Dear Colleagues:

The members of the Truman State University Board of Governors met this past Saturday in the Student Union Building.  Mike Bazemore, Associate Director of Athletics for Compliance and Operations, and Liz Jorn, Faculty Athletics Representative and Instructor in Health and Exercise Sciences, provided the annual athletics report, and Jeremy Hopkins, Vice Chair of Staff Council and Coordinator of Testing, reported on the work of Staff Council throughout the past fiscal year.  In addition, reports were shared from the Board committee meetings which included updates from Academic Affairs on the Missouri Department of Higher Education Program Review and the University’s plan for The Great American Eclipse, data from Student Affairs related to Student Conduct Statistics, and updates on various on-campus construction projects.  The Board also conducted a review of year-end financial reports and I provided my regular President’s Report.

The Board reviewed and approved four actions items.  The Missouri Hall Dining/Kitchen Project, a project funded by the Auxiliary Capital Improvements budget, will update the dining room and kitchen areas that were not renovated when the majority of the building was updated in 2007.  Most of the kitchen design and equipment dates from the original construction of the building in 1964-65.  The Local Capital Budgets for Fiscal Year 2018 and the State Appropriations Request for Fiscal Year 2019 were approved.  The local capital budgets are reviewed and approved annually to provide funding for major building and renovation projects for the campus.  Truman’s FY19 State Appropriations Request includes funding based on the Performance Funding model, additional funds to expand training for mental health professionals as well as an increase for cooperative programs with community college programs and Maintenance and Repair funding.  Finally, the Board revised their Board policy related to the Department of Public Safety.  The approved changes will ensure that policies are consistent with state law and provide appropriate authority for the enforcement of traffic and other regulations for the management of University property.

A copy of the open session agenda can be found on the Board of Governors website located at http://www.truman.edu/about/our-people/board-of-governors/board-of-governors-agendas/.  The next meeting of the Board is scheduled for Friday, October 13, in conjunction with Truman Homecoming activities.

The Board’s annual August meeting signals the end of summer and the beginning of a new academic year.  Next week, a new class of freshmen and transfer students will converge on the Truman campus.  It will be a pleasure to welcome new faces to campus, including those of our new faculty and staff, and to reconnect with returning students and members of the University community.  I hope you had an opportunity to recharge and begin the exciting work of the coming year.  I look forward to seeing you at the Fall Opening Assembly scheduled for Thursday, August 17, at 10:15 a.m. in the Ophelia Parrish Performance Hall, followed by the Ready-or-Not Luncheon scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in the Georgian Room of the Student Union.

Best regards,

Sue