Southeast packs agenda with two days of meetings

Members of Southeast Missouri State University's board of regents have their work cut out for them this week when they'll tackle a two-day agenda of issues ranging from a branding initiative to a draft of a strategic plan.

Multiple items await the board during four open meetings today and Friday at Academic Hall, and several members have expressed a desire to work on them with the soon-to-retire university president, Kenneth Dobbins.

During the first of two sessions at 9:30 a.m. today, the board will consider accepting an annual audit and whether to begin charging a 2.5 percent service fee when receiving payments by credit card. The move could save the university around $275,000 a year. The new fee, if approved, would take effect May 1.

Regulations allow colleges and universities to pass on fees associated with credit-card payments, which is prompting the change, combined with a $380,000 cost to accept payments by credit card during a 12-month period that ended in October. The maximum a student making a payment on their account could be charged if the board approves the change is $50. For credit payments of $2,000 and above, the university would continue to absorb the cost. Payments by check, whether online, by mail or in person, would continue with no service fee.

The board plans to enter into a closed session at 10:30 a.m. to discuss real estate items; legal actions, causes of action or litigation; hiring, firing, disciplining or promoting personnel; personnel records and performance ratings; and protected records.

At 1:30 p.m., the board will reconvene in open session to consider approving a space-use report, funding schedule and future architecture and engineering studies for the campus. With large renovation projects at Academic and Magill halls complete, the board will look at committee recommendations for the use of space on campus and consider renovating several other buildings.

Potential improvement projects at Kent Library, Grauel Building, Pacific Hall and Cheney Hall, according to board documents, would allow the university to move some offices and programs for better use of space. An estimated time frame for the projects is the next one to two years. If the board approves the committee recommendations, the university will seek architectural and engineering services for the projects and find funding sources.

The board also will consider changes to business policies in the second open session today. One policy change would outline the university's responsibility for reporting and responding to complaints of sexual assault, which will cap a review of compliance with Title IX provisions. Another policy change would amend the university's current policy on nondiscrimination, Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti-Harassment to "recognize sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes," according to board documents.

Friday's first session at 9 a.m. will be spent in part hearing a presentation on a proposed rebranding for Southeast and related next steps. A Columbus, Ohio, firm was hired earlier this year to conduct market research and brand analysis for the university. On Friday, it will present concepts for how the university can best represent itself in the marketplace. One tool under development, representatives of the university have said, is a map that will send consistent messages about the university to various audiences.

The board also will consider an updated draft strategic plan for the university, which outlines priorities and goals under each heading while guiding the institution's development and budgets, according to board documents.

In the second open session at 1 p.m. Friday, reports will be given on retention and advising initiatives, and the board will hear a report from Dobbins.

A 4 p.m. session will be closed Friday for the same reasons as today's closed session. Announcements of actions taken in closed sessions will follow.

The meetings today and Friday are the first time the regents have met for two days for the sole purpose of discussing agenda items, according to an email from Brady Barke, the president's senior associate and secretary to the board. Previous two-day meetings, Barke said, generally included a strategic planning workshop or board retreat.

Dobbins announced his retirement plans in September, at which time the board outlined items they wanted him to work on with the university community during the current fiscal year, Barke said. Dobbins' retirement takes effect June 30; a search for a new university president continues.

eragan@semissourian.com

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