Shawn Hessing, chairman of the Board, comments on the future concept plans of the campus at the Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 12. Photo by Kayla White.

At a two-day Board of Regents meeting and retreat on Feb. 11-12, University President Suzanne Shipley presented a concept for a strategic plan to get feedback coordinated by a committee of yet-to-be-determined members. 

“We want to start the committee with 20 priorities, give it to the campus and say, ‘Tell us what fits into those priorities for the next five years.’ That’s where people can put their hands up and say what they want to change,” Shipley said. “We’ll come up with objectives and plans for the university long term from those responses.”

The committee will be made up of about 12 members, including both undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff. Betty Stewart, provost, will head the committee along with another academic, according to Shipley.

“Usually, we [Stewart and Shipley] go to Keith Lamb and ask him to help us select students for these kinds of committees. Sometimes we get them from the Senate, sometimes we get them from other areas, and other times we ask for volunteers,” Shipley said. “We’ll be putting that together within the next few weeks.”

Each of the 20 priorities falls under one of four rubrics: serving students, serving faculty and staff, serving the region, and serving academic programming. Shipley said that while there are many options for change, funding these options determines their priority.

“We saw a lot of options for the next five years, which may or may not happen based on funding,” Shipley said. “We could suddenly skip a step and go a different direction because somebody says, ‘I want to donate $40 million to do this.’ But you’ve got to have it in a plan before anybody knows how to fund it.”

Changes in directional vision from the previous campus plan caused controversy on campus because many believed the plans were set in stone. 

“What’s irritating to me about rumors is that no one is talking to the right people. There’s so much guesswork associated with these projects at early stages,” Shawn Hessing, Board of Regents chairman, said. “As projects come into the horizon, that’s when you’ll see the actual formal votes.”

Five projects have been voted on and approved by the Board, including the new 224-space parking lot, new recreational playing fields, the mass communication building extension, the new health sciences and human services building, and the new residence hall. 

“While those projects have been approved, none of the other long term plans have been yet,” Hessing said. “The Board feels really good about these five projects, because we do have some numbers associated with those.”

These provisional change decisions came from a combination of campus surveys, previous strategic plans, and personal recommendations, according to Shipley. 

“President (Jesse) Rogers had focused the cabinet’s previous strategic plan to about 10 goals before he left, which we took and put out a survey for students, faculty, and staff to take,” Shipley said. “Every president sees an institution through different eyes. What you’ll see in this plan is what I think we can do next. It’s not a criticism of what has been done before; you can’t do the next part well if the past hasn’t been done well. It’s just saying at this point in time, this is what needs to be done.”

The five projects do not include fee increases, but future plans might, according to Shipley. 

“The approved projects are all state-funded, so there won’t be any need for a fee increase,” Shipley said. “If we want a parking garage, the students will have to pay for it, so parking fees would go up fairly dramatically if it’s approved.”

After the usual meeting, the Board diverged by doing something different: a retreat.

“The retreat was something that Rogers had wanted to do, and Shipley wanted to do as well. The Board talked about a lot of things that didn’t necessarily need Board approval, but we definitely needed to be aware of,” Hessing said. “Conceptually, the difference is that we’re not voting. We’re just going through the process of getting information to the public.”

Shipley said the importance of having a retreat was to have more higher-level thinking than the typical Board meeting.

“A retreat is where you take time away from the everyday business and you talk about higher-level things that stretch into the future,” Shipley said. “At a Board meeting, you have all of these fairly rigid mechanisms, but the retreat was all about positioning Midwestern for the future. We could have a retreat on any topic, but it’s a limited topic within a limited amount of time where you’re not distracted by all of the business.”

Even though not every Board member always agrees with each other, their ultimate goal is to better the campus as a whole.

“There were some very differing opinions at that meeting, but we do our best. They’re a group that can disagree with each other and still walk out and be friends,” Shipley said. “They’re very interested in the good of the institution and they really care about the students.”

Alumni Amber Reed and Dana Viavattene at the Empty Bowls charity event on Oct. 11. Photo by Izziel Latour

The fifth annual Empty Bowls event, held at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art, does more than just raise money for the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank.

Bob Barrow, artist and volunteer at the event, said, “It’s a great city event and it is going to help people.”

Forty  students and non students made clay bowls to give away to attendees who made a donation. Artists who enter bowls into the gallery can donate half or all of the money their pieces sell for. Those artists are also required to make three more bowls for a silent auction. A total of 1,050 bowls were displayed at the event.

“One in five people in Wichita Falls are food insecure,” Steve Hilton, associate professor of art and faculty resident at Legacy, said.

In past years, the event has raised anywhere from $65,000-$85,000, according to Empty Bowls Co-chair Tanya Gillen. 

“Some people don’t have the money to give, but they have the ability to make something and give their time,” Barrow said. 

But he thinks Empty Bowls does more than just raise money to feed people who are food insecure.

Barrow said, “It is neat to give people hope.”

But that hope isn’t just needed out in the community, it is needed on campus too.

Barrow said, “The thing is, when this is over, it continues on.”

Suzanne Shipley, university president, has recently discovered a new movement on other campuses.

Shipley said, “By contributing to Empty Bowls, our students were really ahead of a new movement on campuses, which is to feed the hungry, and that means hungry students as well. There is now a movement on college campuses to create a food pantry for students who need food to take home over the weekends.”

Hilton loves the idea, and has one of his own.

“One of the things I am thinking about doing is starting a garden somewhere on campus so that there are fresh vegetables that not only could we use for students but as a food source for the cafeteria,” Hilton said.

Shipley said she thinks hunger needs to be talked about more in the world, specifically on campus.

Shipley said, “I think it is really forward looking that our students have been contributing to this for a long time. It would be interesting to have a broader conversation about what hunger means, not only in the country and community, but on campuses.”

The $641,000 budget shortfall in May presented administrators with a challenge to balance the budget for the 2018 fiscal year.

Marilyn Fowlé, vice president of administration and finance, said she and other administrators predicted a $1.2 million decrease, but in the last nights of legislative discussions, the Senate and House cut MSU’s budget by $1.75 million.

“We try to predict what we’re going to get from all different sources — housing and food services, tuition and fees and state appropriations — and we get those appropriations from the state every two years. We knew that they were going to cut our budget,” Fowlé said. “We spend a lot of time modeling how much money we were going to get, but we didn’t expect to lose that much.”

The budget is supposed to be put together by July 1, so this left the university with little time to find $641,000 for this fiscal year. Luckily enough, there was enough in savings from this fiscal year — which ends Aug. 31 — to tackle about half of the shortfall.

“We stopped spending right then and took half a million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget and front-loaded it to spend next year. We found the $1.2 million already for next year, because we budgeted for that, but we still need to find half a million dollars,” Suzanne Shipley, university president, said. “But that gives us two years to figure that out instead of just one, because that’s a lot of money to cut out of a budget at short notice.”

According to Shipley, about 25 percent of Texas universities got the maximum cut possible, including MSU. Fifty percent of universities had a 5-10 percent decrease, and the final 25 percent had either no decrease or even an increase in funds.

“It was not a very generous year for higher education. That was in part because in the last session, they gave us [MSU] all this capital funding — that’s how we’re going to be building the health sciences and human services building, the additions to Moffett Library — and they gave us individually about $54 million,” Shipley said. “So it’s not unusual to have a bad session after that, but we’ve got to get better.”

Part of this issue stems from the university’s lack of representation in the state, because the cities with bigger populations are more likely to have representatives in the state than those of smaller towns.

“They get behind closed doors and we have no idea what goes on in there. We don’t have any representation in the committee from this area, and a lot of times if a city has someone on the committee who is from there, that representative will look out for their home city,” Fowlé said. “We don’t have good representation, but that’s always been an issue.”

Both Shipley and Fowlé hope that the Flower Mound location will increase awareness of MSU and aid in the university’s representation.

“The whole outreach to Flower Mound can be really helpful, along with the brand extension to MSU Texas. It’s just so easy to remember the name MSU Texas,” Shipley said. “When you say Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, by the time you’ve said it all, they’ve decided you’re in Kansas.”

Fowlé agreed with Shipley.

“The student population from Wichita Falls area is declining, so most students are coming from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We’re competing with a lot of other schools and we’re not as well-known, so it’s an uphill battle — University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Tarleton State University and others,” Fowlé said. “We hope the Flower Mound extension will help with recruitment.”

Another important piece of the budget is enrollment numbers. State allocations are based on semester credit hours and total enrollment, so MSU’s slow growth plays a role in the budget.

“Part of it was we didn’t do our part — we need to grow. There’s funding from many different sources, but the place we lost the most funding is a set pool of money that is an enrollment match,” Shipley said. “When everybody grows more than we grow, there’s less of the pie for us. If there’s $500 of [an enrollment] pie, everybody gets a piece, and whoever grows the most percentage gets the biggest piece — and we didn’t grow at all.”

Shipley said that they have increased the budget for marketing to help spread the word about MSU to more areas.

“We look at every single place we can grow and kind of kick it up a notch. Instead of being happy with moderate growth, we try to get more significant growth, and a lot of that is marketing,” Shipley said. “We’ve never put any money into marketing, so people haven’t heard of us except through word of mouth — which is the best way — but we have fairly significantly increased the funding in marketing.”

Fowlé said the enrollment budget prediction is 6,150 students.

“Enrollment plays a huge factor into the budget,” Fowlé said. “We budgeted conservatively just to be safe.”

