MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
FEBRUARY 8, 2013
1. Roll Call
Present- Mr. Stephen Bough, Governor
Mr. Joe Carmichael, Governor
Ms. Carrie Carroll, Governor
Mr. Gordon Elliott, Governor
Mr. Peter Hofherr, Governor
Mr. Stephen B. Hoven, Governor
Ms. Paige Jenkins, Student Governor
Mr. Orvin Kimbrough, Chair of the Board
Ms. Beverly Miller, Vice Chair of the Board
Ms. Cathy Smith, Governor
Also
Present- Clifton Smart III, President
Drew Bennett, Chancellor of the West Plains Campus
Frank Einhellig, Provost
Earle Doman, Vice President for Student Affairs
Ken McClure, Vice President for Administrative and Information Services
Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development and International
Programs
Kenneth Coopwood, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Stephen Foucart, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement
Penni Groves, General Counsel
John McAlear, Secretary of the Board
2. Presiding --- The presiding officer for the meeting was Mr. Orvin Kimbrough, Chair of the Board of Governors. He called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. in the Magnolia Room in the West Plains Civic Center in West Plains, Missouri. He welcomed Ms. Carrie Carroll and Mr. Joe Carmichael as new board members attending their first board meeting. He next thanked Mr. Gordon Elliott, immediate past Chair of the Board for doing a phenomenal job in leading the Board while he was Chair.
3. Approval of Minutes:
a. Board of Governors’ Meeting --- Mr. Kimbrough mentioned that the first item of business was the approval of the minutes for the open meeting of December 14, 2012. Mr. Hoven so moved, receiving the second of Mr. Hofherr.
Motion passed 7-0-2 (Mr. Carmichael and Ms. Carroll abstaining).
b. Executive Committee Meeting --- Mr. Kimbrough then stated that the next item of business was the approval of the minutes for the Executive Committee’s open meeting of January 16, 2013. Mr. Hofherr so moved, receiving the second of Mr. Hoven.
Motion passed 3-0 (Mr. Hofherr, Mr. Hoven, and Ms. Miller).
4. Consent Agenda --- Mr. Kimbrough 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:
Executive Committee Meeting Held on January 16, 2013
Approval of the Academic Calendar for 2014-2015 (Curriculum No. 354-13).
Approval of Procurement Activity Report for the period December 14, 2012, through January 11, 2013 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 381-13).
Approval of the third amendment to the Building Attachment Antenna Collocation lease agreement at Blair House and Plaster Sports Complex (Agreement No. 313-13).
Approval of sublease for the fourth floor Brick City Building #1 to host the UMKC/MSU PharmD program (Agreement No. 314-13).
Approval to increase the project budget for the phase II renovation at Robert W. Plaster Center for Free Enterprise and Business Development (Bids & Quotations No. 1425-13); this $117,000 increase brings the new total project budget to $8,483,163.
President
Approval of terms of employment of the Missouri State University football coaching staff (Human Resources No. 1413-13).
West Plains Campus
Approval of Activity Report dated February 8, 2013 (West Plains Activity Report No. 99-13).
Approval of actions concerning West Plains Campus academic employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 350-13).
Approval of actions concerning West Plains Campus non-academic employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 351-13).
Approval of Service Agreement and Approval to enter into an agreement with Downtown West Plains, Inc., d/b/a Ozarks Small Business Incubator (West Plains Agreement No. 33-13).
Springfield Campus Purchases/Contracts
Approval of Procurement Activity Report for the period December 15, 2012, through January 23, 2013 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 382-13).
Facilities and Equipment
Approval of Activity Report for the month of November 2012 (Activity Report No. 240-13).
Approval of Activity Report for the month of December 2012 (Activity Report No. 241-13).
Approval to allow the Job Order Contracting Services-Mechanical Repair & Replacement to exceed the current allowable annual monetary expenditure of $200,000 (Bids & Quotations No. 1426-13); this increases the current allowable annual expenditure to $275,000 for only the 2013 fiscal year.
Human Resources Items
Actions concerning academic employees (Human Resources No. 1414-13).
Actions concerning non-academic employees (Human Resources No. 1415-13).
Approval of resolution authorizing 2% across-the-board increase for academic employees effective January 1, 2013 (Human Resources No. 1416-13).
Mr. Bough made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, receiving a second from Ms. Smith.
Motion passed 9-0.
5. President’s Report --- President Clif Smart also welcomed Ms. Carroll and Mr. Carmichael as new board members. Both Ms. Carroll and Mr. Carmichael expressed their excitement and honor in serving on the Board. Mr. Smart next asked Chancellor Bennett to introduce the student we are recognizing at today’s meeting. Chancellor Bennett introduced Ms. Lacy Mill, a 2005 graduate of Bakersfield High School, who will graduate this May with an Associate of Arts in General Education, an Associate of Applied Science in Child and Family Development, and a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development. Chancellor Bennett added that Ms. Mill has been an extremely active student on the West Plains Campus.
