MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
OCTOBER 17, 2014
1. Roll Call
Present- Mr. Stephen Bough, Governor
Mr. Joe Carmichael, Governor
Mr. Caleb Doyle, Student Governor
Ms. Virginia Fry, Governor
Dr. Peter Hofherr, Governor
Mr. Stephen B. Hoven, Vice Chair
Mr. Orvin Kimbrough, Governor
Ms. Beverly Miller, Chair
Mr. Kendall Seal, Governor
Ms. Carrie Tergin, Governor
Also
Present- Clifton Smart III, President
Drew Bennett, Chancellor of the West Plains Campus
Frank Einhellig, Provost
Dee Siscoe, Vice President for Student Affairs
Ken McClure, Vice President for Administrative and Information Services
Jim Baker, Vice President for Research, Economic Development, and International Programs
Kenneth Coopwood, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Stephen Foucart, Chief Financial Officer
Donna Christian, Director of Internal Audit and Compliance
Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement
Rachael Dockery, General Counsel
John McAlear, Secretary of the Board
2. Presiding --- The presiding officer for the meeting was Ms. Beverly Miller, Chair of the Board of Governors. She called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. in the Traywick Parliamentary Room in the Plaster Student Union on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
3. Approval of Board of Governors’ Meeting Minutes --- Ms. Miller mentioned that the first item of business was the approval of the minutes for the open and closed meetings of July 31, 2014. Ms. Fry so moved, receiving the second of Mr. Kimbrough.
Motion passed 9-0.
4. Consent Agenda --- Ms. Miller 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:
West Plains Campus
Approval of Activity Report dated October 17, 2014 (West Plains Campus Activity Report No. 108-14).
Approval of actions concerning West Plains Campus academic employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 370-14).
Approval of actions concerning West Plains Campus non-academic employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 371-14).
Approval of a new academic program – Associate of Applied Science in Wine Business and Entrepreneurship (West Plains Campus Curriculum 68-14).
Springfield Campus Purchases/Contracts
Approval of Procurement Activity Report for the period July 15, 2014, through October 1, 2014 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 411-14).
Facilities and Equipment
Approval of Activity Report for the month of July 2014 (Activity Report No. 260-14).
Approval of Activity Report for the month of August 2014 (Activity Report No. 261-14).
Human Resources Items
Actions concerning academic employees (Human Resources No. 1474-14).
Actions concerning non-academic employees (Human Resources No. 1475-14).
Mr. Kimbrough made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, receiving a second from Ms. Fry.
Motion passed 9-0.
5. President’s Report --- President Clif Smart began his report by welcoming everyone to Homecoming weekend. He next asked Dr. Gloria Galanes, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters, to introduce this meeting’s Point of Pride. Dr. Galanes introduced Dr. Charlene Berquist, Director of the Center for Dispute Resolution, to provide a summary of the Center’s activities. Dr. Berquist indicated that the Center is primarily involved in collaborative community partnerships where programs are established to deal with community issues or problems. Two programs highlighted were Circles for Girls and Restorative Justice Programs. Dr. Berquist added that the Center also provides training, workshops, mediations, and facilitations. Students enrolled in the Graduate and Undergraduate Certificate programs in Conflict and Dispute Resolution are heavily involved in the Center’s activities.
President Smart next reported that the University’s system-wide, headcount enrollment this Fall was 24,489 – an increase of 651 students (2.7%) and represents a new all-time record, breaking last year’s record. Dr. Dee Siscoe, Vice President for Student Affairs, added some additional enrollment results on the Springfield campus - first-time, new-in-college students totaled 2,801 – an increase of 108 students over last Fall; under-represented students were up 9% with a total of 2,631; and Graduate students were up 2.6% with a total of 3,420. She added that the Springfield campus’s residence halls opened the Fall semester with 174 students in overflow housing (now down to 26 students).
President Smart next reported that INSIGHT into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity magazine in Higher Education, has selected Missouri State as one of 83 recipients of the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for this year. He congratulated Dr. Ken Coopwood and his team on their work in applying for and receiving this award. Dr. Coopwood, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, highlighted some of the infrastructure in place which resulted in the University’s receipt of this recognition.
President Smart ended his report by presenting a resolution (Administration No. 39-14) revising the Board of Governors’ meeting schedule for calendar year 2015. He explained the original schedule included a Board retreat on March 5-6, 2015, but that he has learned of two important events at the Men’s Missouri Valley Conference Post-Season Basketball Tournament which will make him miss portions of the retreat. When informed, Governors Miller and Hoven recommended rescheduling the retreat which this resolution does – moving it to March 12-13, 2015, in conjunction with the Women’s Missouri Valley Conference Post-Season Basketball Tournament. Moved and seconded respectively, by Mr. Hoven and Ms. Tergin.
Motion passed 9-0.
