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Clif’s Notes for Feb. 25, 2020

February 25, 2020 by Clif Smart

The Board of Governors met last week.

The main discussion item was a presentation by Dr. David Attis, one of our EAB consultants, titled “The Changing Higher Education Landscape: Challenges and Opportunities for Missouri State University.” I participated in this presentation by providing MSU-specific data and examples, and our board and a variety of administrators, faculty and staff contributed to the discussion.

Dr. Attis focused on seven themes. First, he discussed state support. The reality nationwide is that state support has failed to keep up with the rising cost of college. This has left universities more dependent on tuition.

Last year’s equity appropriation helped our situation at Missouri State. However, we still receive substantially less appropriations per student than our peers in Missouri and throughout the nation. It is unreasonable to assume that state or federal funding will dramatically improve for any universities in the years ahead.

Competing for students

Second, Dr. Attis discussed demographics and enrollment. As you know, enrollment has already declined.

Missouri State has beaten that trend for many years, but the demographics have begun to catch up to us as well. In 2026, the national population of 18-year-olds will fall off sharply. It is more important than ever that we work on retention, recruitment, diversity and expanding opportunities for non-traditional students.

Third, Dr. Attis discussed student success. New practices have emerged in strategic financial aid, career development, degree progress and next generation advising. We are on the cutting edge, having implemented many of these practices, but more work remains to be done.

Fourth, Dr. Attis discussed changes to competition. Prospective students are more price conscious than ever, and free tuition programs are proliferating.

We will also have to navigate a new environment as the federal government recently required NACAC to change its ethics requirements, allowing “poaching” of students already enrolled or committed to a university.

Affordability and value

Fifth, Dr. Attis discussed affordability. Gen Z brings a different prospective student than we have encountered in the past. They want easy access to information. They compare prices when deciding on a college and have serious concerns about student loan debt.

Missouri State is ahead of the curve, beating national trends on default rates and amount of student loan debt.

Sixth, Dr. Attis discussed return on investment. The value of a college degree has never been higher — bachelor’s degree holders earn $1 million more than high school diploma holders during their lifetime. It is important that we find ways to communicate this value to our prospective and current students.

We can do this by enhancing experiential learning opportunities, boosting career counseling, and measuring and communicating outcomes.

Finally, Dr. Attis discussed adult and online education. Continued growth in the graduate degree market will be strategic rather than widespread. To thrive in this environment, we must anticipate future markets, develop competitive infrastructure and maximize the bottom-line impact.

We can buck the trend

In sum, the landscape ahead of all universities throughout the United States is complicated and difficult. Enrollment projections nationwide will be down for several years.

Competition continues to intensify. Retention efforts and demonstrating return on investment will become ever more important as we move into the future.

The good news is that our university is already working to implement changes and initiatives to manage this landscape. Missouri State has had success in the past at bucking nation and statewide trends. I am confident we can succeed in the future as well.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes Vol. 3, No. 4

September 20, 2013 by Clif Smart

In this issue of “Clif’s Notes,” I want to review the State of the University address and provide the results of the veto session and how it affects Missouri State, as well as other updates.

State of the University address

I want to thank those of you who were able to attend in-person or watch the live streaming of the 2013 State of the University address yesterday (Sept. 19). If you were not able to attend or view the speech, I invite you to review the speech, including the PowerPoint slides and video of the address.

As you know, the title of the speech was “Thinking Bigger and Bolder: The Eight Major Goals for 2013-14.” Provost Frank Einhellig and I reviewed some of the achievements of the past year, highlighted our record enrollment and then outlined some of the key issues and initiatives for 2013-14. As you recall, these are the eight goals the Board of Governors approved for this year. These eight goals will guide us, and we will strive to achieve them.

I hope you will find this information useful as we work together this year toward these priorities.

Veto session

There has been much in the news all summer about HB 253, which would have reduced revenue to Missouri State University by between $6 million and $11 million annually, according to Governor Nixon’s calculations because of cuts to business income taxes. That size of cut would have been catastrophic for us on top of the $11 million in cuts we have already sustained over the previous four years.

