Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Sept. 5, 2017

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Last Wednesday, Dr. Drew Bennett, chancellor of the West Plains campus, announced his intention to retire at the end of the spring 2018 semester. Drew is the seventh person to lead the West Plains campus and is the second longest-serving. Drew is my friend and colleague, and I will miss his leadership in West Plains.

The West Plains campus flourished under Drew’s leadership. Highlights include:

  • Increased enrollment by 10 percent
  • Increased full-time faculty by 26 percent, including three endowed professorships
  • Added 10 new associate degrees
  • Raised more than $8.8 million in donations and more than $11 million in grant funding
  • Graduated more than 2,700 students

Drew oversaw 12 building renovation projects and three new facilities — the FEMA/Student Recreation Center, Gohn Hall and Hass-Darr Hall (under construction with a targeted spring 2018 completion).

The university will begin a nationwide search for a new chancellor this fall. Matt Morris, vice president for administrative services, will lead the search committee. Please send input regarding the search to president@missouristate.edu.

Please join me in congratulating Drew Bennett on a successful career. We wish him well in his retirement.

Familiarize yourself with the public affairs theme

Next week we will kick-off this year’s public affairs theme, Sustainability in Practice: Consensus and Consequences, with Public Affairs Week.

Highlights include:

You can find the complete schedule of events on the Public Affairs Week webpage.

I hope you join me in putting the public affairs mission into practice by attending this year’s Public Affairs Week activities.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for June 27, 2017

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Last week our Board of Governors met on the West Plains campus.

Approval of the FY 2018 budget

Budget town hall

The board approved our fiscal year 2018 operating budget. The budget includes $8 million less in state appropriations than last year’s budget. To balance the budget, it also includes the cuts that we discussed throughout the spring and additional revenue generated through enrollment growth and an inflationary tuition and fee increase.

The budget does not include an across the board pay raise or funding for discretionary raises based on merit. While it was necessary to forego raises this year due to the state funding reduction, the board indicated that this was not a sustainable strategy long term. The university must find ways to increase compensation to avoid losing its most talented employees.

Making MSU an even better place to work

Staff at USA graduation

While the budget does not include an across the board raise or a pool for merit raises, it does include several items that affect compensation:

  • A $2 million increase in the university’s contribution under the MOSERS pension system
  • $190,000 for faculty promotions on the Springfield campus and $34,000 on the West Plains campus
  • $34,000 for the full professor salary incentive program
  • $270,000 for salary and fringe increases provided to more than 60 employees under the university’s FLSA compliance plan
  • $46,000 for salary and fringe increases provided to 89 staff members due to inflationary adjustments to the job classification system

The board also approved changes to the faculty and staff handbooks. The faculty handbook now provides for sick leave accrual by faculty and clarifies the situations in which faculty are eligible for paid FMLA leave.

The staff handbook now gives the university additional flexibility to move an employee into an open position when the employee’s current position is eliminated. It also updated telecommuting and compensation provisions to make them consistent with current practices. The staff handbook also modified appeal and grievance provisions to streamline these processes.

Identifying needs in health, technology fields

Athletic training student wraps ankle

The board approved the Master of Athletic Training program. The university will now begin to transition its Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training program to a professional level Master of Athletic Training program. In addition to meeting accreditation requirements, this new graduate program will align with the university’s mission and strategic initiatives and meet a critical workforce need throughout the state of Missouri.

The board also discussed the Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Technology (GOCAT) on the West Plains campus and approved a memorandum of understanding with the city of West Plains and the West Plains R-7 School District to establish the GOCAT. This GOCAT is the result of a joint effort by stakeholders in West Plains to bring advanced technical training and degree and certificate programs to area residents through a combination of seated, blended, online and laboratory courses. I encourage you to visit the GOCAT webpage to learn more.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for May 9, 2017

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I have good news to report from Jefferson City. We have invested significant time and effort this year advocating that the legislature reduce the cut to our core appropriation.

Good news from the legislature

Carrington

Last Wednesday I made another trip to Jefferson City to testify before the House Higher Education Committee. My testimony focused on Missouri State’s quality, affordability and efficiency. I informed the committee of the decisions we have made this year to balance Missouri State’s budget, and I stated that additional cuts would result in Missouri State University — and the entire Missouri higher education community — taking steps backward in terms of quality and affordability. I have delivered this same message to many of our legislators and other elected leaders over the past several months.

Later in the week, the General Assembly’s budget conference committee announced, and the House and Senate passed, the legislature’s final version of the state budget.

The final budget will include a 6.58 percent core cut for Missouri State as opposed to the 9 percent cut proposed by Governor Greitens. If the Governor approves the budget, and there are no withholds during the fiscal year, Missouri State will receive $2.1 million more in state appropriations than originally anticipated.

Please join me in thanking Sen. Dan Brown (Senate Appropriations Chair), Rep. Scott Fitzpatrick (House Budget Chair) and the other legislators involved in the budget process for working to restore a portion of our core cut.

