Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Presidential Updates

  • Office of the President
  • Follow Clif on Twitter

Clif’s Notes for May 19, 2015

May 19, 2015 by Clif Smart

Classroom

Clif's Notes

This week I discuss next year’s budget.

Classroom2015-16 budget recommendation includes 1.8 percent compensation increase

The Executive Budget Committee has developed its budget recommendations and presented them to the Board of Governors. I want to highlight the key points from the committee’s recommendations.

The committee is recommending that all full-time faculty and staff receive a 1.8 percent compensation increase effective July 1. This is more than double the applicable rate of inflation which was .8 percent in 2014. If the Board approves the committee’s recommendations, this will be the fourth year in a row that all full-time faculty and staff receive a raise that exceeds inflation.

Budget recommendations

The committee is also recommending that:

  • $225,000 be allocated to a staff compensation pool to be used by cost center heads to make merit and/or equity adjustments to staff salaries and wages
  • $100,000 be allocated to an instructor equity pool to be used to make equity adjustments to instructor salaries
  • $67,300 be allocated to the second year of the Full Professor Incentive Program
  • $800,000 be allocated to new faculty positions
  • $186,032 be allocated to an inflationary increase for cost center budgets
  • $181,791 be allocated for increased maintenance, security, and grounds
  • $315,582 be allocated for compliance and support staff positions, the most noteworthy of which will be a dedicated Title IX coordinator
  • An additional $25,000 be allocated for the Disability Support Center

I presented these recommendations at last week’s Board of Governors Finance and Facilities Committee meeting. The recommendations were well received, and the Board will vote on the Executive Budget Committee’s recommended budget at the June meeting.

We would not be able to fund pay raises, new positions, and other priorities without new revenue. The largest item of new revenue in this year’s budget recommendations comes from enrollment growth. Our student body continues to grow because of the hard work that all of you do to make Missouri State University an exceptional value for our students.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

 

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: budget, compensation, fy 16, salaries, Smart

2013 State of the University Address ‘Thinking Bigger and Bolder: The Eight Major Goals for 2013-14’

September 19, 2013 by Clif Smart

Clif Smart delivers State of the University address

Clif Smart and Frank Einhellig presented the State of the University Address at noon on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013.

[youTubeVideo url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKyx518NAt8″ width=”620″ height=”378″]

Supplemental information

  • Download the slides that accompanied the speech*
  • Read the speech
  • Eight Goals for 2013-14

Broadcast information

For those who could not attend in person, the speech was recorded for replay at 7 p.m. on Sept.19 on KSMU 91.1, 88.7 in Mountain Grove, 90.3 in West Plains, 98.9 in Joplin, 103.7 in Neosho, and KSMS 90.5 in Branson.

The speech will be televised on Ozarks Public Television at 6 p.m. on Sept. 22.


* You need Adobe Reader to access this file.

Filed Under: 2013, Presentations, Smart Tagged With: budget, Einhellig, enrollment, FY12, long-range plan, salaries, Smart, State of the University Address

Clif’s Notes Vol. 3, No. 1

July 2, 2013 by Clif Smart

Carrington Hall

Clif's Notes

In this issue of Clif’s Notes, I review the Governor’s action on the operating budget for fiscal year 2014 and its implications for Missouri State University.

Restrictions on budget announced

As you may have heard through media accounts, Governor Jay Nixon has found it necessary to restrict some of the fiscal year 2014 budget approved by the Missouri General Assembly during its recently completed session. The restrictions amount to about 4 percent for many state agencies, including higher education. The Governor has indicated he would plan to lift the restriction if his veto of House Bill 253 is sustained during the veto session in mid-September.

For more information about the restrictions and the reasons for them, I invite you to see the story on the governor’s website.

Carrington HallImpact on Missouri State

For Missouri State University, the restriction means there will be $3,141,979 less available in operating funds than we had planned for in the new budget, which began July 1.

(In case you were wondering, this is in addition to the 3 percent statutory withhold that is normal for each budget year, for which we plan every year.)

In addition, 100 percent of all new funding in the state’s budget is being restricted, including $1,325,000 for these programs:

  • Occupational therapy program in Springfield – $825,000
  • Health-related programs in West Plains – $500,000

That funding will be re-evaluated in September following the veto session.

Faculty teaching classFunding of salary increase

As you remember, the operating budget approved by our Board of Governors on June 21 was based on this funding. That includes the 2 percent across-the-board raise that goes into effect July 1. We are committed to funding the raise.

Should the funds not be released at all this fiscal year, we are prepared to use our one-time reserves to cover the expenses for this fiscal year. The Board of Governors agrees strongly with this approach. The fact that we have reserves available for this purpose is precisely the reason Missouri State — all of you — are to be commended for your frugal approach to the budget over the past 5-8 years. As you would suspect, we would then need to evaluate the budget and have a serious discussion about how to budget for fiscal year 2015.

