April 21, 2021

Minutes of the
Board of Governors Special Meeting
Missouri State University
Wednesday, April 21, 2021

The presiding officer for the meeting was Governor Amelia “Amy” Counts, Chair of the Board of Governors. Governor Counts called the special meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. via Zoom webinar.

Roll Call

Present –

  • Amelia “Amy” Counts, Chair of the Board of Governors
  • Briar Douglas, Student Board of Governor
  • Craig Frazier, Board of Governor
  • Gabriel Gore, Board of Governor
  • Beverly Miller Keltner, Board of Governor
  • Lynn Parman, Board of Governor
  • Carol Silvey, Board of Governor
  • Carrie Tergin, Board of Governor
  • Jay Wasson, Board of Governor
  • Chris Waters, Board of Governor

Also Present –

  • Clif Smart, President
  • Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development and International Programs
  • Jeff Coiner, Chief Information Officer
  • Ryan DeBoef, Chief of Staff and Assistant to the President for Governmental Relations
  • Rachael Dockery, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
  • Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement
  • Frank Einhellig, Provost
  • Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer
  • David Hall, Director of University Safety
  • Rob Hornberger, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Services
  • Dennis Lancaster, Interim Chancellor of the West Plains Campus
  • Natalie McNish, Interim Director of Internal Audit and Risk Management
  • Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services
  • Suzanne Shaw, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
  • Dee Siscoe, Vice President for Student Affairs
  • Rowena Stone, Secretary to the Board of Governors
  • Shawn Wahl, Dean of the Reynolds College of Arts and Letters
  • Mark Wheeler, University Architect and Director of Planning, Design and Construction

COVID-19 Update

President Smart provided a COVID-19 update of the Springfield campus. Highlights of his report included numbers for cases by week, testing, on-campus housing, and 7-day rolling averages. He reported that through April 17, a total of 14,736 COVID-19 vaccines had been administered on campus. President Smart reviewed the Springfield area community data and its recovery plan. Springfield is currently in the yellow zone of the recovery plan. He added that Springfield is expected to be in the green zone, in which masking mandates will expire, by the end of May. President Smart shared that the university’s COVID-19 policies also expire at the end of May. The university will continue with the current restrictions and begin transitioning over the summer to a mostly normal plan for the fall semester. All plans are contingent upon numbers of vaccinations and cases.

Paycheck Protection Program Application

President Smart updated the Board that the university received federal funding that included funds set aside for the university’s broadcasting components, Ozarks Public Television and Ozarks Public Radio. He shared that the university made the decision to withdraw its application for the forgivable paycheck protection program (PPP) loan that was approved at the March 17, 2021, Executive Committee meeting as a result of receiving these funds.

2021 Meeting Schedule Revisions

President Smart presented a resolution for Approval of Revisions to the 2021 Board of Governors Meeting Schedule (Administration No. 48-20b). Revisions included an update to the August retreat location and corrections to the meeting dates in December. Governor Carol Silvey provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Craig Frazier.

Motion passed 9-0.

Approval of 2021-2022 Fee Schedules

President Smart reviewed the 2021-2022 fee schedules for the Springfield and West Plains campuses. He thanked the Board for their help in framing and supporting the decision to move forward with a tuition waiver request to the Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development. Zora Mulligan, Commissioner of Higher Education, granted the waiver. He added that the proposed price structure keeps Missouri State University’s advantage on the affordability issue.

Dr. Dennis Lancaster, Interim Chancellor of West Plains Campus, provided an overview on the fees charged for the new welding courses offered at West Plains. He shared that West Plains looked at competitor programs and based the fees accordingly, with the West Plains campus being priced below its competitors.

Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer, presented the following resolutions for approval:

  • 2021-2022 Fee Schedule for the Springfield Campus (Fees No. 159-21). Governor Beverly Miller Keltner provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Silvey.
    Motion passed 9-0.
  • 2021-2022 Fee Schedule for the West Plains Campus (West Plains Fees No. 19-21). Governor Silvey provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Lynn Parman.
    Motion passed 9-0.

