times to set the parameters for the project and establish task forces. The steering committee has broken down the project into the following six topical areas:

  • Funding
    Envisioning the long-term financial vitality of the University and positioning the University to deal with changes and challenges that might be anticipated in the next 10-12 years
  • Academic profile
    Envisioning alignment of the University’s array of academic programs, strategic partnerships and research emphasis to help ensure the next generation of students/learners succeeds
  • Infrastructure
    Envisioning a campus infrastructure – facilities, technology, environmental sustainability – that supports academic programs and research initiatives and contributes to the University’s overall operational efficiency
  • Diversity
    Envisioning a campus community that embraces diversity in all aspects of campus learning/life
  • Globalization
    Envisioning integration of globalization in all University endeavors in order for the campus community to compete, function and succeed in the worldwide environment/economy
  • Student experience
    Envisioning a rich, memorable and distinctive educational experience that helps ensure success for students

The committee established task forces for each topical area and selected external and internal members for each task force. All task force members have been instructed to reach out to the members of our University community as they move forward, so there will be many opportunities to participate in the visioning project for those who were not selected for task force membership. You can find more information online about Missouri State Vision: Our Passion for Excellence, including complete task force rosters. Please send us your comments.

Ferguson dialogueFerguson dialogue

Before the Grand Jury reached its decision regarding the Michael Brown shooting, the University established a series of educational programs intended to allow students and the public to engage in facilitated dialogue about the Ferguson situation. A number of these programs have already taken place, and more events are scheduled.

For more information about these programs, contact the Multicultural Resource Center at 417-836-5652.

Missouri State Bears football team Head football coach

The University has decided not to renew its contract with head football coach Terry Allen. Coach Allen’s contract will expire at the end of January 2015, which means that no buyout is required. We have created a search committee to vet potential candidates for our new head football coach. The committee is chaired by Kyle Moats, director of athletics, and includes the following members:

  • Ryan DeBoef, chief of staff
  • Fred Harle, community member
  • Casey Hunt, senior associate director of athletics
  • Dr. James Hutter, associate professor, school of agriculture
  • Tom Strong, community member

The committee has already begun its work. I have asked the search committee to pare down the list of applicants. Kyle Moats and I will then make the final decision on which applicant to hire. You can find more information about the University’s decision not to renew Coach Allen’s contract and the ongoing search for our next head coach in the University’s press release.

I am excited about the future of Bears football. I firmly believe that this hiring opportunity will allow us to build on the momentum of our renovated facilities and reinvented game day experience to put the football program on a path toward success. I want to publicly thank Coach Allen again for the good work he has done during the past nine years and for his commitment to our community, the University and his players.

Missouri's capitol building Legislative priorities

The Missouri General Assembly’s 2015 legislative session will begin in January. Missouri State has established the following legislative priorities for the upcoming session:

  • Obtain a capital appropriation for maintenance and repair projects including Ellis Hall (($7,581,818) and Hill Hall ($9,575,669) on the Springfield campus, Missouri Hall on the West Plains campus ($1,547,890) and life safety equipment throughout the West Plains campus ($220,000).
  • Combine the $1,325,000 operating appropriation for particular health programs (including the occupational therapy program on the Springfield campus and allied health programs on the West Plains campus) with Missouri State’s ongoing core appropriation.
  • Obtain an increase in Missouri State’s ongoing operating appropriation.

You can find more information about the University’s goals this legislative session. Please advocate for these goals as appropriate when you interact with our state legislators.

Conclusion

I hope each of you had a good Thanksgiving break and are ready for the sprint to the finish line over the next two weeks. Plan to come by my holiday open house at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 in the JQH Arena Prime Overtime Club. Thanks for all you do for Missouri State University.

