Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 24, 2017

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Homecoming is one of my favorite times on campus. Alumni return to remember. Students cheer at pep rallies and competitions, build parade floats and participate in a vast array of activities to create their own memories of Missouri State.

I encourage all members of the campus community to support our alumni and students by participating in Homecoming activities this week. Highlights include:

Saturday begins with the Homecoming Parade at 9 a.m. on John Q. Hammons Parkway. Pre-game festivities in Bearfest Village start after the parade. The men’s and women’s basketball teams will scrimmage at 10 a.m. in JQH Arena. Kickoff for the Bears football game against Indiana State is at 2 p.m. I hope you will attend the game and cheer on the Bears to victory.

The full list of alumni and student Homecoming activities can be found online.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 17, 2017

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We recently announced that the touring production of “The Lion King” will come to Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts in February 2019. You don’t have to wait until next year to see outstanding productions on campus.

The touring production of “Rent” will be at Hammons Hall on Oct. 27-28. “Rent: chronicles an unforgettable year in the lives of seven artists struggling to follow their dreams without selling out. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online.

Meanwhile, the Missouri State theatre and dance department will produce “Pippin,” a story of a young prince who longs to find passion and adventure in his life, Oct. 26-29 in the Craig Hall Coger Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or online ().

The Hammons Hall Broadway Series will kickoff in December. Productions include:

  • “Chicago” (Dec. 5–7)
  • “The Sound of Music“ (Jan. 9–11)
  • “Kinky Boots” (March 20–22)
  • “The Phantom of the Opera” (May 23–June 3)

If you haven’t subscribed to the Broadway Series in recent years, this lineup presents a good opportunity to consider resubscribing. You can purchase your Broadway Series subscription online.

Show your pride during Homecoming

Next week is Homecoming. As the campus buzzes with student and alumni activities, please take a moment to consider participating in several other events.

On Monday, Oct. 23, the annual office decorating contest will go from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. The deadline to sign up is tomorrow, Oct. 18.  You can sign up online.

On Friday, Oct. 27, following the Board of Governors meeting, we will have our annual Wall of Fame induction ceremony at 4 p.m. in the Plaster Student Union Ballroom. This year’s inductees are:

  • John Bowdidge
  • John Catau
  • Marilyn Chana
  • Bruce Johnson
  • Mike McElhaney
  • Sally Rowe

You can find more information about the Wall of Fame and this year’s inductees in the university’s Wall of Fame news release.

On Oct. 28, before the Bears Homecoming football game against Indiana State, the men’s and women’s basketball teams will scrimmage at 10 a.m. in JQH Arena.  Come out and see our new and returning student athletes.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Aug. 22, 2017

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As you know, classes started yesterday. I am happy to report that our opening day enrollment shows an increase of 244 students over last year’s opening day enrollment number. This represents an increase of 1.2 percent.

The official census count is made after the fourth week of class, and I will update you again on the status of our enrollment at that time. I will also discuss enrollment data as part of my State of the University Address at 12:15 p.m. on Sept. 25 in the PSU Theater.

Connect with Bears at campus activities

As we start the semester, I hope you will join me in interacting with our new and returning students. We want all students to feel welcome at the university.

There are several opportunities for you to interact with students and others throughout the fall semester:

Please attend some or all of these events and show your support for our students and our university.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 11, 2016

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Clif's Notes

This week I want to highlight several important events on campus.

United Way/Missouri State Wayunited-way

The Missouri State Way and United Way Campaigns kicked off last week. The campaigns will run through Nov. 4. Missouri State University faculty and staff make an incredible difference on our campus and in our community through participation in these two campaigns.

Campaign packets have been distributed in campus mail. You can also find information about the campaigns on the Missouri State Way and United Way webpage. Please join me in participating by completing and submitting the contribution forms.

After you complete your contributions forms, please plan to attend the Celebration Luncheon at noon on Friday, Nov. 4 in the PSU ballroom. I look forward to seeing you there!

Benefits open enrollmentclinic14

Our open enrollment period for employee benefits began last week. All benefit-eligible employees are encouraged to go through the open enrollment process to select, decline and review the benefits that we offer at Missouri State. You might be surprised by what we offer for you and your dependents:

  • Medical insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance (new carrier)
  • Supplemental life insurance
  • Group universal life insurance
  • Critical illness insurance
  • Accident insurance

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability are 100 percent paid for by the university.

It’s important to do it now – the deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 1. Once elections or changes have been made, no changes can be made during the year unless they are due to a qualifying/life changing event (e.g. marriage, divorce, birth, etc.).

We encourage you to go through the enrollment process even if you plan to keep what you currently have. Not taking any action could result in the possibility of you having the incorrect benefits and deductions. Please refer to the Open Enrollment FAQs for additional information.

Enrollment is online. Visit the open enrollment webpage to begin.

Homecoming18859-0039 homecoming 2015

This week we will welcome alumni, friends and supporters of Missouri State University to campus as we celebrate Homecoming. Please plan to attend some or all of the events throughout the week:

  • Student Rockstar competition at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Hammons Student Center
  • Yell Like Hell pep rally at 6 p.m. on Thursday in Hammons Student Center
  • On Friday:
    • Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony at 4 p.m. in the PSU ballroom
    • Pointer Sisters concert at 8 p.m. in Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts
  • On Saturday:
    • Homecoming parade at 9 a.m. on Saturday on John Q. Hammons Parkway
    • Breakfast with Boomer at 10 a.m. on Saturday in Meyer Library
    • Men’s and women’s basketball scrimmages from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in JQH Arena
    • Tailgate at Bearfest Village at 11 a.m. on Saturday outside Plaster Stadium

Please also join me at 2 p.m. on Saturday to cheer our Bears football team to victory as they take on the Leathernecks of Western Illinois University.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Homecoming: a time for all Bears

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Missouri State Homecoming

Today marks the beginning of homecoming week. I hope you are as excited as I am and ready to engage in a variety of activities which will take place this week. I encourage each of you to find an opportunity to get engaged in as many activities as possible. Please join me on Saturday to cheer on the Bears to victory against the Illinois State Redbirds.

Review homecoming activities

Theme inspires inclusion

“Bears Breaking Barriers” is this year’s homecoming theme. From the president’s office, my thoughts surrounding Bears Breaking Barriers lead me to the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Having difficult conversations and breaking the barriers of silence and exclusion have been challenges keenly felt across the nation, and on our own campus, over the last year.

We have learned how important it is to respond quickly to harassing and intimidating behaviors, to offer transparency and to open dialogues, and to take action to avoid reoccurrence. I can’t say we do this perfectly, but I am committed to continuous improvement by focusing on breaking the barriers via the campus climate study, offering diversity and inclusion training for faculty and staff, presenting events such as the All Black Lives Matter panel, and bringing diverse speakers such as actress Laverne Cox and author Wes Moore on campus to discuss their experiences.

At Missouri State, we value diversity and inclusion and we want everyone on campus to feel welcomed and included as we head into homecoming. The entire campus community is expected to demonstrate cultural competence and ethical leadership throughout our homecoming activities and each day our campus is open. Creating an environment that welcomes all is in the best interest of all. Thank you for joining me in breaking barriers.