Minutes of the Executive Committee
of the Executive Committee
of the Board of Governors
Missouri State University
March 18, 2020
Roll Call:
Present – Mr. Craig Frazier, Chair of the Board (by conference call)
Ms. Amelia “Amy” Counts, Governor (by conference call)
Mr. Gabriel Gore, Governor (by conference call)
Ms. Beverly Miller Keltner, Governor (by conference call)
Also Present – Mr. Clifton M. Smart III, President
Ms. Donna Christian, Director of Internal Audit and Risk Management (by
conference call)
Mr. Ryan DeBoef, Chief of Staff and Assistant to the President for
Governmental Relations
Ms. Rachael Dockery, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, Legal
Affairs and Compliance (by conference call)
Dr. Frank Einhellig, Provost
Mr. Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. David Hall, Director of University Safety (by conference call)
Dr. Shirley Lawler, Chancellor, West Plains Campus (by conference call)
Mr. Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services
Ms. Lynn Parman, Governor (by conference call)
Ms. Suzanne Shaw, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Ms. Carol Silvey, Governor (by conference call)
Ms. Carrie Tergin, Governor (by conference call)
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 (by conference call)
Dr. Shawn Wahl, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters
Ms. Rowena Stone, Secretary to the Board of Governors
Presiding – Mr. Craig Frazier, Chair of the Board of Governors, called the Executive Committee conference-call meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in the Turner Family Conference Room, Carrington Hall Room 203 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 open and closed minutes for the Executive Committee meetings of January 15, 2020. Ms. Beverly Miller Keltner so moved, receiving a second from Ms. Amy Counts.
Motion passed 4-0.
FY21 Budget Update – President Clif Smart updated the Executive Committee on the FY21 budget. He shared that the House Budget Committee completed their budget work and submitted their proposed budget to the House for approval. The budget was anticipated to pass today, but with the coronavirus uncertainty, it did not. He shared that the proposed budget includes the following:
- MO Excels project funding of $1.8 million to establish the Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence
- $1 million divided among the universities, resulting in less than $100,000 being allocated to Missouri State
President Smart commented that with growing concerns around the coronavirus pandemic, sales tax revenues will likely be negatively affected which may result in budgetary withholds for the university. He highlighted university plans that will affect the budget which included:
- Putting financial aid packages together and allowing students to register
- Moving forward with the tuition and fees increases discussed by the Board in February
- Managing the early move out of students living in the residence halls and working on a pro rata refund plan for these students
President Smart stated that the tuition and fees package would be put together for approval at the April Executive Committee meeting and approval of the full budget would occur at the regular Board meeting in June. He commented that the university is in very good shape for the year with 75% of state appropriations allocated and 90% of tuition and fees for Spring received. He shared that the university is evaluating construction projects and moving forward with those deemed essential. As part of these efforts, the university is working to defer closing on the new residence hall. Privately funded projects will continue as normal. He concluded his report by stating that the university is looking to conserve cash and reduce costs for the current and next fiscal years.
Academic Affairs – Dr. Frank Einhellig, Provost, presented the Executive Committee with two resolutions for new programs. The first resolution was for a Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing (Curriculum No. 394-20). The second resolution was for the approval of a Master of Science in Kinesiology (Curriculum No. 395-20). President Smart commented that graduate programs continue to grow and that with approval, these proposed programs would be submitted to the Coordinating Board of Higher Education (CBHE). Once approved by CBHE, the university would decide on when to start the programs. A motion was made to approve both new programs by Ms. Counts and seconded by Mr. Gabriel Gore.
Motion passed 4-0.
Dr. Einhellig and Dr. Shawn Wahl left the meeting at this time.
Procurement and Financial – Mr. Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer, presented a resolution summarizing activity of the Office of Procurement Services from January 10, 2020, through March 13, 2020 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 487-20) for approval. The one item included in the resolution was for the approval of multiple purchases for furniture for the new residence hall with total estimated costs of $1,443,671.00.
Mr. Foucart shared that each category purchase would go to Administrative Council for approval at the appropriate times and would be included in future consent agendas for approval by the Board. Ms. Miller Keltner made a motion to approve the purchasing activity report, receiving a second from Mr. Gore.
Motion passed 4-0.
Facilities and Equipment – Mr. Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services, shared that of the university’s current 187 capital projects, 40% are either on hold, pending, or canceled. He added that priority of projects is as followed: life safety items, structural and building envelope issues, infrastructure issues, and fixtures and furnishing items.
Mr. Morris provided an overview and recommended approval of bids and award of a contract for the roof replacement at Hill Hall (Bids & Quotations No. 1582-20). A bid of $447,300.00 plus 1 alternate addition in the amount of $180,000.00 from Queen City Roofing & Contracting, Inc. was received for a total of $627,300.00. He shared that expected completion of the project is by the fall 2020 semester. Mr. Gore so moved approval of the resolution, receiving a second from Ms. Counts.
Motion passed 4-0.
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 March 18, 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…”
Ms. Miller Keltner so moved the approval of the resolution and Mr. Gore 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 4:28 p.m. to go into closed session.
The open meeting was reconvened at 5:07 p.m.
Adjournment – Mr. Frazier adjourned the conference-call meeting at 5:11 p.m. on the motion of Ms. Miller Keltner, the second of Ms. Counts and the unanimous vote of the committee.
Rowena Stone
Secretary of the Board