Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 30, 2021

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The United Way campaign ends on Friday.

As the United Way Campaign winds down, please remember to fill out your pledge forms and help us reach our goals this year.

The United Way of the Ozarks has reworked its investment strategy so that our undesignated funds go to the health, education and financial stability needs of our community.

My interview with Greg Burris outlines these changes and why it’s important for us to take part.

 

COVID updates

November brought two important updates for COVID-19 vaccine eligibility.

First, the FDA authorized and the CDC now recommends booster shots for all adults ages 18 years and older who received a Pfizer or Modern vaccine at least six months after their second dose.

Second, the FDA authorized and the CDC now recommends COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5 and older.

Magers Health and Wellness Center is administering COVID-19 booster shots and COVID-19 vaccinations for children and adults who meet CDC guidelines.

Schedule your appointment today

Supporting mental health

We are nearing the end of the fall semester. For many of our students, faculty and staff, the end of the fall semester ushers in anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges.

Support for the emotional well-being of our students, faculty and staff is a campus-wide responsibility. While our campus health and counseling centers have important roles to play, we must all work to promote and protect the mental health of our campus community.

Did You Know?

  • Students with mental health problems, such as depression, are two times more likely than their peers to leave their institution.
  • 57.9% of students at Missouri State University are experiencing symptoms of at least one significant mental health problem, such as depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts, self-injury or eating disorders.
  • Among these students, an estimated 45% have not received mental health services within the past year.

How can you help?

You can help support the emotional and mental health of our campus community by reducing the stigma around mental health concerns and increasing awareness of available resources for members of the campus community.

  • The university’s Counseling Center offers counseling to currently enrolled MSU students at no charge. Students can contact the Counseling Center to make an appointment at 417-836-5116 or CounselingCenter@missouristate.edu.
  • Students experiencing a mental health emergency after business hours may call the Counseling Center and follow the prompts to speak with a crisis counselor.
  • You can also contact the Counseling Center to refer a student that you believe could benefit from their services.
  • The university provides an Employee Assistance Program for full-time and part-time faculty and staff. This is a free, confidential service designed to help you and your family with a wide range of problems. It can assist you with crisis management, wellness coaching, mental and emotional challenges, among many other issues.
  • Appointments with mental health professionals are also available through Magers Health and Wellness Center. Call 417-836-4000 to schedule an appointment.
  • Faculty and staff can also contact the Counseling Center at 417-836-5116 or CounselingCenter@missouristate.edu for a referral to area therapy services or other community resources. Employees may visit the Mercy Provider Listing to locate preferred providers for the university’ health insurance.
  • Other community mental health resources can be found on the Magers Health and Wellness Center’s mental health webpage.

Refer a student

Introducing the JED Campus Initiative

As part of our work to continue to enhance the emotional and mental health of our campus community, MSU is participating in the JED Campus Initiative.

This initiative is a four-year, strategic process created by the JED Foundation that helps guide the improvement and enhancement of existing mental health programming and climate on campus.

The four-year JED Campus Initiative process involves data collection, student focus groups, strategic planning, and regular JED Campus team and sub-committee meetings.

We have a series of tools from the JED Foundation to assist us in our work to enhance campus mental health, including a campus dashboard, guidelines and access to JED Foundation partners.

We are excited about our partnership with the JED Foundation as we work to promote mental and emotional health for our campus community.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 2, 2021

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This week we kickoff our United Way campaign. I encourage you to support our community by participating in the campaign and giving to the United Way.

The United Way has made exciting changes this year in how they will invest our donations in the community. The new strategy focuses on health, education and financial stability needs of our community.

Under the new strategy:

  • 60% of undesignated funds will be allocated to upstream funding.
  • 30% to safety net funding.
  • 10% to innovation funding.

The option to designate your pledge to a specific nonprofit organization will still be available.

We all know that there are many organizations doing meaningful things to improve our community. However, it can be hard to know which organizations will maximize our funds to positively impact our community.

This is exactly why I give to the United Way. The United Way allocates funds to organizations through a competitive process that ensures our funds are achieving their highest possible use in the Springfield area.

Because of the changes United Way is implementing in their investment strategy, and because of the enormous leadership the United Way has shown as COVID-19 rocked our community over the past two years, I am increasing my financial commitment this year.  I hope you will join me by completing the packet you receive in campus mail or pledging online.