She also said we have recruiters located in Dallas full-time to work in the metropolitan area, since about 1/3 of our students come from the DFW area.

“It’s really hard to grow your enrollment from a rural base. [DFW] is going to be our pocket for growth,” Shipley said. “It makes sense to go to Houston and San Antonio too, but it’s really DFW that’s going to make it happen for us.”

Alyvia Nichols, interdisciplinary studies, claps and looks to her people who are in the audience for her during the end part of commencement where the graduates shout-out and clap to the members in the audience who were there for them through their college experiences. Photo by Rachel Johnson

In an attempt to give future graduates a last farewell to the university, James Johnston, provost and vice president for academic affairs, has explored options to bring graduation back on campus.

While graduation is now being held downtown in Kay Yeager Coliseum is the current location of graduation, it has been held in D.L. Ligon Coliseum before. Johnston foresees that if graduation is moved back on campus, the coliseum is where it would be held.

Johnston said graduation marks a significant achievement in one’s lifetime.

“Beyond the piece of paper that says you’re a graduate of Midwestern State University, it forever changes you as a individual. You view the world differently, you interpret the world differently and it’s all giving you the tools to be successful with whatever you do in your life,” said Johnston. 

For a number of faculty and staff, they have worked with the graduating students for four, and sometimes more, years depending on when they started.

Johnston said, “It’s important that we bring closure to that working relationship for the students.”

Luke Draper, marketing senior, said graduation is one of the last impressions that students have of their university. It is where they have been putting in their hard work and dedication for the future to come.

“Goodbyes are pretty important. Just like after we end a chapter in our life, a proper goodbye is something that is really needed. Being on campus that one last time would make the ending of this chapter in life a lot more special because you’re on campus,” said Draper. “It would be nice to get what you’ve been working for on the ground that you’ve been working hard on.”

Johnston continued and depicted his vision for how future graduations could be held.

“My rough draft look at it would be to graduate right now while we have Ligon Coliseum,” said Johnston. “We would graduate half the colleges on a Friday evening with their faculty and then the other half on Saturday morning with their faculty so they could be with the students that they worked with.”

On top of moving graduation back to campus, Johnston along with Suzanne Shipley, university president, have talked about implementing a senior walk this spring.

“Basically, my thought is to gather all the graduating seniors here next to Hardin and walk them through each of the academic buildings and the faculty and staff will be there to congratulate the graduates as they walk through,” said Johnston.

OUR VIEW: City and campus officials have a vision for MSU to grow in retention and activity, and this will only work if students interact with the opportunities by engaging with the community through events and utilizing college-student targeted apartments.

To emphasize college prevalence in town, Mayor Stephen Santellana and Suzanne Shipley, university president, added campus banners throughout downtown to show the pride Wichita Falls has in Texas’ only public liberal arts university last spring, so instead of heading back to hometowns every weekend, students could explore one of the many antique shops that hold generations of treasures.

As opposed to watching another episode of Steven Universe, go see one of the community theater productions either at The Wichita Theatre or Backdoor Theatre. Community members of all ages are able to perform in the productions or are welcomed to sit in the audience wowed by the talent and excitement “Wichitans” have.

A community event is planned almost every weekend either to take on the Texoma’s Hellacious Obstacle Run or listen to Pixar music from local musicians, so there is always something to look forward to in Wichita Falls that is relatively inexpensive to attend. College students love food and anything with the word “free,” and many times these events offer just that, but students steer clear because they might seem “lame.”

Along with the engaging in activities on the weekend, new apartments are opening above The Highlander on Scott Street, right in the heart of downtown, which will allow students to live off campus in an area full of life while being less than 10 minutes away from campus.

Students complain about this sleepy town, but they are often too lazy to just look up events going on here. Instead of complaining about what Wichita Falls doesn’t have, students should look up and see what’s going on in the Falls.

See more of what’s going in in Wichita Falls here.

Suzzane Shipley, former president of Shephard University, and new president at MSU, answers questions at a forum Feb. 14, 2015. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Welcome home to Midwestern State University. I am your new president, and I hope you are as thrilled as I am to join the MSU family. By the time you read this I should be settled into my office and ready to start an exciting new semester. My husband Randy Wadsworth and our cross-country-traveling dogs, Racer and Roxy, will also be out and about to see you all on campus.

This is such an exciting time at Midwestern State. You’ll notice there is a lot changing on campus – from the construction of a new residence hall and expanded food service options to new course offerings, and, as expected, many new students, staff and faculty. Change can bring about mixed emotions, and, like many of you, I am experiencing feelings of enthusiasm and trepidation as I step into this new role as your president. I hope that together we will be seeking the opportunities that change provides and building upon the strengths of an already thriving campus.

Students choose Midwestern State because they know they can learn here in a personal and meaningful way. The faculty will encourage you not only to listen and observe, but, more importantly, to engage. It is that engagement in your in classes, in organizations, and in campus life that will make these MSU years memorable and valuable. Certainly this individualized approach that faculty offers students is hard to come by at large and impersonal universities.

We are a COPLAC institution, that’s the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, an elite national group that Midwestern belongs to as the only member from Texas. Like our fellow COPLAC universities, we create opportunities for you to make lasting connections to your professors and to your fellow students. Those connections, whether with a mentor faculty member or a student working with you in class, will define your university experience. It is that intense student experience that we aim to create that will result in an outstanding learning environment for each of you.

I encourage you to take advantage of this personal approach to learning, and I look forward to getting to meet you on campus. When do we meet, let’s try to talk about your views concerning Midwestern State University. What are your ideas for this university as together we move forward? Together, we can embrace the changes of the new school year and build Midwestern State’s future.

Have a great semester, and go Mustangs.

Suzanne Shipley is President of Midwestern State University.

Charlie Carr, athlectic director, and Suzanne Shipley, Midwestern State University president, throw up the “stang sign” while the band performs the alma mater during the end of Eastern New Mexico University vs. MSU game at AT&T Stadium, Sept. 19. Photo by Francisco Martinez

In her first six weeks as president, Suzanne Shipley has not had much time to sit still.

In between constant meetings with administrators, alumni and prospective donors, she is learning the MSU lifestyle and even building a social media presence in a town close to her roots.

“Everybody has been so nice to me, and it’s made it easier to adjust to the new campus,” she said. “Another thing that I like is the city of Wichita Falls. I like that my husband and I can go out and find somewhere to eat pretty quickly,” she added.

And the students have noticed her presence around campus, eating in the dining hall and attending events, from convocation to football games.

“Instead having the students come to her, she goes to the students,” said Megan Piehler, student regent and junior in mass communication.

To get to know the students, something she said she wasn’t able to do as much as she wanted to at her previous job, one of the first official events she held was a picnic at her home — the Sikes House — Aug. 31

“The picnic was a really neat thing. She walked right up and talked to us,” Piehler said.

Social media

She has also become involved through the use of social networks, including Twitter, @shipleysuzanne1.

“I’ve found that Twitter works as sort of a vehicle for connecting with students. I’ve learned how to tag other students, and how to post pictures as well,” Shipley said.

On her profile, she posts pictures with students, and tweets about her time here.

“She tries to get rid of the ‘president’ persona so that she can relate to the students,” Piehler said.

Shipley admitted that previously she wasn’t very interested in Twitter, saying that she felt it was a lot like her email.

“I’d have to read every post, and comment on them. When I found out that wasn’t the case, and learned about what it was, I couldn’t to join in,” she added.

In addition to using Twitter, Shipley uses short video clips – “Mustangs Minutes” — posted to the university’s website.

In her first post, she introduced herself to the community from inside her home.

In her second and third posts, she talked about the undergraduate research program. She talked to two undergraduates and two project managers about how the program works and what benefits that they required from it. Doing this, she was able to learn more about one of our most popular educational programs so that she can have an easier time completing her goals.

In her fourth post she walked around campus talking to students about the first week of school. Students got to see her outspoken personality. She toured the student center and interviewed six students, asking them about their first week of classes, helping her connect with some of the students while learning about the atmosphere of the campus.

Vision

English Assistant Professor Todd Giles said “I am very excited about Dr. Shipley’s vision for moving MSU further along the path of our liberal arts and sciences mission. Her hands-on approach to leadership and public support of our COPLAC (Council of Public Liberal Arts College) mission and the institution of a new first-year seminar are much needed and appreciated.”

Shipley, a former president of COPLAC, has helped that organization raise more than $25 million for the foundation and she wants to help MSU grow as well.

She said her plans for this campus are to expand its name in places like Fort Worth and to expand internationally including encouraging students from the Caribbean and Hispanic students, noting that one-fourth of incoming students are Hispanic.

“I am very fascinated with Caribbean students. They have a lot of stories, and they bring a lot of diversity to the campus.”

While she wants the school to get bigger, she said she doesn’t want it to be too big because size can be intimidating to incoming students.

“One of the many things that I want to do is to make this campus grow through the years. I want a gradual, but significant growth,” she said. 

She also talked about changing up the campus a little bit.

“I love the campus so far. I think we can add more on to it so that it would attract more students to come here,” she said.

She also wrote that there would be a lot of change on the campus, talking about the addition of a new residence hall as well as the new food services here.

“I like the new food services a lot,” said Becca Rhone, a special education junior. “Having these options made me actually want to get a meal plan this year.”

History

Shipley spent almost her entire life on a college campus. Her mother worked as a professor at Texas Tech, and she would bring her along with her from time to time. She even learned how to swim at the school’s public pool.

