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Clif’s Notes for May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020 by Clif Smart

Fountain with library and Glass Hall behind

The Missouri legislative session ended earlier this month.

We advocated on many issues in the concluding weeks of the session. We worked on legislation that would have limited the Board of Governors’ ability to regulate the possession of firearms on campus.

We also worked on legislation that would have increased reporting requirements for universities, legislation designed to regulate academic credit for students who take advanced placement exams and numerous other bills.

None of this legislation — or any other legislation that would have substantially impacted our operations at Missouri State University — passed this year.

Thanks to our state legislators

Our team also advocated for Missouri State in the state budget.

The legislature passed a budget that holds core funding flat for all public universities. A portion of this funding is contingent on the federal government extending a Medicaid stimulus program. We will remain engaged with our federal leaders on this issue.

Passing a budget that includes flat funding for universities in the current economic environment was not an easy task. I want to say a special thanks to Sens. Dan Hegeman and Lincoln Hough, Reps. Elijah Haahr, Curtis Trent and Cody Smith, and our entire legislative delegation for supporting Missouri State in this difficult budget year.

State budget witholdings

The budget now moves to Gov. Mike Parson for his signature or veto.

You will recall that Parson announced a $7.6 million withhold for Missouri State in April. Additional withholds will likely occur before this fiscal year ends on June 30.

Parson has indicated the budget passed by the legislature for next fiscal year includes hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue that the state will not likely receive. We anticipate additional withholds being announced for next fiscal year to close this gap. Those withholds could occur as early as July.

We remain engaged with the governor and his staff to advocate that withholds be spread throughout state government and not disproportionately impact higher education.

Outlook of FY2021 budget

Despite uncertainty in state funding and enrollment, we must establish the university’s budget for next fiscal year.

The Board of Governors discussed the FY2021 budget at their meetings earlier this month.

The board approved a CPI increase of 2.3% in tuition and fees for the 2020-21 academic year. This increase, along with the tuition and fees waived last year, will generate $4.6 million in new revenue.

We also have $3.2 million in revenue carried forward from last year’s appropriation increase. Through $2.9 million in spending reductions that have already been implemented, we have more than offset our unavoidable expense increases for next fiscal year.

However, enrollment declines will have a dramatic impact on our budget. Before the pandemic, we anticipated a decline of 834 students due to the second year of large graduating classes. This decline alone will result in $5.9 million in reduced revenue, plus an additional $1.3 million in reduced auxiliary support.

We took several steps earlier this year to counteract this enrollment decline. We waived the application fee, joined the Common App, and implemented a series of recruitment and retention strategies.

Enrollment indicators showed that these strategies were working before the pandemic hit and the environment shifted. These same indicators have now become mixed, pointing to an anticipated enrollment decline that will likely exceed the projected 834 student drop.

This enrollment uncertainty, along with the likelihood of a state funding withhold, means we must further reduce expenses for the FY2021 budget.

Principles for FY2021 budget

The board approved principles that we will follow when developing the FY2021 budget.

Under these principles, we will utilize the following factors when evaluating all FY2021 cost savings options:

  1. Potential to generate substantial savings
  2. Impact on the university’s mission. Mission considerations include:
    • Academic quality and accreditation
    • Enrollment
    • Affordability
    • Student success
    • Student experience
    • Inclusive excellence
    • Public profile
  3. Impact on employees and workforce morale
  4. Impact on university risk and compliance
  5. Impact on university’s ability to generate revenue
  6. Improve efficiency and processes

The FY2021 budget will also include strategic investments to support revenue and the university’s mission. The overall need to generate substantial savings will be considered when evaluating all strategic investment options.

As always, we will use a transparent process that seeks input from stakeholders when developing this year’s budget.

Virtual Town Hall

Last week we held a Virtual Town Hall meeting to seek input from faculty and staff on the budget and other matters. If you missed the meeting, you can view the recording of the meeting on the town hall webpage.

Please send any input or questions about the FY2021 budget or any other matter to me at president@missouristate.edu.

Cost savings

At the board meeting and the town hall, we presented a budget scenario that we plan to modify and build upon in the coming weeks.

