February 19, 2021 - Official Minutes - Board of Governors

Minutes of the
Board of Governors
Missouri State University
Friday, February 19, 2021

The presiding officer for the meeting was Governor Amelia “Amy” Counts, Chair of Board of Governors. She called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. in the Bond Learning Center Ballroom at the Missouri State University Darr Agriculture Center in Springfield, Missouri. The meeting was livestreamed via Zoom webinar.

Roll Call

Present –

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

Absent –

Beverly Miller Keltner, Governor

Also Present –

Clif Smart, President
Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development and International Programs
Damon Basset, Senior Instructor, Geography Geology and Planning
Jeff Coiner, Chief Information Officer
Natalie Curry, Clinical Assistant Professor, Social Work
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
Nancy Gordon, Director of the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning
David Hall, Director of University Safety
Algerian Hart, Associate Dean of the Graduate College
Seth Hoelscher, Assistant Professor, Finance and General Business
Dennis Lancaster, Interim Chancellor of the West Plains Campus
Kati Morgan, Student and 2021 Winner of the 3-Minute Thesis Competition
Natalie McNish, Interim Director of Internal Audit and Risk Management
Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services
Tara Orr, Student Body President
Wes Pratt, Chief Diversity Officer and Assistant to the President
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
Margaret Weaver, Professor, English

Approval of Minutes

Governor Counts called for a motion to approve the minutes of the open and closed December 10, 2020, Board of Governors meetings. Governor Carol Silvey provided a motion, receiving a second from Governor Craig Frazier.

Motion passed 8-0.

Consent Agenda

Governor Counts noted that the next item of business on the agenda was the approval of the consent agenda. Items included in the consent agenda:

President:

Approval of FY2021/2022 Employment Agreements for Assistant Coaches for Football (Human Resources No. 1665-21)
Approval of FY2021/2022 Employment Agreements for the Women’s Tennis Head Coach (Human Resources No. 1666-21)

Academic Affairs:

Approval of Academic Calendar for 2022-2023 (Curriculum No. 397-21)

Human Resources:

Approval of Actions Concerning Academic Employees (Human Resources No. 1667-21)
Approval of Actions Concerning Non-Academic Employees (Human Resources No. 1668-21)
Approval of Actions Concerning Non-Academic Employee Salary Increases Effective January 2021 (Human Resources No. 1669-21)
Approval of Actions Concerning Academic Employee Salary Increases Effective February 2021 (Human Resources No. 1670-21)

Procurement and Financial:

Approval of Procurement Activity Report (Purchasing Activity Report No. 498-21)

West Plains Campus:

Approval of Actions Concerning Academic Employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 457-21)
Approval of Actions Concerning Non-Academic Employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 458-21).

Governor Lynn Parman provided a motion for approval of the consent agenda, receiving a second from Governor Frazier.

Motion passed 8-0.

Making Our Missouri Statement Moment – 3-Minutes Thesis Competition

Dr. Algerian Hart, Associate Dean of the Graduate College, provided an overview of various competitions held at the university that showcase graduate student research. The 3-Minute Thesis Competition is for masters and doctoral level students to present their research in three minutes with the aid of one presentation slide. He introduced Kati Morgan, winner of the 2021 3-Minute Thesis Competition. Ms. Morgan gave her presentation.

Committee Reports

Governor Counts reported out on the January 20, 2021, Executive Committee meeting.

Governor Silvey reported out on the February 17, 2021, Risk Management and Audit Committee meeting.

Governor Chris Waters reported out on the Finance and Facilities Committee meeting that took place earlier in the day.

Governor Parman reported out on the Programs and Planning Committee meeting that took place earlier in the day.

President’s Report

President Clif Smart provided a COVID-19 update. He reviewed COVID-19 return to campus testing numbers. Of 2,864 students tested, there was a 1.67% positivity rate with 29 positive tests. He also reviewed the number of cases on campus over the past five weeks, the seven-day rolling average comparing spring 2021 to fall 2020, and spring semester numbers for testing, campus housing, and vaccinations. He reported that as of February 16, Magers Health and Wellness Center has administered a total of 2,170 COVID-19 vaccines.

President Smart asked the Board for input on planning for the fall semester. Board members were in favor of moving forward with making plans to have as close to normal of a fall semester as possible.