Mr. Smart next reported on Governor Jay Nixon’s recent announcement that he was releasing the 1% that he had restricted from the FY13 operating funds for all of Higher Education. This amounts to just under $800,000 in one-time funds for Missouri State University and he and Provost Einhellig will be reviewing how to use these funds in support of science and health-related programs, areas of recent high growth. He next reported that Governor Nixon’s FY14 Budget Proposal includes $34 million in additional funds for Higher Education. Missouri State’s portion of this amounts to $3.3 million, a 4.3% appropriation increase, based on meeting all five of the Springfield campus’s performance measures and four of five of the West Plains campus’s performance measures. He explained that the one measure just missed by the West Plains campus was on the percentage of successful licensure examinations. Two students have retaken their examination and passed so we have asked for a revision showing the West Plains campus meeting all of its measures. We will continue to monitor the FY14 appropriation process as it will be several months before we will know what is approved by the legislature. Mr. Smart next mentioned that there is considerable discussion in Jefferson City regarding the funding of capital projects. Our two priority projects for a capital bonding initiative are the Ozarks Health and Life Science Center on the Springfield Campus at an approximate cost of $45 million and the Hass-Hoover Hall on the West Plains Campus at a cost of about $6 million. He added that discussions are continuing on a new Higher Education funding formula beginning in FY15. A bill has not yet been presented but we should know more about this formula by our March meeting.
Mr. Smart next commented that on Friday, January 11, 2013, there were several events held to celebrate the successful completion of Our Promise capital campaign. He thanked Mr. Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement and the hundreds of employees and volunteers who worked on this campaign which raised $167 million, about $42 million more than the original campaign goal.
He then ended his report by explaining that, similar to our last meeting when there was a lengthy discussion on sustainability, we will discuss academic programs on the West Plains campus later in today’s meeting. Our new meeting format is to spend less time on routine items and to have a discussion on one major topic. The topic at our May meeting will be marketing the University. In these discussions, we will frame the issue and get the Board’s input and advice. To carve out time for today’s discussion, written reports have been included in the Board agenda and the Board will not hear oral reports from the following administrators: Chancellor of the West Plains Campus, Dr. Drew Bennett; Interim Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Steve Foucart; Vice President for Research and Economic Development and International Programs, Dr. Jim Baker; Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Ken Coopwood; and Vice President for University Advancement, Mr. Brent Dunn.
6. Academic Affairs:
a. Report from Provost --- Dr. Frank Einhellig, Provost, first mentioned that we have just recently heard that our College of Business has maintained its full accreditation by AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). He next reported that, over the last ten days, we have held interviews with three candidates for the Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. Telephone interviews are now being held with six applicants for the Dean of the Graduate College. He next summarized the new Student Technology Requirement Guidelines which must be followed when the anticipated cost to a student for required software or hardware for a course exceeds $150. He ended his report by mentioning two new academic programs approved by the Faculty Senate: 1) Master of Occupational Therapy; and 2) Bachelor of Applied Science in Hospitality and Restaurant Management. He will be bringing these for approval at the next Executive Committee meeting.
b. Faculty Senate Report --- Dr. Chris Herr, Chairperson of the Faculty Senate, gave an update on General Education. A total of 33 courses were submitted to the Committee on General Education and Intercollegiate Programs during the first round of consideration with 15 being accepted. Most of those returned for revision have already been resubmitted. The goal is to bring the entire program and its courses to Faculty Senate in April 2013. The implementation of the new General Education program will likely be in Fall 2014.
7. West Plains Campus --- Dr. Gary Phillips, Chair of the West Plains Faculty Senate, gave a report to the Board which included that Mr. Dennis Lancaster, Assistant Professor, had recently received the West Plains Chamber of Commerce’s Educator of the Year award. Mr. Grayson Gordon, President of the West Plains Staff Senate, next thanked the Board for the recent 2% salary increase and reported that 54% of the West Plains faculty and staff members participated in the campus-wide United Way campaign. Mr. Tony Ary, West Plains Student Body President, next reported that the West Plains Campus received the 2012 most-improved sponsor award from the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.
8. Student Affairs:
a. Report from Student Body President --- Ms. Paige Oxendine, Student Body President, reported that the Student Government Association (SGA) passed resolutions supporting the development and implementation of a periodicity and modality database for scheduling and registration purposes and supporting the allocation of SCUF (Student Computer Usage Fee) funding for renovations to the Glass Hall Open-Access Computer Lab. She also indicated that SGA is drafting a resolution in support of the revised Housing Policy that will be presented today by Dr. Doman.
b. Report from the Vice President for Student Affairs --- Dr. Earle Doman, Vice President for Student Affairs, first presented a resolution (Student Policies No. 106-13) for the approval of a revision to the Missouri State University Housing Policy. The current policy is to require all single students under 21 years of age who have completed fewer than 30 hours of transferable credit to live in University housing. The revision is to change the requirement to “…fewer than 30 hours of transferable credit after high school graduation…..” Moved and seconded, respectively, by Mr. Hofherr and Mr. Hoven.