Make your pledge

You can find more information about the United Way and the campaign online.

Enroll in benefits plan now

Our open enrollment period for employee benefits began yesterday.

Open enrollment is the annual period during which you can elect, decline or make changes to your medical, dental, vision, and cafeteria/flexible spending plans for the coming calendar year.

Open enrollment for 2022 runs from Nov. 1 through Dec. 1.

You can find more information about open enrollment, including instructions for how to complete open enrollment online or over the phone, on the open enrollment webpage.

I encourage everyone to complete the open enrollment process, regardless of whether you plan to make changes to your coverage.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 12, 2021

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We are running our United Way and Missouri State Way giving campaigns a bit differently this year.

In the past we have run these two campaigns concurrently. This year they will be separate.

The United Way campaign will kickoff in early November. I will cover that, along with exciting changes in how United Way will invest our contributions, separately in a later Clif’s Note.

This year we have replaced the Missouri State Way campaign with a faculty and staff giving campaign as part of #BearsGive.

#BearsGive is a 36-hour giving day event on Oct. 13 and 14.  One-time gifts and monthly giving options are available.

I encourage you to join us for the #BearsGive kick-off event at 10 a.m. tomorrow starting on the North Mall in front of the PSU and ending at the stage in the food court for guest speakers. Donuts, refreshments and #BearsGive swag bags are available for all at the food court.

You can find more information, along with links to make a one-time gift or fill out a payroll deduction and pledge form, on the #BearsGive webpage.

As in years past, you will also receive a pamphlet in the mail instructing you how to participate in the #BearsGive faculty and staff giving campaign.

Make a gift

Join in the Homecoming festivities

This week marks one of my favorite events of the fall — Homecoming! Throughout the week, students will be joined by alumni and others to cheer at pep rallies, compete in competitions, build parade floats and participate in numerous campus activities.

I encourage each of you to participate in the Homecoming festivities this week.

Highlights for the week include:

We will cap off the week with the Bears home football game against Indiana State University at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

If you haven’t already seen the Bears play, you don’t want to miss your chance to see this incredible team. The Bears are 2-1 in conference play and 3-2 overall.

I encourage you to come out to the game to cheer on our Bears! I also encourage you to buy your tickets in advance — we anticipate a big crowd for the game.

Participate in the wellness fair

Tomorrow we will host a Wise and Well Health and Benefit Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the PSU.

The fair will feature various vendors, informational breakout sessions, resources, prizes and giveaways. Come out to learn more about employment benefits and healthy-living options available to you.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Dec. 8, 2020

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Last week I told you about our plan to increase pay by $600 per year for full-time faculty and staff hired on or before Nov. 30, 2020. The increase will begin in January for 12-month employees and in February for 9- and 10-month employees.

Minimum wage increases

Today I want to let you know about another compensation increase.

Two years ago, Missouri voters approved a change to the minimum wage rate for private employers. Under this law the minimum wage will increase to $10.30 per hour in January 2021.

This law does not apply to public employers, such as Missouri State. Regardless, I am pleased to report that the university has decided to increase the minimum wage for all employees (including part-time and student employees) to $10.30 per hour effective Jan, 1, 2021.

Cost centers will reallocate up to $670,000 to fund this pay increase. While the law does not require the university to increase the minimum wage, our compensation for these employees must remain competitive with off-campus employment opportunities.

University leadership and the board are committed to making Missouri State a great place to work. We know that compensation plays a big role.

Thank you for giving

I also want to take a moment to recognize the contributions by our university community as part of the United Way and Missouri State Way campaigns.

Through these campaigns, the university community raised $86,636.08 for the United Way and $610,475.96 for the Missouri State University Foundation.

I want to personally thank each of you who participated in the United Way campaign. Please join me in congratulating our employees who gave to the campaign at the Leadership Level.

