Dear Colleagues:

The Truman State University Board of Governors met this past Saturday under the leadership of Phil Christofferson, Board Chair.  In addition to their meeting, the Board participated in committee meetings, a working session, and toured the Kirk Building.

During their regular meeting, the Board approved the Operating Budgets for Fiscal Year 2026 and the Academic Promotion Salary Policy for the 2025-26 Academic Year.  Operating budgets were developed using state funding based on the 1.5% core increase recommendation made by Governor Kehoe for FY2026 appropriations.  The General Assembly approved a 3% increase; however, the Governor has not signed the FY2026 appropriation bill.  In addition, the Board approved salary increases for faculty members promoted in rank for the 2025-26 Academic Year, excluding those whose salaries for the 2025-26 Academic Year have been established by separate agreement.  Faculty members who are promoted in rank will receive the following salary increases:  Instructor to Assistant Professor, $1,000; Assistant Professor to Associate Professor, $3,800; and Associate Professor to Professor, $7,500.

Other items approved by the Board include:

Resolution of Appreciation for Dave Rector
Dave will retire as Vice President for Administration, Finance, and Planning on June 30.  The approved resolution recognizes Dave’s service to the University and the Board of Governors.  Dave’s longevity and service have spanned the terms of eight university presidents and nearly eighty members of the Board.

Treasurers for Fiscal Year 2026
University treasurers are appointed annually and are responsible for administering institutional funds.  A slate of treasurers was approved at the April meeting; however, the slate was amended due to Dave’s retirement.

Sustained Knowledge of Integrated Lifelong Learning Skills (SKILLS) Center Consultant
The Board approved a proposal from the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) to support the SKILLS Center’s activation by identifying how its services can be most impactful, sustainable, and aligned with both community needs and Truman’s strategic goals.

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Repairs
A quote from Daikin TMI, LLC to repair certain Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) components was approved.  Truman’s mechanical services team recently reviewed the campus HVAC systems.  They assessed various components and identified the need to replace sixteen Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) across four academic buildings.  VFDs enhance motor speed control, improving efficiency and reducing heating and cooling costs.  This project will be funded through local capital resources and is expected to be completed by early fall 2025.

Campus Boiler Plant and Steam System Engineering Study
A proposal from Daikin TMI, LLC was also accepted to provide an engineering study for the campus boiler plant and steam system.  Truman’s boiler plant and steam tunnels provide hot water to a large portion of the interior campus.  While this system has served the University well, it has become inefficient, and portions of the system need repair.  The study will be funded with local capital resources and is expected to be completed during FY2026.

State Capital Improvement and Maintenance Request for Fiscal Year 2027
The approved FY2027 State Capital Improvement and Maintenance Request includes requested funds for nine top priorities, including updates to Pickler Memorial Library, an emergency electrical backup system, power system infrastructure, and updates to McClain Hall, Violette Hall, Ophelia Parrish Fine Arts Center, and the Health Science wing of Pershing Building.  Capital funds requests are submitted to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education and the Division of Design and Construction, Office of Administration.  The request outlines priorities for the next five years, with a focus on the repair and renovation of existing facilities.

Telephone System Project
A Request for Proposals (RFP) is currently open to replace the existing telephone system, with a proposal submission deadline of June 30.  This new system would include a combination of Voice-over-IP (VoIP) business phone lines, standard office phone lines, fax machines, and lines for elevator, emergency, and gas meter dialing, representing approximately 1,000 phone lines.  The University desires to implement the selected system before October 1, when the current contract expires.  To meet that timeline, approval from the Board was needed before their August meeting.

Architectural Services – Multisport Locker Room Facility Project
The Board approved a proposal from PGAV Architects to provide architectural services for a multisport, stand-alone locker room and athletic training facility.  This proposed building will be located at Stokes Stadium and serve football, men’s and women’s soccer, baseball, and softball.  An initial design is required to provide visual support and cost estimates for a fundraising campaign associated with this project.  A designated gift to the Foundation will provide funding for this proposed design, and approval is required to initiate the preliminary design and develop cost estimates.

Faculty Promotions and Academic Tenure
During the closed session, the Board reviewed recommendations for promotion and tenure effective with the 2025-26 Academic Year.  Please join me in congratulating these dedicated faculty members on achieving these impressive milestones and thanking them for their tireless efforts on behalf of our students and the University.

Faculty promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and granted tenure include Jill Arnold, Education; Musa Demirtas, Business Administration; Jason McDonald, History; Sheena Nichols, Nursing; Katrina Schmerold, Psychology; Martha Strange, Education; Scott Templeton, Business Administration; and Elizabeth Wiles, Criminal Justice Studies.  Additionally, Elsa Leggett, Counseling, was promoted from Associate Professor to Professor and granted tenure, and Yung-hwal Park, Business Administration, was promoted from Associate Professor to Professor.

In addition to the above action items, Tyana Lange, Vice President for Student Engagement, Enrollment, and Marketing, provided the annual Enrollment Management Report, and Scott Alberts, 2024-25 Faculty Senate President and Professor of Statistics, provided the yearly Faculty Senate Report.  I shared a President’s Report noting the status of the Vice President for University Advancement search and the appointment of Michael Thorp of Small College Consulting (SCC) as Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management.  Additionally, I highlighted the recently established Kirksville Community Connections Group, co-led by Mari Macomber, Kirksville City Manager, and me. The mission of the group is to strengthen the spirit of our community by fostering a deep sense of belonging, mutual respect, and shared purpose among residents, committed to cultivating a supportive environment where individuals come together to celebrate our town’s unique character, collaborate on meaningful initiatives, and work collectively toward the common good.  The initial project for this group was the recently held Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) State Games.  From all indications, the games were a huge success.  A huge thank you to Tyana Lange and Sharon Swehla, Kirksville Tourism Director, for their work as co-chairs, as well as the many Truman and community volunteers who went above and beyond to ensure that the athletes, coaches, families, supporters, and staff had an amazing experience that greatly exceeded their expectations.  The Board also received updates during the committee meetings and working session on additional areas, including legislative affairs, financial reports, audit preview, construction projects, equipment purchases, study abroad, and summer orientation.

The open session agenda can be found on the Board of Governors Agendas website. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Saturday, August 2.

I hope the rest of your summer is enjoyable and restorative.

All the best,
Sue