Clif Smart

—Clif

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Telling the Missouri State story

Dr. Shawn Wahl, communication department head
Dr. Shawn Wahl, communication department head

Department of communication receives national recognition

The department of communication has received the distinction of “Strong Program” by the National Communication Association (NCA) President’s Task Force for the Advocacy of Communication in the Academy. The mission of the NCA Task Force “…is to identify information and resources that will prove useful to communication programs of all types as they advocate for their interests on campus.”

There were several factors that contributed to this recognition, including department affiliation with the professional discipline, faculty teaching and research profiles, presence of a solid general education course (COM 115: Public Speaking) and disciplinary leadership. For many years, the department has made significant contributions to basic communication course innovation, teaching assistant training, peer-reviewed research, national leadership in the communication discipline and civic engagement.

It is an honor to be recognized by this task force, and I hope you join me in congratulating the department on a job well done!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Financial Outlook, Smart Tagged With: athletics, football, fy15, goals, legislative priorities, long-range plan, vision, visioning

Clif’s Notes Vol. 4, No. 2

August 21, 2014 by Clif Smart

Bear Crew helping student move in

Clif's Notes

In this issue of Clif’s Notes, I provide a recap of Welcome Weekend activities, summarize our first day enrollment numbers, highlight this year’s eight major  goals, preview a visioning process that we will start soon, provide information about two of the University’s sustainability initiatives and highlight a policy change regarding campus safety.

Welcome WeekendBear Crew helping student move in

Last weekend we welcomed students to campus with a number of exciting activities. Throughout the day on Thursday and Friday, the Bear Crew (comprised of students, faculty and staff volunteers) helped students move into campus housing. Friday evening students took in a free outdoor movie and participated in team-building activities and outdoor games at Playfair. On Saturday, faculty and staff bid parents “farewell” and students “hello” at the Aloha Brunch, and more than 5,000 students filled the PSU and enjoyed free food and games at Bear Bash. Alumnus Judith Rowland spoke to an audience of more than 4,000 students, faculty and staff at Sunday’s New Student Convocation. The weekend ended with the Sunday night Belong-B-Q, an event designed to connect students with multicultural experiences at Missouri State. It was a fantastic opening weekend, and I want to thank everyone who helped make it so. My favorite part was SGA President Jordan McGee’s challenge to students to excel in all they do on campus.

Enrollment numbersStudents walking to class

Our first day enrollment numbers came in this week, and they are fabulous. We are up 401 students on the Springfield campus and 8 students on the West Plains campus over last year. We have the largest freshman class on the Springfield campus in over 20 years with 2,807 students. This was accomplished in a year when the number of Missouri high school graduates dropped and fewer people graduated from Missouri community colleges. We continue to gain market share as our profile grows. Thanks for all you do to contribute to the success of Missouri State. More information about our first day enrollment numbers can be found in the University’s press release.

Carington HallEight major goals

In my last issue of Clif’s Notes I discussed the process for developing the University’s eight major goals for 2014-15. That process is now complete, and we have finalized the goals.

This year’s goals align with the six headings in the 2011-16 Long-Range Plan: access to success, public affairs integration, engaged inquiry, partners for progress, valuing and supporting people, and responsible stewardship. The two remaining goals address athletics and West Plains integration. Specific action items fall under each of the eight goals.

Below are highlights of some of the major action items in this year’s eight major goals:

  • Accreditation
    The University will successfully complete the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) self-study process (assurance report) and submit findings in accordance with the HLC’s timeline with regard to its Springfield campus. The University will finalize its reaffirmation of HLC accreditation with regard to the West Plains campus.
  • Enrollment
    Maintaining modest enrollment growth while increasing the diversity of the student body continues to be a priority. This year we will implement a graduate needs-based scholarship program and a graduate diversity scholarship program, continue to create new academic programs based on student demand and state need, strengthen relationships with community college partners and expand opportunities for collaboration with diversity-oriented organizations.
  • Facilities
    This year the University will implement its construction and renovation plans regarding the Student Admissions and Success (Welcome) Center, Pummill Hall, the Occupational Therapy and Health Sciences Building, Sunvilla, phase one of Meyer Library and the fifth floor of the Morris Center.
  • Faculty and staff compensation
    The University will make every effort to provide a cost of living pay raise for full-time employees. The University will also continue the Full Professor Incentive Program and evaluate other potential programs to target high-performing and/or underpaid employee groups for additional compensation if funding allows.
  • Faculty and staff diversity
    The University will focus on hiring a more diverse faculty and staff. One important component of this initiative is a hiring target: we have established a goal that at least 20% (1 in 5) of new hires be ethnically or racially diverse, international, disabled, of veteran status or a member of a group that is underrepresented within the hiring department. This is achievable, and I expect that everyone can and will hit this target. If you are trying to make a diverse hire but are experiencing policy-related, administrative or other barriers, please contact my office.
  • Retention
    The University will take active steps to improve its retention rate of first-time, full-time freshmen. The University will evaluate admission requirements and protocols for low-performing applicants, develop a program to assist freshmen students on academic probation, which is an SGA priority as well, and evaluate whether GEP 101, orientation programs, living learning communities and family activities should be redesigned.
  • West Plains integration
    The University will integrate West Plains and Springfield operations to the extent practicable by developing and marketing student pathways from West Plains to Springfield, codifying a funding formula for West Plains in a University policy, and evaluating opportunities to coordinate bookstore functions, Banner processes and other campus operations.

Please review the eight major goals for 2014-15 at your leisure. Frank and I will discuss them in more detail at the State of the University Speech scheduled for noon on Sept. 26.

Aerial view of campusVisioning

In the coming months, we will begin a visioning process. The goal is to strategically forecast the direction of Missouri State 10 years in the future by identifying and analyzing topics, themes and challenges that the University will encounter. This process will help us set the stage for our next long-range plan in 2016.

We will form a steering committee (and potentially other committees and task forces) that will identify, discuss, investigate and analyze various issues as part of this process. We want our entire campus community to have an opportunity to provide input, and we will seek input from community and political leaders, alumni and others who care about the University.

If you have ideas of topics, themes and challenges that should be analyzed as part of the visioning process, please email them to me. If you would like to be part of the visioning process in some other way, please contact my office.

Recycling binSustainability initiatives

I am very excited about two sustainability initiatives. A traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution known as the “Green Revolution” will be coming to Springfield’s Discovery Center. The exhibit is all about sustainability — recycling, energy, composting/gardening and carbon footprint, and will be on display from Sept. 10 through early 2015. The Discovery Center is hosting the exhibit in partnership with Missouri State University and City Utilities.

On Oct. 1, Missouri State will be sponsoring a free day for all students, faculty, staff and their families. The museum hours for that day will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Also, Missouri State is among the first to pre-enroll to receive a portion of its electrical energy from the newly operational City Utilities solar farm. The total capacity of the solar farm is approximately 4.9 megawatts, and Missouri State has applied to receive 200 kilowatts, the maximum amount offered to individual customers. Although solar power is currently more expensive, this approach firmly establishes the University as a community leader in solar power and does so in a cost effective manner.

Campus safetyMeyer Library and the West Mall

I wanted to let you know about a policy change regarding campus and student safety. The Board has approved a new policy entitled Title IX Policy on Sexual Assault, Stalking and Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct. This policy builds on the University’s existing policies for student, faculty and staff discipline with regard to sexual misconduct. Among other things, this policy defines what acts are prohibited, describes how complaints may be made and discusses how complaints will be investigated.

As part of this policy, the University has created a list of campus security authorities (CSAs). A CSA is required by law to report sexual misconduct and certain other crimes to the office of safety and transportation for inclusion in the campus security report. We will roll out a training program for all CSAs very soon.

Additionally, I expect all members of our campus community to immediately inform their supervisors when they suspect students, faculty or staff have been or will be harmed. All of us have a responsibility to keep our campus safe.

