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Clif’s Notes for Nov. 10, 2020

November 10, 2020 by Clif Smart

Vibrantly colored trees line campus walkway

We are coming to the end of the United Way and MSU Way campaigns. So far we have raised a little more than $80,000 for United Way. We have great momentum and are only $5,000 behind last year’s total.

If you have not participated yet, please help us get there. I invite you to watch the video below about the United Way’s impact on community health and how nonprofit agencies benefit from our support.

If you have not already done so, I encourage you to complete and submit the campaign contribution forms in the campaign packet you received in the mail. Alternatively, you can complete materials online through the campaign webpage.

At 11:30 a.m. Nov. 13, we will celebrate the end of this year’s campaigns with a virtual event.  We kindly ask that you participate in one or both of the campaigns and register in advance online to attend the virtual celebration. Additional details about the event can be found on the campaign webpage. If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Heinz or Alison Harper.

To recognize their contributions, I will publish the names of current employees who gave to the United Way campaign at the Leadership Level and current employees who are members of the MSU Foundation’s Founders Club in a Clif’s Notes before the end of the year.

Thank you to everybody who has participated in these campaigns at any level.

Staff awards ceremony moved to May

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Staff Service Awards and Appreciation Luncheon normally held in January will be moved to May 20, 2021.

As in past years, our Staff Appreciation Luncheon will honor those who have reached a five-year milestone at the university.

For any questions, please reach out to Josh Allen, associate director of human resources, at 417-836-5102 or JoshuaAllen@missouristate.edu.

Adaptations for COVID-19

Colleges and universities throughout the world have analyzed a variety of strategies and tactics to protect their campus communities and mitigate spread of COVID-19.

We have done this at MSU as well. This fall, we:

  • Implemented a masking requirement.
  • Established quarantine and isolation protocols for the campus community.
  • Significantly restricted travel and events.
  • Moved a large number of our classes online and to blended formats.
  • Adopted new cleaning and disinfecting protocols, which included closing campus two days in October for cleaning.

As a part of the many adjustments, faculty and staff have been creative and attentive in ways to assist students in quarantine. In some cases, faculty have even continued teaching during their own stint in quarantine or isolation.

We also created a COVID-19 response team, tested symptomatic and asymptomatic people throughout the semester, and encouraged social distancing and hand washing.

All of these adjustments have shown a great collaborative spirit.

After a spike in COVID-19 cases early in the semester, our weekly case count decreased and has remained under 100 for the last eight weeks. Meanwhile, we have maintained a robust teaching and learning environment for our faculty and students and continued to operate the university in as normal a manner as possible under the circumstances.

As we develop strategies and tactics for the spring semester, our plan is to continue to build on the good work of our faculty and staff.

Many classes that would normally be fully seated will be taught online or in a blended format.  We will continue to require masks, administer COVID-19 tests, implement quarantine and isolation protocols, and clean and disinfect high-touch areas on campus. In the coming weeks, we will also update our travel and events restrictions.

We have evaluated several options to adjust the spring academic calendar. At this time, we will not make any changes to the calendar.

The spring semester will begin on Jan. 11. We will celebrate holidays and have spring break as set forth in the current academic calendar. Spring commencement is scheduled for May 14.

Similar to how we have operated this fall, we will move forward cautiously and make adjustments and changes in concert with local, state and national public health authorities and as we receive up-to-date data and information about COVID-19.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Coronavirus, MSU Way, Staff Service Awards, united way

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 3, 2020

November 3, 2020 by Clif Smart

Vet in uniform saluting, seen from back.

Election Day is today. As I mentioned last week, any voter registered in Greene County can vote at JQH Arena today.

I encourage all members of the university community to vote in this important election.

Honoring veterans

Missouri State University will honor the Springfield community’s military veterans during a special Veterans Day event at 6 p.m. Nov. 5, at Plaster Stadium. All veterans, family and friends are invited to attend.

Masks will be required.

The celebration will feature the following:

  • Pride Band Performance Series: Salute to Our Veterans.
  • Special playing of Taps.
  • Military Branch Service Song.
  • Special message from a member of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.
  • Special appearance by K-9s for CAMO.
  • Free package of All American Mix popcorn (cherry, blue raspberry and vanilla) to the first 1,000 attendees.

This event will take the place of the Veterans Day breakfast gathering that we have traditionally hosted on campus. I encourage everyone to participate in this special celebration of our veterans on Nov. 5.

