December 14, 2007

1. Roll Call
Present- Mr. Michael Duggan, Vice-Chair of the Board
Mr. Gordon Elliott, Governor
Mr. Brian Hammons, Governor
Ms. Mary Sheid, Chair of the Board
Mr. Ryan Sivill, Student Governor
Ms. Cathy Smith, Governor
Mr. John Winston, Governor

Absent - Ms. Phyllis Washington, Governor

Also
Present- Michael Nietzel, President
Drew Bennett, Chancellor of the West Plains Campus
Don Aripoli, Vice President for Student Affairs
Belinda McCarthy, Provost
Greg Burris, Vice President for Administrative and Information Services
Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement
Clifton Smart, General Counsel
John McAlear, Secretary of the Board

2. Presiding --- The presiding officer for the meeting was Ms. Mary Sheid, Chair of the Board of Governors. She called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. in the Traywick Parliamentary Room in the Plaster Student Union on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

3. Approval of Minutes:
a. Board of Governors’ Meetings --- Ms. Sheid asked for a motion for the approval of the minutes for the open and closed meetings of October 26, 2007. Mr. Duggan so moved, receiving the second of Mr. Hammons.

Motion passed 6-0.

b. Executive Committee Meetings --- Ms. Sheid next asked for a motion for the approval of the minutes for the open Executive Committee meeting of October 31, 2007 and the open and closed Executive Committee meetings of November 12, 2007. Mr. Duggan so moved, receiving the second of Mr. Hammons.

Motion passed 6-0.

4. Student Affairs --- Ms. Cathy Smith, Chair of the Board’s Student Affairs Committee, then recognized 2007/08 Citizen Scholar Award recipient, Robert Stange, who will graduate today with an MBA. His 2006 undergraduate degree was in Marketing with an emphasis in advertising and promotions.

5. Consent Agenda --- Ms. Sheid noted that the next item of business on the agenda was the approval of the Consent Agenda for this meeting. The items included in the Consent Agenda are:

October 31, 2007 Executive Committee Meeting
Approval of purchases exceeding $100,000 from October 26, 2007 through October 31, 2007 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 308-07)

Civil engineering services for storm water improvements in conjunction with the JQH Arena (Architects & Engineers No. 639-07); Scott Consulting Engineers, P.C., for a fee up to $98,000 plus reimbursable expenses. Additional services of up to $25,000 as described in this agreement may be authorized and approved as necessary.

November 12, 2007 Executive Committee Meeting
Approval of the employment of Clifton Smart III as General Counsel of Missouri State University (Human Resources No. 1250-07).

West Plains Campus
Approval of the Activity Report dated November 27, 2007 (West Plains Campus Activity Report No. 67-07).

Approval to purchase certain real estate located at 418 Broadway Avenue, West Plains, Missouri at a cost of $140,000 (West Plains Campus Land Purchase No. 26-07).

Approval of actions concerning West Plains Campus academic employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 273-07).

Approval of actions concerning West Plains Campus non-academic employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 274-07).

Springfield Campus Purchases/Contracts
Approval of purchases exceeding $100,000 between October 31, 2007 and November 29, 2007 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 309-07).

Design and Construction Items
Approval of Activity Report for the month of October 2007 (Activity Report No. 179-07).

The asbestos abatement for the modernization of the Power House (Bids & Quotations No. 1247-07); Gerken Environmental Enterprises, bid received of $96,700; total project budget established at $200,000.

The modernization of the Power House (Bids & Quotations No. 1248-07); The Knopke Company, LLC, low bid of $2,849,000 for the base bid plus alternate one; total project budget set at $3,900,000.

Elevator renovations to Shannon House and the Jim D. Morris Center for Continuing Education (Bids & Quotations No. 1249-07); KONE Inc., only bid received of $557,700; total project budget established at $661,000.

Approval of a license agreement to ratify the installation of underground piping across the City of Springfield right-of-ways (Land No. 92-07).

Approval to grant a right-of-way easement for the installation of the electrical service for JQH Arena (Land No. 93-07).

Approval to increase the project budget for the elevator machine room repairs by $1,100 resulting in a new project budget total of $16,350 (Bids & Quotations No. 1250-07).