On Sept. 11, the first day of the session, the veto was sustained by 15 votes. It takes two-thirds (109 of the 182 members) to override a veto in the House. For HB 253, 94 voted to override and 67 voted against.

Thank you to our representatives

I want to publicly thank Republican representatives Lynn Morris, Jeff Messenger, Lyndall Fraker, Lyle Rowland, Don Phillips and Sue Entlicher from our corner of the state who, despite enormous party pressure, did not vote to override the Governor’s veto. I also want to thank Democrat Charlie Norr who also voted to sustain the veto. We are indebted to these representatives, and we will not forget their support for education.

Besides not reducing our appropriations further, that action has resulted in the governor releasing the money held back from this year’s general appropriation ($3.1 million) as well as the specific health care funds which had been withheld in their entirety (another $1.3 million). We can now move on with expanding our healthcare programs on both the Springfield and West Plains campuses. On behalf of Missouri State, I thank Governor Nixon for releasing this money.

Continue to monitor

Finally, I encourage all sides to work together to find a compromise plan to reduce taxes without diminishing state support for education inasmuch as quality education is the most important driver in economic development. We need to avoid a repeat of this fight next year.

Marketing research on diversity

The final phase of the marketing research project has been completed. Phase IV focused on diverse students, both current and prospective. Review the results online.

This research will be part of the background material for the Board of Governors as it prepares for its discussion on diversity at the Oct. 18 meeting.

The research phase of the marketing project by Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), a global research-based consultancy headquartered in Washington, D.C., is now complete. By the end of September, we anticipate having marketing recommendations from PSB’s partner, Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods (CJRW), an advertising, marketing and strategic communications agency, from Little Rock, Ark. When those recommendations are available, we will share them with campus as we did with the research results.

My Ideas

The My Ideas Faculty/Staff Suggestion Program has been refreshed and is now more active than ever. This program provides a way for the faculty and staff of Missouri State University to receive recognition by developing and submitting ideas that benefit the University through saving money or increasing revenue.

This program is based on a process improvement project completed by University Staff Ambassadors (USA) 2010 members. However, over the past year, the current My Ideas Committee has worked to update the program.

Quarterly drawing implemented

One change is a quarterly drawing to reward an idea submitted to the My Ideas Program. Each idea submitted during the quarter that meets the criteria of a good idea will be placed in a random drawing. The idea does not have to be implemented in order to be placed in the drawing or to receive the reward. The winner of the random drawing receives a Missouri State University Bookstore gift card valued at $30. Joni Durden won the first quarterly drawing for her submitted idea.

I invite you to submit your idea.

Conclusion

I want to thank and congratulate everyone who had a part in increasing our enrollment for fall 2013. That was important as we attempt to educate more citizens and, at the same time, maintain an important source of revenue for us to fund our priorities.

I look forward to a great year working with you. We are off to a fast start. Thank you for all you do for Missouri State University.

—Clif

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In 2005, Missouri State began to recognize significant student, faculty and staff accomplishments during home football and basketball games. These spotlights, sponsored by BancorpSouth, highlight significant grants and research activities as well as statewide, national and international recognitions. The spotlights have allowed us to celebrate and share the good things happening on campus in a public setting.

This year, the recognitions have been rebooted somewhat. Now named BancorpSouth Maroon Minute, the recognition is conveyed in a video that plays during a home game with honorees present as well. As a result, these video recognitions can be used and shared in many more ways than they have been before.

First BancorpSouth Maroon Minute honors NIH grant recipients

At the first home football game this year, four Missouri State faculty were recognized for their work on anti-cancer research. In support of their work, they received a significant grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute. In the first three years of the grant, many biomedical students found their place in the healthcare community – some by successfully enrolling in elite graduate and medical schools following graduation from Missouri State, many more by submitting their research to leading publications. [youTubeVideo url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mDHLGiCV_k” width=”598″ height=”335″]

That kind of work, as well as the other notable achievements taking place across campus, are points of pride we should all celebrate.