One thing that she said was that she always wanted to work at this campus.

“I’m from Texas, and ever since I started my career, I’ve never been back. When this opportunity came up, I jumped right at it, and I was so glad that they let me run,” she said.

Shipley attended Texas Tech in her college years, and earned both a bachelor’s, and master’s degree in German. She also participated in campus athletics and learned  the importance of being socially involved on campus. She began her academic career at the University of Cincinnati, where she worked as the director of the Honors Program. She worked at Arizona State and eventually at Northern Arizona University where she served as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, then headed to Maryland to be the president for Academic Affairs and the dean of faculty at Notre Dame of Maryland University.

In 2007, she became president of Shepherd University in West Virginia, where she spent seven years preparing students to make a dent in society with liberal arts concepts, hands-on experience and critical skills.

MORE INFORMATION

• Biography
• Resume
• Regents approve new president’s contract
• Board of Regents choose Shipley for president
• Dr. Suzanne Shipley announced as a finalist for MSU president position

Before I committed to attend MSU, I went to a Mustangs Rally. There were seniors from across the country who were curious as to what MSU had to offer; however, I already had done my research about the university and was almost sure that I would attend MSU in the fall.

Instead, I was looking for faces more like mine at the rally. My parents and I were concerned about the diversity here on campus.

After I committed to MSU, I had to attend orientation, where I saw people from cultures across the globe and plenty from my own. Once the school year started, though, I felt more alone than I ever had, so in order to meet more people and escape the comfort of my dorm, I joined the Black Student Union. Two years later, I am the vice-president and am active on campus.

I first met University President Suzanne Shipley at the President’s Picnic in August. As people walked onto the yard of the President’s house, they were encouraged to help themselves to refreshments. While I was serving myself, I heard people introducing themselves to someone, but I didn’t know to whom they were talking. My friend was in line behind me, and I heard her speaking to someone. I turned around and was greeted by a smile and a button that said, “Talk to Me,” so I introduced myself as vice-president of the Black Student Union. When Shipley heard this, her face lit up and she said that we should talk sometime soon.

I was surprised to hear her invite me to speak with her at a later date. I also thought that maybe she just said it to be nice and that I would never see her again. But recently, I received a phone call from the president of the Black Student Union saying we had a meeting the next day with Shipley, as well as other black leaders on campus, to talk about the black student experience at MSU.

I was thrilled to be able to share my concerns with the president. There were four other officers from different organizations at the meeting, and we took turns sharing our stories about our experiences with discrimination on and off campus. Shipley carefully listened to our suggestions on how to unite the campus community and shared with us her own strategies. I watched as she took notes and offered to personally assist our organizations. She told us she wants her students to feel comfortable and to know their voices are being heard at the executive level. I personally thanked her for inviting us to speak with her and for listening to what we said.

I also noticed that she wore the “Talk to Me” button from the day we first met. I am comforted by the thought of our university president reaching out to her students and being willing to make changes so that we can feel safe and know our voices are being heard.

Megan Piehler and Nancy Marks, members of the Board of Regents, put the ceremonial hood on Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Presidential inaguration

Suzanne Shipley was inaugurated as the 11th president of Midwestern State University Dec. 11, 2015.

Practicing the hooding at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Practicing the hooding at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Practicing the hooding at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Debbie L. Barrow and Nancy Marks at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Debbie L. Barrow and Nancy Marks at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Debbie L. Barrow and Nancy Marks at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Don Maxwell sings the Star Spangled Banner at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Don Maxwell sings the Star Spangled Banner at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Don Maxwell sings the Star Spangled Banner at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

After Sheppard Air Force Base honor guard performed the presentation of colors, Don Maxwell, music professor, sang "The Star Spangled Banner" to start off the Inaguartion of Suzanne Shipley, eleventh president, held in the Fain FIne Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

After Sheppard Air Force Base honor guard performed the presentation of colors, Don Maxwell, music professor, sang "The Star Spangled Banner" to start off the Inaguartion of Suzanne Shipley, eleventh president, held in the Fain FIne Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

After Sheppard Air Force Base honor guard performed the presentation of colors, Don Maxwell, music professor, sang "The Star Spangled Banner" to start off the Inaguartion of Suzanne Shipley, eleventh president, held in the Fain FIne Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Matt Luttrell directs the wind ensemble at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Matt Luttrell directs the wind ensemble at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Matt Luttrell directs the wind ensemble at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Tobin McDuff, sports director at KFDX3, welcome's the adiance and introduces guest speakers thoughtout Suzanne Shipley, university president, Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Tobin McDuff, sports director at KFDX3, welcome's the adiance and introduces guest speakers thoughtout Suzanne Shipley, university president, Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Tobin McDuff, sports director at KFDX3, welcome's the adiance and introduces guest speakers thoughtout Suzanne Shipley, university president, Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Texas State Senator Craig Estes at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Texas State Senator Craig Estes at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Texas State Senator Craig Estes at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Craig Estes, Texas state senator, hands Suzanne Shipley, university president, a gift at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Craig Estes, Texas state senator, hands Suzanne Shipley, university president, a gift at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Craig Estes, Texas state senator, hands Suzanne Shipley, university president, a gift at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Texas State Representative James Frank at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Texas State Representative James Frank at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Texas State Representative James Frank at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Texas State Representative James Frank at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Texas State Representative James Frank at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Texas State Representative James Frank at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Glen Barham, mayor of Wichita Falls, gives his greetings during the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Glen Barham, mayor of Wichita Falls, gives his greetings during the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Glen Barham, mayor of Wichita Falls, gives his greetings during the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Glen Barham, Mayor of Wichita Falls, shakes Suzanne Shipley, university president, hand after speaking at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Glen Barham, Mayor of Wichita Falls, shakes Suzanne Shipley, university president, hand after speaking at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Glen Barham, Mayor of Wichita Falls, shakes Suzanne Shipley, university president, hand after speaking at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Doherty is Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, gives a last minute speech as per request of President Suzanne Shipley at her inaguration, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Doherty is Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, gives a last minute speech as per request of President Suzanne Shipley at her inaguration, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Doherty is Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, gives a last minute speech as per request of President Suzanne Shipley at her inaguration, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Doherty is Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Doherty is Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Brig. Gen. Patrick J. Doherty is Commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Wichita Falls Mayor Glenn Barhamm at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Wichita Falls Mayor Glenn Barhamm at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Wichita Falls Mayor Glenn Barhamm at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Lindy Wilson, vocal performance post grad, and Sharon Mucker, music education junior, perform "Prendero quell brunettino" from Cosi fan tutte by W.A. Mozart for the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Lindy Wilson, vocal performance post grad, and Sharon Mucker, music education junior, perform "Prendero quell brunettino" from Cosi fan tutte by W.A. Mozart for the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Lindy Wilson, vocal performance post grad, and Sharon Mucker, music education junior, perform "Prendero quell brunettino" from Cosi fan tutte by W.A. Mozart for the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Sharon Mucker and Lindy Wilson sing "Prendero quell brunettino" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Sharon Mucker and Lindy Wilson sing "Prendero quell brunettino" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Sharon Mucker and Lindy Wilson sing "Prendero quell brunettino" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Faculty Senate Chair David Carlston at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Faculty Senate Chair David Carlston at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Faculty Senate Chair David Carlston at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Student Body President Jesse Brown at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Student Body President Jesse Brown at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Student Body President Jesse Brown at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Jesse Brown, criminal justice senior, hugs Suzanne Shipley after his "Greetings from the students" speech about President Suzanne Shipley at the Inaguration of Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Jesse Brown, criminal justice senior, hugs Suzanne Shipley after his "Greetings from the students" speech about President Suzanne Shipley at the Inaguration of Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Jesse Brown, criminal justice senior, hugs Suzanne Shipley after his "Greetings from the students" speech about President Suzanne Shipley at the Inaguration of Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Lynette Watts, president of the MSU Alumni Association, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Lynette Watts, president of the MSU Alumni Association, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Lynette Watts, president of the MSU Alumni Association, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Nahey Byun, piano performance, and Aaron Johnson, piano performance sophomore, performed an original piece called "Homage" at the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Nahey Byun, piano performance, and Aaron Johnson, piano performance sophomore, performed an original piece called "Homage" at the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Nahey Byun, piano performance, and Aaron Johnson, piano performance sophomore, performed an original piece called "Homage" at the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Nahye Byun and Aaron Johnson perform an original composition, "Homage" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Nahye Byun and Aaron Johnson perform an original composition, "Homage" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Nahye Byun and Aaron Johnson perform an original composition, "Homage" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Shawn Hessing, chairman in the board of regents, congratulates Suzanne Shipley, university president, at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Shawn Hessing, chairman in the board of regents, congratulates Suzanne Shipley, university president, at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Shawn Hessing, chairman in the board of regents, congratulates Suzanne Shipley, university president, at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Megan Piehler and Nancy Marks, members of the Board of Regents, put the ceremonial hood on Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Megan Piehler and Nancy Marks, members of the Board of Regents, put the ceremonial hood on Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Megan Piehler and Nancy Marks, members of the Board of Regents, put the ceremonial hood on Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Shawn Hessing, chair of the Board of Regents, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Shawn Hessing, chair of the Board of Regents, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Shawn Hessing, chair of the Board of Regents, at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Megan Piehler and Nancy Marks, members of the Board of Regents, put the ceremonial hood on Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Megan Piehler and Nancy Marks, members of the Board of Regents, put the ceremonial hood on Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Megan Piehler and Nancy Marks, members of the Board of Regents, put the ceremonial hood on Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Gordon Hicken, assistant professor of music, performed "A Minute of News" by Eugene Novotney, as President Suzanne Shipley's "walk-in" song at the Inaguration of Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Gordon Hicken, assistant professor of music, performed "A Minute of News" by Eugene Novotney, as President Suzanne Shipley's "walk-in" song at the Inaguration of Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Gordon Hicken, assistant professor of music, performed "A Minute of News" by Eugene Novotney, as President Suzanne Shipley's "walk-in" song at the Inaguration of Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Gordon Hicken performs "A Minute of News" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Gordon Hicken performs "A Minute of News" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Gordon Hicken performs "A Minute of News" at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Audience members, and faculty, congratulate Suzanne Shipley, university president, before her presidential address at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Audience members, and faculty, congratulate Suzanne Shipley, university president, before her presidential address at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Audience members, and faculty, congratulate Suzanne Shipley, university president, before her presidential address at the Presidential Inauguration in Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre, Dec, 11, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley gives her presidential address at the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. "We are building a strong foundation, one job at a time and one educated student at a time. I know working together we can do it," Shipley said. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Suzanne Shipley gives her presidential address at the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. "We are building a strong foundation, one job at a time and one educated student at a time. I know working together we can do it," Shipley said. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Suzanne Shipley gives her presidential address at the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. "We are building a strong foundation, one job at a time and one educated student at a time. I know working together we can do it," Shipley said. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Steel Drummers perform at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Steel Drummers perform at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Steel Drummers perform at the inauguration of Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