This scenario includes $10.2 million in new cost saving measures that will be incorporated in the FY2021 budget that I will present to the board in June.

These measures include:

  • Freezing 68 open positions (see my prior Clif’s Notes for details)
  • Eliminating internet incentives payments for faculty
  • Delaying the opening of the new residence hall
  • Reducing the operating budget allocation for facility repairs and classroom upgrades

We have additional cost saving measures that could be implemented after the board approves the budget. We would implement these measures only as necessary depending on the extent of our revenue decline.

These measures include:

  • Further reducing the operating budget allocation for facility repairs and classroom upgrades
  • Reducing operating budget allocations for academic equipment and the president’s enhancement fund
  • Reducing travel budgets
  • Spending $4 million in university reserves

Through these supplemental measures, we believe we can reduce expenses by an additional $6.5 million.

If our revenue declines by more than $16.7 million, we will then be forced to evaluate options for employee furloughs and/or layoffs.

Recognizing good work by faculty, staff, students

The board also discussed the university’s response to the coronavirus and our efforts to reopen the campus.

The board approved inductees into the university’s Wall of Fame. They will be inducted at a ceremony in October. This year’s inductees are:

  • Michael Carlie, professor of criminology
  • Dean Karen Horny, dean of libraries
  • Paul Kincaid, chief of staff
  • Marcia Morriset, assistant director of the Honors College
  • Howard Orms, professor of theatre and dance
  • Judi Smith, director, development and alumni

The board also offered commendations to outgoing leaders of SGA, Faculty Senate and Staff Senate. Leaders receiving commendations include:

  • Saibal Mitra, chair of Faculty Senate
  • A’dja Jones, chair of Staff Senate
  • Abdillahi Dirie, president of SGA
  • Ethan Schroeder, vice president of SGA

I want to say a special thanks to each of you. Our university is better because of your service, and I will miss working with you.

The board also approved action items related to campus facilities, including:

  • Documents necessary to close financing on the JVIC expansion project
  • An amendment to allow the university to delay receiving the new residence hall until next summer
  • A facilities use agreement to facilitate the national headquarters for the Student African American Brotherhood relocating to our campus
  • Wyrick fund expenditures approved by a student vote to combine the Multicultural Resource Center and the MRC Annex into one facility on the first floor of Plaster Student Union

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Board of Governors, budget, Coronavirus, legislative priorities, Wall of Fame

Clif’s Notes for Jan. 28, 2020

January 28, 2020 by Clif Smart

Flags flying at Missouri State University

Earlier this month Governor Mike Parson released his budget recommendations. Those recommendations:

  • Maintain our core operating appropriation, including the $10 million increase passed last year.
  • Include $1.8 million in one-time funding to establish the Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at JVIC.
  • Increase appropriations for state scholarship and grant programs used by many of our students (Access Missouri, A+, Fast Track and Bright Flight).

These recommendations include some of MSU’s legislative priorities for this year. We are grateful for Gov. Parson’s support.

We have already begun working with the legislature to advocate for our other priorities. Earlier this month I testified in support of our priorities to the House Subcommittee on Appropriations – Education. I have also been meeting with legislators throughout the past several weeks.

Our top priority continues to be an inflationary increase in the university’s core operating appropriation.

Provide feedback on SEM

We have made good progress toward finalizing a strategic enrollment management plan. The Board of Governors has approved SEM goals, and our SEM councils continue to meet and develop enrollment strategies.

As we move into the latter stages of our SEM planning process, we want to update the campus community and solicit feedback. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend a SEM Town Hall at 12:15-1:15 p.m. Jan. 29 in the PSU Theater. We look forward to seeing you there!

Wall of Fame nominations

Missouri State University has a history of outstanding faculty and staff. We honor employees who have excelled at Missouri State and significantly contributed to the success and positive experiences of students by recognizing them on the Wall of Fame located outside the Plaster Student Union Ballroom.

Nominations are being accepted for next year’s Wall of Fame honorees through March 13. I encourage you to nominate former Missouri State University employees who you believe should be recognized with this honor. You can complete the nomination form online.