Students outsideImmediate actions

We are hopeful that the Governor will be in a position to lift the restriction after the veto session in mid-September. With that in mind, we will proceed into the new fiscal year as we had planned, including the salary increase, with the anticipation that the funding will be released.

In the meantime, for the next 75 days, we have determined we need to take the following actions:

  • Hiring
    In advance of any searches for open positions, the search must be justified by the unit; be recommended by the provost, CFO or appropriate vice president; and then be approved by the president. We will evaluate those searches that are underway, as well as those searches that are recommended to begin.
  • Health program initiatives
    We will proceed slowly and prudently with the health initiatives planned for the $1,325,000 in new funds approved by the legislature. We will continue our search for a director for the occupational therapy program, which is well underway. Beyond that, we will wait until after mid-September to proceed in implementing plans.
  • Travel
    All travel requests will be carefully reviewed and should be moderated until mid-September.
  • Purchases/contracts
    Any major purchases and contracts that can be delayed until after mid-September should be. Again, please consult your cost center head before proceeding with major purchases and contracts.
  • Salary adjustments
    We will not consider any additional salary adjustments/changes beyond the across-the-board increase until Oct. 1.

Beyond this, I am asking all cost center heads to be prudent until we have a clearer picture of the budget for this fiscal year. It is important that we continue to operate and move forward; that is the balance we must achieve. This situation again reinforces just how important revenue from enrollment is to the future funding of the University.

Conclusion

I hope this update is helpful to you. As always, I will keep you informed on the budget as new information becomes available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Clif Smart

—Clif

Send comments Follow Clif Smart on Twitter

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: budget, FY14, hiring, salaries

Clif’s Notes Vol. 2, No. 10

May 15, 2013 by Clif Smart

Student in health-related class

Clif's Notes

In this issue of Clif’s Notes, I provide an update on the budget recommendation for fiscal year 2014, including an across-the-board raise and the full professor incentive program, and announce an initiative we hope will allow employees to volunteer more in the community.

Board meetingBudget recommendation for fiscal year 2014

Tomorrow (May 16) at the Board of Governors Finance and Facilities Committee meeting, we will have our first discussion of the operating budget for fiscal year 2014. We will seek input from the Board and then ask for final approval at the June Board meeting for the budget that begins July 1.

In summary, for the first time in five years, we will see an increase in state appropriations. We also have excess revenue because of our enrollment, which exceeded expectations, and our modest tuition and fee increase. These two factors will allow us to make a significant investment in increasing the compensation package for faculty and staff for fiscal year 2014. The key elements of my presentation to the Board follow.

Increases in Operating Revenue

Amount Description
$1,747,000 Expected increased revenue from increased enrollment and tuition/fee increases, net after scholarships and fee waiver increases 
2,384,000 Increase in state appropriations ($2,457,827 less standard 3 percent holdback) — please note that the governor must still sign the budget into law
$4,131,000 Total

Increases in Operating Expenses

Amount Description
$800,000 Expected approximate increases in utilities, rent for Brick City and other expenses
3,517,000 Employee compensation approximate increases for Springfield and West Plains operating funds
(186,000) Less net cost reductions
$4,131,000 Total

Compensation Recommendation

This is what I will recommend to the Board for increasing compensation:

Amount Description
$2,353,000 2 percent across-the-board raise (with fringe benefits) beginning July 1, 2013 for all full-time faculty and staff employed before April 1 for Springfield and West Plains operating funds — also includes 2 percent increase for graduate assistants
865,000 Required contribution increase from the University to MOSERS (state retirement system) net of anticipated cost saving from our new health care contract
299,000 Faculty promotions
$3,517,000 Total

As part of the compensation plan, pay ranges for staff will be adjusted by 1 percent effective July 1, 2013. This adjustment is consistent with our policy to annually adjust ranges pursuant to changes in the Employer Cost Index. Those employees paid below the bottom of the new ranges will receive an adjustment to bring them to the minimum of their range prior to the 2 percent salary increase being applied.

This means that 100 percent of the increase in state appropriations, plus a major portion of the increase from tuition and fees (more than 85% of new money), will be invested in our faculty, staff and graduate assistants. This also means that with the mid-year raise and this 2 percent raise on July 1, we will have increased salaries by 4 percent during this calendar year. Those are actions we can feel good about.

Professor talking with studentsFull Professor Incentive Program (Professor Plus)

In addition, Provost Frank Einhellig and I will recommend to the Board implementation of the Full Professor Incentive Program, which would provide an 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.

This summer and fall, Frank 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, with more possible depending on the budget.

We believe this program is a good one and addresses the rank where we lag behind the most when it comes to national comparisons.

Student in health-related classSpecial funding for health programs

In addition to the core operating budget, the legislature included $1,325,000 in on-going funds to support health programs on both the Springfield and West Plains campuses.

