September 18, 2019

MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
SEPTEMBER 18, 2019

1.    Roll Call:
Present - Mr. Gabriel Gore, Chair of the Board (by conference call)
Mr. Craig Frazier, Governor 
Ms. Beverly Miller Keltner, Governor (by conference call)
Ms. Carrie Tergin, Governor (by conference call)   
Also Present - Mr. Clifton M. Smart III, President (by conference call)
Dr. Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development International Programs
Ms. Amelia Counts, Governor (by conference call)
Ms. Donna Christian, Director of Internal Audit and Risk Management
Mr. Ryan DeBoef, Chief of Staff and Assistant to the President for Governmental Relations
Ms. Rachael Dockery, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
Dr. Frank Einhellig, Provost
Mr. Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer (by conference call)
Ms. Afton Harper, Student Reporter for the Standard
Dr. Tammy Jahnke, Dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences 
Dr. Shirley Lawler, Chancellor, West Plains Campus (by conference call)
Mr. William Miller, Student Governor
Mr. Kyle Moats, Director of Athletics
Mr. Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services
Mr. Tom Peters, Dean of the Library
Mr. Kendall Seal, Governor (by conference call)
Ms. Carol Silvey, Governor (by conference call)
Dr. Brad Snow, Assistant Professor, Music
Mr. Olujimi Sode, Assistant Director of Admissions-Diversity Outreach and Recruitment
Ms. Rowena Stone, Executive Assistant to the President
Dr. Shawn Wahl, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters 
Mr. Mark Wheeler, University Architect and Director of Planning, Design and Construction
Ms. Tammy Wiley, General Manager of KSMU
Mr. Mike Wills, Director of Procurement
Dr. John Zastoupil, Assistant Professor, Music
Ms. Kristan Gochenauer, Secretary of the Board 
 
2.    Presiding – Mr. Gabriel Gore, Chair of the Board of Governors, called the Executive Committee conference-call meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. in Room 203 of Carrington Hall on the campus of Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri.

3.    Approval of Minutes – Mr. Gore mentioned that the first item of business was the approval of the minutes for the open and closed meetings of July 17, 2019.  Mr. Craig Frazier so moved, receiving the second from Ms. Carrie Tergin.

Motion passed 3-0.

4.    Procurement and Financial – Mr. Steve Foucart, Chief Financial Officer, 
presented a resolution summarizing the Procurement Services’ Office activities from July 12, 2019 through September 13, 2019 (Purchasing Activity Report No. 481-19).  The two items included in the resolution were:

•    Approval recommended for a FOLIO Integrated Library System through EBSCO Discovery Service.  Contract allows for three optional one-year renewals with annual cap increases to 3%.  Total estimated three-year cost is $369,397.00.
•    Approval recommended for the purchase of airfare through Atlantic Group Tours for the Band Performance Tour.  The first deposit is due September 5, 2019 with final payment May 1, 2020 for a total estimated cost of $577,880.00.

Mr. Frazier made a motion to approve the purchasing activity report, receiving a second from Ms. Tergin. 

Motion passed 3-0.

Mr. Foucart then requested approval of a resolution authorizing the addition of the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts to the Auxiliary Enterprise System (Finance No. 1082-19).  Moved and seconded, respectively, by Mr. Frazier and Ms. Tergin. 

Motion passed 3-0.

5.    Facilities and Equipment – Mr. Matt Morris, Vice President for Administrative Services, recommended approval of bids and award of a contract for cooperative engineering expansion and the eFactory business incubator expansion at Robert W. Plaster Center for Free Enterprise (Bids & Quotations No. 1578-19).  A low bid of $3,259,200 for the base bid plus alternates A1, A2, A3, and B1was received from DeWitt & Associates, Inc. Total budget is $4,250,000 with an expected completion prior to the fall 2020 semester. Ms. Tergin moved the resolution, receiving a second from Mr. Frazier.

Motion passed 3-0.

Mr. Morris then recommended approval of a lease agreement for television tower space for KOZK-Fordland between Missouri State University and Gray Media Group, Inc. (Agreement No. 432-19). Proposed lease agreement extends through a period of twenty (20) years and offers one (1) renewal term of twenty (20) years at a cost of $15,000 per month or $180,000 per year subject to an annual escalator for a total of $5,360,054 over twenty (20) years. Mr. Frazier made a motion to approve, receiving a second from Ms. Tergin.

Motion passed 3-0.

6.    Enrollment Update – President Clif Smart gave the Board an update on enrollment.  System wide, the University is currently down 181 students or .7%.  The University is over 26,000 students for the fourth year in a row with the Springfield campus over 24,000.  International enrollment has rebounded significantly, dual credit is up approximately 500 students and graduate students are at record highs with over 3,800 students.  The West Plains campus is up 88 students or 5%.  Focus is on freshman enrollment, which is down 400.  President Smart reported that today was the Strategic Enrollment Management kick-off event with guest speaker Khadish Franklin, EAB.  The conference included conversations about the importance of academic engagement, continued website updates, removing barriers and student input.  Overall, President Smart is pleased with the numbers.  

President Smart then shared that later this evening, he is attending a Boys and Girls Club event and will be signing a scholarship agreement. 

President Smart spoke to the Board about the admission process and shared that he would like to waive the admission fee, effective today, for fiscal year 2020, in an effort to remove another barrier for students. He also shared that students can now apply to the University through the online common app.   

Mr. Gore asked about the enrollment efforts of International Programs and West Plains campus.  Dr. Jim Baker, Vice President for Research and Economic Development International Programs, stated that internationally there has been concern regarding Visas as well as safety issues. He and his team are building trust with Universities, creating more partnerships and adapting programs to allow students to study more at home versus on the Springfield campus.  One of the newest agreements is a 3+1 in Plants Science where students stay on their home campus for the first three years and then come to the Springfield campus for their fourth year. A recent agreement with Southwest University in Chongqing, China, has resulted in 800 students coming to study on campus over the next four years.  

Dr. Shirley Lawler, Chancellor, West Plains, shared that everyone is hypersensitive to retention.  The West Plains campus is reporting an 18% increase in online programs, 20% increase in dual credit and a focus on non-traditional students as well as freshmen.  The credit hour goal has been met and the budget is level.  She reported that this is an excellent start. 

7.    Adjournment – Mr. Gore adjourned the conference-call meeting at 4:38 p.m. on the motion of Mr. Frazier, the second of Ms. Tergin and the unanimous vote of the committee. 

Kristan E. Gochenauer
Secretary of the Board