E-mail shows Missouri Southern's talking points to smooth over job cuts

It's an old trick, but they resort to it every time.

Administrators decide on a course of action, know it is not going to go over well, so they create a survey and tilt it in such a way that they it appears the staff has given them the go-ahead to do whatever it was they were planning to do in the first place.

Would it surprise anyone to know that Missouri Southern State University administrators conducted such a survey prior to giving the heave-ho to more than 40 teachers and staff members, some of whom had been with the university for decades.

That survey, as well as a papering over of drastic cuts in programs to make it appear that the cuts are only designed to make the programs stronger, were included in talking points sent out to MSSU employees in an e-mail shortly after the Turner Report revealed the extent of those cuts.

Below you will find information that can help with any questions that might arise from the events that have taken place over the last academic year. This will be shared with media as inquiries are made. We appreciate each of you helping provide accurate information to our students and the public.

Like many universities, Missouri Southern State University has seen a trend of declining enrollment over the past five years.

With the decrease in enrollment, there is a need to significantly reduce future university expenses as the fiscal year 2023 budget is developed. 

Over the course of this academic year, university administrators listened and collaborated with shared-governance leadership from the faculty and staff, as well as department chairs and leaders from non-academic areas of campus to come to the best decisions for the future of Missouri Southern

Budget development steps include implementing ideas that came from a comprehensive campus survey with revenue producing and budget reduction ideas; reorganization of academic colleges from four to three; administrative reductions; a voluntary retirement incentive program; and decisions not to fill some open positions. 

However, it was still necessary to take actions that impact the employment of 31 staff and non-tenured faculty- approximately six percent of employees at Missouri Southern.

The reorganization of the academic colleges (College of Health, Life Sciences and Education; College of Arts and Sciences; College of Business, Communication and Technology) will give each a strong and focused set of programs, provide more opportunities for collaboration and innovation, and facilitate interdisciplinary student experiences. It's part of an ongoing plan designed to create a stronger, more student-centered university developed with student interest and workforce demand in mind.

These changes, which will primarily go into effect next academic year, will result in the continuation of all academic programs.

Supporting faculty and staff impacted in the reduction is of utmost importance. Initiatives developed to ease this transition include continued compensation and insurance (through the end of faculty contracts, and through June 30 for staff) continuation of the tuition waiver for employees and dependents for a few years, career counseling and personal counseling.

Many of the strategic initiatives that are underway- such as MOSO Merit, new student recruitment events, development of new academic programs, the Global Leaders program, and a focus on current student retention- will provide outstanding opportunities for students as well as positively impact future enrollment.

In other words, these people lost their jobs and programs changed beyond recognition and it will make everything better for current students and will have people clamoring to come to Missouri Southern.

If it doesn't work out that way, they can always hand out another survey.