Clif’s Notes Vol. 2, No. 12

June 5, 2013 by Clif Smart

In this issue of Clif’s Notes, I review recent developments involving our public affairs mission, and I also provide an update on the marketing research project.

Public affairs mission

Missouri State University’s public affairs mission has served the University well for the past 18 years; the mission was approved by the Missouri General Assembly and signed into law in 1995. Since that time, the mission has been incorporated into the fabric of campus life, from volunteer activities to academic course work. The mission continues to be meaningful, especially for current students and prospective faculty and administrators.

The public affairs mission speaks to the need for graduates to be prepared for their careers, but also for their lifetime roles as citizens. Sometimes we refer to them as “citizen scholars.” We believe the public affairs mission sets us apart from other institutions and has the potential to raise our profile.

For 2013-14, we will take additional steps toward that goal. I want to summarize those for you here.

General education revisions

Public affairs plays a prominent role in our revised general education program. The overall structure includes 15 learning goals, three of which are related specifically to public affairs.

Foundations and breadth of knowledge

The general education structure incorporates these 15 goals into two sections:

The foundations section includes the first-year seminar, written and oral communications, and information and quantitative literacy. The first-year seminar is the kickoff for public affairs as it includes learning goals with a focus on community engagement, inclusive excellence and ethical leadership. These learning goals are accomplished through a variety of public affairs assignments, including those related to the common reader.
The second section of general education, breath of knowledge, includes three areas, one of which is public affairs. Students will take 12 credit hours in the public affairs area. Two of those courses fulfill Senate Bill 4 through a focus on the United States and Missouri Constitutions and American history and institutions. For the other six hours, students will take one course focused on cultural competence and one on public issues.

Public affairs experience

Beyond general education, all students will have a capstone public affairs experience within their major. With these elements, the faculty have successfully woven the public affairs mission into the curriculum for our students, beginning with their first semester at Missouri State and continuing through public affairs courses in general education and an intensive public affairs experience in their major prior to graduation. Our mission in public affairs allows our students to build the knowledge, skill and dispositions to become engaged citizens and strong leaders in the communities in which they will live.

Thanks

I want to take this opportunity to thank several individuals who helped complete the revision of the general education program:

Chris Herr, associate professor of theatre and dance, who was the 2012-13 Faculty Senate chair and guided the process to a successful conclusion
Etta Madden, professor of English, who chaired the Task Force on General Education Revision for two years
Josh Smith, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, who chaired Committee on general education and Intercollegiate Programs (CGEIP) — it was CGEIP that set guidelines and criteria and reviewed/evaluated all courses submitted for potential adoption into the new general education program
Brian Edmond, computer services senior systems analyst, who developed a system for electronic submission of courses for consideration to CGEIP

Revising the general education program and incorporating public affairs more intentionally was both very important and very challenging. I appreciate the good work of these individuals and others who helped accomplish this goal.

Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame

During the 2013 Public Affairs Conference, we announced that we have established the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame. We believe the Hall of Fame will help communicate the meaning of the public affairs mission by providing real-life examples of individuals who exemplify the mission.

We will take nominations through Aug. 31, with the first class to be inducted in April of 2014, possibly in conjunction with the Public Affairs Conference. I invite and encourage you review the criteria and then consider nominating a deserving individual.

Signature events

While we will continue to offer dozens of public affairs-related events, awards and recognitions each year, we will begin focusing on a select number of events to promote to the public each year. Those events are featured on the redesigned public affairs website, which went live earlier this week.