President Smart provided an update on the university’s state government relations work. He shared that Governor Parson’s budget recommendations were made several weeks ago that included restoring the university’s core operating appropriation to $94 million, full funding for state scholarship programs, $1.8 million to fund the Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at JVIC, and $50,000 in startup funds for an associate degree in behavioral support on the West Plains campus. President Smart thanked Governor Parson for these recommendations as they are very favorable to Missouri State University.

President Smart shared the university’s plans for working with the legislature on additional efforts. He stated that Missouri State is a member of the Council on Public High Education (COPHE) and that the COPHE presidents met and agreed to collectively request a 3.7% core operating appropriation increase. Last year’s CPI increase was 1.4%, two years ago was 2.3%, so this request would cover inflation from the past two years. The rationale for the request is that the cost of goods and services that the university must pay has increased by inflation over the past two years. Examples of these increased costs include the university’s retirement and health care plans.

President Smart shared that the university has hosted two meetings with legislators, one on the Springfield campus and one on the West Plains campus. Of the eleven legislators who attended these meetings, seven have seats on committees that directly impact the appropriations process. The university advocated for the COPHE priority, one-time funding for the cybersecurity center at JVIC, a facility expansion at Darr Agriculture Center, and startup funding for the associate degree in behavioral support program in West Plains. President Smart plans to have additional meetings with legislators in March to continue to advocate for the university’s budget priorities. He shared that the next step in the budget process is for the House to develop its version of the budget and then the Senate will do the same. The House and Senate then reconcile their differences and develop a final budget to be passed in early May.

President Smart presented a resolution for approval of the FY2022 Missouri Resident Undergraduate Tuition and Student Services Fee (Fees No. 158-21). The university currently charges two tuition rates to in-state undergraduate students, $299 per credit hour for online classes and $228 for seated classes. In an effort to be fairer and more transparent for students, the university has developed a single blended tuition rate for these classes at a rate of $257 per credit hour. This change allows students to enroll in the classes they need, without worrying about the cost difference. It also allows the university to schedule classes online or seated based on the subject matter. The university recognizes the line between seated and online classes has blurred with many classes having some sort of online component. President Smart shared that the change is revenue neutral for the university. He added that the resolution also updates the university’s student services fee. Under the new model, students enrolling in any seated class will pay student services fees for all of the classes they enroll in at the current rate for fees. Students enrolling in only online courses will pay a lower fee because they use different services and utilize facilities less than students taking seated classes. The university will seek a Higher Education Student Funding Act (HESFA) penalty waiver from the Commissioner of Higher Education for this change. Governor Silvey provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Waters.

Motion passed 8-0.

President Smart presented a resolution for Approval of Revisions to the 2021 Meeting Schedule of the Missouri State University Board of Governors (Administration No. 48-20a). Revisions to the schedule include changing the April Executive Committee meeting to a special meeting where the full Board will attend and adjustments to the May meeting schedule to account for five commencement ceremonies, spread over two days. Governor Waters provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Parman.

Motion passed 8-0.

West Plains Campus

Dr. Dennis Lancaster, Interim Chancellor of the West Plains Campus, provided an update on happenings on the West Plains Campus. He provided an update on the advanced fabrication and welding program. He shared that the program is viewed as an enrollment enhancer and students can begin taking classes in fall 2021. The program will be in a temporary site while the campus’s Broadway Building is being renovated to house the permanent lab. He added that work continues on the design of the lab and efforts are underway to arrange for full funding of the project. Governor Parson’s budget allocated $566,415 for the welding lab through the Federal Budget Stabilization Fund. The remaining funds for the project are expected to come from donations, grant funding, and available institutional funds.

Dr. Lancaster provided a West Plains Campus COVID-19 update. He shared that while Howell County continues to be a hotbed for COVID-19, campus has relatively low numbers with 10 total cases in the spring semester and only one case each week over the past four weeks. He shared that vaccination encouragement is happening on campus, but the area has been challenged with receiving vaccines to administer.

Dr. Lancaster concluded his report by asking for approval of a new program for an Associates in Applied Science in Community Behavioral Support (West Plains Curriculum 105-21). The degree is intended to provide students the necessary knowledge and skills to work in behavioral health and substance abuse settings. With a shortage of healthcare individuals in rural Missouri, the Missouri Department of Health has approved students with this type of degree for immediate employment in the field instead of the traditionally required bachelor’s level degree. Governor Silvey provide a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Carrie Tergin.