6. Academic Affairs:
a. Faculty Senate Report --- Dr. Stephen McIntyre, Chairperson of the Faculty Senate, next reported on the two sessions of Faculty Senate so far this semester. Six new curricular programs have been approved this semester – the highlight of those six being the Bachelor of General Studies degree program which they have been working on for a couple of years. Since today’s major discussion is on faculty research, he touched on his own research work and distributed his book, Springfield’s Urban History, a collaboration of eleven local authors on the rich, fascinating history of Springfield, Missouri.
b. Report from Provost --- Dr. Frank Einhellig, Provost, first commented on the recent positive accreditation results of five programs: 1) Computer Science; 2) Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia; 3) Doctor of Nursing Practice; 4) the collaborative engineering program with Missouri University Science & Technology; and 5) the renewal by the State of Virginia for our Defense & Strategic Studies program located in Virginia. He next reported on the growth of full-time faculty from Fall 2012 to Fall 2013 to Fall 2014 – 696 to 714 to 733. Dr. Einhellig ended his report by mentioning that we recently had 52 counselors from Missouri high schools on campus at an event and they should be back in February with as many as 20 students each.
7. Student Affairs:
a. Report from Student Body President --- Mr. Jordan McGee, Student Body President, first provided Ms. Shelby Harris’s report as Student Body President on the West Plains Campus. One item reported on was their holding of a career fair on September 25. Mr. McGee then gave his report on the Springfield campus’s SGA activities. He commented that to assist with student retention, they are looking at how to better connect with students on academic probation to help them be more engaged in the classroom.
8. Financial --- Mr. Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement, first presented a resolution (Awards No. 58-14) to present the Bill R. Foster family with the 2014 Bronze Bear Award for their service to and support of Missouri State University. He added that Bill Foster, who had served as President of the Missouri State University Foundation Board of Trustees, passed away earlier this year. His sons, Tony and John, continue the strong support of the University by currently serving as Trustees. In 2011, the Foundation received a major charitable gift from the Foster family in support of the University Recreation Center. Moved and seconded, respectively, by Mr. Kimbrough and Mr. Hoven.
Motion passed 9-0.
Mr. Dunn then presented a second resolution (Gifts No. 164-14) to recognize the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Davis and Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Harrington and acknowledge their major gift in support of the new Welcome Center by permanently naming the building, the Davis-Harrington Welcome Center. Moved by Mr. Bough and seconded by Ms. Tergin.
Motion passed 9-0.
9. New Business:
a. Election of Board Officers --- Ms. Miller announced that it is at this meeting that a slate of officers for the next calendar year is presented. Ms. Tergin nominated Mr. Steve Hoven to be the Board’s next chair. Mr. Hofherr provided the second to the nomination.
Nomination passed 9-0.
Ms. Miller next asked if there was a nomination for Vice-Chair. Ms. Tergin nominated Dr. Peter Hofherr to be the Board’s next Vice-Chair. Mr. Kimbrough seconded the nomination.
Nomination passed 9-0.
b. Discussion on the Value and Breadth of Faculty Research --- Dr. Einhellig began the discussion on today’s discussion topic by providing a definition of “research” – refers to the discovery, refinement, and synthesis of information, the application of knowledge to the solution of problems, and creative, artistic activity and criticism. He added that research produces outcomes that are formally communicated to and vetted by peers. The reasons we do research are: 1) enhances the educational process by fostering student learning; 2) contributes to the public good and benefits society…adds to the storehouse of knowledge; and 3) assists faculty development…which is passed on to students. The three faculty members who next gave presentations on their individual research included: Dr. Paul Durham, Distinguished Professor of Biology and Director of the Center for Biomedical & Life Sciences; Dr. Michael F. Murray, Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Theory; and Dr. David M. Mitchell, Professor of Economics, Director of the Bureau of Economic Research, and Director of the Center for Economic Education. Dr. Einhellig next commented that we do not intend to be a Research 1 university, but that having students involved in research helps them move on in their field of study. Student assistance in research can be looked at as one form of “teaching.” A short discussion was then held with one conclusion being that the University’s Mind’s Eye is an excellent publication that highlights research and scholarly activities at Missouri State and it can also be used as a recruitment tool for students.
10. 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 the State of Missouri. Ms. Miller 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 October 17, 2014, meeting of the Board of Governors to consider items of business pursuant to:
- R.S.Mo. 610.021 (1). “…any confidential or privileged communications between a public governmental body or its representatives and its attorneys…”
- R.S.Mo. 610.021 (3). “Hiring, firing, disciplining, or promoting of particular employees by a governmental body…”
Mr. Bough moved the approval of the resolution and Mr. Kimbrough seconded the motion.
A roll call vote was taken: those voting in favor – Governors Bough, Carmichael, Fry, Hofherr, Hoven, Kimbrough, Miller, Seal, and Tergin; those voting against – none.
Ms. Miller declared the resolution passed unanimously.
11. Date of Next Meeting --- The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting was set for Friday, December 12, 2014, at 9:00 a.m., Room 313 Plaster Student Union.
12. Adjournment--- Ms. Miller adjourned the meeting at 3:15 p.m., on the motion of Mr. Kimbrough, the second of Ms. Fry, and the unanimous vote of the Board.
John W. McAlear
Secretary