Regents approve 2021-22 budget with focus on affordability, quality, employees, future

Northwest Missouri State University’s Board of Regents during its regular meeting Monday unanimously approved the University’s 2021-22 budget, which consists of its Education and General Budget and Auxiliary Services Budget, totaling about $128.5 million.

The budget, which is based on the University’s guiding principles, includes a focus on affordability for students through increased scholarship funding, a focus on employees through cost-of-living adjustments and investments in health and retirement benefits, and strategic investments that include online professional programs, technology upgrades and capital improvements. The budget also reflects projected enrollment increases and state appropriations approved by the Missouri legislature.

In her presentation to the Board, Vice President of Finance and Administration Stacy Carrick said the budget uplifts Northwest’s core competencies of being safe, trusted, invested and resourceful. She noted the University engages leaders across the campus including Faculty Senate and Staff Council leads throughout its budget preparation.

Carrick said Northwest entered the COVID‐19 pandemic with a growth mindset, having made difficult decisions during the past decade, and a commitment to organizational viability. The University’s decisions have paved the way for Northwest to be in its strongest financial position in the last decade and stronger compared to most state institutions.

“As we headed into Fiscal Year ’21 with the pandemic in full swing, we had the highest level of uncertainty that we had seen in my tenure at Northwest,” Carrick, who joined Northwest in 2010, said. “That level of uncertainty still exists for us, probably in different areas than it did a year ago. Certainly, we are still feeling impacts from the COVID pandemic and how it has changed our employees’ outlook, how we do business, students’ outlook and their decision cycle, and impacting the University from all perspectives.”

While Northwest’s primary objective in its budget process is to compile and align multi‐year strategic themes and goals into a plan that positions the University for growth in the continuously changing landscape of higher education, Carrick acknowledged FY22 will present challenges as the world and its industries continue to recover from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, Carrick highlighted Northwest’s efficient use of its dollars. According to a report released by the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development in January, Northwest is the most efficient among Missouri colleges and universities for state appropriations per degree and certificate granted.

With regard to affordability, Northwest’s tuition rates, which are among the lowest in the nation, include a textbook and laptop rental program that saves students an average of $7,200 during the course of a four-year degree program. Additionally, Northwest has maximized monies received through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, distributing more than $9 million, or 64 percent, of CARES Act funding it received directly to students as assistance and refunds.

“Northwest is proud to deliver high-quality education through an unmatched culture,” Jasinski said, noting that faculty and staff attending the Board meeting in support of the budget recommendations represented all areas of the University. “We thank the Regents for their support, for focusing on student success, affordability, strategic investments and especially our people. We thank each and every one for what they do because people are this organization’s greatest asset. What they do each and every day to help Northwest meet its mission is powerful.”

In other business, the Board of Regents:

• Approved the appointments of 246 full-time faculty for the 2021-22 academic year.
• Approved revisions to the University’s Faculty Handbook.

• Approved the renewal of a three-year technology purchase through Microsoft.
• Approved a shift differential policy that provides shift differential compensation to non-exempt employees who work a majority of their hours outside of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Approved a lactation policy that provides consistent guidelines, in compliance with federal law, for employees’ use of a campus lactation room during working hours.
• Approved the appointment of Shane Baumgart as director of the Missouri Arboretum at Northwest.
• Approved the appointment of Melissa Ramirez as a University police officer.
• Reappointed Melissa Evans, Northwest’s executive assistant to the president, as Board secretary and Carrick as Board treasurer.

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and determining general, educational and financial policies.