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 March 5, 2019

March 5, 2019 by Clif Smart

Bearfest Village

Two weeks ago, Peter Kageyama gave the keynote at the Springfield Business Development Corporation’s annual meeting. Peter is the author of “For the Love of Cities: The Love Affair Between People and Their Places” and is highly regarded in urban planning, design and development.

I had the opportunity to attend two meetings with Peter, and his insights were inspirational.

One of Peter’s main points was that a “hierarchy of needs” exists in city-making:

  • Interesting
  • Convivial
  • Comfortable
  • Safe
  • Functional

People expect their cities to be functional and safe. Filling the potholes does not separate good cities from great cities. To emerge from the pack, a city must move higher up the hierarchy. People fall in love with convivial, interesting cities, not merely functional and safe ones.

To help in this endeavor, Peter challenges leaders to ask themselves “where’s the fun?” as they make decisions and develop plans.

Maintaining the fun

Peter’s message translates to universities. All good universities are functional. To separate ourselves — for students, faculty, staff and others to fall in love with our university — we must be interesting and fun.

We have done a lot to add interest to our campus in the past several years. Examples include:

  • Banners and bearheads on facilities throughout campus
  • Carillon concerts and outdoor picnic tables
  • Construction projects that focus on architectural beauty
  • Revitalizing Bearfest Village before football games
  • Cutting-edge social media and April Fool’s Day website
  • Annual Chocolate Lovers Luncheon in the PSU

However, I don’t think I’m alone in noting that we have worked less on making our campus friendly and interesting as budgets have tightened and cuts have been made.

As we work through tight budgets year-over-year, we cannot lose sight of the need to ask “where’s the fun?” when making decisions and charting the university’s course.

I have told my leadership team that I want to approach this year’s budget development a bit differently than we have the past two years. When identifying efficiencies and reallocating resources, we will work to ensure that we are not sacrificing the interesting and sociable nature of our campus. What’s more, we will remain open to ideas for additional ways we can make the campus even more “fun” than it already is.

Fun ideas do not usually come from the top of an organization. We will accomplish much more if you put forth interesting ideas and leadership empowers you to put your ideas into action.

If you have “where’s the fun?” ideas, please email them to me at president@missouristate.edu.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: facilities, students

Missouri House of Representatives recommends budget restoration

March 27, 2018 by Clif Smart

Missouri capitol building against a blue sky

Missouri State University would like to acknowledge the work and support of legislators in the Missouri House of Representatives for recognizing the value and impact of higher education to the state.

Restoration of the budget cuts will ensure students continue to have the opportunity to obtain an affordable quality education. If Missouri State receives the appropriations included in the House budget, tuition for in-state undergraduate students will increase by only 1 percent for next academic year.

Special thanks to Rep. Todd Richardson (Speaker of the House), Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick (Chair of the House Budget Committee), and the Springfield business community for your continued support of higher education.

Filed Under: Financial Outlook, Legislative Session, Smart Tagged With: budget, legislative priorities, Smart, students, tuition

Clif’s Notes for Feb. 6, 2018

February 6, 2018 by Clif Smart

MSU student mentored

We offer a wide variety of student support services at Missouri State. From tutoring at the Bear CLAW to helping students find a career at the Career Center. From the Partners in Education program to TRIO Student Support Services and other services for multicultural and first-generation students.

We have designed an array of student services to help all students achieve their potential. You can find information about many of these programs at the Student Services webpage.

Local attorneys offer students free legal advice

I want to take a moment to highlight one of the many services available to our students.

Bearisters is a free legal advice program available to Missouri State students. This program offers students an opportunity to meet with a local attorney during regularly scheduled office hours in Plaster Student Union free of charge.

This program is made possible through volunteer efforts by local attorneys who help students manage lease issues, immigration questions, traffic matters and a wide variety of other legal issues free of charge. The program is a partnership between the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association, the dean of students office and the Student Government Association.

Students can make an appointment with an attorney through the Bearisters program by calling the dean of students office at 417-836-5527.

You can find out more information about Bearisters and other similar services on the dean of students webpage.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: students

Students, welcome to Missouri State University

August 16, 2015 by Clif Smart

President Clif Smart at New Student Convocation

I am proud to welcome incoming students into the Missouri State University campus community.

New Student Convocation

New Student Convocation marks the official start of the academic year. During New Student Convocation on Aug. 16, we debuted a video featuring highlights of Instagram videos from the previous year.

Future videos

I invite students to connect with me on Twitter by following @ClifSmart, and to watch for future videos by following Missouri State on Instagram at @missouristate.

Filed Under: Smart Tagged With: students, video, welcome weekend

Clif’s Notes for July 28, 2015

July 28, 2015 by Clif Smart

Bear Path after New Student Convocation

Clif's Notes

I hope you are as excited as I am about welcoming a robust class of new students to Missouri State University in August.

Welcome Weekend includes inspirational, fun, engaging activities

Bear Path after New Student Convocation
Bear Path after New Student Convocation

New Student Convocation will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 at in JQH Arena. Please plan to wear your regalia and attend this celebration of our new students and a new school year at Missouri State.

Actor Kyle Dean Massey
Actor Kyle Dean Massey

This year’s Convocation speaker is Kyle Dean Massey. Mr. Massey is an actor best known for his starring roles on Broadway in “Pippin,” “Next to Normal,” “Wicked,” “Xanadu” and for his role as Kevin Bicks on ABC’s “Nashville.” He is a Missouri State alumnus, receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre in 2004.

Following Convocation, please join me on the Bear Path, where we show our support by applauding our new students as they leave JQH Arena and walk to Plaster Student Union for the New Student Festival.

Learn about Convocation, the Bear Path and other Welcome Weekend activities.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: public affairs, Smart, students

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 HLC homecoming IDEA Commons legislative priorities long-range plan Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame 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: July 27, 2015
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
  • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information