You can find more information about the Wall of Fame (including selection criteria and names of prior honorees) on the Alumni Association webpage.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: legislative priorities, strategic enrollment management, Wall of Fame

Clif’s Notes for Oct. 22, 2019

October 22, 2019 by Clif Smart

Trumpeter performs at football game

Homecoming is one of my favorite times on campus. Alumni return and students cheer at pep rallies and competitions, build parade floats and participate in a variety of activities to create their own memories of Missouri State.

I encourage all members of the campus community to participate in Homecoming activities this week. Highlights include:

  • Rockstar, a student talent competition, is tonight at 7 p.m. in Hammons Student Center
  • Yell-Like-Hell Pep Rally is at 6 p.m. on Thursday in Hammons Student Center
  • A Miranda Lambert concert is at 7 p.m. on Friday in JQH Arena
  • The Band of Bears Homecoming Parade at 9 a.m. on Saturday on John Q. Hammons Parkway
  • The Bears football game against the University of Northern Iowa is on Saturday with tailgating starting at 11 a.m. in Bearfest Village and kickoff at 2 p.m. in Plaster Stadium

Join us for It’s On!

After the football game, join us at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts for an epic surprise event—It’s On! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. There will be a HUGE announcement from actor and Missouri State alumnus, John Goodman. After the big reveal, the party moves to the heart of campus for a food truck fair, fireworks, entertainment and more.

All attendees will receive $8 in Bear Bucks to cash in at an array of food truck vendors parked on campus. The first 500 people will receive free t-shirts and all attendees will receive swag bags.

You can find more information on the website.

Board of Governors meets Friday

Before we cheer on the Bears and celebrate It’s On!, the Board of Governors will meet on Friday. Highlights for their meeting include:

  • Receiving presentations about the online speech therapy program operated by an alum, Greenwood Laboratory School and this year’s What’s New at MSU video
  • Authorizing bond refinancing terms that will result in a net savings to the university of more than $1 million
  • Voting on changes to the university Housing Policy
  • Electing 2020 board officers

The main discussion topic at the board meeting will be results from the climate survey we administered in spring 2019. I will update you on those results and the board’s discussion next week.

Wall of Fame inductees

Following the board meeting, we will welcome new inductees to the university’s Wall of Fame at 4 p.m. in the PSU Ballroom. The Wall of Fame honors former faculty and staff members who significantly contributed to the success and positive experience of students.

This year’s inductees are:

  • Earle Doman
  • Neosha Mackey
  • Virginia Mee
  • Linda Pettijohn
  • Denny Pilant
  • Burnie Snodgrass

You can find more information about these individuals in the university’s press release.

I hope you will join me in congratulating these six inductees.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Board of Governors, homecoming, Wall of Fame

Clif’s Notes for Jan. 29, 2019

January 29, 2019 by Clif Smart

Students walking with banners in background

Our new employee benefits year began Jan. 1. Below are a few highlights:

  • Employee choice of two plan options for medical and vision
  • Preventive care is free under the new plan. Your annual check-up, colonoscopy, mammogram, prostate exam, Pap smear, bone density test, screening for STDs and immunizations for adults/children will be 100 percent covered if coded as preventive.
  • Employee assistance program (EAP) services expanded into the overall care of full-time and part-time university employees and their dependents. Call 877-254-0781 (answered 24/7) or log on to the EAP website (password is MSU).
  • eCare through MyMercy provided to employees and dependents
  • Magers Health and Wellness Center has access to Mercy’s electronic medical record system, Epic, to easily review your overall health record when you come in for an appointment.
  • Nurse On Call services
  • Disease management, case management and wellness services, including: biometric screenings, referral to Mercy Tobacco Cessation Program and access to programming through Mercy Health and Wellness Connection (Mercy HAWC) program

Mercy HAWC, previously only available to Mercy employees and dependents, is now being offered to MSU benefits-covered employees and covered dependents (age 18 and older). This includes:

  • Functional movement training sessions with coach supervision
  • Fitness classes
  • 24/7 access to the facility
  • Lunch and learns
  • Book clubs
  • Spiritual wellness resources
  • Financial wellness resources
  • Nutrition resources
  • Onsite wellness educational classes in collaboration with Magers Health and Wellness Center

For more information, contact Aaron Tribby, Mercy’s health and wellness coordinator, at Aaron.Tribby@Mercy.net.