An unanticipated $2.1 million

Student sits on steps of Siceluff Hall

As you know, we developed our fiscal year 2018 budget recommendations on the assumption of a 9 percent cut. Accordingly, this additional $2.1 million in anticipated revenue is currently unallocated.

I have already informed the Executive Budget Committee that we will meet in the fall to evaluate the actual revenues received from the state and develop recommendations for a mid-year compensation increase.

West Plains flooding update

I want to take a moment to update you on the status of our West Plains campus.

On April 29, West Plains received over nine inches of rain in a six-hour period. The result was flooding throughout Howell County and surrounding areas. It was a historic weather event that destroyed homes and businesses, caused several deaths and threatened the safety of countless others.

Roads, bridges and other infrastructure throughout the West Plains community have been damaged, making travel difficult for some and impossible for others. Cellular service was disrupted, and the entire community has been without power and other services at times following the storm.

Our West Plains campus sits on high ground, so we suffered only minor property damage. The GOCAT facility suffered some flooding. Moreover, the Grizzly Lofts, which we lease as part of a public-private partnership, were flooded, requiring an emergency evacuation of students residing there. Additionally, our faculty, staff and students in the West Plains area have had to deal with the ramification of their homes and communities being flooded.

I was in contact with Chancellor Bennett during the flooding and its aftermath. We decided to close the campus on May 1 and 2, with only essential personnel reporting. As we evaluated the situation we then canceled classes for the rest of the week, but reopened offices on May 3. This allowed as many faculty, staff and students as possible to avoid the travel difficulties and attend to their personal needs.

The Springfield campus provided dispatch services during the flooding (which proved critical given the cellular outage and communications problems resulting from the flooding) and has offered other support to ensure that the West Plains campus operates as smoothly as possible in the coming weeks and months.

West Plains campus open again

West Plains campus

I am pleased to report that the West Plains campus opened for business yesterday. I traveled there yesterday to ensure that things ran according to plan and to recognize several members of our Missouri State community who exhibited extraordinary commitment during the flooding. Those individuals include:

  • Jared Cates, director of student life
  • Bruce Cavitt, academic adviser
  • Anyta Cavitt, teacher education adviser
  • Stanley Mugeki, director of student housing
  • Angie Totty, dean of student services

Please join me in congratulating and thanking these individuals for their exemplary work. Please also join me in remaining mindful of the obstacles that our West Plains campus has surmounted, and the obstacles they will continue to encounter, as we close out the semester.

How can I help?

Students work together in classroom

I have been asked by many of our faculty and staff what they can do to help our students in West Plains. The Missouri State Foundation has an Emergency Scholarship Fund. This fund provides assistance to students who face an unforeseen crisis that makes them unable to meet their financial obligations. The Foundation has agreed to use this fund to solicit contributions and provide assistance for our students in West Plains who have been impacted by the flooding.

The Foundation will begin an email and crowdfunding campaign to solicit contributions to the fund this week. In the meantime, if you would like to contribute to the fund, you may either contact the Missouri State Foundation at 417-836-4143 or contribute online.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Clif’s Notes for Dec. 20, 2016

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Clif's Notes

Our Board of Governors met last week. They took up several important matters.

Board recognizes Citizen Scholars and service to university

The board recognized this year’s Citizen Scholar Award recipients:

2016-17 Citizen Scholars
Jaggar Deeds, Kimberleigh Eng, Caroline Finnell, Alexis Jemes, Michelle Pellegrino and Victoria York

You can find more information about our 2016-2017 Citizen Scholars. Please join me in congratulating these students on a job well done.

The board also recognized the board service of Governors Peter Hofherr and Steve Hoven, whose terms expire at the end of the year. Governors Hofherr and Hoven have made a lasting impact on Missouri State, and Missouri State University is better because of their service on the board.

19210_3038-West-PlainsLooking to the future of the West Plains campus

The board also approved the long-range plan for the West Plains campus. Similar to the Springfield campus, we have also developed a set of measurable goals for the West Plains campus to ensure accountability. The particular goals are set forth below.