The University Choir performs the MSU Alma Mater at the end of the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

The University Choir performs the MSU Alma Mater at the end of the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

The University Choir performs the MSU Alma Mater at the end of the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

A time capsule given from the students to Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

A time capsule given from the students to Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

A time capsule given from the students to Suzanne Shipley, university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Mary Lassetter, administrative assistant for the office of residence life, gets food from the Holiday Luncheon held in CSC Comanche Suites after the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Mary Lassetter, administrative assistant for the office of residence life, gets food from the Holiday Luncheon held in CSC Comanche Suites after the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Mary Lassetter, administrative assistant for the office of residence life, gets food from the Holiday Luncheon held in CSC Comanche Suites after the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Suzanne Shipley greets people at the lunch following her inauguration as university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley greets people at the lunch following her inauguration as university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Suzanne Shipley greets people at the lunch following her inauguration as university president, Midwestern State University, Dec. 11, 2015. Photo by Bradley Wilson

The Caribbean Steel Pan performed a variety of musical numbers in the CSC Atrium during the Holiday Luncheon following the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

The Caribbean Steel Pan performed a variety of musical numbers in the CSC Atrium during the Holiday Luncheon following the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

The Caribbean Steel Pan performed a variety of musical numbers in the CSC Atrium during the Holiday Luncheon following the Inaguration of Suzanne Shipley, the eleventh president, held in Fain Fine Arts Auditorium, Dec. 11. Photo by Rachel Johnson

INAUGURATION OF Suzanne Shipley, Ph.D.

HER SPEECH | “Building Bridges to a Vibrant Future”

INAUGURATION STORIES

Times-Record-News | Shipley inaugurated as MSU’s 11th president
KFDX | Dr. Suzanne Shipley Inaugurated as MSU’s 11th President

THE PEOPLE

• Tobin McDuff | master of ceremonies, sports director, KFDX
• Craig Estes | Texas state senator, District 30
• James Frank | Texas state representative, District 69
• Glenn Barham | mayor, Wichita Falls
• Brig. General Patrick J. Doherty | commander, 82nd Training Wing, Sheppard Air Force Base
• Shawn Hessing | chair, Board of Regents
• David Carlston | chair, Faculty Senate
• Reagan Foster | chair, Staff Senate
• Jesse Brown | president, Student Government Association
• Lynette Watts | president, Alumni Association

PERFORMANCES

• “Homage” original composition by students Nahye Byun and Aaron Johnson
  • “It was our music project, and we didn’t expect that this was going to be really big,” Byun, piano performance sophomore, said. “Dr. Harvey asked us to play.”
  • “We didn’t expect that we would have to perform at something like this,” Johnson, piano performance sophomore, said.
• “Prenderó quell brunettino” performed by students Sharon Mucker and Lindy Wilson, accompanied by Martin Camacho, dean, College of Fine Arts
• “A Minute of News” performed by Gordon Hickman, assistant professor of music
• “MSU Alma Master” performed by the University Choir directed by Dale Heidebrecht
• Prelude, processional and recessional performed by the University Wind Ensemble directed by Matthew Luttrell

PAST STORIES

Board of Regents choose Shipley for president
Regents approve new president’s contract
Shipley outlines goals at first faculty/staff meeting
A new university president: first impressions go both ways

Suzanne Shipley, university president, adresses the graduates and audience members at the Commemcement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

 

2015 Fall Graduation

607 Midwestern State University students graduated in the fall of 2015

Kailey Tull, kinesiology, puts on Alexis Morton's, accounting, cap while waiting in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Kailey Tull, kinesiology, puts on Alexis Morton's, accounting, cap while waiting in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Kailey Tull, kinesiology, puts on Alexis Morton's, accounting, cap while waiting in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Sean Estrada helps his wife, Laura Estrada, English, put on her cap and fix her bangs while in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Sean Estrada helps his wife, Laura Estrada, English, put on her cap and fix her bangs while in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Sean Estrada helps his wife, Laura Estrada, English, put on her cap and fix her bangs while in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Shannon Smith, fine arts, poses with Shadow, Shannon's dog, for a photo before the Commencement Ceremony in the MPEC, Dec. 12. Shadow is an Australian Shepard service dog being trained to help people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Shannon Smith, fine arts, poses with Shadow, Shannon's dog, for a photo before the Commencement Ceremony in the MPEC, Dec. 12. Shadow is an Australian Shepard service dog being trained to help people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Shannon Smith, fine arts, poses with Shadow, Shannon's dog, for a photo before the Commencement Ceremony in the MPEC, Dec. 12. Shadow is an Australian Shepard service dog being trained to help people with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Graduates get a group photo together in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Graduates get a group photo together in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Graduates get a group photo together in the MPEC before Commencement Ceremony held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, welcomes the graduates and audience members at the Commemcement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley, university president, welcomes the graduates and audience members at the Commemcement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley, university president, welcomes the graduates and audience members at the Commemcement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Catherine Davis, MSU Alumna, gives advise to the graduates in the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Catherine Davis, MSU Alumna, gives advise to the graduates in the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Catherine Davis, MSU Alumna, gives advise to the graduates in the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley, university president, adresses the graduates and audience members at the Commemcement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley, university president, adresses the graduates and audience members at the Commemcement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley, university president, adresses the graduates and audience members at the Commemcement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Susan Harvey, department chair and associate professor of music education, recieves the Faculty Award and was given the plaque by David Carlston, psychology professor, during the Commencement Cermony held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Susan Harvey, department chair and associate professor of music education, recieves the Faculty Award and was given the plaque by David Carlston, psychology professor, during the Commencement Cermony held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Susan Harvey, department chair and associate professor of music education, recieves the Faculty Award and was given the plaque by David Carlston, psychology professor, during the Commencement Cermony held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Betty Stewart, provost and vise president for academic affairs, congratulates the graduates and their family at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Betty Stewart, provost and vise president for academic affairs, congratulates the graduates and their family at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Betty Stewart, provost and vise president for academic affairs, congratulates the graduates and their family at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Chirstopher Portillo, business administration, hugs Suzanne Shipley, university president, as he walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Chirstopher Portillo, business administration, hugs Suzanne Shipley, university president, as he walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Chirstopher Portillo, business administration, hugs Suzanne Shipley, university president, as he walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley, university president, congratulates Francisco Espinoza, applied arts and sciences, as he walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015

Suzanne Shipley, university president, congratulates Francisco Espinoza, applied arts and sciences, as he walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015

Suzanne Shipley, university president, congratulates Francisco Espinoza, applied arts and sciences, as he walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015

Shannon Smith, fine arts, walks along the stage with her dog in the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015

Shannon Smith, fine arts, walks along the stage with her dog in the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015

Shannon Smith, fine arts, walks along the stage with her dog in the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015

Betty Stewart, vice president for acadmeic affairs and provost, gives the introductions at the Commencement Ceremony for August and Dececember graduates held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 graduates crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Betty Stewart, vice president for acadmeic affairs and provost, gives the introductions at the Commencement Ceremony for August and Dececember graduates held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 graduates crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Betty Stewart, vice president for acadmeic affairs and provost, gives the introductions at the Commencement Ceremony for August and Dececember graduates held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 graduates crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Suzanne Shipley, university president, congraduates Chimatara Nwabuko, nursing, as she walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley, university president, congraduates Chimatara Nwabuko, nursing, as she walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Suzanne Shipley, university president, congraduates Chimatara Nwabuko, nursing, as she walks across the stage at the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Devin Williams, marketing, waves at the professors after receiving her diploma case in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. "[After getting my degree] I took a marketing postiion with Old Navy, and then just take it day by day and keep my options open," Williams said. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Devin Williams, marketing, waves at the professors after receiving her diploma case in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. "[After getting my degree] I took a marketing postiion with Old Navy, and then just take it day by day and keep my options open," Williams said. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Devin Williams, marketing, waves at the professors after receiving her diploma case in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. "[After getting my degree] I took a marketing postiion with Old Navy, and then just take it day by day and keep my options open," Williams said. Photo by Rachel Johnson

