Presidential Updates

Clif’s Notes for Dec. 7, 2021

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Following a five-month nationwide search, I am pleased to report that last week I hired Dr. Dennis Lancaster to serve as chancellor of the West Plains campus.

Lancaster, a West Plains native, has worked at Missouri State University-West Plains since 1990, starting as a per course faculty member and eventually serving as dean of academic affairs.

He has been interim chancellor since July 2020. Before coming to the university, he was a reporter for the West Plains Daily Quill.

This was a very competitive search. We received 26 applications and interviewed two finalists.

Lancaster emerged from this rigorous process with a unanimous recommendation from the search committee.

I am excited for him to build on the success he has already had in West Plains and continue the Grizzlies on their pathway of success.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for Nov. 9, 2021

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I want to update you on several activities on campus over the next week.

Celebrate Veterans Day

On Nov. 11, we will celebrate Veterans Day.

Veterans on and off campus can join us for a complimentary breakfast with live music performed by the 135th Army Band, Windfall, and a presentation by retired Army Col. Thomas Marty at 9 a.m. in the Plaster Student Union ballroom.

A live performance of Taps by the Missouri State trumpeters will follow the breakfast at 11:11 a.m. outside of McDonald Arena.

Find out more

I hope you will join us as we honor our veterans for their military service.

Finalists for West Plains chancellor

On Nov. 9 and 10, we will host the first finalist for West Plains chancellor for on campus interviews in West Plains and Springfield.

Members of the campus community will have several opportunities to interact with the candidate in West Plains on Nov 9.

You can find more details, including a schedule, on the Chancellor Search webpage.

Recognizing leaders in community

At 3 p.m. Nov. 10, the College of Business will host “A Conversation with Steve Edwards” in the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center.

This event will provide a remarkable opportunity for the university to hear from a preeminent healthcare leader and a critical voice that guided (and continues to guide) the Springfield community through the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is an invitation-only event. However, if you’d like to receive an invitation, please contact me at president@missouristate.edu.

Later that evening, Biz 417 magazine will host a Biz 100 Party at 6 p.m. at Reliable BMW to honor the individuals selected for this year’s Biz 100 list.

You can find additional details about the event, including a link to buy tickets, on Biz 417’s webpage.

MSU names on this year’s list include:

  • Coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.
  • Coach Dana Ford.
  • Lyle Foster.
  • Coach Bobby Petrino.
  • Wes Pratt.
  • Clif Smart.

Cheer for the Bears

We also have several exciting sports and entertainment opportunities on campus.

  • Tonight at 7 p.m., the Bears basketball team will play their home opener against Southeast Missouri State University. The Lady Bears played exhibition games at home last week and will play again Sunday at 1 p.m. at JQH Arena .
  • At 2 p.m. Nov. 13, the Bears football team will play their last home game of the regular season against the University of Northern Iowa. I hope you will join me for the game and for pregame activities at Bearfest Village.
  • Also on Nov. 13, Chicago—one of the longest-running and best-selling groups of all time—will perform at Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts. The band will perform their greatest hits spanning multiple generations. The show starts at 7 p.m. You can buy tickets online, but you need to act soon as the show is poised to sell out and ticket availability is very limited.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for July 30, 2019

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Earlier this month the Board of Governors Executive Committee met.

The Executive Committee approved a construction contract for a classroom addition to McQueary Family Health Sciences Hall. The board awarded the contract to Branco Enterprises, the low bidder, and approved a budget that includes $4.6 million in construction costs for the project.

Of that, $2.9 million of the project will be funded from a MoExcels grant the university received from the state. The remainder will be funded with a significant contribution from the McQueary family, other private contributions and university reserves.

The board and administration are very excited about the opportunities this project provides to expand our nursing and other health programs.

Improving the physical campus

The board also approved capital priorities for both campuses. These priorities will be forwarded to the Missouri Department of Higher Education for consideration by the coordinating board and the governor’s office as they form budget recommendations for fiscal year 2021.

The highest priority capital request on the Springfield campus is renovation of the Professional Building, followed by construction of a science center and several other significant renovation projects (McDonald Hall, Cheek Hall and Meyer Library).

The highest priority capital request on the West Plains campus is construction of a facility to house an advanced welding technology program, followed by several significant renovation projects (Garnett Library, Lybyer Enhanced Technology Center, Looney Hall and Broadway Hall).