Of the total, $500,000 has been identified to expand and improve the health programs on the West Plains campus. These include nursing, respiratory care, health management, medical coding, and other programs.

The $825,000 for the Springfield campus will support the new occupational therapy program. The first year or two of funding will be used for start-up costs, especially for much-needed health classrooms and labs. We plan to hire a director in the near future and then be ready to enroll the first OT class no later than the fall of 2015.

Servicel learning projectExtra personal days

Over the past year or so, several staff members have asked if there is a way to make it easier for them to volunteer in the community, for their children’s school, and for other worthwhile causes. In response, we will soon announce that we have increased the personal leave days from the current one per year to three per year.

You will recall that personal leave days may be used for any purpose, but they are counted as sick leave days and are deducted from the employee’s sick leave balance. In order to use the personal days, you must have sick leave remaining. As you know, each full-time staff member earns 12 sick leave days per year, one each month. Effective with this change, personal day usage may be taken in four-hour increments.

This will give staff members the ability to use these two additional days to increase their community service and help Springfield become an even better place to live and work. One of the best ways to volunteer is on Days of Caring sponsored by the United Way.

Conclusion

We are in finals week and the last days of the academic year. Over the next few weeks, I will distribute additional issues of Clif’s Notes to keep you updated as we move into a busy summer. Thank you for all you do for Missouri State. See you at the commencement ceremonies.

Clif Smart

—Clif

Send comments Follow Clif Smart on Twitter

Telling the Missouri State story

Award recipients

I was honored to be included in the Faculty Recognition Reception on May 6. It is inspiring to hear about the good work our faculty do throughout the year. Provost Frank Einhellig will include all of the honorees in an upcoming issue of the Provost Communiqué, including the full list of publications, grant proposals and retirees. I invite you to spend some time reviewing the full list. To whet your appetite, let me highlight these awards:

Missouri State University Foundation Awards for Service

  • Carmen Boyd, biomedical science
  • Douglas Gouzie, geography, geology and planning

Missouri State University Foundation Awards for Research

  • Sheryl Brahnam, computer information systems
  • Kevin Mickus, geography, geology and planning

Missouri State University Foundation Awards for Teaching

  • Denise Cunningham, childhood education and family studies
  • Michael A. Murray, music

2013-14 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

  • Michael A. Murray, music

Master Online Course Recognition Award for Course Design, Interaction and Collaboration, Assessment and Course Technology and Media Value

  • Stanley Leasure, finance and general business, BUS/LAW 550/650, Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration in Business

Master Online Course Recognition Merit Award for Interaction and Collaboration

  • Shannon Wooden, english, ENG 200, Introduction to Literature

Master Online Course Recognition Merit Award for Course Technology and Media Value

  • Lora Hobbs, religious studies, REL 100, Introduction to Religion

Recognition Award for Excellence in Thesis Mentoring

  • Brian Greene, biology

Outstanding Graduate Student Mentoring Award

  • Day Ligon, biology

Provost Fellow for Public Affairs  

  • Gilbert Brown, counseling, leadership and special education

Excellence in Community Service Award

  • Wafaa Kaf, communication sciences and disorders

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Financial Outlook, Smart Tagged With: budget, FY14, health, personal days, professor plus, salaries, Smart

2012 State of the University Address: Building on Success

August 30, 2012 by Clif Smart

Clif Smart

Clif Smart and Frank Einhellig presented the State of the University Address at noon on Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012.

[youTubeVideo url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vdrk6OVZCdc” height=”378″ width=”616″]

 

[audioUrl url=”http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/FeedEnclosure/missouristate.edu-dz.18219000435.018219000437.18216262864/enclosure.mp3″ desc=”2012 State of the University Address: Building on Success”]

Supplemental information

  • Download the slides that accompanied the speech*
  • Read the speech

Broadcast information

For those who could not attend in person, the speech was recorded for replay at 7 p.m. on Aug. 30 on KSMU 91.1, 88.7 in Mountain Grove, 90.3 in West Plains, 98.9 in Joplin, 103.7 in Neosho, and KSMS 90.5 in Branson.

The speech will be televised on Ozarks Public Television at 8 p.m. on Sept. 7.


* You need Adobe Reader to access this file.

Filed Under: 2012, Presentations, Smart Tagged With: budget, Einhellig, enrollment, FY12, long-range plan, salaries, Smart, State of the University Address

« Previous Page
Next Page »

Archives

Categories

Tags

action plan athletics audit benefits Board of Governors bronze bear budget CBHE Cofer commencement compensation Coronavirus diversity Einhellig enrollment Executive Budget Committee facilities football funding FY12 FY13 FY14 fy15 goals governor homecoming IDEA Commons legislative priorities long-range plan Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame Missouri State Foundation open enrollment Provost public affairs Public Affairs Conference safety salaries Smart staff awards State of the University Address strategic enrollment management tuition united way Wall of Fame West Plains
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: September 18, 2013
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
  • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information