Approval to increase the project budget for the phase 2 renovation of the Roy Blunt Jordan Valley Innovation Center by $85,000 resulting in a new project budget total of $3,525,000 (Bids & Quotations No. 1251-07).

Consent to the granting of an alcoholic beverage license by the City of Springfield to Grand Daddy’s Q & More, 431 S. Jefferson Avenue, Suite 172 (Miscellaneous No. 29-07).

Human Resources Items
Actions concerning academic employees (Human Resources No. 1251-07).

Actions concerning non-academic employees (Human Resources No. 1252-07).

Approval to continue long-term care insurance by changing carriers from Aetna to Prudential (Human Resources No. 1253-07).

Mr. Winston made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda receiving a second from Mr. Hammons.

Motion passed 6-0.

6. President’s Office --- Dr. Michael Nietzel, President, next reported the University’s three FY09 budget priorities:

* A 4.2% increase in the operating budget ($3,627,608).

* The “Preparing to Care” special initiative for the two- and four-year public institutions across the State to increase the production of health-care workers.

* One-time start-up funding of $1 million for the Cooperative Engineering Program with the University of Missouri-Rolla. The one-time funding would be split, with $500,000 allocated to each institution.

Dr. Nietzel then presented a resolution (Agreement No. 207-07) approving the addendum to the Amended and Restated Ballpark License Agreement for the use of Hammons Field for the University’s baseball games and practices for March 14, 2008 through March 13, 2009 under the same terms as last year. Motion made by Mr. Hammons with the second by Mr. Elliott.

Motion passed 6-0.

Dr. Bruce Johnson, Faculty Athletics Representative, then reported on the University’s progress with respect to twenty-one goals identified in the institution’s 2002-2003 athletics certification self-study. He focused his short presentation on three “Equity” goals, two “Diversity” goals, and one “Academic” goal. He reported that the December 2005 decision to drop five sports programs has resulted in the ratio of male to female student-athletes being within the acceptable two percent of the ratio of male to female undergraduate students (43.8% to 56.2%). He reported that using a ten-year moving average, 85% of student-athletes, entering Missouri State as freshmen on athletics’ aid and exhausting their athletics eligibility at the University, graduated within six years. The comparable rate for all NCAA Division I institutions was 86%. He concluded his report by reporting that in the 2006-07 academic year, eleven of the sixteen sports teams maintained team GPAs of 3.00 or higher.

7. Educational:
a. Faculty Senate Report --- Dr. Tom Kane, Chairperson for the Faculty Senate, reported that the Faculty Senate passed a resolution in honor of Mr. Guy Mace for his generous gift establishing an endowed professorship in Engineering. He then asked Dr. Paula Kemp to present the Faculty Senate recommendations for honorary degrees. Dr. Kemp then presented the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:

Conferring the honorary doctorate degree, Doctor of Public Affairs, upon Ms. Nancy Brown Dornan for her extraordinary contributions in the area of Public Affairs (Awards No. 23-07).

Conferring the honorary doctorate degree, Doctorate of Science, upon Dr. Sue Savage-Rumbaugh for her extraordinary contributions in the area of Science (Awards No. 24-07).

Moved by Ms. Smith and seconded by Mr. Hammons.

Motion passed 6-0.

b. Report from the Provost --- Dr. Belinda McCarthy, Provost, first recognized Dr. Mark Richter, Professor of Chemistry, as Missouri’s State Professor of the Year – an award granted by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. She next touched on a new partnership with GoalQuest, a company which provides an extensive suite of programs on the web and through email with goals of increasing our student applicant yield in the admissions process and our student retention rates for those students who do enroll. Dr. McCarthy ended her report on data they are analyzing and tracking to improve individual college and departmental budgeting.

8. Research and Economic Development --- Dr. Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, reported that, through the end of October, we have submitted 111 proposals compared to 77 at the same time last year. He added that we have been awarded $7.7 million compared to $5.6 million at the same time last year.

He then presented the following resolution for the Board’s consideration:

Approving a Cooperative Agreement with the Missouri Department of Conservation for a research project to be conducted by Dr. Lynn Robbins entitled “Winter Ecology and the Effects of Fire on Bats in Southwest Missouri” (Agreement No. 208-07).

Moved by Mr. Winston and seconded by Mr. Hammons.

Motion passed 6-0.