For 2013-14, the signature events include the following, all of which I hope you will add to your calendar and plan to attend:

New Student Convocation
Aug. 18, 2013, JQH Arena

This will be the official kickoff of the public affairs theme: Global Perspective – Why it Matters. (I hope all faculty and staff will march or participate in this event. You remember this is when we will present the Honorary Doctorate to alumnus and actor John Goodman.)
Public Affairs Week
Sept. 16–20, 2013

This student-organized week includes a number of activities, from voter registration to a presentation by Afghanistan native Zohra Zori.
Stomp Out Hunger: All Collegiate Shoe Drive
Sept. 28–Oct. 19, 2013

Participants from MSU, OTC, Drury, Evangel and SBU will partner in an effort to set a world record for the most shoes collected for the Sole Food Project.
Public Affairs Convocation with Speaker Blake Mycoskie
Nov. 11, 2013, JQH Arena

Blake Mycoskie is the founder and “chief shoe giver” of TOMS Shoes, and author of Start Something That Matters, Missouri State’s common reader for 2013-14 — his appearance is being jointly funded by Missouri State, Ozarks Technical Community College, Drury University, the City of Springfield and the Community Foundation of the Ozarks (I hope you will read this book and assign it to your students, so we can truly have a campus-wide conversation about it.)
Public Affairs Conference: Global Perspective — Why It Matters
April 8–11, 2014

The 10^th annual conference will focus on why developing a global perspective is no longer merely an option; it is a cultural imperative that involves examining our experiences, our knowledge and our learning in the light of the people and cultures of an increasingly interconnected world.
Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet
April 2014 (Date TBA)

Nominations for the inaugural class will be accepted through Aug. 31, 2013.
Collaborative Diversity Conference
April 24–25, 2014

The second annual conference focuses on diversity best practices and builds statewide networks.

Describing the mission more effectively

From our marketing research project, we learned the elements of the public affairs mission resonate well with students and alumni, even if the term “public affairs” is not as well understood. As a result, we have already begun to reorder the way in which we describe the mission to lead with those elements. So, I would invite you to consider using the following description as you talk about public affairs:

Missouri State University focuses on ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement, all of which embody the University’s statewide mission in public affairs.

By reordering the description, we may maintain the integrity while communicating more effectively. Watch for me to use this approach in the coming year.

Summary

Public affairs is our mission. It is distinctive and we are proud of it. Our challenge is to continually find more ways to communicate it effectively to our audiences.

Sometimes people ask: don’t all colleges and universities promote the importance of public affairs? The answer is: yes, maybe so. But, our goal is to do so better than anyone else.

Update on marketing research

In the last issue of Clif’s Notes, I described the marketing research project and provided an update on its progress. One of the provisions of the marketing research contract was that all of the raw data from the surveys would be the property of Missouri State. Our intent is to use our own office of institutional research to dig deeper into particular areas of interest.

For example, sometime in the early fall, we anticipate surveying all faculty, staff and administrators about a number of issues to gain a fuller understanding of employee perceptions. We will give all full-time employees a chance to respond, and we will organize the responses by category (e.g., faculty, staff and administrators).

These follow-up surveys will allow us to build on the good work that has been done to date.

Conclusion

The summer semester begins June 10, and we will have several thousand students on campus taking courses. We will have several more thousand students of all ages on campus for camps and special events. Once again, campus will be alive.

I hope you have a productive summer. And I also hope you have a chance to recharge your professional battery through vacation time. August will be here before we know it.

Thanks again for all you do for Missouri State.

—Clif

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Missouri State University’s Ad Team beat out six universities and won first place in the national AT&T Campus Marketing Challenge, a competition for the best AT&T marketing and research campaign targeting college students. The Ad Team is part of a marketing class and operates similar to an advertising agency under the direction and supervision of Dr. Melissa Burnett, professor of marketing.

The Ad Team — which is comprised of select students in the Missouri State College of Business — developed and implemented a semester-long marketing campaign and presented the results to AT&T executives in Dallas on May 28. The “inTEXTicated” campaign taught students about the hazards of texting while driving through events, social media, advertising and public relations.