Motion passed 9-0.
Dr. Doman next summarized two additions to University Operating Policies coming about after the purchase of the Monroe Apartments. The first addition is to the Residence Life policies that stipulate that the Monroe Apartments are limited to upper-class students. The second additional policy statement will be added to the University Alcohol Policy. This statement reads: “Residents of Monroe Apartments (and other apartment-style residence halls approved by the Director of Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services and the President) are not prohibited from possession and consumption of alcohol in their apartments if they are above the legal drinking age pursuant to Missouri law.” Mr. Smart commented that alcohol is not permitted in our traditional residence halls, but the Monroe is not operated like a traditional residence hall. The Monroe is operated like an apartment complex and is reserved for upper-class students, so it was felt that we needed a separate policy statement. He indicated that this is standard across the nation for apartment-style residence halls on university campuses. Mr. Smart added that this is not an action item – we just wanted to make the Board aware of this to see if any of the board members had strong feelings on this matter. After a short discussion, there were no objections expressed regarding the new operating policies.
c. Report from Student Affairs Committee --- Ms. Miller, Chair of the Student Affairs Committee, thanked Chancellor Bennett and Dr. Herb Lunday, Dean of Student Services, for the excellent presentations this morning on enrollment initiatives at MSU-West Plains.
9. Facilities & Equipment --- Mr. Ken McClure, Vice President for Administrative and Information Services, presented the following resolution for the Board’s consideration:
Accept a real estate transfer from the Missouri State University Foundation of real estate know as Brindabella Farms, gifted to the Foundation by Dr. Norman Shealy (Gifts No. 160-13). On December 19, 2012, the Missouri State University Foundation Executive Committee approved a resolution for the acceptance of gifts from Dr. Shealy. On December 20, 2012, Dr. Shealy entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Foundation for the transfer of real estate, buildings, structures, and other improvements. The Foundation and the University are scheduled to close on the property on February 12, 2013. The property will be known as the Shealy Farm.
Moved and seconded, respectively, by Mr. Elliott and Mr. Hoven.
Motion passed 9-0.
10. New Business:
a. Ms. Penni Groves, General Counsel, presented a resolution (Board Policies No. 79-13) for the approval of the Missouri State University Code of Conduct Policy.
Moved by Ms. Smith, receiving the second of Ms. Miller.
Motion passed 9-0.
b. Discussion on Academic Programs on the West Plains Campus --- President Smart led off the discussion on the academic programs on the West Plains Campus by indicating that the Missouri State University System is unique in Missouri – we are the only university system that includes both a two-year institution and a four-year institution, both separately accredited. What we are focusing on today is the intersection, independence, and interdependence of the academic programs that currently exist and are planned for the future.
Chancellor Bennett next provided a history of the West Plains Campus, highlighted the recent student growth, and touched on retention efforts. The programs already completed are the Associate of Science in Business (submitted to CBHE for approval) and the Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health – EMS/Paramedic option. He indicated that to meet the demands of the region, the growth in associate degrees needs to be in agriculture as well as an expansion of allied health programs.
Provost Einhellig began his presentation by estimating that, since 2003, about 500 students have received either a bachelor’s or master’s degree by taking most of their coursework in West Plains. He provided a history of the bachelor’s and master’s degree completion programs in West Plains and provided the primary mode of delivery of each – on-site face-to-face, on-site interactive television, on-line, or mix of delivery. To meet the needs of this area with a deficiency of math educators, we have plans to offer a BSEd in Mathematics completion program with upper division courses being offered for the first time in the Fall 2013.
The entire Board, along with others in attendance, next engaged in a lengthy discussion regarding the issues presented by the speakers. One item mentioned was the very timely issue of whether or not the State of Missouri will expand its Medicaid programs which has implications for the MSU-West Plains health care offerings. Also, on-line course offerings play a vital part of this discussion. It was mentioned that just the preparation for this meeting discussion has helped immensely with the communication between the two campuses and our commitment for the two campuses to work together to provide educational opportunities in demonstrated areas of need. President Smart ended the discussion by adding that we are committed to the Math Educator program which will require us to continue these discussions.
11. Date of Next Meeting --- The date of the next scheduled meeting was set for Thursday/Friday, March 7/8, 2013, beginning at 8:00 a.m. on March 7 at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri.
12. Adjournment--- Mr. Kimbrough adjourned the meeting at 3:30 p.m., on the motion of Mr. Hoven, the second of Mr. Hofherr, and the unanimous vote of the Board.
John W. McAlear
Secretary