Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 20, 2020

by

The Board of Governors met last week.

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

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

Financial review

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

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

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

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

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

Parson releases appropriations

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

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

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

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

Gourleys awarded Bronze Bear

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

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

McClure selected for Government Excellence Award

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

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

Recognizing dedication to public affairs

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

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

This year’s staff recipients include:

  • Samantha Francka
  • Diana Garland
  • A’dja Jones

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

Other board updates

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

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

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Clif’s Notes for Sept. 24, 2019

by

The public affairs conference is next week.

The conference theme is “The 21st Century Digital World.” Participants will explore how digital technology has influenced all aspects of our lives.

The featured speaker is Bobby Bones. Bones is an award-winning radio broadcaster and vice-president and creative director of iHeartCountry. His show broadcasts to almost 140 stations and is the No. 1 country morning show with millions of weekly listeners. Bones’ keynote presentation is scheduled for Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Juanita K. Hammons Hall.

The full schedule is available on the Public Affairs Conference webpage. Highlights include:

All sessions of the conference, including the keynote presentation by Bobby Bones, are free and open to the public. No registration or tickets are required to attend.

As in prior years, employees may use up to two hours of their work time, in coordination with their supervisors, to attend the conference. I encourage you to attend, and I encourage supervisors to facilitate attendance by individuals in your offices or divisions.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for March 26, 2019

by

On April 2, 2019, we will have several important candidates and issues to vote on. I urge each of you to research the candidates and issues and put the public affairs mission into practice by voting.

Learn about the local candidates

Municipal elections are on the ballot for several southwest Missouri cities. In Springfield, we have two contested council races. We also have uncontested races for mayor and three other council seats. You can learn about the candidates through the News-Leader’s January article.

Tax to fund priority projects

Voters in the City of Springfield will also decide whether to renew a ¼-cent sales tax to fund capital improvements. City leaders utilized a citizen survey to help them identify 20 high priority projects to complete in the first five years if the tax is renewed.

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the tax renewal. You can find more information about this ballot measure online.

Thomas-Tate among SPS board candidates

School board elections are also on the ballot. Springfield Public Schools has three candidates running for two available seats on the board. Two of the candidates are incumbents. The third candidate is a new voice in local politics, Dr. Shurita Thomas-Tate.

Dr. Thomas-Tate is an associate professor in our communication sciences and disorders department. The Springfield News-Leader ran an article in December highlighting Dr. Thomas-Tate and why she decided to run for school board.

You can learn about the candidates for Springfield Public School board through Claudette Riley’s News-Leader article published earlier this month.

Improving local schools

Voters in the Springfield School District will also decide whether to finance 39 high-priority school improvements with an 18-cent increase to the property tax debt-service levy.

Projects include:

  • Secure entrances at 31 schools, with double-entry points, intercoms, cameras and electronic locking controls
  • Extensive renovation of Hillcrest High School, Sunshine Elementary and Williams Elementary
  • New facilities for Boyd Elementary, Delaware Elementary and Jarrett Middle School
  • Expanded classroom space for preschool education throughout the district

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce has endorsed the proposal. You can find more information about this proposal online.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 30, 2018

by

The general election is next Tuesday, Nov. 6. I encourage each of you to become educated on the candidates and issues and cast your vote.

In addition to elections for U.S. Senate, state auditor, Greene County presiding commissioner, and other federal, state and local offices, there are several issues on the ballot:

  • Constitutional Amendment No. 1 would change the way boundaries for legislative districts are drawn. It would also establish a series of changes to the state’s ethics laws.
  • Constitutional Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 and Proposition C would modify or remove the state’s prohibitions on medical marijuana. Each issue is slightly different than the others, so it would be worthwhile to research each of these medical marijuana ballot issues before you vote. News-Leader reporter Steve Pokin gave thoughtful analysis in a column he wrote recently on these three ballot measure, which you can find here.
  • Constitutional Amendment No. 4 would modify laws that limit bingo games.
  • Proposition B would incrementally change Missouri’s minimum wage each year until it reaches $12 per hour.

Why I support the fuel tax

I would encourage you to carefully consider one ballot issue in particular. Proposition D would increase the motor fuel tax by two and one half cents per gallon annually for four years. Proponents of this measure worked to put it on the ballot because:

  • Missouri significantly underfunds its transportation system, and this threatens the safety of our roads.
  • Missouri has the 7th largest highway system, but the state’s motor fuel tax is 49th in the United States.
  • The motor fuel tax has not been increased since 1996. During that 22-years, inflation has eroded 60 percent of the tax. Today the 17-cent tax approved in 1996 has 7 cents of purchasing power.

Proposition D would address these concerns by generating $28 million in funding for roads and bridges and $124 million for city and county transportation projects.

While I recognize that none of us like to pay more taxes, I have been vocal about my personal support for Proposition D. You can find my letter to the Springfield News-Leader about Proposition D online.

In addition to all the reasons cited above, I will be voting for Proposition D because each year Missouri State University faces significant competition for state funds. If the transportation gap is not funded with designated revenue under a proposal like Proposition D, state funding for critical transportation projects will make it ever more difficult to receive funding for higher education.

You can see the full list of candidates and issues that will be on the ballot in Greene County on the county clerk’s webpage.

Cast your vote at Welcome Center

We will be partnering once again with the Greene County clerk’s office to utilize the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center as a central polling location. If you are registered to vote anywhere in Greene County, you can vote in the Welcome Center instead of at your regular polling location.

The Welcome Center will be open for voting 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Nov. 6.

The Greene County clerk’s office anticipates a large volume of voters on Election Day, so plan accordingly and, if you don’t want to wait in a long line, avoid heavy traffic times (right before the workday, the noon hour and right after the workday).

Convocation speaker shares experience

This year’s Public Affairs Convocation will be at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. This year’s speaker is Fredi Lajvardi. Lajvardi captivated the country when he led a team of disadvantaged teenagers in a university-level underwater robotics competition, where they defeated leading schools, including top-ranked MIT.

I encourage all members of the Missouri State community to attend this year’s Public Affairs Convocation lecture and be inspired to put the public affairs mission into practice.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Sept. 18, 2018

by

As we settle into the fall semester, I want to encourage you to put the public affairs mission into practice by attending two upcoming events.

Naturalization Ceremony

We will host a United States Naturalization Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow in the PSU Theater.

Naturalization ceremonies provide a unique opportunity to share in the excitement of immigrants to the United States who will take their oath of allegiance and complete the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. There will be a variety of speakers along with a performance by Missouri State students of the national anthem and “America the Beautiful.”

First fall Public Affairs Conference

This year’s Public Affairs Conference starts Sept. 24 and continues throughout the week.

The conference theme is “Unity in Community.” Participants will explore divisive issues that concern our communities — not only the geographic areas where we live, but also the tribal, interpersonal, intellectual and digital communities where we exist.

The featured speaker is Jenna Bush Hager. Hager is a contributing correspondent on NBC’s “Today Show,” an editor-at-large for Southern Living magazine, a New York Times best-selling author, chair of UNICEF’s Next Generation initiative, and daughter of former U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. Her presentation titled “Making a difference: How the power of compassion changes lives” is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 in Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.

The full schedule is available on the Public Affairs Conference webpage. All sessions of the conference, including the presentation by Hager, are free and open to the public. No registration or tickets are required to attend.

As in prior years, employees may use up to two hours of their work time, in coordination with their supervisors, to attend the conference. I encourage you to attend, and I encourage supervisors to facilitate attendance by individuals in your offices or divisions.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!