The governing board of Missouri State University called a press conference this week to express its strong support for President Clif Smart and the plan to fully reopen campus this fall, in the middle of a global pandemic.
Fall classes start Monday, in-person and online.
"This fall will look different than ever before," said Craig Frazier, chair of the 10-member MSU Board of Governors. "We are confident we're taking a thoughtful, careful approach that will allow students to be back on campus."
More: MSU offers freshmen unprecedented online-only option for fall
The board met Aug. 7 to finalize the plan, approve a strict masking policy, lease a hotel to quarantine students who live on campus and test positive for COVID-19, and provide freshmen the option to start the 2020-21 year online.
"The board unanimously believes that we can open the campus safely," Frazier said. "To accomplish this, we've made a number of changes to how we will operate."
For example, MSU will pay to test students and employees for the coronavirus, reduce class sizes, offer more virtual and hybrid courses, and provide protective equipment for faculty and staff.
In a closed session meeting Aug. 7, the board finalized its annual evaluation of Smart, who has been president since June 2011.
"Clif has proven to be a trusted leader of both our university and in our community. During each of the last eight years, our board has given President Smart very positive reviews," Frazier said. "This year, in the midst of a global pandemic, he has once again shown his ability to adapt to current circumstances. President Smart has demonstrated an extraordinary display of vision, judgement and now agility."
Smart said there are no changes to his contract, which runs through June 30, 2026, and he did not request an extension or pay increase.
More: MSU leases Springfield hotel to quarantine students exposed to COVID-19
He previously stated that recent months, starting with the switch from in-person to virtual courses in March, have been the most challenging during his tenure.
"I have six years remaining on my contract," he said. "As I stand here today, that seems like an eternity."
Frazier said "under normal circumstances," the board would have rewarded Smart's job performance with a pay raise. His current salary is $363,931 plus $40,000 for housing, which he has long donated to the university.
"Given the uncertainty in enrollment and funding due in great part to the pandemic, the board has reluctantly chosen to not award a salary increase at this time," he said. "We will revisit Smart's compensation later during the year when we have a better picture of the university's financial situation."
Frazier said the university has made huge strides under Smart's leadership and called him a "true asset" and a "superstar" among higher education leaders in Springfield, the state and beyond.
"The board unanimously agrees that one of our most important jobs is to not only keep Clif here for as long as his contract will allow but also to support him in such a way that he continues to perform at such an extraordinary level," he said.
Asked if the board identified areas where Smart can improve, Frazier said he was not able to come up with any.
More: Strict, widespread masking mandated on Missouri State campus
Smart said the board urged him to focus on more than managing through the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, a retreat has been scheduled for Sept. 11.
He said other priorities including combating racism, developing a new long-range plan and developing strategies to manage enrollment. "The board, while they're pleased that we've managed through the pandemic, the encouragement I got was don't just focus on the crisis."
Claudette Riley is the education reporter for the News-Leader. Email news tips to criley@news-leader.com and consider supporting vital local journalism by subscribing. Learn more by visiting News-Leader.com/subscribe.
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August 15, 2020 at 10:00AM
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Chair of the MSU board: 'We can open the campus safely' this fall - News-Leader
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