President Suzanne Shipley gives the welcome speach at the Commencement Ceremony for Aug. and Dec. 2015 graduates held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 graduates crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

President Suzanne Shipley gives the welcome speach at the Commencement Ceremony for Aug. and Dec. 2015 graduates held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 graduates crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

President Suzanne Shipley gives the welcome speach at the Commencement Ceremony for Aug. and Dec. 2015 graduates held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12, where 440 graduates crossed the stage. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Francisco Espinoza, bachelor of applied arts and science, pounds his chest after waving to friends who were graduates as well int he Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Francisco Espinoza, bachelor of applied arts and science, pounds his chest after waving to friends who were graduates as well int he Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Francisco Espinoza, bachelor of applied arts and science, pounds his chest after waving to friends who were graduates as well int he Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Bernard Griffin Jr., criminal justice, acknowledges members in the audience, then started to dance and shake hands with other graduates in attendance in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Bernard Griffin Jr., criminal justice, acknowledges members in the audience, then started to dance and shake hands with other graduates in attendance in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Bernard Griffin Jr., criminal justice, acknowledges members in the audience, then started to dance and shake hands with other graduates in attendance in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Emmi Wilson, criminal justice, holds up her diploma case so her mom in the audience could get a picture of her, in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Emmi Wilson, criminal justice, holds up her diploma case so her mom in the audience could get a picture of her, in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Emmi Wilson, criminal justice, holds up her diploma case so her mom in the audience could get a picture of her, in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Astri Burgos, nursing, hugs her professors as she heads back to her seat after recieving her diploma case in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Astri Burgos, nursing, hugs her professors as she heads back to her seat after recieving her diploma case in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Astri Burgos, nursing, hugs her professors as she heads back to her seat after recieving her diploma case in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Megan Smith, social work, holds up her diploma case to her family after hugging the ASL translator for the Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Megan Smith, social work, holds up her diploma case to her family after hugging the ASL translator for the Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Megan Smith, social work, holds up her diploma case to her family after hugging the ASL translator for the Commencement Ceremony held in the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Liberty Billingsley, criminal justice, holds up her diploma case to the audience to show it off, in the Kay Yeager Colisem, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Liberty Billingsley, criminal justice, holds up her diploma case to the audience to show it off, in the Kay Yeager Colisem, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Liberty Billingsley, criminal justice, holds up her diploma case to the audience to show it off, in the Kay Yeager Colisem, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Rodney Holmes, excersize physiology, waves to his family members in the audience during the part in the ceremony where they have the graduates recognize their friends, family, professors, and people who helped them get to graduation day in Kay Yeager, Dec. 12. "I'm just feeling excitement, it's just crazy because O wamt tp say i'm the first on my dad's side of the family to finish this higher education," Holmes said. Photo by Rachel Johsnon

Rodney Holmes, excersize physiology, waves to his family members in the audience during the part in the ceremony where they have the graduates recognize their friends, family, professors, and people who helped them get to graduation day in Kay Yeager, Dec. 12. "I'm just feeling excitement, it's just crazy because O wamt tp say i'm the first on my dad's side of the family to finish this higher education," Holmes said. Photo by Rachel Johsnon

Rodney Holmes, excersize physiology, waves to his family members in the audience during the part in the ceremony where they have the graduates recognize their friends, family, professors, and people who helped them get to graduation day in Kay Yeager, Dec. 12. "I'm just feeling excitement, it's just crazy because O wamt tp say i'm the first on my dad's side of the family to finish this higher education," Holmes said. Photo by Rachel Johsnon

Aaliyah Tuitt, science, Anya Tuitt, Asha Tuitt, and Sequoyah Survia, take a selfie after the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Aaliyah Tuitt, science, Anya Tuitt, Asha Tuitt, and Sequoyah Survia, take a selfie after the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Aaliyah Tuitt, science, Anya Tuitt, Asha Tuitt, and Sequoyah Survia, take a selfie after the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Indira Placide, biology senior, and Krystal Basten, criminal justice junior, hold up a Sigma Lambda Alpha sign, so their two graduated sisters could find them after the ceremony, out side of the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Indira Placide, biology senior, and Krystal Basten, criminal justice junior, hold up a Sigma Lambda Alpha sign, so their two graduated sisters could find them after the ceremony, out side of the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Indira Placide, biology senior, and Krystal Basten, criminal justice junior, hold up a Sigma Lambda Alpha sign, so their two graduated sisters could find them after the ceremony, out side of the Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Abijoy Manga got to celebrate graduation too. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Abijoy Manga got to celebrate graduation too. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Abijoy Manga got to celebrate graduation too. Photo by Bradley Wilson

Bernard Afutiti, criminal justice, takes a picture with his family and friends after the Commencement Ceremony of the August and December 2015 graduates, held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Bernard Afutiti, criminal justice, takes a picture with his family and friends after the Commencement Ceremony of the August and December 2015 graduates, held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Bernard Afutiti, criminal justice, takes a picture with his family and friends after the Commencement Ceremony of the August and December 2015 graduates, held in Kay Yeager Coliseum, Dec. 12. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Timothy Muongchanh, nursing, poses with his family and friends after the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Timothy Muongchanh, nursing, poses with his family and friends after the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Timothy Muongchanh, nursing, poses with his family and friends after the Commencement Ceremony in Kay Yeager Coliseum Dec. 12, 2015. Photo by Francisco Martinez

Facts and Figures

Date | Dec. 12, 2015 Location | Kay Yeager Coliseum Speaker | Catherine Davis, vice president of marketing for Neiman Marcus Hardin Professor Award | Susan Harvey Degrees

• Master’s |118
• Bachelor’s | 487
• Associate’s | 2
• TOTAL | 607 (including 174 August graduates)

BY COLLEGE

• Dillard College of Business Administration | 93
• Gordon T. and Ellen West College of Education | 103
• Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts | 22
• Robert D. and Carol C. Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services | 282
• Protho-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences | 39
• College of Science and Mathematics | 68

BY DEGREE

• Master’s degrees | 118
• Bachelor of Science | 52
• Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies | 25
• Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training | 1
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice | 25
• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology | 7
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing | 87
• Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences | 81
• Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care | 21
• Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science | 3
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering | 4
• Bachelor of Business Administration | 80
• Bachelor of Arts | 41
• Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences | 38
• Bachelor of Social Work | 9
• Bachelor of Fine Arts | 10
• Bachelor of Music | 3
• Associate of Applied Science | 2

SOME THOUGHTS

• “It has taken me about eight years straight to receive my degree today,” Clayton Burgoon, radiological sciences, said. “I start grad school next month to be a radiologist physician assistant.”
• Samantha Reeder, chemistry, said, “I plan to use my degree in the industries of quality control and assurance. Since receiving my associates degree, it has taken me three years to earn my bachelor’s today.”
• “I began taking classes about 20 years, but put my degree on hold to have my family,” Melissa Witherspoon, nursing, said. “It’s taken me four years to finish my degree and I plan to work at United Regional as a registered nurse.”
• Crystal Hone, masters in business administration, said, “I moved to Wichita Falls to get my undergraduate degree and after taking six months off, I decided to stay to get my master’s. All together, it has been 10 years to finally finish schooling. I am working at Wells Fargo Bank in Austin in the retail banking department.”
• “I earned my master’s degree in training development through the online program,” Andy Hebert, masters in training development, said. “I work at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas as a clinical research team leader. I specifically do pediatric drug research and looking now to train and develop my team.”

MORE ON THE SPEAKER Catherine Davis earned her bachelor of arts from MSU in 1989, majoring in mass communication with a minor in commercial art. She earned her master’s from the University of Oklahoma and in 1999 joined Neiman Marcus as director of brand Marketing where she developed online strategies to help the company enter the digital age. In 2006, Davis received the NM Best award, Neiman Marcus’ most prestigious employee honor. She also has served as Direct Marketing Director for The Container Store and from 2012-2014 was Vice President of Marketing for Neiman Marcus’s Last Call Brand during a period of triple-digit Web growth and expansion. While at MSU, she was Student Government Association president for two years, vice president of Chi Omega Fraternity, Lady Midwestern, Homecoming queen, Campus Watch news anchor and student ambassador. She received multiple awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. In 1999, Davis was named the Distinguished Alumna from the Fain College of Fine Arts. Davis is a Wichita Falls native and a 1985 graduate of Rider High School. Her parents, Leland and Ruth Ann Allred, and brother Cullen Allred reside in Wichita Falls.

Shawn Hessing, chairman of the Board, comments on the future concept plans of the campus at the Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 12. Photo by Kayla White.

At a two-day Board of Regents meeting and retreat on Feb. 11-12, University President Suzanne Shipley presented a concept for a strategic plan to get feedback coordinated by a committee of yet-to-be-determined members. 

“We want to start the committee with 20 priorities, give it to the campus and say, ‘Tell us what fits into those priorities for the next five years.’ That’s where people can put their hands up and say what they want to change,” Shipley said. “We’ll come up with objectives and plans for the university long term from those responses.”

The committee will be made up of about 12 members, including both undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff. Betty Stewart, provost, will head the committee along with another academic, according to Shipley.

“Usually, we [Stewart and Shipley] go to Keith Lamb and ask him to help us select students for these kinds of committees. Sometimes we get them from the Senate, sometimes we get them from other areas, and other times we ask for volunteers,” Shipley said. “We’ll be putting that together within the next few weeks.”