Conclusion

I look forward to seeing you around campus this semester. Thanks for all you do for Missouri State University.

Clif Smart

—Clif

Send comments Follow Clif Smart on Twitter

Telling the Missouri State story

Four faculty members have been awarded Fulbright awards in the last year and a half. The Fulbright program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

Dr. Jamaine Abidogun, professor of history, received a research and teaching award for the 2013-14 academic year to the University of Nigeria in Anambra State, Nigeria. Abidogun worked on strengthening gender research to improve girls’ and women’s education in Nigeria. This is Abidogun’s second Fulbright award.

Dr. Rick Breault, reading, foundations and technology professor, received a research and teaching award for spring 2014 to research and teach courses at the Ion Creanga Pedagogical Institute in Chisinau, Moldova. During his time in Moldova, Breault conducted research to help Moldova teachers prepare young people for living in a democracy. This is Breault’s second Fulbright award.

Dr. James Cofer Sr., professor of marketing, was awarded a research and teaching award for the 2014-15 academic year to Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Cofer will research student persistence behavior to compare first generation and non-first generation students and assist in the development of student specific strategies for retention and graduation.

Dr. Susan Dollar, professor in the School of Social Work, received a teaching award for spring 2014 to lecture at Buryat State University in the Federation of Russia. Dollar discussed selected global and regional health problems and reviewed effective practice models with students in Ulan Ude, Siberia.

The University is very proud to have so many of its faculty members recognized with this prestigious award.

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Financial Outlook, Smart Tagged With: enrollment, goals, safety, sustainability, welcome weekend

Clif’s Notes Vol. 3, No. 2

August 6, 2013 by Clif Smart

Clif's Notes

In this issue of Clif’s Notes, I want to review the highlights of the Board of Governors Retreat, which occurred all day on Aug. 1. The Board approved the University goals for 2013-14 and identified facilities as a special point of emphasis.

Students on campusEight goals for 2013-14

The major agenda item for the retreat was to identify the goals for 2013-14. Based on previous discussions with the Board and building on the goals from previous years, the members of Administrative Council and I had drafted a set of goals for the Board’s review. Those draft goals were the basis for the discussion.

Coming out of the Retreat, we identified eight goals for 2013-14:

  1. Enrollment
    Continue to achieve modest annual growth consistent with the long-range plan goals.
  2. Funding
    Allocate, reallocate and generate new resources to achieve University priorities.
  3. Accreditation
    Develop the evidence to meet the criterion and core components necessary to achieve continued accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), as well as other major accrediting agencies.
  4. Diversity and inclusion
    Improve recruitment and retention of a diverse student body and workforce.
  5. Student success
    Expand high-quality academic programs to increase opportunities for students.
  6. Facilities and sustainability
    Design, bid and identify funding sources and begin construction on priority academic and auxiliary facilities, with a continued campus-wide emphasis on sustainability.
  7. Athletics
    Be competitive, compliant and successful in the classroom.
  8. Raising the profile
    Continue to find ways to more effectively “tell the Missouri State story” to ever-increasing numbers of people in Missouri, the nation and around the world.

I will have more to say about all of these at the annual State of the University address at noon on Thursday, Sept. 19, in the Plaster Student Union Theater. I hope you will plan to attend.

Facilities for the future

Of the eight goals, the “big initiative” the Board identified was to significantly improve our facilities over the next five years. This emphasis was based on our previous presentations of the needs and options over the past several months; the Board’s own discussions in recent months; and the Board’s tour of facilities in May. I want to provide an overview of our facilities plan for you, including funding sources.

Introduction

Facilities matter. They impact the quality of our academic programs. They are one of the keys to our accreditations. They significantly impact the other seven goals. Facilities matter to our current faculty, staff and students. They matter as we compete for the best students and for the best faculty. They matter to our alumni and the community. Facilities matter to all of us. They are important to our success in the future.