Procurement and Financial

Mr. Foucart presented a resolution summarizing the Office of Procurement Services’ activities from March 10, 2021, through April 14, 2021 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 499-21). The two items included in the resolution were:

  • Recommended approval for purchase of software and maintenance for a comprehensive technology platform for Enrollment Management and Services and Orientation and Transition Programs
  • Recommended approval for purchase of an x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy system for Jordan Valley Innovation Center (JVIC)

Governor Frazier provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Chris Waters.

Motion passed 9-0.

Mr. Foucart provided a summary on the bond refinancing resolutions. He recommended approval of the following resolutions:

  • Authorizing the borrowing by Missouri State University of the proceeds of an issue of educational facilities revenue bonds (Missouri State University), series 2021B, in a principal amount not to exceed $18,000,000 of the health and educational facilities authority of the state of Missouri, to refund certain outstanding educational facilities revenue bonds; authorizing the amendment of educational facilities revenue bonds (Missouri State University), series 2019A; and authorizing and approving certain documents and actions in connection with such borrowing (Finance No. 1094-21). Governor Waters provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Miller Keltner.
    Motion passed 9-0.
  • Authorizing and directing the issuance of not to exceed $35,000,000 principal amount auxiliary enterprise system revenue bonds, series 2021A, to provide funds to refund certain outstanding revenue bonds of the university relating to the auxiliary enterprise system of the university; prescribing the form and details of said bonds and the covenants and agreements made by the university to provide for the payment and security thereof; and prescribing other matters relating thereto (Finance No. 1095-21). Governor Waters provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Parman.
    Motion passed 9-0.

Facilities and Equipment

Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services, presented a resolution for Approval of Bids and Award of Contract for the Gymnasium Floor Replacement at the Bill R. Foster and Family Recreation Center (Bids & Quotations No. 1585-21). A low bid of $298,031 for the base bid plus alternate 1 was received from Kenmar Construction, Inc. Total project budget is $358,000 with work scheduled to be completed by the fall 2021 semester. Governor Frazier provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Silvey.

Motion passed 9-0.

Mr. Morris presented a resolution for Approval of Bid and Award of Contract for the First-floor Renovation for the Multicultural Resource Center of Student Engagement at Robert W. Plaster Student Union (Bids & Quotations No. 1586-21). A low bid of $1,282,9500 for the base bid plus alternates 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 was received from BP Builders, LLC. Total project budget is $2,100,000 with work scheduled to be completed by the fall 2021 semester. Governor Silvey provide a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Frazier.

Motion passed 9-0.

Development

Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement, presented a resolution for Approval for Naming the John Goodman Amphitheatre (Gift No. 176-21). Mr. Dunn shared that the naming recognizes the extraordinary interest and involvement of Mr. Goodman and his generous support of the university. Governor Miller Keltner provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Silvey.

Motion passed 9-0.

Closed Session

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. Governor Counts 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 the Missouri State University that a closed meeting, with closed records and closed vote, be held during a recess of this special meeting of the Board of Governors to consider items pursuant to:

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

Governor Silvey provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Waters.

A roll-call vote on the motion was as follows: those voting in favor – Governors Counts, Frazier, Gore, Miller Keltner, Parman, Silvey, Tergin, Wasson, and Waters; those voting against – none.

Governor Counts declared the resolution passed unanimously. The open meeting was recessed at 4:54 p.m. to go into closed session.

The open meeting reconvened at 5:21 p.m.

Adjournment ‐

With no additional information needing to be discussed, Governor Counts called for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Governor Waters provided a motion, receiving a second from Governor Frazier.

Motion passed 9-0.

Meeting adjourned at 5:22 p.m.

 

Rowena Stone

Rowena Stone
Secretary to the Board