“Missouri State University wowed us. We were impressed with their in-depth research, creativity and presentation,” said Chris Roy, AT&T Vice-President of Government and Education in the Western Region. “This challenge gave us the opportunity to tap into the energy and enthusiasm of young minds. Not only did they benefit, but we did as well by gaining deeper insight into the behaviors, beliefs and aspirations of our next-generation leaders and customers.”

As a part of the AT&T Campus Challenge, the students were given $3,000 and equipped with mobile phones and other tools to implement a marketing plan for AT&T mobility services and It Can Wait, a campaign to end texting and driving. The students were responsible for sales, retail, public relations, sponsorship, talent recruiting/retention and marketing communications on their campuses.

Earlier in the semester, the Ad Team hosted Textulator, which served as an eye-opening event to promote awareness of the It Can Wait campaign and showcase the dangers of distracted driving. In it, students competed in a game of Mario Kart while responding to text messages sent to them by members of the Ad Team, dodging virtual turtleshells and banana peels the whole time.

The Ad Team has a rich history of national success, and I am proud to congratulate them on another wonderful campaign. The team members included:

Stephanie French
Brian Neyer
Jenna Duren
Amanda Eckerle
Jasmyn Franks
Jake Layton
Stephanie Stryker
Amanda Willens
Emily Harris
Allen Schieber

Clif’s Notes Vol. 2, No. 11

May 22, 2013 by Clif Smart

In this issue of Clif’s Notes, I review highlights from the May Board of Governors meeting, as well as the spring commencements.

Board of Governors meeting review

The budget for fiscal year 2014, the marketing discussion and a presentation from the Presidential Task Force on Online Education and Alternative Credit highlighted the Board of Governors meetings on Thursday, May 16.

Increased compensation

I am pleased to report that the Board of Governors unanimously and enthusiastically accepted our proposal for increasing compensation in the fiscal year 2014 budget recommendation. We will present the complete fiscal year 2014 budget to the Board for approval at the June 21 meeting in Kansas City. The budget goes into effect July 1.

You will remember that the compensation package calls for a 2 percent across-the-board raise for all full-time faculty and staff employed before April 1 for Springfield and West Plains operating funds; a 2 percent increase for graduate assistants; an adjustment to the pay ranges for staff; a required contribution increase from the University to MOSERS (state retirement system); and faculty promotions. Specific details may be found in the Clif’s Notes from May 15.

Full Professor Incentive Program (Professor Plus)

The Board also expressed its support for the Full Professor Incentive Program, which would provide additional pay for those at the rank of professor who have continued to perform at a high level by conducting great research, being great teachers and mentoring students. While this is a selective program, the goal is to provide the monetary increase to up to 100 professors who would be phased in over time. To be eligible to apply, a faculty member would have to be in the full professor rank for at least five years at Missouri State.

Therefore, this summer and fall, Provost Frank Einhellig will work with a committee to develop the criteria and application process. Applications will be accepted and reviewed in the spring of 2014. The first group of recipients would be funded for fiscal year 2015, beginning July 1, 2014. Our intent is to award at least 20 in the first year, with more possible depending on the budget.

Online task force

At its Programs and Planning Committee meeting, the Board heard a report from the Presidential Task Force on Online Education and Alternative Credit.

I urge you take some time to review the report and its recommendations. I think it is thoughtful and measured in its suggestions. In accordance with one recommendation, Frank and I will appoint a standing committee to monitor developments in online education and alternative credit so that Missouri State keeps pace with its competitors. More information on this topic will be forthcoming in the next two months.

Marketing discussion

The Board had a very productive 90-minute discussion on marketing Missouri State. I invite you to review the research presentation documents, if you haven’t already.

Three of the key findings shared by Amy Crosby, senior director with the research firm of Penn Schoen Berland (PSB), were:

Missouri State has a good reputation and gets high ratings from all audiences and, therefore, is operating from a position of strength.
Missouri State’s value (i.e., benefit for cost) is very important to our students and their families.
The two areas consistently identified for Missouri State to improve were in traditions and school spirit.