Each of the 20 priorities falls under one of four rubrics: serving students, serving faculty and staff, serving the region, and serving academic programming. Shipley said that while there are many options for change, funding these options determines their priority.

“We saw a lot of options for the next five years, which may or may not happen based on funding,” Shipley said. “We could suddenly skip a step and go a different direction because somebody says, ‘I want to donate $40 million to do this.’ But you’ve got to have it in a plan before anybody knows how to fund it.”

Changes in directional vision from the previous campus plan caused controversy on campus because many believed the plans were set in stone. 

“What’s irritating to me about rumors is that no one is talking to the right people. There’s so much guesswork associated with these projects at early stages,” Shawn Hessing, Board of Regents chairman, said. “As projects come into the horizon, that’s when you’ll see the actual formal votes.”

Five projects have been voted on and approved by the Board, including the new 224-space parking lot, new recreational playing fields, the mass communication building extension, the new health sciences and human services building, and the new residence hall. 

“While those projects have been approved, none of the other long term plans have been yet,” Hessing said. “The Board feels really good about these five projects, because we do have some numbers associated with those.”

These provisional change decisions came from a combination of campus surveys, previous strategic plans, and personal recommendations, according to Shipley. 

“President (Jesse) Rogers had focused the cabinet’s previous strategic plan to about 10 goals before he left, which we took and put out a survey for students, faculty, and staff to take,” Shipley said. “Every president sees an institution through different eyes. What you’ll see in this plan is what I think we can do next. It’s not a criticism of what has been done before; you can’t do the next part well if the past hasn’t been done well. It’s just saying at this point in time, this is what needs to be done.”

The five projects do not include fee increases, but future plans might, according to Shipley. 

“The approved projects are all state-funded, so there won’t be any need for a fee increase,” Shipley said. “If we want a parking garage, the students will have to pay for it, so parking fees would go up fairly dramatically if it’s approved.”

After the usual meeting, the Board diverged by doing something different: a retreat.

“The retreat was something that Rogers had wanted to do, and Shipley wanted to do as well. The Board talked about a lot of things that didn’t necessarily need Board approval, but we definitely needed to be aware of,” Hessing said. “Conceptually, the difference is that we’re not voting. We’re just going through the process of getting information to the public.”

Shipley said the importance of having a retreat was to have more higher-level thinking than the typical Board meeting.

“A retreat is where you take time away from the everyday business and you talk about higher-level things that stretch into the future,” Shipley said. “At a Board meeting, you have all of these fairly rigid mechanisms, but the retreat was all about positioning Midwestern for the future. We could have a retreat on any topic, but it’s a limited topic within a limited amount of time where you’re not distracted by all of the business.”

Even though not every Board member always agrees with each other, their ultimate goal is to better the campus as a whole.

“There were some very differing opinions at that meeting, but we do our best. They’re a group that can disagree with each other and still walk out and be friends,” Shipley said. “They’re very interested in the good of the institution and they really care about the students.”

Alumni Amber Reed and Dana Viavattene at the Empty Bowls charity event on Oct. 11. Photo by Izziel Latour

The fifth annual Empty Bowls event, held at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art, does more than just raise money for the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank.

Bob Barrow, artist and volunteer at the event, said, “It’s a great city event and it is going to help people.”

Forty  students and non students made clay bowls to give away to attendees who made a donation. Artists who enter bowls into the gallery can donate half or all of the money their pieces sell for. Those artists are also required to make three more bowls for a silent auction. A total of 1,050 bowls were displayed at the event.

“One in five people in Wichita Falls are food insecure,” Steve Hilton, associate professor of art and faculty resident at Legacy, said.

In past years, the event has raised anywhere from $65,000-$85,000, according to Empty Bowls Co-chair Tanya Gillen. 

“Some people don’t have the money to give, but they have the ability to make something and give their time,” Barrow said. 

But he thinks Empty Bowls does more than just raise money to feed people who are food insecure.

Barrow said, “It is neat to give people hope.”

But that hope isn’t just needed out in the community, it is needed on campus too.

Barrow said, “The thing is, when this is over, it continues on.”

Suzanne Shipley, university president, has recently discovered a new movement on other campuses.

Shipley said, “By contributing to Empty Bowls, our students were really ahead of a new movement on campuses, which is to feed the hungry, and that means hungry students as well. There is now a movement on college campuses to create a food pantry for students who need food to take home over the weekends.”

Hilton loves the idea, and has one of his own.

“One of the things I am thinking about doing is starting a garden somewhere on campus so that there are fresh vegetables that not only could we use for students but as a food source for the cafeteria,” Hilton said.

Shipley said she thinks hunger needs to be talked about more in the world, specifically on campus.

Shipley said, “I think it is really forward looking that our students have been contributing to this for a long time. It would be interesting to have a broader conversation about what hunger means, not only in the country and community, but on campuses.”

The $641,000 budget shortfall in May presented administrators with a challenge to balance the budget for the 2018 fiscal year.

Marilyn Fowlé, vice president of administration and finance, said she and other administrators predicted a $1.2 million decrease, but in the last nights of legislative discussions, the Senate and House cut MSU’s budget by $1.75 million.

“We try to predict what we’re going to get from all different sources — housing and food services, tuition and fees and state appropriations — and we get those appropriations from the state every two years. We knew that they were going to cut our budget,” Fowlé said. “We spend a lot of time modeling how much money we were going to get, but we didn’t expect to lose that much.”

The budget is supposed to be put together by July 1, so this left the university with little time to find $641,000 for this fiscal year. Luckily enough, there was enough in savings from this fiscal year — which ends Aug. 31 — to tackle about half of the shortfall.

“We stopped spending right then and took half a million dollars from this fiscal year’s budget and front-loaded it to spend next year. We found the $1.2 million already for next year, because we budgeted for that, but we still need to find half a million dollars,” Suzanne Shipley, university president, said. “But that gives us two years to figure that out instead of just one, because that’s a lot of money to cut out of a budget at short notice.”

According to Shipley, about 25 percent of Texas universities got the maximum cut possible, including MSU. Fifty percent of universities had a 5-10 percent decrease, and the final 25 percent had either no decrease or even an increase in funds.

“It was not a very generous year for higher education. That was in part because in the last session, they gave us [MSU] all this capital funding — that’s how we’re going to be building the health sciences and human services building, the additions to Moffett Library — and they gave us individually about $54 million,” Shipley said. “So it’s not unusual to have a bad session after that, but we’ve got to get better.”

Part of this issue stems from the university’s lack of representation in the state, because the cities with bigger populations are more likely to have representatives in the state than those of smaller towns.

“They get behind closed doors and we have no idea what goes on in there. We don’t have any representation in the committee from this area, and a lot of times if a city has someone on the committee who is from there, that representative will look out for their home city,” Fowlé said. “We don’t have good representation, but that’s always been an issue.”

Both Shipley and Fowlé hope that the Flower Mound location will increase awareness of MSU and aid in the university’s representation.

“The whole outreach to Flower Mound can be really helpful, along with the brand extension to MSU Texas. It’s just so easy to remember the name MSU Texas,” Shipley said. “When you say Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, by the time you’ve said it all, they’ve decided you’re in Kansas.”

Fowlé agreed with Shipley.

“The student population from Wichita Falls area is declining, so most students are coming from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We’re competing with a lot of other schools and we’re not as well-known, so it’s an uphill battle — University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas State University, Texas Tech University, Tarleton State University and others,” Fowlé said. “We hope the Flower Mound extension will help with recruitment.”

Another important piece of the budget is enrollment numbers. State allocations are based on semester credit hours and total enrollment, so MSU’s slow growth plays a role in the budget.

“Part of it was we didn’t do our part — we need to grow. There’s funding from many different sources, but the place we lost the most funding is a set pool of money that is an enrollment match,” Shipley said. “When everybody grows more than we grow, there’s less of the pie for us. If there’s $500 of [an enrollment] pie, everybody gets a piece, and whoever grows the most percentage gets the biggest piece — and we didn’t grow at all.”

Shipley said that they have increased the budget for marketing to help spread the word about MSU to more areas.

“We look at every single place we can grow and kind of kick it up a notch. Instead of being happy with moderate growth, we try to get more significant growth, and a lot of that is marketing,” Shipley said. “We’ve never put any money into marketing, so people haven’t heard of us except through word of mouth — which is the best way — but we have fairly significantly increased the funding in marketing.”

Fowlé said the enrollment budget prediction is 6,150 students.

“Enrollment plays a huge factor into the budget,” Fowlé said. “We budgeted conservatively just to be safe.”

She also said we have recruiters located in Dallas full-time to work in the metropolitan area, since about 1/3 of our students come from the DFW area.

“It’s really hard to grow your enrollment from a rural base. [DFW] is going to be our pocket for growth,” Shipley said. “It makes sense to go to Houston and San Antonio too, but it’s really DFW that’s going to make it happen for us.”

Alyvia Nichols, interdisciplinary studies, claps and looks to her people who are in the audience for her during the end part of commencement where the graduates shout-out and clap to the members in the audience who were there for them through their college experiences. Photo by Rachel Johnson

In an attempt to give future graduates a last farewell to the university, James Johnston, provost and vice president for academic affairs, has explored options to bring graduation back on campus.

While graduation is now being held downtown in Kay Yeager Coliseum is the current location of graduation, it has been held in D.L. Ligon Coliseum before. Johnston foresees that if graduation is moved back on campus, the coliseum is where it would be held.