Submit SEUSA nominations

The Staff Excellence in University Service Award recognizes excellence in service to the university among staff employees. Through this award, the university recognizes staff who strive to do their jobs well on a daily basis, who go beyond the call of duty in a special situation, and who have contributed in a significant way to the success of the university.

Each year, six full-time staff receive this award, which includes a one-time $1,500 award.

The deadline to nominate a staff member is Nov. 13. You can review the selection criteria and complete a nomination form on the Staff Excellence in University Service Award webpage.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: election, Staff Service Awards, Veterans Day

Clif’s Notes for Jan. 9, 2018

January 9, 2018 by Clif Smart

Staff Awards Appreciation

Welcome back!  I hope you had a restful break and feel energized to start the spring semester.

Missouri State has experienced growth in its enrollment, reputation and profile over the last several years. The university could not have achieved so much success without the hard working staff that we have.

One of the great honors of my job is to recognize our staff each January at the annual Staff Service Awards Program and Luncheon. This year’s event is Jan. 10 at 11:30 a.m. in Hammons Student Center. Please plan to attend!

We will recognize our retiring staff. We will also recognize staff members who reached five-year service milestones in the past calendar year.

We will present the Staff Excellence in University Service Award to recognize staff members who have made significant contributions to the university community. We will also present the Excellence in Community Service Award to recognize staff members who volunteer their time to worthy community causes.

Please join me to at the luncheon on Wednesday to find out who receives these awards.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Staff Service Awards

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 14, 2017

November 14, 2017 by Clif Smart

Staff and students at roundtable

Our annual Staff Awards Luncheon will start at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 10 in Hammons Student Center. All full-time staff members are invited to attend and encouraged to wear Bearwear.

At the luncheon we will honor four categories of staff employees:

  • Those who reached a five-year longevity milestone in their years of service to the university
  • Those who retired during 2017
  • Those selected for the Staff Excellence in University Service award
  • Those selected for the Staff Excellence in Community Service award

Last year’s award recipients

Last year we awarded two Staff Excellence in Community Service awards:

  •  Addie Douglas, custodial foreman at Foster Recreation Center
  • Alisa Garbisch, assistant director of residence life’s student success initiatives.

We also awarded six Staff Excellence in University Service awards:

  • Kevin Agee, new media specialist, university communications
  • Judith Campbell, academic administrative assistant II, counseling, leadership and special education
  • Gay Carson, administrative specialist II, nursing
  • Lynn Dickison, senior enterprise systems administrator, computer services
  • Nathan Hoff, associate registrar of degree programs and advising support, registrar
  • Jennifer Walker, financial aid counselor, West Plains financial aid

Nominate a staff member for an award before Friday

The Staff Excellence in University Service Award recognizes excellence in service to the university among staff employees. Through this award, the university recognizes staff who strive to do their jobs well on a daily basis, who go beyond the call of duty in a special situation and who have contributed in a significant way to the success of the university.

Each year six full-time staff receive this award (which includes a one-time $1,500 award).

Currently enrolled students, employed staff, faculty, administrators or groups are encouraged to nominate full-time staff employees for the award.

The deadline to nominate a staff member is this Friday. You can review the selection criteria and complete a nomination form on the Staff Excellence in University Service Award webpage.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Staff Service Awards

Clif’s Notes for Jan. 10, 2017

January 10, 2017 by Clif Smart

Clif's Notes

Welcome back! I hope you had a restful break and feel energized to start the spring semester.

Honoring the university’s staff Carrington Hall

Our staff at Missouri State are top notch. The university could not achieve its mission without the hard working staff that we have.

One of the great honors of my job is to recognize our staff each January at the annual Staff Service Awards Program and Luncheon. This year’s event is tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. in Hammons Student Center. Please plan to attend!

We will recognize our retiring staff. We will also recognize staff members who reached five-year service milestones in the past calendar year.

We will present the Staff Excellence in University Service Award to six staff members who have made significant contributions to the university community. These individuals strive to do their jobs well on a daily basis, go above and beyond the call of duty to the university in special situations, and have contributed in a significant way to the success of the university.

We will also present the Excellence in Community Service Award to two staff members who volunteer their time to worthy community causes. One of the recipients invests countless hours to help domestic violence survivors at The Victim Center. The other recipient has volunteered for numerous causes in the Springfield community, including projects that impact children, families and veterans.

Please attend the tomorrow’s luncheon to find out who will receive these prestigious awards.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Staff Service Awards

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