We must and will take a long-term view when it comes to improving our marketing. This presentation on the overall research was the first step. The next steps include the following:

PSB has also conducted research on each of the academic colleges. That research will be presented to the deans and others in June. During those sessions, additional information will be collected to assist in developing the marketing plan proposals.
Also this summer, PSB will complete its targeted research on underrepresented students, which will be presented to the campus.
Then in the fall, the marketing plans will be presented by Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods (CJRW), PSB’s partner on this project. Our intent is to review those plans and implement any elements with existing staff.

Marketing will be a discussion topic again at the Board of Governors retreat on Aug. 1. And, I will keep you posted on this important project as it develops.

Spring commencement 2013

On Friday, May 17, 2,404 students graduated in three Springfield campus ceremonies in JQH Arena, with attendance averaging around 8,000 for each. On Saturday, May 18, the West Plains campus awarded another 277 degrees in a packed Civic Center. Those ceremonies are special for the graduates as well as the families and friends.

As we think about enhancing our traditions, I hope more faculty and staff will seriously consider attending the commencement ceremonies. It is important to the graduates and it sends a very positive message to all in attendance. Plus, it is just one of those signature events that remind us of why we work in higher education.

The next two opportunities are coming up. The first is the summer commencement on Friday, Aug. 2. The second is the New Student Convocation Sunday, Aug. 18, where we will welcome new students and their families, and award the Honorary Doctorate Degree to Missouri State alumnus and actor John Goodman. I hope you will put both events on your calendar.

Conclusion

I commend you for another very good year at Missouri State. I hope you have a chance to get a break this summer. I know I will see many of you when summer school begins June 10. Please watch for additional issues of Clif’s Notes as we keep you posted on developments this summer. Thank you.

—Clif

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Saturday at its commencement ceremony, Missouri State University-West Plains presented an Honorary Associate of Arts degree to a very special woman and mother: Couch resident Edith Williams, who devoted a dozen years of her life helping her daughter achieve a college education.

“Edith Williams’ unselfish dedication to her daughter’s education shows the value she places on higher education,” said Missouri State-West Plains Chancellor Drew Bennett. “Her dedication enabled her daughter to become the first in her family to receive a college education. She is truly an exemplary role model for other parents and students. Because of her extraordinary commitment to higher education, we are honored to confer this degree upon her.”

Ms. Williams, a 1964 graduate of Ellsinore High School, never had the opportunity to go to college herself. But, she made sure her daughter, Jennifer, did, despite the debilitating injuries Jennifer suffered in a 1997 automobile accident that left her wheelchair bound.

When Jennifer decided in fall 2001 that she wanted to go to college, Ms. Williams was by her side, driving her daughter the 100 miles round trip from their home to West Plains several times a week so Jennifer could attend classes. While Jennifer was in class, Ms. Williams spent her time reading, visiting with faculty and other students, and helping other students any way she could.

By taking just a few classes each semester, Jennifer, with the support of her mother, completed her Associate of Arts in General Studies degree in 2006.

She then enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in General Business degree program offered through Missouri State University’s Outreach Program on the West Plains campus.

Because of her mother valuing higher education – and with her mother’s constant support and assistance – Jennifer was able to accomplish her goal of completing a bachelor’s degree, which she received during Saturday’s commencement ceremony.

What an incredibly inspiring story of a mother’s love for and devotion to her daughter.

(For more information, see Steve Pokin’s story in the May 19 issue of the Springfield News-Leader.)

Clif’s Notes Vol. 2, No. 1

August 9, 2012 by Clif Smart

In this first issue of Clif’s Notes for 2012-13, I want to provide a summary of actions from last Friday’s Board of Governors meeting, preview the fall semester, and draw your attention to changes we have made in the scholarship program beginning for fall 2013.

Board of Governors meeting

There were several actions worth noting from last Friday’s Board of Governors meeting.