Johnston said graduation marks a significant achievement in one’s lifetime.

“Beyond the piece of paper that says you’re a graduate of Midwestern State University, it forever changes you as a individual. You view the world differently, you interpret the world differently and it’s all giving you the tools to be successful with whatever you do in your life,” said Johnston. 

For a number of faculty and staff, they have worked with the graduating students for four, and sometimes more, years depending on when they started.

Johnston said, “It’s important that we bring closure to that working relationship for the students.”

Luke Draper, marketing senior, said graduation is one of the last impressions that students have of their university. It is where they have been putting in their hard work and dedication for the future to come.

“Goodbyes are pretty important. Just like after we end a chapter in our life, a proper goodbye is something that is really needed. Being on campus that one last time would make the ending of this chapter in life a lot more special because you’re on campus,” said Draper. “It would be nice to get what you’ve been working for on the ground that you’ve been working hard on.”

Johnston continued and depicted his vision for how future graduations could be held.

“My rough draft look at it would be to graduate right now while we have Ligon Coliseum,” said Johnston. “We would graduate half the colleges on a Friday evening with their faculty and then the other half on Saturday morning with their faculty so they could be with the students that they worked with.”

On top of moving graduation back to campus, Johnston along with Suzanne Shipley, university president, have talked about implementing a senior walk this spring.

“Basically, my thought is to gather all the graduating seniors here next to Hardin and walk them through each of the academic buildings and the faculty and staff will be there to congratulate the graduates as they walk through,” said Johnston.

OUR VIEW: City and campus officials have a vision for MSU to grow in retention and activity, and this will only work if students interact with the opportunities by engaging with the community through events and utilizing college-student targeted apartments.

To emphasize college prevalence in town, Mayor Stephen Santellana and Suzanne Shipley, university president, added campus banners throughout downtown to show the pride Wichita Falls has in Texas’ only public liberal arts university last spring, so instead of heading back to hometowns every weekend, students could explore one of the many antique shops that hold generations of treasures.

As opposed to watching another episode of Steven Universe, go see one of the community theater productions either at The Wichita Theatre or Backdoor Theatre. Community members of all ages are able to perform in the productions or are welcomed to sit in the audience wowed by the talent and excitement “Wichitans” have.

A community event is planned almost every weekend either to take on the Texoma’s Hellacious Obstacle Run or listen to Pixar music from local musicians, so there is always something to look forward to in Wichita Falls that is relatively inexpensive to attend. College students love food and anything with the word “free,” and many times these events offer just that, but students steer clear because they might seem “lame.”

Along with the engaging in activities on the weekend, new apartments are opening above The Highlander on Scott Street, right in the heart of downtown, which will allow students to live off campus in an area full of life while being less than 10 minutes away from campus.

Students complain about this sleepy town, but they are often too lazy to just look up events going on here. Instead of complaining about what Wichita Falls doesn’t have, students should look up and see what’s going on in the Falls.

See more of what’s going in in Wichita Falls here.

In the wake of an ill-received statement addressing tweets that identified a fascist sympathizer on campus, the MSU Texas administration has collaborated with student leaders to issue another statement that’s “more transparent, and less formulaic.”

“By Friday, we were aware that [the tweets] had been made more public than we initially thought,” President Suzanne Shipley said. “At that time, I asked Dr. [Keith] Lamb to reach out to the student leaders of organizations that may be most affected for an immediate meeting.”

Shipley said she invited leaders from: 

• P.R.I.D.E. (People Respecting Identity Diversity of Everyone)
• OHS (Organization of Hispanic Students)
• BSU (Black Student Union)
• SGA (Student Government Association)
• NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)
• STAND (Students Taking Action in the Name of Diversity)

“I wanted to have this meeting not only to address this issue, but overall campus climate,” Shipley said. “One of the key takeaways for me was the students’ want for administration to be more transparent, and less formulaic, in our responses to issues like these. The students were very understanding of why we, as a public university, often have to be so formulaic, but when it comes to potential threats to the students, we take it very seriously.”

Shipley said the administration assessed the threat potential of the initial posts using behavior and vocabulary analysts from the university’s behavioral intervention team, as well as an independent threat-assessment entity. She said the results of the assessments concluded that the posts did not qualify an immediate physical threat to student safety.

“We approach it very scientifically,” Shipley said. “And when something like this doesn’t meet the criteria of an immediate threat to campus, the university has to treat it as  protected by the First Amendment, even if it’s contrary to our values as a campus.”

SGA President Kerdell Cuffy was one of the first student-leaders to be made aware of the tweets on Nov. 15, and she said the meeting was a step in the right direction for both the administration and students.

“Understandably, there’s a lot of regulations as to how these things are communicated by the university,” Cuffy said. “We discussed [administration] being more direct moving forward, and I believe they are doing what they can to accommodate, but a lot of it comes down to the students. We cannot live in a reality of fear. The university assessed him for threats and found none. An open dialogue is one of our greatest tools, and I believe that’s what Dr. Shipley is trying to do.”

P.R.I.D.E President Michael Maiato, who was one of the first students to bring the tweets to the attention of the university administration, also attended the meeting. Maiato said they appreciate Shipley’s willingness to meet and further address the topic publicly, but also believe the university can only do so much in the way of addressing the heart of the issue.

“It’s really in the hands of the students,” Maiato said. “The university can only do so much because they are a public institution. It’s on the students to make noise about things like this, and make it clear that it’s not ok. It’s not the first time we’ve seen this kind of sentiment from people on campus, and it won’t be the last, but it’s good to know that administration is taking steps to help in the ways that they can.”

Find the most recent statement here: 

To the MSU Texas Community:

Web Site Links Mentioned
NaBITA Risk Rubric: https://t.co/7Z8YpSyoIh
Concerning Behavior Form: https://t.co/eUuhuxe21O
EthicsPoint Hotline: https://t.co/TvFb5iYlJG pic.twitter.com/QUG00JvIsS

— Midwestern State (@MSUTexas) December 2, 2019

The Wichitan staff contacted Tyler Glasscock, geoscience graduate student, and did not receive a response. His employer was also contacted with no response.

After hours of discussion of the potential changes for this institution, members of the Board of Regents introduced what will be implemented into the 2020-2021 academic school year.

Tuition

Suzanne Shipley, university president, announced the request to move the initial increased tuition rates downward after looking over the estimates of tuition and fees elsewhere in the state of Texas.

“That original recommendation and proposal was a rate of 2.6% increase for our first-year students who would’ve started in Fall 2020,” Vice President of Administration and Finance Beth Reissenweber said. “Earlier this week, as President Shipley mentioned, she wanted to check where this price would put us in the market place. So, there is a new fee proposal.”

MSU Texas’s tuition and fees increase for 15 credit hours. Photo courtesy of the Board of Regents.

The administration recommended the creation of the Global Preparation Program, and a new tuition category for international students from certain partner secondary and postsecondary institutions, beginning in Fall 2020. The goal of this program is to increase the enrollment of well-prepared international students. International students currently pay one of three tuition rates: Tier I, for students earning a $1,000 competitive scholarship and earning a waiver to pay in-state tuition (limited to 5% of the previous year’s enrollment); Tier II, which is resident tuition plus $90 per semester credit hour; and Tier III, which is nonresident tuition. Tier II is not eligible for formula funding.

Enrollment and Retention

Vice President of Enrollment Management Fred Dietz said there was a 17% increase for new enrollment.

“We also made some headway into some of the losses we had in the fall,” Dietz said. “We’ve cut those losses in half for the new students coming in, in the spring so we’re pleased with that.”

“Yield” is something that the enrollment management team is looking at in terms of admission according to Dietz.

“As the agricultural [community] looks at the yield of crops, we look at the yield of admissions and what that translates to from an enrollment standpoint,” he said. “This is a measure that we track really closely. The higher your yield, ideally, the more selective you are in terms of admission.”

MSU Texas has been in a range of 28-35% of its yield for freshmen.

“Of the applicants we accept, the number that enroll, that’s the percent that we yield. This past year we came in at about 28% and the year prior we were at 33%,” he said. “Ideally, we want to be in that low 30% range; that’s a good number for us. That yield really helps us begin to know how many students are going to come to the institution. For the state of Texas, the average yield rate is 36.7% so we’re not that far off.”

The Spring 2020 enrollment number stands at 5,550 students in comparison to Spring 2019 where the number stood at 5,622 students.

“We expected to be less down than we were for fall and we’ve caught up some of the enrollment for spring,” Shipley said.

Retention continues to be a focal point for the university. Dietz said the university is partnering with the EAB Student Success Collaborative to provide the university the ability to be more efficient and responsive to students in a timely manner.

“We have partnered with EAB for our student success collaborative,” Dietz said. “This is a software product that will allow us a lot of analysis, will provide us a lot of data related to our students and trends that we’re seeing. It will also help students in terms of how they interact with the university and how we interact with them. That project really has kicked off and we will begin implementation of that over the course of this spring and have it [fully] implemented by the end of the summer.”

Dietz said the overall target for retention is 75%. According to the Board of Regents Minutes, the retention of freshmen increased from 64.6% in Fall 2017 to 67.4% in Fall 2018. Dietz did not provide retention rates for classes other than freshmen.

Retention rates by college. Research provided by Vice President of Enrollment Management Fred Dietz.

Room and Board Rates

Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, proposed a slight increase to room and board rates based on the higher education price index for the fiscal year of 2020-2021.

