MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
FEBRUARY 19, 2010
1. Roll Call
Present- Ms. Elizabeth Bradbury, Governor
Mr. Michael Duggan, Governor
Mr. Gordon Elliott, Governor
Mr. Brian Hammons, Chair of the Board
Ms. Ashley Hoyer, Student Governor
Mr. Orvin Kimbrough, Governor
Ms. Mary Sheid, Governor
Ms. Cathy Smith, Governor
Mr. John Winston, Governor
Absent- Ms. Phyllis Washington, Vice-Chair of the Board
Also Present- Michael Nietzel, President
Drew Bennett, Chancellor of the West Plains Campus
Earle Doman, Vice President for Student Affairs
Belinda McCarthy, Provost
Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development
Ken McClure, Vice President for Administrative and Information Services
Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement
Nila Hayes, Chief Financial Officer
Clifton Smart, General Counsel
John McAlear, Secretary of the Board
2. Presiding --- The presiding officer for the meeting was Mr. Brian Hammons, Chair of the Board of Governors. He called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. in the Traywick Parliamentary Room in the Plaster Student Union on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.
3. Approval of Minutes:
a. Board of Governors’ Meetings --- Mr. Hammons asked for a motion for the approval of the minutes for the open meeting of December 11, 2009; open and closed meetings of December 17, 2009; the open meetings of December 18, 2009, and January 8, 2010; and the open and closed meetings of January 25, 2010. Ms. Sheid so moved, receiving the second of Mr. Duggan.
Motion passed 8-0.
4. Consent Agenda --- Mr. Hammons 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:
President
Approval of the FY2010 Overview of Salaries and Benefits for the Missouri State University Football Coaches (Human Resources No. 1306-10).
West Plains Campus
Approval of the Activity Report dated February 3, 2010 (West Plains Campus Activity Report No. 80-10).
Approval of actions concerning West Plains Campus academic employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 304-10).
Approval of actions concerning West Plains Campus non-academic employees (West Plains Campus Personnel No. 305-10).
Springfield Campus Purchases/Contracts
Approval of purchases exceeding $100,000 between December 18, 2009 and February 4, 2010 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 343-10).
Facilities and Equipment
Approval of Activity Report for the month of December 2009 (Activity Report No. 205-10).
Approval of Activity Report for the month of January 2010 (Activity Report No. 206-10).
The renovation of elevator number 41 at Looney Hall on the West Pains Campus (Bids & Quotations No. 1315-10); ThyssenKrupp Elevator, only bid received of $127,873; total project budget established at $160,000.
Human Resources Items
Actions concerning academic employees (Human Resources No. 1307-10).
Actions concerning non-academic employees (Human Resources No. 1308-10).
Mr. Winston made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda receiving a second from Mr. Duggan.
Motion passed 8-0.
5. President’s Office --- Dr. Michael Nietzel, President, first gave a Jefferson City update to the Board. He reported on a proposed bill to equalize the Access Missouri Scholarships, the need-based financial aid that the State of Missouri provides to students who attend institutions of higher education in the State of Missouri. Currently, the scholarship awarded to a student who attends a private institution is more than twice the amount awarded if the same student attended a public institution even though the financial need of the family is the same. Dr. Nietzel indicated that he testified on behalf of the bill to equalize the amounts awarded. He also indicated that he recently testified on behalf of the FY2011 budget discussion. There is a chance that our budget cut might exceed the 5.2% amount proposed by Governor Jay Nixon and if it does exceed that amount, this would have implications regarding a tuition increase. He finished his Jefferson City update by reporting that the proposed state-wide bonding initiative does not appear to have any momentum.
Dr. Nietzel next announced the intent to implement a two-phase recommendation on a new smoking policy on campus. The first phase would begin on August 15, 2010, and it would increase the current restrictions on smoking, which would be limited to only certain designated outside areas on campus, inside private vehicles, and outside our public venue facilities. Phase two would be implemented in two years, August 15, 2012, and we would become a smoke-free campus in which smoking would be limited to inside private vehicles and outside the public venue facilities. He indicated that we have requested an Attorney General opinion to make sure that this two-phase policy is consistent with all aspects of Missouri law.