It has been more than a dozen years since the state legislature approved a comprehensive statewide capital appropriation for higher education. With the exception of the renovation of Siceluff Hall through the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative funding from the state, the progress we have made on facilities during that time has been through private contributions, University-issued bonds and the University’s own reserves and current funds.

We need some specific new facilities, plus we now have $105 million in deferred maintenance on our campuses.

I provide this background to emphasize that we must set priorities and be open to various forms of funding if we are to address our capital needs. We have identified the priority needs, plans and costs below. We are likely to bundle some of these costs into one or more academic and auxililary bond issues and then make the payments from the appropriate sources.

Important note: none of these projects will limit our ability to increase faculty and staff compensation because ongoing general fund money will not be used to construct any facility referenced below.

Academic facility priorities

Our two fastest-growing colleges are the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) and the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CNAS), and the College of Business (COB) remains our largest college. Therefore, we will focus many of our resources to address the space needs and the condition of the buildings in those three colleges.

We have contracted with a consultant to look at the short-term needs in CHHS and CNAS and to explore options to address those needs. Pending confirmation from this study, we would anticipate proceeding with these projects:

Pummill HallPummill Hall —The hospitality and restaurant administration program will be relocated from the Professional Building to the third and fourth floors of Pummill Hall. This will address the space requirements of HRA accreditation while allowing the Professional Building space to be reallocated to health programs. The University Space Allocation Advisory Committee is currently reviewing options for which academic departments best fit in the remaining two floors of the building. We estimate the Pummill Hall project will cost $4.5 million, which will be funded through private gifts and University resources (maintenance and repair budget, classroom upgrade budget and reserves). The renovation will begin in January 2014 and be completed by January 2015.

McQueary HallMcQueary Hall — We plan to build an addition to McQueary Family Health Sciences Hall. This will help address the classroom, laboratory and office space we need to accommodate health programs, including the new occupational therapy program. We estimate this project will cost approximately $15 million, which will be funded through private gifts and University resources, specifically the $825,000 ongoing state appropriation to support the occupational therapy program, which can be used to help pay bonds for this project. We hope to start this project by fall 2014 and be completed by fall 2015.

Plaster CenterPlaster Center — The Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business Development is up and running with several tenants. It does, however, still have approximately 30,000-square-feet of space yet to be developed. We are in the process of identifying which unit(s) fit best there to help us address our space needs in the health and science areas. When it occurs, we plan to fund this further development with University reserve funds.

16784-0468-Glass-HallGlass Hall — We have hired an architectural firm and are proceeding with plans to expand and renovate David D. Glass Hall for the College of Business. An approximate 40,000-square-foot addition is planned for the east end of Glass Hall to create the Student Success Center. In addition, the interior finishes of the public spaces in the existing building will be renovated. This project is estimated to cost $25 million, which will be funded through at least $10 million in private gifts, plus revenue from the college-specific student fee passed by the Board of Governors last year. We will not move forward with construction until the necessary funds have been received or pledged.

Ellis HallEllis Hall — In the near future, we will begin looking at how Ellis Hall can best be utilized, and we will begin plans to renovate Ellis Hall after the Pummill Hall renovation is completed.

University-wide projects

Welcome signWelcome Center — The Welcome Center will be located at the new entrance of National Avenue and Bear Boulevard (formerly Monroe Street). We intend for this facility to be constructed this coming year and opened before the end of calendar year 2014. It will be the first stop for visitors, especially prospective students and families. We estimate the cost of the Welcome Center to be $4 million. Our plan is to use the $1 million we received from the insurance company in the Bookstore theft claim as the University’s contribution for this project. The remainder of the cost will be paid for from private gifts.

Auxiliary facilities — housing

We need to constantly refresh and upgrade our housing options for students. We have three major projects planned over the next couple of years.

Kentwood HallWoods House and Kentwood Hall — Both of these facilities will get major renovations in the summer of 2014. We estimate the total cost for the two will be $4 million, which will be funded through the residence hall system.

