Regents approve Southeast Missouri State University budget

The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents unanimously approved a balanced operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year and made changes to its academic program during its meeting Thursday at the University Center.

The regents approved an operating budget of nearly $103.9 million for fiscal year 2014, which begins July 1. The figure represents an increase of $5.6 million over last year's operating budget and is based on an estimated income of $42.8 million in state appropriations, $58.3 million in student fees and $2.7 million from other sources, like investment income and facilities rentals.

According to Dr. Ken Dobbins, president of Southeast, the new operating budget includes a faculty base merit salary increase of 2.6 percent, a .375 percent salary pool to fund post-professorial merit increases and an increase in the department chair stipend from $3,000 to $3,500. The budget also includes a staff base merit salary increase of 3 percent for administrative and professional staff, 3 percent for clerical and technical staff and a 3 percent increase for graduate-assistant stipends.

"Considering that faculty and staff have only received a total of a 4 percent salary increase over the last four fiscal years and the recruitment challenges of replacing a large number of retiring employees, merit based salary increases were a priority," Dobbins said.

The budget reflects an increase in incidental fees approved by the regents last month, according to Kathy Mangels, vice president for finance and administration.

"It also takes into account a slight 2 percent increase in state appropriations after years of cuts," Mangels said. "Anticipated income from state appropriations accounts for just over 42 percent of the budget."

The regents also unanimously approved the operating budgets for Southeast's auxiliary "units," totaling $36.1 million. These self-supporting units include operations such as Southeast Textbook Services and the Show Me Center. Revenue from increases to room and board rates -- by 2.65 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively -- approved by the regents in February are incorporated into that budget, Mangels said.

The regents also approved a $51.7 million capital-budget request for fiscal year 2015 to be submitted to the Missouri Department of Higher Education. The request includes Southeast's fiscal year 2015 budget request and long-range plan requests, which include deferred maintenance projects. Mangels advised the regents that the funding request may go unheeded from the state.

"The state hasn't filled any capital-budget requests since 2001 because of funding issues," she said.

In other action. the regents unanimously approved the creation of a new major, the Bachelor of Science in emergency preparedness.

"The need for highly trained and educated emergency management specialists has never been greater," said Dr. Gerald McDougall, interim provost. "In the wake of natural disasters and ongoing terrorist threats, there is an unusually high demand for emergency management professionals."

McDougall said the new program is expected to begin in January, and all courses will be taught by full-time faculty as part of the regular teaching loads for faculty in each of the colleges providing coursework. The major will be housed in the Environmental Science Program in Southeast's College of Science, Technology and Agriculture.

Regents also approved the elimination of a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, or TESOL, in the Department of English. The minor was viewed as redundant with the current Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages program and the ESOL undergraduate certificate program.

"There is also a lack of student interest in the minor," McDougall said.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO

Estimated income at Southeast by funding source for fiscal year 2014

Student Fees: $58,392,214 or 56.2 percent

State Appropriation: $42,806,554 or 41.2 percent

Other sources: $2,679,140 or 2.6 percent

Total Estimated Income: $103,877,908

Estimated expenditures at Southeast by division (net) for fiscal year 2014

Academic Affairs: $50,968,195 or 49.1 percent

Institutional Services: $26,833,992 or 25.8 percent

Finance and Administration: $14,633,712 or 14.1 percent

Enrollment Management and Student Success: $3,909,656 or 3.8 percent

Athletics: $5,357,226 or 5.1 percent

University Advancement: $2,175,127 or 2.1 percent

Total Net Estimated Expenditures: $103,877,908

Estimated expenditures at Southeast by expense category for fiscal year 2014

Salaries: $56,950,964

Equipment and Operations: $45,760,693

Benefits: $19,473,590

Student Employment: $1,460,462

Subtotal of estimated expenditures: $123,645,709

Less designated revenue: $19,767,801

Total net estimated expenditures: $103,877,908

Source: Southeast Missouri State University