We have already begun working with government officials to advocate for these projects.

Approving new contracts

The board also approved two important university contracts.

The first is a revenue contract with Spectra Food Services and Hospitality, the current food vendor in Missouri State’s athletic venues. This contract will extend the term of the university’s agreement with Spectra to 2029. Under the contract, Spectra will pay the university $1 million for food service improvements on campus. Spectra will also guarantee that Missouri State receives commissions of $325,000 (plus a 2% annual inflator) each year.

The second contract is with Bear Village Apartments to house 40 students and 20 faculty members coming to campus from Ningxia University in China. These students and faculty members will participate in customized agricultural education and training through the Darr College of Agriculture. This program is one example of the work that is underway to counteract enrollment declines in the coming year.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for June 18, 2019

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This Friday the Board of Governors will vote on proposed changes to the faculty handbooks on the Springfield and West Plains campuses and changes to the employee handbook that applies to all faculty and staff.

Changes to the employee handbook include:

  • An expansion of the tuition and fee waiver benefit to apply to an employee’s dependent grandchildren
  • An expansion of the funeral leave benefit to include additional extended family members
  • Clarifications regarding university closings and cancellations, 1,000-hour employment, employees’ personal information, resignation and retirement, leave without pay, service award processes, emeritus status, and appeals processes for disciplinary matters.

Changes to the Springfield faculty handbook include:

  • Allowing a faculty member to request an extension of their tenure probationary period to accommodate medical conditions or important family issues
  • Clarifications regarding sabbatical and developmental leave and dismissal from the university
  • Updated language related to sexual harassment

Changes to the West Plains faculty handbook include:

  • Changes to teaching load/work load provisions that (1) increase the teaching load for full-time ranked faculty in West Plains to 30 credit hours, (2) allow existing faculty to opt in or out of the new teaching load and (3) establish financial incentives for existing faculty that opt in to the new teaching load.
  • New provisions regarding evaluation of non-ranked faculty
  • Supplemental language regarding faculty promotion

People are our most important resource at Missouri State. The work we have done this year to provide across-the-board pay increases and expand benefit usage and availability reflects the value the board and our administration places on faculty and staff.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!

Clif’s Notes for April 2, 2019

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The Lady Bears finished a successful season Saturday. The team finished with 25 wins and a Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Head Coach Kellie Harper was named the conference coach of the year and four players were selected to all-conference teams.

We have a proud tradition of women’s basketball at Missouri State — this was the 15th time the Lady Bears have played in the NCAA Tournament and the second time under Coach Harper.

The men’s basketball team also showed significant progress in Head Coach Dana Ford’s first season. The team had a winning conference record. Tulio Da Silva was named conference newcomer of the year, and two players were selected for the all-conference team. Ticket sales and attendance also improved significantly over prior years.

We have had success in recent months and years in other sports as well — basketball merely represents the most recent example. We should be proud of our successful athletic programs. Winning athletic programs generate local and national media coverage and enhance Missouri State’s profile with prospective students and the greater community.

Please join me in congratulating Coaches Harper and Ford and their teams on a job well done.

West Plains substation approved

The Board of Governors Executive Committee met earlier this month.

The committee approved an agreement with the City of West Plains to establish a police substation on the West Plains campus. This agreement is modeled on the arrangement we have with the City of Springfield for a police substation on the Springfield campus. We believe this is the most safe and efficient model for a campus police force. It allows officers to be trained, supervised and managed as police officers. It also facilitates closer collaboration between the university and local law enforcement.

The committee also approved two contracts for residence hall projects. These projects will reconfigure bathrooms in Woods House and install new finishes in Wells House and Woods House. The projects are funded with residence life reserve funds and auxiliary bonds approved by the board last year.

Get involved with the campus garden

The campus garden is a student-managed sustainability project that allows students to supplement their traditional education with hands on applications that benefit the community. The campus garden has a membership program through which members support the campus garden and receive produce each week during the summer months. Last year, the campus garden supplied members with more than 350 pounds of fresh produce and donated more than 900 pounds of produce to the Well of Life Food Pantry.

If you are interested in the membership program, you can email the campus garden at campusgarden@missouristate.edu. You can also volunteer to help at the campus garden online.

Exercise your right

Today is Election Day. Don’t forget to vote! You can find more information about the election in last week’s Clif’s Notes.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!