Mr. Kyle Moats, Director of Athletics, next presented a resolution (Purchase Approval No. 118-10) accepting the proposal submitted by Nelligan Sports Marketing for sponsorships, media and corporate rights for Missouri State University athletics. He explained that this would include radio, television, signs, and print; however, our current radio contract is for another three years. Nelligan proposed an Annual Financial Guarantee of $210,000 in year one of the contract – our profits from doing this ourselves this year. This will be a five-year contract with two one-year options. Motion to approve was offered by Mr. Duggan and seconded by Mr. Kimbrough.
Motion passed 8-0.
Dr. Nietzel ended his report by presenting a resolution (Human Resources No. 1309-10) amending the employment contract with Dr. James P. Baker as Vice-President for Research and Economic Development and Director of China Operations. He explained that, to maintain continuity in the IDEA Commons initiative, the change to the contract adds to Dr. Baker’s duties the following: “…and will work with the President in the continued development, oversight and implementation of the IDEA Commons.” Motion to approve was made by Ms. Sheid and seconded by Mr. Kimbrough.
Motion passed 8-0.
6. Educational:
a. Faculty Senate Report --- Dr. Margaret Weaver, Chairperson of the Faculty Senate, gave a report to the Board. She included in her report that in their January meeting, the Senate passed an action regarding enrollment minimums recommending that current enrollment minimums established by central administration be eliminated in lieu of having colleges and departments develop enrollment minimum plans. Mr. Hammons asked Dr. Nietzel to comment on this recommendation. Dr. Nietzel responded that he does not support this recommendation as the present policy established by central administration is very flexible. She ended her report by reading a resolution passed by the Faculty Senate requesting that the Board reconsider the composition of the presidential search committee to increase the number of faculty, staff, and students serving as percentages of the whole committee. Mr. Hammons commented that the Board appreciates the faculty’s interest and concern in such an important process; however, the Board has appointed a very balanced and very diverse committee to help in the screening process.
- b. Academic Affairs Committee --- Mr. Hammons asked Ms. Elizabeth Bradbury, Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, to comment on their meeting this morning. Ms. Bradbury reported that they had an excellent meeting on the subject of student learning. They looked at some of the ways Missouri State University is measuring student learning and using data to make us more informed about what we’re doing and better at doing it.
c. Office of the Provost --- Dr. Belinda McCarthy, Provost, presented the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:
Approving a new program – History of Teachers Graduate Certificate (Curriculum No. 334-10).
Approving a new program – Bachelor of Science in Facilities Management (Curriculum No. 335-10).
Moved by Ms. Sheid and seconded by Mr. Duggan.
Motion passed 8-0.
Dr. McCarthy next described the Academic Insight Management Dashboard, an online sight that helps us evaluate our academic programs. Detailed information on every single degree program, academic department, and college is available online to all faculty and even members of the Board of Governors. Information such as numbers of majors, numbers of graduates, costs of each program, amount of research funding, and national benchmark data are available.
7. Research and Economic Development--- Dr. Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, reported that the number of Sponsored Program proposals submitted is down when compared to this time last year (194 vs. 138). They will monitor this in the months ahead to see if the numbers for this year pick up.
8. West Plains Campus --- Dr. Drew Bennett, Chancellor of the West Plains Campus, first reported that Spring enrollment at the West Plains Campus is up 20% when compared to last Spring…the largest Spring increase in 33 years. He next announced that Dr. Craig Albin, Professor of English, received the Educator of the Year award at the West Plains Chamber of Commerce banquet.
He then presented a resolution (West Plains Campus Fees No. 13-10) approving modifications of the Health Services Fee at the West Plains Campus. Services covered by this fee are being expanded to cover other areas such as legal counseling and credit counseling. It will be renamed the Professional Services Fee. Moved by Mr. Kimbrough and seconded by Ms. Bradbury.
Motion passed 8-0.
