Minutes of the Executive Committee
of the Executive Committee
of the Board of Governors
Missouri State University
January 15, 2020
Roll Call:
Present - Mr. Craig Frazier, Chair of the Board
Ms. Amelia Counts, Governor (by conference call)
Mr. Gabriel Gore, Governor (by conference call)
Ms. Beverly Miller Keltner, Governor
Also
Present - Mr. Clifton M. Smart III, President
Ms. Donna Christian, Director of Internal Audit and Risk Management
Mr. Jeff Coiner, Chief Information Officer
Ms. Rachael Dockery, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
Dr. Frank Einhellig, Provost
Mr. Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Afton Harper, Student Reporter for the Standard
Dr. Shirley Lawler, Chancellor, West Plains Campus (by conference call)
Mr. Kyle Moats, Director of Athletics
Mr. Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services
Dr. Dave Muegge, Director of Health and Wellness Services
Ms. Lynn Parman, Governor (by conference call)
Ms. Suzanne Shaw, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Ms. Carol Silvey, Governor (by conference call)
Dr. Jake Simmons, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Letters - Research and Graduate
Student Success
Dr. Dee Siscoe, Vice President for Student Affairs
Ms. Carrie Tergin, Governor (by conference call)
Dr. Shawn Wahl, Dean, College of Arts and Letters
Mr. Jay Wasson, Governor (by conference call)
Mr. Chris Waters, Governor (by conference call)
Mr. Mark Wheeler, University Architect and Director of Planning, Design and Construction
Mr. Mike Wills, Director of Procurement
Ms. Rowena Stone, Secretary to the Board of Governors
Presiding – Mr. Craig Frazier, Chair of the Board of Governors, called the Executive
Committee meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in Room 203 of Carrington Hall on the campus
of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
Approval of Minutes – Mr. Frazier mentioned that the first item of business was the
approval of the minutes for the open meeting of November 18, 2019. Ms. Amy Counts
so moved, receiving the second from Mr. Gabriel Gore.
Motion passed 4-0.
Academic Affairs – Dr. Frank Einhellig, Provost, recommended approval of a new program
for Bachelor of Science in Intercultural Communication (Curriculum No. 392-20). The
creation of the new major will elevate the existing and increasingly popular Intercultural
Communication and Diversity track/option to a major in its own right. The major will
provide students with skills that are essential to organizational operations.
Dr. Einhellig shared that the degree supports the university’s diversity and inclusion
endeavors and will prepare students for roles in human resources, training and development,
organizational consulting, communication auditing, and diversity conflict negotiations.
The major can be created at no additional cost. Ms. Beverly Miller Keltner made a
motion to approve the recommendation, receiving a second from Mr. Gore.
Motion passed 4-0.
Dr. Jake Simmons left the meeting at this time.
Procurement and Financial – Mr. Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer, presented a resolution summarizing the Procurement Services’ Office activities from November 26, 2019 through January 10, 2020 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 485-20). One item included in the resolution was:
Approval to amend Contract C6877-1 Student Health Plan - International Students Only, with Academic Health Plans, for the period of August 10, 2020 through August 9, 2021. The current premium is $1,374.00, and the amended premium would be $1,400.00, which represents a 1.9% increase. Per the terms of the contract, the premium is negotiated annually based on market conditions, and number of student participants. Given positive student service, an amendment is being issued to extend the expiring contract.
Dr. Dave Muegge, Director of Health and Wellness Services, made comments that the plan holds a gold standard and has a broad network for the students to choose from. He also shared that because of the quality of the plan, the university is pleased with a cost increase of only 1.9%. President Smart shared that last year, 938 of our 1,200 international students located in Springfield purchased the plan. It is a federal requirement for international students to have a health insurance plan. Of those who did not purchase the plan through the university, separate plans were purchased by their sponsoring organization. He also shared that this is a pass through of money, with the premium being covered by the students.
Mr. Gore made a motion to approve the purchasing activity report, receiving a second from Ms. Miller Keltner.
Motion passed 4-0.
Dr. Muegge left the meeting at this time.
Facilities and Equipment – Mr. Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services, recommended approval of consultant and authority to enter into an agreement with Arkifex Studios for professional services in conjunction with the Darr Agricultural Magnet School building for Springfield Public Schools (SPS) (Architects & Engineers 719-20). The building will be used by SPS but owned and operated by the university. The building will be located north of the Bond Learning Center and will include six classrooms, a laboratory, two restrooms, two faculty offices, two administrative offices, a commercial prep kitchen, lab/kitchen storage, an all-purpose room, an entry and reception area, and a mechanical area. The project will be funded by private donations for a fixed fee of $250,000.00 plus reimbursable expenses. Completion date of the project is fall of 2021. Ms. Miller Keltner moved for approval of the resolution, receiving a second from Ms. Counts.
Motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Morris then recommended approval of consultant and authority to enter into an agreement with Patterhn Ives, LLC for professional services in conjunction with the outdoor performing arts pavilion at Craig Hall (Architects & Engineers 720-20). The university is interested in developing a master plan for the plaza adjacent to Craig Hall, transforming the outdoor area into an Art Park including a permanent outdoor pavilion. The pavilion will seat at least 350 occupants, include a covered walkway from the changing areas in Craig Hall to the pavilion, and have the ability for the pavilion to be weather-tight during productions. Additionally, the pavilion will include outdoor classroom space. The project will be partially funded by the university via the President’s Program Enhancement budget and partially by private funds for a fixed fee of $437,000.00 plus reimbursable expenses. The project is scheduled to be completed by summer 2022.
President Smart shared that the project is currently around 40% funded with several lead gifts received. Dr. Shawn Wahl, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, shared that this project is transformational for the arts programs and is a win for the entire university. Ms. Counts made a motion to approve, receiving a second from Ms. Miller Keltner.
Motion passed 4-0.
Mr. Coiner, Dr. Einhellig, Ms. Harper, Dr. Lawler, Dr. Muegge, Dr. Siscoe, Dr. Wahl, Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. Wills left the meeting at this time.
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. Mr. Frazier 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 January 12, 2020, Executive meeting of the Board of Governors to consider items of business pursuant to:
R.S. Mo. 610.021(1). “Legal actions, causes of action, or litigation involving a public governmental body…”; and
R.S. Mo. 610.021(3). “Hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting of particular employees by a public governmental body…”
Mr. Gore moved the approval of the resolution and Ms. Miller Keltner seconded the motion.
A roll call vote on the motion was as follows: those voting in favor – Governors Counts, Frazier, Gore, and Miller Keltner; those voting against – none.
Mr. Frazier declared the resolution passed unanimously. The open meeting was recessed at 4:18 p.m. to go into closed session.
The open meeting was reconvened at 5:17 p.m.
New Business – President Smart shared that the Governor’s budget was released and higher education’s core funding was held flat. Governor Parson did approve funding of the $1.85 million MoExcels proposal submitted by the university to fund the Cybersecurity project. President Smart, Governor Frazier, Governor Tergin, and Ryan DeBoef, Chief of Staff, will be in Jefferson City next week to discuss funding with several legislators. An outline of the budget and discussions will be sent to the Board next week.
Adjournment – Mr. Frazier adjourned the meeting at 5:20 p.m. on the motion of Mr. Gore, the second of Ms. Miller Keltner, and the unanimous vote of the committee.
Rowena Stone
Secretary of the Board