Missouri State University accomplished one of its main goals during the past academic year when state legislators increased its core operating budget by $10 million during the spring legislative session.

That was just one of several highlights Missouri State University System President Clif Smart touted during his annual State of the University address Thursday at Melton Hall on the Missouri State University-West Plains campus.

Calling it a “very successful year on all our campuses,” Smart pointed to records in enrollment, fundraising and grants and contracts, as well as the implementation of several new programs, on the Springfield campus during the 2018-19 academic year.

The system as a whole also conferred 5,740 credentials last year, he added.

“As you can see, many good things have occurred this year despite the challenges both campuses faced, but there are areas where we must improve,” he said.

Major areas of work

For the West Plains campus, Smart said he has asked Chancellor Lawler and her team to focus on four major areas of work:

• stabilize enrollment and increase retention, graduation, transfer and course completion rates;
• expand technical and allied health programs;
• enroll non-traditional students eligible to receive financial aid under the state’s new Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant;
• continue to coordinate operations between the West Plains and Springfield campuses.

Some of the items are carry-overs from the previous year, he said, but “you made significant progress in all of them, and I commend you for your really good work.”

Enrollment a priority at Springfield

The Springfield campus will be working on all of these items, as well, but the main focus will be on recruiting new students and retaining current students, Smart said.

To aid in those efforts, a strategic enrollment management plan will be created to outline long-term strategies, Smart said. The results will be shared with West Plains campus administration to aid in their plan development.

“Missouri State will continue to focus on growth, completion, affordability, access, economic development, community engagement, inclusion, efficiency and fundraising this year,” Smart said.

“The strength and profile of the university has never been bigger than it is now, and this campus is an important part of that profile,” he added. “I look forward to us all making progress together on these goals this year. It is important to the university, our employees and most importantly, our students.”

West Plains campus highlights

In her remarks, Lawler pointed to several highlights at Missouri State-West Plains during the past academic year. These include:

• opening Hass-Darr Hall;
• offering the first registered apprenticeship programs at the Greater Ozarks Center for Advanced Technology (GOCAT), certified by the U.S. Department of Labor;
• opening the West Plains Police substation in Drago Hall (the former Drago College Store);
• building the amphitheater, which was completed this month and is available for community use;
• state and national recognition of students in the Phi Beta Lambda business organization and the Postsecondary Agriculture Students organization;
• receiving nearly $1.5 million in grants for National Science Foundation projects, Adult Education and Literacy, TRiO Student Support Services and nursing program expansion.

She also praised employees for their work to raise enrollment by 5% this fall, especially at a time when college enrollments are declining. In addition retention, three-year completion/transfer and course completion rates are trending upward, she added.

Steps being taken this year

Lawler said campus officials are taking several steps to address the four areas of work for the current academic year.

To address enrollment, retention, graduation, transfer and course completion rates, she said, staff will continue to work with the Complete College America initiative, enhance and expand marketing strategies, and establish a Grizzly Care Team to help students who may be struggling to manage all of the stressors in their life.

Nursing department officials are currently working to expand the Associate of Science in Nursing program to double enrollment, Lawler said, and academic officials are looking to add degrees in industrial maintenance and health professions, a certificate in medical assisting, and additional apprenticeships at GOCAT.

Lawler said university officials also will work hard to reach non-traditional students who may be eligible for the Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant program by reaching out to area businesses and industries and contacting current and former students who haven’t completed a degree.

The West Plains campus wouldn’t be able to exist without many of the resources available through the Springfield campus, Lawler said, and local campus officials will continue to work with counterparts at the Springfield campus on such items as enrollment management, fundraising and grant proposals.