Sunvilla TowerSunvilla Tower — We plan to complete a major renovation of Sunvilla during the 2014-15 year, with work beginning in the summer of 2014 and being completed in time for fall 2015. Our goal is to make Sunvilla the “best value option” for students who wish to live on campus. We estimate the cost of this project will be at least $8 million, which will be funded through the residence hall system.

Auxiliary facilities — athletics and recreation

With Title IX, safety concerns and our desire to provide our student-athletes with every opportunity to be competitive, we are discussing a number of changes in athletic facilities. An important part of our discussion is how the newly configured facilities also benefit recreation opportunities for the entire student body.

The overall plan is to develop more venues for specific sports and lessen the pressure on Plaster Sports Complex. In the process, we will expand outdoor recreational facilities for students.

Plaster Sports ComplexPlaster Sports Complex — There are several changes planned for this facility:

  • The east bleachers, which are several decades old, will be removed following the 2013 football season. If a student-initiated fee is passed in October, new grandstands with amenities for students will be constructed closer to the field. If the fee fails, all fans will sit on the west side.
  • The artificial playing surface is due to be replaced following the 2013 football season. When it is replaced, the field will be moved several feet toward the west stands.
  • The track, which is not in good enough shape to host a conference meet, will be removed. This entire project, including the new east grandstand that must be approved by students, is currently estimated to cost $12 million which will be funded through a combination of the proposed student fee, private gifts and University reserves.

SoccerNew soccer/track/recreation venue — A new artificial surface soccer field with a new track is planned for the field north of Glass Hall. We hope to include seating for about 1,000 with a modest press box and appropriate signage and score board. This field also will be scheduled for student recreation. We estimate the cost of this project will be $6 million, which will be funded through University reserves, the proposed student athletic/recreation fee and private gifts.

Field hockeyNew field hockey/lacrosse venue — A new artificial surface for field hockey and lacrosse will be constructed on the location of the current softball practice field and extend to Cherry Street. This project is estimated to cost $4 million, which will be funded by University reserves, the student athletic/recreation fee and private gifts.

Locker roomsJQH Arena locker room complex — Work on the Jim D. Morris Basketball Complex in JQH Arena is progressing on schedule. It should be completed in early November. It includes locker rooms, offices and meeting space for the Bears and Lady Bears basketball teams. The project will cost $3.5 million and is being funded totally through private gifts.

Forsythe HallMary Jo Wynn Achievement Center — This Center, located in the Forsythe Athletics Center, will be completed during 2014. It is being funded totally through private gifts.

Bonding from the state

As you remember, this past spring the Missouri General Assembly discussed the possibility of bonding a capital package for higher education and other state facilities. The measure passed the House, but did not have time to be discussed in the Senate. We are told that the possibility of bonding higher education projects will be on the agenda again next year.

There are many differences between the House preference (new construction) and the Senate preference (maintenance and repair), as well as the method by which the bonding would be accomplished. We are well-positioned to respond to whichever direction our legislators go, and we will continue to work closely with them on this possibility. In the meantime, I do not think we can afford to wait on this funding before moving forward with our plans.

John Goodman
Photo by Michael Buckner

Conclusion

The new academic year will be here soon, and I look forward to another great year working with you. I hope you will help kick the year off with me at the New Student Convocation at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 18, in JQH Arena. This year’s event will be special as we present John Goodman the honorary doctorate and hear his remarks. In addition to the new students and their families, I hope many faculty, staff and current students will participate.

Clif Smart

—Clif

Send comments Follow Clif Smart on Twitter

Telling the Missouri State story

Leading projectIf you didn’t know better, you would have thought Mark Frietchen was working on the construction of his own home. He was there during the design, he was actively involved during the construction, and he was there at the end using the broom to sweep up before the first guests arrived.

