Here's what projects, funding Missouri State will seek during 2024 legislative session

In this legislative session, Missouri State will seek state funding for half the cost of the new Judith Enyeart Reynolds Complex.

The university is asking for $17.5 million in state funds, which it will match with $5.5 million in university funds and a $12 million private gift that was pledged in summer 2023.

MSU President Clif Smart said the proposal calls for demolishing the Art Annex that sits on Grand Street — originally constructed as a military facility at Camp Crowder in Neosho and relocated to the Springfield campus after World War II — that he said has "way outlived its useful life expectancy."

In a mid-December meeting, Smart told the MSU Board of Governors that a state-of-the-art facility would be built in its place.

Once built, it will house the advising center, part of the university's "student success model," for the new Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities. The goal of the center is to help students achieve their personal, academic and career goals.

The new college, dubbed RCASH, was the result of an academic realignment, consolidation of existing colleges and an expansion of services.

The effort, led by provost John Jasinski, cut $5 million in recurring costs, eliminated 14 administrative positions and identified $1.8 million to reinvest in key priorities.

This year, an estimated 3,400 students are enrolled in RCASH programs such as criminology, defense and strategic studies, English, history, art and communications.

Smart acknowledged the university initially planned to ask for state funding for the Blunt Hall project this year but it was able to secure that separately.

The proposed Judith Enyeart Reynolds Complex project moved to the front burner after an "eight-figure" donation in August by the C.W. Titus Foundation. Once constructed just west of National Avenue, it will be viewed as a new "front porch" for the campus.

As part of the overall $35 million project, MSU also plans to renovate parts of Craig Hall built in 1967. The scope of work includes interior and exterior upgrades, new lighting, and renovations to improve accessibility.

Smart said the work will make the theater and restrooms more accessible to patrons who use wheelchairs and other adaptive equipment. "We'll use the rest of the money to knock out some deferred maintenance issues and upgrade and update and make accessible the first floor of Craig Hall."

Funding is top legislative priority

In the MSU board meeting, Smart said the top legislative priority remains to secure and increase the state funding level.

"Priority No. 1 every year is our ongoing appropriations. We get about $110 million in state appropriations," Smart said. "That is 40% of our operating budget — absolutely essential for our funding and it is that subsidy that allows our price point to be what it is."

In-state undergraduates at Missouri State are expected to pay $9,582 in tuition and fees for the 2023-24 year, lower than the national average of $11,260 for public, four-year universities.

Last year, amid high inflation, the General Assembly increased the operating amount for public universities by 7% to help cover the higher cost of utilities, technology and staff salaries and benefits.

Smart said this year, MSU will ask for a 5% increase in state funding — a level endorsed by the Coordinating Board for Higher Education — to offset rising costs, grow in-demand programs, boost pay and cover a $1.7 million increase in payments to the Missouri State Employees'​ Retirement System.

In the past five years, MSU has reallocated $22 million in expenses and eliminated nearly 50 positions.

Pandemic-era relief funds earmarked for colleges and universities as part of the federal American Rescue Plan Act are drying up.

Given that loss of funding, Smart said there are no guarantees going into this legislative session. MSU officials have been meeting with state lawmakers to make their case.

Gov. Mike Parson is expected to release his proposed budget Jan. 24 as part of his final State of the State address.

"We don't know what the ongoing increase is going to be yet," Smart said, noting past lean years. "We've been there before and we've worked regardless of what the governor's budget comes out with. We are hopeful it will be an increase."

Two workforce-related requests

Missouri State will ask the governor for state funds for two projects under the MoExcels Workforce Initiative. Smart said: "We do anticipate they will be in the governor's budget."

The university is asking for $1.6 million in one-time matching funds to renovate and equip existing space inside the Kampeter Hall, on the Springfield campus, to create an interdisciplinary educational training facility.

It will be used by students in health care and mental health professionals in audiology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology and counseling.

Smart said the project will "expand our healthcare education facilities, and the ability to move students through there and increase our numbers."

For the West Plains campus, MSU plans to launch programs to train students to become veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians. They will be the only programs of their kind in south-central Missouri.

MSU plans to spend $925,000 and will ask the state for a one-time amount of $815,000 to get started.

Smart said hands-on training will be provided at a farm being donated to the university and renovated to provide classroom and lab space.

By the 2027-28 year, the West Plains campus will be able to graduate 20 veterinary technicians and 20 veterinary assistants per year.

More: Largest one-time donation in Missouri State University history to fund new arts facility

Request coming for CoxNorth facility

Smart said he traveled to Washington, D.C., in early December and met with U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt to talk about the Alliance for Healthcare Education.

He said a team from CoxHealth was there during the same period to meet with Schmitt.

The alliance includes MSU, CoxHealth, Ozarks Technical Community College and Springfield Public Schools. The four institutions are working together to revamp how health professionals are trained in southwest Missouri.

Smart said no request for federal funding was made in late 2023 but is likely coming to meet future needs. He said: "We would need federal support to fully remodel the CoxNorth hospital to expand the education facilities there."

By The Numbers

As part of the legislative packet, Missouri State University provided data about its students and successes:

• Of the 25,935 students enrolled last fall, 81.4% were from Missouri, 11.3% were from other states in the U.S., and 7.3% were from other countries;

• Three metro areas send the most students to MSU: 6,762 from the Springfield area, 3,994 from the St. Louis area, and 2,847 from the Kansas City area;

• MSU awarded 6,510 degrees and certificates during the 2022-23 academic year;

• A total of 1,282 doctoral degrees have been awarded by MSU;

• Students are majoring in key areas: 4,890 in business, 4,452 in health-related fields; 3,366 in arts, social studies and humanities, 2,895 in science, technology, engineering or math, and 1,886 in education.

• Within six months of commencement, 93.7% of MSU graduates are employed, enlisted or enrolled in more schooling.

Claudette Riley covers education for the News-Leader. Email tips and story ideas to criley@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State will seek funding, projects in 2024 legislative session