Operating budget decision items

The Board approved our four decisions items for the fiscal year 2014 operating budget. We are required to submit these each August to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education. Here are summaries of the four:

A funding adjustment for equitable funding — a grand total of about $17.2 million (about $16 million for the Springfield campus and about $1.2 million for the West Plains campus) spread over three equal payments of $5,742,107
Funding to cover inflation — 1.7 percent for a total of $1,335,341
Funding for a new occupational therapy program— ongoing funding of $825,000 per year, with the first two years being used for start-up costs and subsequent years to provide on-going support for the program
- A Missouri State University task force has reported the strong need for an OT program here. While this program proposal has not yet gone through the curricular process, that process will start this fall and it is timely that we simultaneously seek funding at this critical time.
- This program will help meet the growing need for trained therapists. Local hospitals have expressed a strong interest in having an OT program that will provide educated professionals for the needs they must meet. Offering this degree aligns with Missouri State’s long-range plan that calls for providing additional health-care education programs, and it fits the State of Missouri’s goal to increase the number of degrees granted in critical disciplines of workforce need.
Funding to help us address maintenance and repair — about $8 million

Given the state’s budget situation, it is unlikely all of these requests will be funded. We did believe, however, that it was important to identify the needs and officially request the support.

Wireless campus

The Board approved about $1.4 million to improve the wireless coverage of campus, to provide greater capacity and to increase the speed of the network. Achieving campus-wide wireless coverage was a significant goal of the long-range plan and we are going to achieve it several years ahead of schedule.

New entrance

No doubt you have seen the new entrance to the campus is taking shape at National Avenue and Monroe Street. The City of Springfield has completed its work of expanding the entrance, adding turn lanes and installing the traffic light. The next step is the addition of signage, the funding for which the Board approved Friday. I am including two artist’s renderings of the entrance so you know the vision.

Creating this entrance addresses a long-time issue Missouri State, like many urban universities, has had. For many years, we have struggled with exactly how to direct visitors to come to campus. This new entrance will address this need. The long-term goal is to add a welcome center near the entrance, which would accommodate visiting students and families as well as be a resource for other visitors.

College of Business

The Board approved changing the name of the College of Business Administration to the College of Business. This name is more commonly used across the country and by our peer institutions. The change is effective immediately but will take some time to fully implement.

Differential fees

The Board agreed with our new policy for considering differential fees by program. As you recall, the Board approved the first such undergraduate fee for the College of Business to be implemented this fall.

Marketing research

We have a great University and we do much to market it to prospective students. But we want to do better. That begins with good market research. On Friday, the Board approved a contract for us to conduct comprehensive research focused on enrollment. I wanted you to be aware of this project.

The work will begin soon and continue through early spring 2013. The research will be extensive enough that we can evaluate it by geographic location (southwest Missouri, Kansas City, St. Louis, etc.); type of student (undergraduate, graduate, adult, current, prospective, alumni, etc.); and by unit (not only university-wide, but by academic college and the School of Agriculture). Also included in the project is research on our recruitment of under-represented student populations.

From the research, the company will develop marketing plans for the University, the six academic colleges, the School of Agriculture and for diverse populations. Our intent is to implement the plans with our own talented staff.

Marketing has been a priority for the Board of Governors and the administration for several years. It has been a decade since we conducted comprehensive research on students, so it is long overdue.

As part of the research, several faculty and staff will be interviewed and/or surveyed. If you are contacted for your input, I hope you will participate.

Fall semester 2012

The fall semester 2012 is fast approaching. Fall classes begin Monday, Aug. 20.

The pace picks up beginning Monday, Aug. 13. There is a full schedule of activities for new faculty members, including orientation, the Showcase on Teaching and Learning and much more.

Likewise, there is a full slate of activities for new and returning students. Those activities are listed on the Welcome Weekend website.

As always, I encourage you to consult the University’s master calendar for all events.