  • Ms. Jodie Adams
  • Dr. James P. Baker
  • Dr. Charlene Berquist
  • Dr. Richard N. Biagioni
  • Biff Bird
  • Bradley Bodenhausen
  • Dr. Lanette Cadle
  • Dr. William Cheek
  • Jeff and Stacy Coiner
  • Ryan DeBoef
  • Janice Duncan
  • Dr. Frank Einhellig
  • Steve and Peggy Foucart
  • Drs. Terrel and Julie Gallaway
  • Grant P. Jones
  • Arthur Hains
  • David A. Hall
  • Dr. John B. Harms
  • Brian D. and Christie Heaton
  • Karen Horny
  • Dr. Tammy Jahnke
  • Allen D. Kunkel
  • Drs. Gerald and Julie Masterson
  • Dr. Victor H. Matthews
  • Theresa A. McCoy
  • Natalie McNish
  • Dr. David and Gail Meinert
  • Dr. Michael Merrigan
  • Kyle and Leeann Moats
  • Matt and Tally Morris
  • Dr. James C. Moyer
  • Dr. David and Sarah Muegge
  • Dr. Sarah Nixon
  • Dr. Joye Norris
  • Thomas A. Peters
  • H. Wes Pratt
  • Dr. Barbara Susan Robinson
  • Scott Embretson
  • Jennifer Severson
  • M. Suzanne Shaw
  • Priscilla K. Skeeters
  • Clifton M. Smart III
  • Dr. Elizabeth Strong
  • Dr. Rebecca S. Swearingen
  • Robert Thurman
  • Paula Wilhelm

I also want to personally thank each of you who participated in the Missouri State Way campaign. Please join me in congratulating our current employees who are members of the Founders Club.

  • Jodie Adams
  • Gib Adkins
  • Rickey Albaugh
  • Cynthia Aurentz
  • Dr. Jim Baker
  • Randy Bass
  • Samuel Bass
  • Dr. Tracy Beckham
  • Dr. Stephen C. Berkwitz
  • Dr. Charlene Berquist
  • Theresa Bettmann
  • Dr. Richard Biagioni
  • Dr. Tara Boehne
  • Dr. Eric Bosch
  • Dr. John Bourhis
  • Chuck Busby
  • Cindy Busby
  • Lisa Casey
  • Dr. John Catau
  • Dr. Bill Cheek
  • Dr. John F Chuchiak
  • Lisa Dewoody Clark
  • Angie Cockrum
  • Dr. Julie Combs
  • Dr. David Mark Cornelison
  • Ryan DeBoef
  • Rachael Dockery
  • Dr. Toby Dogwiler
  • Dr. Janice Duncan
  • Brent Dunn
  • Dr. Frank Einhellig
  • Dr. Susan Essman
  • Lori Fan
  • Dr. Monika Feeney
  • Wendy Ferguson
  • Steve Foucart
  • Dr. Julie Gallaway
  • Dr. Terrel Gallaway
  • Dr. Douglas Gouzie
  • Dr. Brian Greene
  • Dr. Janice Greene
  • David Hall
  • Dr. Stephanie Hein
  • Dr. Jill Heyboer
  • Dr. Marcia Himes
  • Cynthia Howell
  • Michelle Hulett
  • Dr. Tammy Jahnke
  • Shellie Jones
  • Dr. Kurt Killion
  • Allen Kunkel
  • Dr. Cameron LaBarr
  • Dr. Dennis Lancaster
  • Jill Layman
  • Diane Leamy
  • Jon Leamy
  • Dr. Day Ligon
  • Dr. JE Llewellyn
  • Jill Martin
  • Robert Martin
  • Dr. Jerry Masterson
  • Dr. Julie Masterson
  • Dr. Victor Matthews
  • Dr. Dave Meinert
  • Dr. Carol Miller
  • Dr. Eric Morris
  • Matt Morris
  • Taleyna Morris
  • Dr. David Muegge
  • Dr. Eric Nelson
  • Tom Peters
  • Sophie Pierpoint
  • Angela Pinegar
  • Dr. John Prescott
  • Dr. Kathy Pulley
  • Dr. Gay Ann Ragan
  • Dr. Kent Ragan
  • Jason Ray
  • Deborah Rollinson
  • Dr. Philip Rothschild
  • Dr. Elizabeth Rozell
  • Christina Ryder
  • Dr. Alan Schick
  • Karl Schmidt
  • Dr. Kishor Shah
  • Suzanne Shaw
  • Dr. Dee Siscoe
  • Dr. Jeanie Skibiski
  • Clif Smart
  • Dr. Elizabeth Strong
  • Dr. John Strong
  • Dr. Becky Swearingen
  • Mark Templeton
  • Gary Ward
  • Rick Westphal
  • Dr. Dick Williams

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 10, 2020

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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!