If you have not received your new ID cards, contact human resources at 417-836-5102 or via email at HRBenefits@missouristate.edu. Subscribe to the Human Resources blog to receive updates on your benefits and other HR news.

Call for Wall of Fame nominations

Missouri State University has a history of outstanding faculty and staff. We honor employees who have excelled at Missouri State and significantly contributed to the success and positive experiences of students by recognizing them on the Wall of Fame located outside the Plaster Student Union Ballroom.

Nominations are being accepted for next year’s Wall of Fame honorees through March 8. I encourage you to nominate former Missouri State University employees who you believe should be recognized with this honor. You can complete the nomination form online.

You can find more information about the Wall of Fame (including selection criteria and names of prior honorees) on the Alumni Association webpage.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: benefits, Wall of Fame

Clif’s Notes for Jan. 30, 2018

January 30, 2018 by Clif Smart

Citizen Scholar statuettes

Last week we announced this year’s inductees into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame: Jean Carnahan, Peter Herschend, Lane McConnell, John J. Pershing and Phyllis Washington. I am excited about this class.

Jean Carnahan was Missouri’s first lady and our first female U.S. Senator. She has been a life-long advocate for children and families. Carnahan was a member of the first Congressional delegation to Afghanistan after Sept. 11 and conferred with heads of state in Turkey, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Oman.

Peter Herschend is co-founder and co-owner of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation (formerly Silver Dollar City, Inc.). Herschend is well known for his efforts to help set the direction of tourism and education in Missouri. An education champion, Herschend has been instrumental in promoting higher standards for Missouri’s public education system for more than two decades.

Lane McConnell founded the Farmers Market of the Ozarks (FMO) in Springfield with local developer Matt O’Reilly in early 2011. The market is home to more than 110 farmers and was named the number six farmers market in the country in 2015. The market has also been placed on the Top 10 List for national news sites such as MSN.com, Food52.com, The Daily Meal and Feast Magazine.

General John J. Pershing, a native of Laclede, Missouri, led a distinguished military career culminating with his rank as General of the Armies. He is most recognized for his leadership during World War I, in which he commanded the American Expeditionary Force.

Phyllis Washington began her career as an educator in 1968 in Kansas City. After just a few years as a teacher, she was named principal of E.F. Swinney Applied Learning Magnet School.

Swinney was one of the first magnet schools in the Kansas City school district’s court-ordered desegregation plan, and the U.S. Department of Education recognized Swinney as one of the top elementary schools in the country. She now serves as the superintendent of Allen Village Charter School.

You can find additional information about this year’s nominees in last week’s news release.

This year’s induction ceremony and banquet will occur at 7 p.m. on April 13 at the White River Conference Center. Tickets are $40 and tables are $750. I encourage all members of the university community to purchase tickets online and attend this event.

Additionally, if you have suggestions for future inductees into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame, please submit a nomination online.

Submit nominations for Wall of Fame

Missouri State University has developed a rich heritage of outstanding faculty and staff who have contributed much to the success of our university. The Wall of Fame, located outside the Ballroom in the Plaster Student Union, is a designated location for the university to recognize and honor employees who have excelled at Missouri State and significantly contributed to the success and positive collegiate experience of students. While Missouri State University has had many outstanding employees during its long history, the intention of the Wall of Fame is to recognize those faculty and staff members who have had an impact on students that is considered truly noteworthy.

Nominations are now being accepted for next year’s honorees. I encourage you to nominate former Missouri State University employees who you believe should be recognized with this honor. You can submit nominations online. Selection criteria and a list of past inductees can also be found online. Nominations will be accepted until March 9.

A reception and installation of honoree recognition plaques will take place on Oct. 19 in the PSU Ballroom.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Filed Under: Clif's Notes, Smart Tagged With: Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame, Wall of Fame

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