Motion passed 8-0.

Academic Affairs

Dr. Frank Einhellig, Provost, provided an update on happenings in Academic Affairs. He presented a resolution for Approval of a New Program for a Doctorate of Occupational Therapy (Curriculum No. 398-21). He shared that the degree is designed for those who already hold professional practice licensure as occupational therapists and will be offered entirely online, allowing students to proceed on a part-time or full-time basis. Governor Frazier provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Parman.

Motion passed 8-0.

Dr. Einhellig reported on diversity and inclusion initiatives within Academic Affairs. Highlights of his report included the mentoring program to support diverse faculty, Facing Racism training for department heads, the Provost’s Diversity Council, Early College Hispanic Outreach Program, and the active use of the diversity hiring program. He added that the academic units are very conscious of the need to take direct actions that can impact the campus climate regarding diversity and inclusion in a positive manner.

Dr. Einhellig concluded his report by providing an update on the tenure and promotion process. He shared that the university is nearing the finish of the annual faculty tenure and promotion cycle and he will be making recommendations to President Smart in early March. Dr. Einhellig reviewed the process for faculty applying for tenure and/or promotion. This year, there are a total of 48 applicants for promotion and 25 of those are also seeking tenure. He shared that the university has 742 full-time faculty with 557 being tenured and 333 part-time faculty.

Student Affairs

Tara Orr, Student Body President, provided an update on activities of the Student Government Association (SGA) and student body. Highlights of her report included work completed on the period poverty project, working on campus directories and wheelchair access to buildings, and passing a student security fee to increase lighting in parking lots on campus and near residence halls.

Facilities and Equipment

Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services, presented a resolution for Approval of Consultant and Authority to Enter into an Agreement for Additional Professional Services in Conjunction with the Renovation of Kampeter Hall (Agreement No. 443-21). The consultant’s original proposal of $324,000 was approved at the June 19, 2020, Board of Governors meeting. With the allocation of additional maintenance and repair funds from the state, the total project budget was increased from $5 million to $10 million. The consultant proposed an additional professional services fee of $347,156 that includes comprehensive design services, from schematic design through post-construction needed to complete the project based on the new total project budget and elevator improvements. Work is scheduled to begin by summer 2021 and be completed by summer of 2022. The additional professional services will be paid from the Professional Building Renovation budget funded by private donations. Governor Silvey provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Frazier.

Motion passed 8-0.

Mr. Morris presented a resolution for Approval of a Real Estate Purchase Contract for the sale of Property at 547 Drury Road, Kirbyville, Missouri (Land No. 125-21). The property is sited at Bulls Shoals as part of the Bull Shoals Field Station properties. With the additional of the Ozarks Education Center at the Bull Shoals Field Station, the College of Natural and Applied Sciences has ample facilities for research and overnight accommodations. Proceeds from the sale of the property will be repurposed to fund internet at the Ozarks Education Center. Governor Frazier provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Waters.

Motion passed 8-0.

Financial

Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement, presented a resolution for Approval of Transfer and Transfer of Property located at 326 North Boonville, Springfield, Missouri from the MSU Foundation to the Board of Governors of Missouri State University (Land No. 126-21). The Reynolds College of Arts and Letters will utilize the space as an art gallery. The purchase of this property provides the opportunity to consolidate university property. The new property locates the art gallery in the IDEA Commons area, close to Brick City, which houses the Art and Design department. Governor Frazier provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Parman.

Motion passed 8-0.

Mr. Dunn also provided a development report. He shared that the Foundation is down about $687,000 in annual gifts, up around $1.2 million in special campaigns, and up around $4.2 million in one-time gifts from January of last year. He shared that the university is having a good year, but has additional work to do. He concluded his report in sharing that the university is ahead of schedule in the Onward, Upward campaign with already raising more than $216 million of its $250 million goal by end of October 2022.

Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer, presented a resolution for Approval of Phase IV Student Distribution under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Miscellaneous No. 41-21). He shared that the U.S. Department of Education permits universities to use the institutional portion of their Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) allocations under the CARES Act to provide refunds to students resulting from significant changes to the delivery of instruction. The U.S. Department of Education guidance also permits universities to use the institutional portion of their HEERF allocations under the CARES Act to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for expenses related to disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. The Springfield campus has approximately $1.9 million, and the West Plains campus has approximately $418,000 remaining in the institutional portions of their HEERF allocations under the CARES Act. The Springfield campus’s funds are to be used to provide a ratable tuition refund to students based on the number of undergraduate online credit hours in which they enrolled on the Springfield campus during the fall 2020 semester. The West Plains campus’s funds are to be used to provide emergency financial aid grants to students for the fall 2020 semester, the specific amounts and parameters of which will be determined based on applicable U.S. Department of Education guidance. Governor Frazier provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Parman.

