The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Joplin Metro

September 19, 2008

Lobbyist cites funding prospects for MSSU

By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

The state of Missouri could be as much as $200 million short in next year’s budget, Kyna Iman, Missouri Southern State University’s government lobbyist, told the university’s Board of Governors during its monthly meeting Friday at the Joplin school.

“I’ve heard they will continue current funding, but new programs will really be on the chopping block,” Iman said.

It was Iman’s annual report to the board on legislation that passed in the last year and what to expect in the coming year.

Among the victories Iman marked from the last year were bringing in $2 million to build a storm shelter on the north side of MSSU’s campus and getting additional capital project funds from the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative.

Missouri Southern also has been chosen to represent universities across the state by holding the freshmen legislators’ dinner Dec. 3.

In the next year, Iman said, she will continue to push for Missouri Southern and other public colleges to receive all their promised funding from the state and to make higher education a higher budget priority compared with K-12 education.

Iman said she will again try to get the Prepare To Care program passed in the 2009 session. The program has a $39 million price tag and helps address the shortage of health-care professionals. It lost by one vote in the last session.

Budget

Much of the rest of the meeting focused on high-profile changes to the university’s budget and strategic planning in the wake of the arrival of Bruce Speck, the university’s new president, last spring.

Along those lines, board member Charles McGinty asked the university’s financial team to include more information on the monthly budget reports, so the board members could see cash in and cash out, rather than net assets that include building depreciation and assets.

Speck told the board about the Sept. 12 forum where several hundred students and faculty showed up to support the international mission and the Institute of International Studies, the budget for which has been trimmed 33 percent for 2008-09.

Ben Hinkle, student body president and student representative to the board, said many of the students still think the decision to cut the Institute’s funding was “not data driven.” He said the student senate will develop a package of recommendations for increasing income and cutting costs, and present it to the board at the end of the semester.

Speck said the student body needs to be more educated on the budget, and is preparing a presentation similar to one he gave to the faculty. He will make that presentation to the student senate.

“We may need to have a campuswide meeting too,” Speck said.





In the offing

The Lion’s Den cafe in Billingsley Student Center will reopen in mid-October to students. The roof on the health center building will go on Oct. 1. Construction crews will pour cement for the slab for the new Health and Sciences Building next week. The university’s annual audit is almost complete and will be presented to the board at its Oct. 17 meeting.

Text Only
Joplin Metro
  • Ruby-Sapp-obit.jpg Longtime Democrat dies at 81

    Sapp, 81, died Thursday. Funeral services were Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Joplin. A longtime Jasper County Democratic committeewoman and volunteer, Sapp for years was secretary to the county’s central committee.

    August 9, 2010 1 Photo

  • Motivational speaker offers free marriage course

    Presented by Mark Gungor, the course is being offered free to the community. The event is being held to aid in tornado relief. 

    January 12, 2012

  • District sends faculty, administrators on site visits

    With the design phase of several buildings in Joplin Schools ending in May, the district has sent 66 administration, faculty, parents and community members on site visits to 22 schools and two technology company headquarters across the country.

    January 11, 2012

  • 011012 Jop HS mural1_72.jpg Mural depicting Joplin High School dedicated

    A four-paneled mural depicting the recent history of Joplin High School was dedicated at the Memorial 9th- and 10th-grade Center Tuesday morning. The mural will be moved to the new high school when it is completed in 2014.

    January 10, 2012 4 Photos

  • Carl Junction chamber creating new committees

    The Carl Junction Chamber of Commerce is kicking off three new committees this week with meetings scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday.

    January 9, 2012

  • Body of missing Joplin man found

    The body of a missing Joplin man was discovered this afternoon inside his home in the Royal Heights neighborhood of Joplin.

    January 3, 2012

  • Wildcat Glades nature center receives $50,000 grant

    The Wildcat Glades Conservation & Audubon Center has received a $50,000 TogetherGreen Innovation Grant, which is being provided through an alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota.

    October 21, 2011

  • Joplin shooting victim’s name released

    The Joplin Police Department today released the name of a woman fatally shot in her home early Thursday and acknowledged that the shooting was reported as a suicide attempt.

    October 21, 2011

  • Barry Manilow to deliver donated instruments

    Singer-songwriter Barry Manilow will visit Joplin next week to donate more than $300,000 in musical instruments to replace those lost during the May 22 tornado.

    October 21, 2011

  • Extreme Makeover releases names of families

    "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" has released more details about the build in the 2400 block of Connor Avenue, including the names of the seven families. They are:

    October 19, 2011