Bridget Reilly
Vice president Keith Lamb speaks to the board on proposed additions to the core curriculum. Feb. 13.

“We believe that if we follow the higher education price index this year that our housing operation will be in good financial shape for this next coming year,” Lamb said. “We are proposing in our freshmen residence halls a 2.55% [increase], our suits in McCullough Trigg a 2.48% [increase], Legacy a 2.44% [increase], and our apartments a 2.43% [increase]. [It will be] a 0% increase for the summer.”

According to Lamb, the university’s rates compare favorably to other institutions.

MSU Annual Housing Rates (Proposed) Compared to 2019-2020 Rates at Peer Institutions. Chart courtesy of the Board of Regents Minutes.

“The institutions that we’ve selected here are institutions with whom we have a large number of shared applications, institutions that students are looking at when choosing Midwestern State University and institutions with similar profiles,” Lamb said.

Registrar’s Office Changes

The registrar’s office has made changes to limit the amount of paper used by becoming more electronic. 

“We use a lot of paper on this campus and forms have to travel through [many] different people before they finally land in the place they’re supposed to. That process isn’t only just cumbersome and environmentally not-great at this point, but it really causes problems for faculty and students,” David Carlston, faculty senate chairman, said. 

Carlston said that the electronic system benefits both students and faculty. He also noted that the faculty has seen visible improvement since these initial changes. 

“The registrar’s office has made a lot of effort to start some initial changes to allow some things to be a little bit more electronic and facilitate things for students in general. We have seen a significant impact in terms of both workload and retention of our students as well,” Carlston said. 

Athletics Report

A report from Kyle Williams, assistant athletics director, showed that male student-athletes’ grade point averages continue to fall consistently behind the overall population of male students on campus and those of male athletes at other schools in the Lone Star Conference. 

“You can see in those charts that a couple of sports in the men’s category fall every semester below our men’s GPA, and we have urged Mr. Williams to work with our coaches to see how those grade points can be increased,” Shipley said. 

The GPA of the women athletes has been much higher than not only the male student-athletes but also the overall female population on campus. 

Bridget Reilly
Athletic director Kyle Williams informs the Board of Regents that MSU’s men’s sports are suffering GPA wise. Feb. 13.

“We can truthfully say for our women’s sports that you are more likely to do better academically as a student-athlete. It’s mixed for our men’s sports,” Shipley said. 

Williams acknowledged the difficulty of being a student-athlete but pointed out that a student-athlete is still a student first and foremost. 

“There is a balance that our kids have to go through, certainly, with practice, meets and games and all those things that are with that. At the same time, we have to balance the school work and grade point average, and ultimately graduate,” Williams said. 

Williams believes that the key to academic success in student-athletes begins with the recruitment stage. 

“My challenge to our coaches is to, as we talked about, make sure we are recruiting the kids and the students that are going to have a chance to not only succeed on the field or court but in the classroom as well,” Williams said. 

Vernon College Partnership

The university will soon begin a new partnership with Vernon College in hopes to prepare and acclimate new students to university life and courses. Dietz explained what this partnership should look like. 

“We approached Vernon in late fall, right before the break. We talked about allowing students to be enrolled at both institutions, potentially live on campus, eat our food, get acclimated to MSU, take the majority of their course work at Vernon while also taking one course here and allowing them to make that transition from Vernon college to MSU,” Dietz said.

While this partnership may seem strange to some MSU students, this is a common model that many universities in the state take advantage of.

“It’s a pretty common model throughout the state; Texas A&M  has one with BLEND, Texas State has one with Austin Community College [and] Texas Tech has one with South Plains College,” Dietz said. 

This new opportunity would mostly benefit incoming students or applicants whose grade point average is too low to be admitted at first. This would allow them to still get the campus experience while also gaining hours and increasing their GPA at Vernon College. 

“Those students [that]  may not meet traditional student requirements are provided the opportunity to eat and live on campus and go to Vernon…and then they get here a year and a half down the road as degree-seeking full-time students,” Dietz said.

Construction Status Update

The $58.4 million funds awarded by the legislature to the university went to five major construction projects: the now-completed Centennial Hall health building, the Moffett library renovations, upgrades to the Fire Marshall building, the Taft Bay window area renovations and a new Facilities Services Shops building.

The 7.7 million dollar renovation of the Moffett library building is drawing closer to completion after students had been unable to access the first floor for the entirety of the Fall 2019 semester. 

“We’re within about six weeks of being able to complete this project and for the students to occupy the first floor again. We’ve taken out the arches, the doors, the little benches and we’ve opened it up a lot,” Kyle Owen, vice president of facilities services, said.

Also scheduled to be reopened in six weeks is the Taft Bay window area, a popular hangout spot for students. 

“We’ve enclosed that area so it can be used kind of like as a reading room or a study area for students,” Owen said.

The new facilities services building being built across from Centennial Hall is still anticipated to be done this summer despite being slightly behind schedule. 

“They’ve framed in about half the outside and much of the interior. We can’t finish the other half because it just keeps raining,” Owen said.

The Bank of America building was closed on in December. According to Owen, about two-thirds of it will be used for a warehouse.

“A lot of walls are being demoed out. We actually worked out a deal with the Wichita Falls Sheriff’s Department and we’re using inmates to save some money in doing the demolition,” Owen said.

Status of Board-approved construction projects and allocated budgets. Photo courtesy of the Board of Regents Minutes.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MSU Texas began instruction for all classes to be online for the rest of Spring 2020. President Suzanne Shipley discussed what happened behind the scenes to ensure that students were still receiving the best education possible during this time.

“Every single individual has a depth of disappointment in this and we’re trying to alleviate that,” Shipley said.

Q: Was there a timeline of how all of this played out, 1and who was involved in the decision-making process?

A: “In terms of decision-making for the crisis, our team for such things is the cabinet. We were meeting every day as a group and taking decisions one-by-one. I was keeping the board chair apprised, and our board-relations person was keeping the board apprised; the main way we did that was the emails we sent to folks and the postmasters that people got. [When March Madness was canceled] it was from that day on, every single day. Behind the scenes on those announcements, [the questions were]: ‘How fast can I.T. work?’ ‘How much notice will our faculty need?’ ‘How will we make sure we have the infrastructure and students have access to the things that they need?’ So you’re walking across the bridge as you build it.”

Q: What has this looked like behind the scenes in terms of getting the transition in place for students?

A: “It was early on that rapidly-emerging cascade of decisions that had to be made. Just moments, it felt like, after the NBA canceled its season then you had the decisions coming about March Madness from NCAA, and then the next day we’re meeting. It’s that fast because we’ve got to let students know what we’re doing. We had to get the cabinet together to make decisions right away on how we should line this up, and by Thursday get a word out to students that we’re shifting to online and extending spring break. We had been having emergency meetings so a lot of deans and chairs were ready for it, but we didn’t have the best way of doing it, which is everybody gets communication with advance notice. The students got the first communication, faculty got the second communication and staff got the third communication. That’s how it rolled out — cabinet meeting after cabinet meeting and phone call after phone call.”

Q: What would you like to say to the students at this time?

A: “I want them to know that all faculty I’ve talked to [and] the staff, they are trying to do the best they can to alleviate the stress and disappointment of this situation. [For] faculty, it’s getting the best instruction out there they can; staff and faculty; it’s getting all the help to the students they can; [for] student affairs, [it’s] determining when refunds are given, how refunds are given, how credits are given; [for] international students who have had to remain here, how do we feed them, how do we link them with people to give them some shadow of a social life so that they’re not too lonely; then trying to be very public in our media connections to show the processes [and] why they’re happening. I’m trying to do some humorous videos, some YouTube videos and [it’s] just everybody doing their part.”

Q: What would you like to say specifically to seniors who are graduating in May?

A: “Wow, I feel your pain. It’s a disappointment for us too, and I hope, hope, hope you can come back August 1. We didn’t really want to do a virtual graduation. We’ve got some tricks up our sleeves that I think will make seniors feel a little better that I don’t want to disclose in this interview. We just think this is the type of institution where we need to be together again, and so hopefully, we can have an in-person graduation on August 1. Again, it’ll depend on how things are, and if that’s too early, then we’ll reschedule it as soon as we can. There’s always the December graduation scheduled, so we’ll just do the best we can to get folks together. To the seniors, the NCAA gave extended eligibility, but it’s not the same as having the season you had dreamed of, and I feel very sorry for the senior athletes as well. Just, my heart goes out to people. I think the saddest thing [for] everyone is the economic impact. But, as I’ve said to students, I hope this gives you an opportunity to acquire some skills that will make you a very competitive job candidate, or a very good candidate for graduate study. I urge everyone to take advantage of this moment and do all you can to maximize it for your own benefit and minimize the emotional negativity of it.”

Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 1:08 p.m. President Suzanne Shipley announced via MSU Student Postmaster MSU Texas’s August and December graduates will have their commencement ceremony virtually on December 21.

Shipley cited a spike in COVID-19 cases in the Wichita Falls community and, “the increased dangers of exposure through public events,” as reasons for the change. However, Shipley assured that the graduates would be celebrated with, “as much enthusiasm and excitement as we would have done in person.”

Shipley also announced a commencement photo event on Nov. 18, which will follow university COVID-19 guidelines. Shipley wrote, “August and December candidates will sign up for photo appointments to have their pictures taken in their caps and gowns with the president.”

Shipley finished the message by thanking students for their understanding and stating that she takes, “great pride,” in measures by MSU Texas faculty, staff and students to keep the university community safe.