Degrees and certificates awarded annually (July 1 – June 30)
FY12 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 Goal FY22
333 302 309 297 300 350
Three-year graduation/transfer rate for first-time full-time students (statewide average in parentheses)
2009 cohort in 2012 2010 cohort in 2013 2011 cohort in 2014 2012 cohort in 2015 2013 cohort in 2016 Goal fall 2022
40.7% (39%) 38.5% (34.6%) 35.5% (35.6%) 44.2% (NA) 47.7% (NA) 50%
First year to second year retention rate (fall to fall) for first-time full-time students (statewide average in parentheses)
F11 to F12 F12 to F13 F13 to F14 F14 to F15 F15 to F16 Goal fall 2022
43% (49.7%) 45% (49.4%) 43% (58.8%) 42% (56.2%) 49% (NA) 55%
Three-year graduation/transfer rate first-time full-time students by subgrouping (n= total beginning number of students in cohort)
2009 cohort in 2012 2010 cohort in 2013 2011 cohort in 2014 2012 cohort in 2015 2013 cohort in 2016 Goal fall 2022
Hispanic/Latino 14% (7) 50% (8) 0% (2) 33% (6) 36% (11) = or > annual rate for total pop
Black African-American 70% (10) 63% (8) 64% (14) 68% (22)  65% (23) = or > annual rate for total pop
First year to second year retention rate (fall to fall) for first-time full-time students by subgrouping (n= total beginning number of students in cohort)
F11 to F12 F12 to F13 F13 to F14 F14 to F15 F15 to F16 Goal fall 2022
Hispanic/Latino 50% (2) 33% (6) 73% (11) 25% (12) 56% (16) = or > annual rate for total pop
Black African American 14% (14) 50% (22)  35% (23) 46% (24) 48% (29) = or > annual rate for total pop
Annual percent of full-time faculty and staff who are international or members of historically underrepresented groups, defined to include minority, veteran and disability
Fall 2012 Fall 2013 Fall 2014 Fall 2015 Fall 2016 Goal fall 2022
7.38% 9.45% 8.03% 11.19% (15/135) 10.08% (13/129) 13.0%

We are excited for what the next five years will hold for our faculty, staff and students in West Plains.

Agriculture studentChanges in agriculture

The board approved a resolution changing the Darr School of Agriculture to the Darr College of Agriculture. This is an important change that highlights the growth of Missouri State’s agriculture programs and the important role they play at the university, in the state of Missouri and throughout the world. I want to thank Anson Elliott and his team for developing Missouri State’s agriculture programs to what they are today. We know that the Darr College of Agriculture will continue its upward trajectory under Ron Del Vecchio’s leadership, and we are excited for what the future holds for our agriculture programs.

19024-9565-clifs-notes-winterMeeting performance measures on both campuses

The board also received reports from Frank Einhellig and Drew Bennett on the university’s performance as part of the state of Missouri’s performance funding framework. We are happy to report that the Springfield campus and the West Plains campus met all five of their performance measures. You can find additional details about the performance measures online.

The Springfield campus has met all five of the performance funding targets every year since the performance funding framework was established. The university’s success is thanks to the hard work of all of our faculty, staff and students.

18322_7786-Clif's-Notes-ConcealStaff Service Awards

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend the annual Staff Service Awards and Appreciation luncheon on Jan. 11. at Hammons Student Center. It’s a special time to recognize those who have reached a five-year longevity milestone in their years of service to the university, those who have retired, those who have been selected for the Staff Excellence in University Service Award, those who have been selected for the Staff Excellence in Community Service Award and the winner of the My Ideas program.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

 

Clif’s Notes for Aug. 23, 2016

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Clif's Notes

18792_0203-Enrollment-GrowthAs you know, classes started yesterday. I am happy to report that our opening day enrollment shows an increase of 773 students over last year’s opening day enrollment number. This represents an increase of 3.8 percent.

What enrollment growth means to you

Enrollment growth indicates the health of our university. More students want to attend Missouri State because of the hard work that each of you do to make the university better. This growth also helps pay for compensation increases and the hiring of new faculty and staff.

The official census count is made after the fourth week of class, and I will update you again on the status of our enrollment at that time.

Making space for our students19210_3038-West-Plains

The executive committee of the Board of Governors met last week. I wanted to report on two highlights from the meeting.

First, the board approved a management agreement with the owner of the Shoe Factory Lofts in West Plains. Under this agreement, Missouri State will manage the Shoe Factory Lofts for an 18-month trial period. This arrangement will provide the university with the capacity to grow its West Plains campus, apply university policies to the Shoe Factory Lofts and its residents and streamline students’ use of financial aid to pay for housing in West Plains.

Second, the board approved a construction contract to relocate the Veterans Student Center to Meyer Library. This will provide additional space for the Veterans lounge and will place the lounge near the Veterans Student Services office. It will also free up space in Carrington Hall to accommodate the Title IX office.

Understanding the Employee Handbook changes18709_9213-Clifs-Notes-Staff

Finally, I wanted to update you on the board’s actions last month on paid leave options for employees. On the administration’s recommendation, the board approved modifications to the Employee Handbook that:

  • Provide sick leave for 9-month faculty (sections 7.2 – 7.5)
  • Establish policies for long-term paid sick leave for faculty and clarify the situations in which such leave is available and the protocol for requesting it (section 7.20)
  • Expand the Staff Shared Leave Pool (section 7.19) to
    • allow employees to utilize the pool for additional qualifying events such as certain family care situations (e.g., maternity, paternity, elder care, etc.) and bone marrow or organ donation
    • reduce the amount of earned vacation time that must be donated to participate
    • increase the number of leave hours that may be granted from 320 to 480

These actions expand paid leave options for both faculty and staff. I am pleased at our board’s commitment to continue to make Missouri State University a desirable place to work.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!