I would ask two things as we prepare for the fall semester to begin:

Please help us greet, welcome and help our new students as they come to campus. Making the transition to college, especially coming from a smaller community to a large university like Missouri State, can be intimidating, as well as exciting, for even the brightest students. We can help make that transition a little easier for them with a smile and an offer of assistance.

I encourage all employees and their families to attend the New Student Convocation at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 19. Faculty are invited to march in the ceremony. It is a great event for our students and a great way to remind us all why we are here.

Scholarship revisions for fall 2013

Even as we anticipate the beginning of the fall semester 2012, we have already begun recruiting for fall 2013. In conjunction with that, we have revised several of our scholarship programs.

I want to draw your attention to three significant changes:

We have expanded our multicultural scholarships and added the Diversity in Education Scholarship. We expect that these financial aid opportunities will help us address our goals of becoming more diverse University-wide, and especially in our College of Education.
We have added the A+ Recognition Scholarship for students who qualify for the A+ Scholarship. For students who qualify for the Pell Grant, the A+ Recognition Scholarship will cover the difference between the cost of tuition and fees and the Pell Grant.
We have added a study away component to our top academic scholarships to make them more competitive and to encourage our students to participate in life-changing study abroad experiences.

As you visit with prospective students for fall 2013, I hope you will keep these scholarships in mind.

Other notes

Let me add three other quick notes here:

Tobacco-free campus
Remember, as of Aug. 15, Missouri State will be a tobacco-free campus. This has been in the works for two years and we officially make the change Aug. 15.

Foster Family Recreation Center
This new center is spectacular and officially opens this month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 20. The students are to be congratulated for helping design the facility and voting a dedicated fee on themselves for the construction and on-going funding of the facility. They can be very proud of what they have created using only the dedicated fee and some significant private gifts.

Health Risk Assessment
Again this year we will be conducting the Health Risk Assessment as part of our wellness initiative and our effort to keep our health costs under control. A separate email with details and deadlines will be coming soon.

Conclusion

Thanks to your good work, Missouri State University had a terrific year in 2011-12. I appreciate your efforts very much.

I am excited and optimistic as we prepare to begin a new year. I look forward to working with you again to provide the best education possible to our students and to serve the State of Missouri in the best way possible.

We will officially outline the goals for the year at the State of the University address. Provost Frank Einhellig and I will present that address at noon on Thursday, Aug. 30, in the Plaster Student Union Theater, on the Springfield campus. I will give a similar address on the West Plains Campus at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 11.

My promise to you is to continue to keep you informed about major issues and important decisions affecting Missouri State. Together we can have another great year. Thank you.

–Clif

Telling the Missouri State story

Former Student Body President Scott Turk recently received a significant national honor. He was named the 2011-12 recipient of Theta Chi Fraternity’s Reginald E.F. Colley Memorial Trophy, Theta Chi’s most prestigious undergraduate honor. The socio-political communication major was selected for this award based on his leadership on campus, in Theta Chi and in the community.

On campus, Turk served as a student senator from 2009-11, as a SOAR leader, and as student body president from 2011-12. As student body president, he served on multiple committees: Executive Budget Committee, Executive Enrollment Management Committee and Public Affairs Committee.

Named the 2011 Outstanding Junior, he was also a member of the Lambda Pi Eta, a national communication honor society, and Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity.

In the community, Turk helped raise more than $5,000 in relief aid for Joplin through his participation with “Songs for Joplin.” Independently, he raised $300 in supplies and donations and volunteered at donation collection locations. In 2010, he was selected to participate in the Missouri Governor’s Leadership Forum, a gathering of Missouri’s top collegiate student leaders hosted by Governor Jay Nixon.

In Theta Chi, Turk served as vice president in 2010 and also worked on the chapter’s public relations, standards, brotherhood and campus involvement committees. In 2011, he helped coordinate the Lower Plains Region Mid-Year Leadership Conference, Theta Chi’s regional leadership program.

Turk is a great example of what it means to live the public affairs mission.