In reality, he was the project manager for the 121,224-square-foot Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business Development project. Thanks to his work, the renovation project hit the substantial completion date of March 1 on time and came in at a construction cost of $7,003,872,Talking with administrators amounting to less than $100 per square foot. The formal dedication ceremony and open house is scheduled for Oct. 3.

About the facility

The facility that previously housed the Springfield Tablet Manufacturing Company, the Springfield Post Office, Willow Brook Foods, and Cargill Value Added Meats is now home to several units:

  • The eFactory (managed by Springfield Innovation, Inc.)
  • Small Business and Technology Development Center
  • Management Development Institute
  • Springfield Angel Network
  • Procurement Technical Assistance Center
  • Missouri Enterprise
  • SCORE
  • Printing Services and Postal Services
  • Cooperative engineering program with the Missouri University of Science and Technology

Special workGoing above and beyond

Mark was deeply engaged in the project, beginning with the design to ensure it achieved the goals of the facility. During the approximate 11 months of construction, he did whatever it took to keep the project running smoothly. For example, he actively assisted with the requirements of the U.S. Economic Development Administration, which provided a grant of $2.75 million to construct the eFactory portion of the facility.

Mark navigated the mid-project transition Leading projectbetween the general contractor’s project managers and regularly advocated on behalf of the University with contractors and subcontractors. Calmly and professionally, but persistently, he dealt head-on with surprises and resolved challenges that always come with projects this large and complicated.

Without special request or provocation, Mark took the initiative to custom sandblast, detail and finish a commemorative “Downstream Starts Here” manhole cover, which signifies Jordan Creek runs beneath the facility. He routinely stayed after hours to accommodate the project and keep things moving forward, and when the building was occupied, he continued to be available to assist tenants with their specific needs.

Building on a commitment to excellence

Mark has worked at Missouri State since 2009. Prior to coming to the University, he was a consulting engineer in Springfield and, for a time, provided engineering design services and HVAC and plumbing contracting services. He has two degrees from Kansas State University: a Bachelor of Architecture and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering.

“Mark brings the experience he obtained in owning his own business to the job every day,” said Brad Kielhofner, university engineer/associate director of planning, design and construction. “He takes ownership in each project as if he has a personal stake in the end product.”

The tenants of the Plaster Center are succinct in their praise: “Without question, this project would not have been as successful without him.”

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: 2013, 2014, athletics, facilities, FY14, goals

Guidelines for preparing the FY14 internal operating budget

February 14, 2013 by Clif Smart

Avenue of Flags

Students working on class projectOverarching goals

As the budget recommendations for fiscal year 2014, the overarching goals for all committees, and ultimately the Executive Budget Committee, are:

  • Create a pool of resources to fund an across-the-board salary increase for faculty and staff while continuing to create reserves to fund new initiatives and to provide additional funds for repairs and maintenance of University buildings.
  • Continue to develop plans that will incentivize and reward colleges and other units to increase enrollments and revenues, without compromising academic quality, with such plans to be implemented in the fiscal year 2014 budget.

Avenue of Flags Fiscal year 2014 budget assumptions

The base assumption is the tuition/fee increase allowed under SB389 of 1.7% will provide sufficient revenue to absorb increased costs for new Brick City leases, faculty promotions and a fringe rate increase for MOSERS offset by anticipated medical plan contract cost reductions.

State appropriations — The Governor has proposed a 4.3% increase ($3,335,974). The state appropriation increase may change as it works its way through the legislature.  We will know more during April and May as the House and Senate present their budgets.

Enrollment — currently same as FY2011.  This will be reevaluated as final FY2013 enrollment numbers and associated tuition revenue are known.

The Executive Budget Committee is evaluating a plan where 80% of any increase in state appropriations for FY2014 would be allocated to an employee raise and the remaining 20% for program expansion and additional funding for repairs and maintenance of university buildings.

Filed Under: Financial Outlook Tagged With: assumptions, budget, FY14, goals, guidelines

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