9. Student Affairs:
a. Student Affairs Committee --- Ms. Cathy Smith, Chair of the Student Affairs Committee, reported that Mr. Jeff Morrissey, Chief Information Officer, gave a report to the committee on technology-related student services.
b. Report from the Student Body President --- Mr. Chris Polley, President of the Student Body, reported that SGA has passed a resolution supporting the use of Student Computer Usage Fees for the creation of a downtown open-access computer lab in the Park Central Office Building. He also reported that SGA has reached an agreement with the Bookstore for the implementation of a pilot textbook rental program for Fall 2010. He ended his report by commenting on the student fundraising efforts for the Haitian relief efforts. They raised almost $32,000 in their “50 in 50 Campaign” (a $50,000 goal in 50 hours) and have now reached more than $41,000 when counting additional campaigns held since.
c. Report from the Vice President for Student Affairs ---Dr. Earle Doman, Vice President for Student Affairs, first reported that the Spring enrollment numbers are up 3.7%, or 690 students. He added that freshman applications for Fall 2010 are up 6% while transfer applications are up 35%. Minority freshman and transfer applications for Fall 2010 are up 42% and admits are up 45%.
He next reported that we are changing how we process financial aid. We are changing from the Family Educational Loan Program (working with private lenders) to the Federal Direct Lending Program. We will start awarding aid next month for Fall 2010. It will be a different process for the students but they will end up with their same aid as in the past.
10. Financial:
a. Development Report --- Mr. Brent Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement, reported that gifts received in January 2010 were about $200,000 greater than January 2009 but that for the year to date, gift receipts are still lagging when compared to last year. He added that the Our Promise Campaign totals are more than $110 million after the announcement of the Journagan Ranch gift last week.
b. Financial Report --- Ms. Nila Hayes, Chief Financial Officer, presented a resolution (Finance No. 1006-10) for the Issuance of Auxiliary Enterprise System Revenue Bonds and Educational Facilities Revenue Bonds, and Reimbursement for Auxiliary Enterprise Facilities and General Education Buildings from Proceeds of Bonds. We are looking at up to $40 million for the auxiliary enterprise facilities projects and up to $12 million for general educational facilities projects. This resolution also names Gilmore & Bell as our bond counsel and names Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. as senior managing underwriter of the bonds. Dr. Nietzel emphasized that this resolution declares the intent of the University to issue these bonds…this is not the actual approval to issue the bonds. Should we go forward, we will bring back a resolution to approve the issuance of bonds. Moved by Mr. Elliott, receiving the second of Mr. Duggan.
Motion passed 8-0.
11. Facilities and Equipment --- Mr. Ken McClure, Vice President for Administrative and Information Services, presented the following resolution for the Board’s consideration:
The Phase I Renovation (Re-roof) of Willow Brook (Bids & Quotations No. 1316-10); Guarantee Roofing Inc., low bid of $883,100 for the base bid plus alternate number 1; total project budget established at $1,077,600.
Moved by Mr. Winston and seconded by Mr. Duggan.
Motion passed 8-0.
12. Human Resources--- Mr. McClure next presented the following resolutions for the Board’s consideration:
Approval of changes to the Employee Handbook regarding the course waiver benefit for full-time employees (Human Resources No. 1310-10).
Approval of changes to the Employee Handbook regarding supervisory approval of full-time employees’ use of their fifteen credit-hour per year benefit (Human Resources No. 1311-10).
Moved by Ms. Sheid and seconded by Ms. Bradbury.
Motion passed 8-0.
13. Unfinished Business --- Mr. Michael Duggan, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee, reported on their first committee meeting held on February 6, 2010. He added that Mr. Clif Smart gave a presentation on the Missouri Sunshine Law and Ms. Jana Estergard gave a presentation on diversity. Mr. Bill Funk of R. William Funk & Associates gave a talk on the search process. The initial time frame is to have the three finalists on campus in early May. If we are not pleased with the quality of candidates at that time, we might delay the campus-visit dates. The next committee meeting will be March 19, 2010.
14. Date of Next Meeting --- The date of the next scheduled meeting was set for Friday, April 9, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in Mountain Grove, Missouri.
15. Adjournment--- Mr. Hammons adjourned the meeting at 12:00 p.m. on the motion of Mr. Kimbrough, the second of Ms. Sheid, and the unanimous vote of the Board.
John W. McAlear
Secretary