Motion passed 8-0.

Mr. Foucart presented a resolution for Approval of Student Distribution under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSAA) (Miscellaneous No. 42-21). He shared that in addition to the previously authorized CARES Act funds, the CRRSAA authorized $21.2 billion in federal funding for higher education institutions through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund II (HEERF II). There are particular limitations and requirements with regard to the funds, including a commitment by each institution receiving an allocation to distribute a specified portion of the funds to students as emergency financial aid grants. The Springfield campus was allocated $6,927,837 in HEERF II funds and the West Plains campus was allocated $480,083 in HEERF II funds under the CRRSAA that must be distributed to students as emergency financial aid grants. Governor Silvey provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Waters.

Motion passed 8-0.

Mr. Foucart provided a summary of the FY2021 bond refinancing resolutions. He then presented two resolutions for approval.

Resolution for Preliminary Approval of Terms of (a) Educational Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2021A, (b) Auxiliary Enterprise System Revenue Bonds, Series 2021A, and (c) an Amendment to the Educational Facilities Revenue Bonds, Series 2019A (Finance No. 1091-21). The resolution confirms Hilltop Securities as the placement agent, authorizes and directs the university’s General Counsel, Chief Financial Officer, Bond Counsel, Hilltop Securities, and other officers and representatives of the university, to execute the term sheets and prepare for submission to and final action by the Board, all appropriate legal and financing documents. The resolution is subject to the condition that any issuance of bonds will be subject to further action by the Board specifically authorizing and approving the bonds. Governor Waters provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Frazier.

Motion passed 8-0.

Resolution for the Declaration of Official Intent Toward the Issuance of Auxiliary Enterprise System Revenue Bonds, and Reimbursement of Expenditures for Auxiliary Enterprise Facilities from Proceeds of Bonds (Finance No. 1092-21). This is a declaration of intent to issue auxiliary enterprise system revenue bonds of the in a principal amount not to exceed $25,000,000, such principal amount to be determined by subsequent resolution of the Board, to provide funds to finance the costs of improvements to and expansions and renovations of auxiliary enterprise facilities and ancillary projects of the university, including acquisition of an approximately 400-bed residential life facility adjacent to the university’s Springfield campus. This allows up to 18 months after the acquisition of the new residence hall to issue tax exempt bonds in order to reimburse the university up to $25 million of the acquisition costs. The resolution confirms Hilltop Securities as the senior managing underwriter of placement agent and is subject to the condition that any issuance of bonds or other tax-exempt or taxable securities will be subject to the further action by the Board specifically authorizing and approving the bonds. Governor Frazier provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Parman.

Motion passed 8-0.

New Business – Effective Leveraging of New Modalities for Learning

Dr. Einhellig and Dr. Nancy Gordon, Director for the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning, led a panel discussion on the effective leveraging of new modalities for learning. Dr. Einhellig provided a history of the university’s modalities of learning, reviewed distance learning challenges, and shared information on how the university has assisted faculty to adapt to the new learning environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Gordon introduced the faculty participating on the panel: Damon Basset, Senior Instructor, Geography, Geology, and Planning; Natalie Curry, Clinical Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Bachelor of Social Work Program; Dr. Seth Hoelscher, Assistant Professor, Finance and General Business; and Dr. Margaret Weaver, Professor, English. The faculty members shared how they adapted their teaching methods over the past year with the coronavirus pandemic changing the landscape of higher education and answered questions from the Board.

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 Statues 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 Missouri State University that a closed meeting with closed records and closed vote, be held during a recess of this regular 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 Gabriel Gore provided a motion for approval, receiving a second from Governor Frazier.

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

The open meeting was recessed at 3:48 p.m. to go into closed session.

The open meeting was reconvened at 4:02 p.m.

Adjournment

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

Motion passed 8-0.

Meeting adjourned at 4:02 p.m.

Rowena Stone

Rowena Stone
Secretary to the Board