9. West Plains Campus --- Dr. Drew Bennett, Chancellor of the West Plains Campus, reported that compared to this week last year, the West Plains Campus has 12% more students registered for the next semester. He also reported that for the twelfth consecutive year, West Plains Campus graduates have scored at or above the national average on the Collegiate Assessment of Academic Proficiency. He ended his report by announcing a new development effort at the West Plains Campus – the Campus Opportunities Campaign. The goal is to raise $100,000 by June 30, 2008.

10. Student Affairs:
a. Report from Student Body President --- Mr. Orlando Hodges, President of the Student Body, reported that they have completed their part of the selection process of naming the next student governor. After reviewing the credentials of eight applicants, they forwarded three names on to Governor Matt Blunt for his selection. The three applicants forwarded were: Ashley Hoyer, Courtney Wendel, and Ryan Childress.

b. Report from Vice President for Student Affairs --- Dr. Don Aripoli, Vice President for Student Affairs, first presented a resolution (Student Policies No. 98-07) approving changes to The Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Moved by Mr. Hammons. Seconded by Ms. Smith.
Motion passed 6-0.

He then reported that RFPs (Request for Proposals) are due by March 7, 2008 for privatized housing (130 to 195 beds) to be constructed either on and/or off campus and to be ready for occupancy by August 1, 2009.

11. Staff Senate --- Ms. Kelly Barnts, Chair of the Staff Senate, reported that staff members look forward to the year 2008 as we work together to resolve issues and concerns and to help strengthen University life for students, staff, and faculty.

12. Finance:
a. Development Report --- Mr. Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement, reported that through November, 2007 we are up 25% - about $1.1 million in gift dollars received when compared to the same time period for last year.

b. Financial Report --- Ms. Nila Hayes, Controller, reviewed the June 30, 2007 audited financial statements with the Board. Total Net Assets increased $27.4 million in FY07 to a total of $320,405,709.

Ms. Kim Hamm, of BKD, LLP, Certified Public Accountants, explained that they have issued an opinion letter that the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Missouri State University at June 30, 2007. She also reviewed the Federal Awards Programs and the Management Letter with the Board.

Ms. Jan Lewis, Director of Accounting & Budgeting, next presented the following resolution for the Board’s consideration:

Approval of purchases exceeding $100,000 from November 30, 2007 through December 13, 2007 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 310-07).

Moved by Mr. Winston. Seconded by Mr. Hammons.

Motion passed 6-0.

13. Unfinished Business --- Ms. Sheid next announced that, at this time, it appears that the mid-year board retreat will be held on either January 19, 2008 or January 26, 2008. As soon as the date is finalized, Mr. McAlear will let the individual board members know of the date.

14. Closed Meeting --- It was determined that the Board of Governors needed to meet in a closed session to consider items of business provided in the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Ms. Sheid asked if a resolution authorizing a closed meeting of the Board was prepared. Thereupon, the following resolution was presented for consideration:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Governors for Missouri State University that a closed meeting, with closed records and closed vote, be held immediately following this December 14, 2007 meeting of the Board of Governors to consider items of business pursuant to:

a. R.S.Mo. 610.021(1). “Legal actions, causes of action, or litigation involving a public governmental body…”

b. R.S.Mo. 610.021(2). “Leasing, purchase or sale of real estate by a public governmental body…”

c. R.S.Mo. 610.021(3). “Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting an employee of a public governmental body.”

d. R.S.Mo. 610.021(13). “Individually identifiable personnel records, performance ratings, or records pertaining to employees or applicants for employment,…”

Mr. Duggan moved the approval of the resolution and Mr. Hammons seconded the motion.

A roll call vote on the resolution was as follows: those voting in favor – Governors Duggan, Elliott, Hammons, Sheid, Smith, and Winston; those voting against – none; those absent – Governor Washington.

Ms. Sheid declared the resolution passed unanimously.

15. Date of Next Meeting --- The date of the next scheduled meeting was set for Friday, March 14, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. on the West Plains Campus in West Plains, Missouri.

16. Adjournment --- Ms. Sheid adjourned the meeting at 10:40 a.m. on the motion of Mr. Duggan, the second of Mr. Winston, and the unanimous vote of the Board.


John W. McAlear
Secretary