SMSU expands its lobbying network

State budget concerns have led Southwest Missouri State University officials to seek innovative solutions to lobbying efforts.

A network of volunteer advocates, working with the university and its contracted lobbyist, will make contact with state representatives on behalf of funding for higher education and special initiatives affecting SMSU.

E-mails were sent to 10,000 people informing them of the development of the SMSU Legislative Advocacy Network, with the goal of making targeted contacts with legislators regarding the operating budget, the capital budget, funding for special initiatives and the name change, according to Paul Kincaid, associate vice-president for university advancement, director of university relations and coordinator of governmental relations.

The information also was carried in SMS Magazine, the school's quarterly publication that reaches about 70,000 alumni.

"The vast majority of what we will do will be through e-mail and fax. It's inexpensive and fast. We don't have a big budget; we'll be doing this on a shoestring. E-mail has changed the way all organizations do lobbying," said Kincaid. Governmental relations has a $15,000 annual budget, Kincaid said.

"By Sept. 1, 2003, we hope to have 1,000 people who are interested and willing to commit their time to contacting their state representatives and senators on a variety of issues regarding the university," said Kincaid. "It's pretty much a natural progression. We've worked with the legislature, obviously, since the school was founded. The legislature provides over 50 percent of the general operating budget, a significant amount of money.

"A number of alums have asked to be more actively involved. Also, our Board of Governors has asked us to become more assertive in involving more alums and friends."

In the past, fewer than 50 people were involved in maintaining contact with the legislature and promoting issues important to the university, said Kincaid.

"The process begins on campus. Priorities are determined by the Board of Governors, the Administrative Council and the university president, John H. Keiser. Those issues are the drivers for the goals to be accomplished in the legislative session," Kincaid said. "With budget concerns in the state, it's become more and more important that we have a voice out there with the legislators and they're a lot more responsive to their own constituents."

Kincaid works closely with Jerry Burch, Burch & Associates, a governmental and public consultant who has been the contract lobbyist for SMSU since 1990. Kincaid and Burch call each other two or three times a day during sessions.

"It will be a complementary action. Networking will assist in contacting representatives throughout the state," Burch said. "It will be very beneficial. The main issue before the session in January 2004 will again be the budget how revenues will affect funding for higher education."

The final appropriation from the Missouri legislature for the 2003-2004 operating budget was $73.3 million, down 2.78 percent from last year. This was in addition to a 10 percent reduction in 2002-2003 funding.

"If you buy into the fact of a two- to three-time multiplier for monies coming in," said Kincaid, "SMSU has an economic impact of about $664 million to the area economy each year. A reduction in funds to higher education is a reduction of money in the area economy."

According to the university's 2004 budget request to the Missouri General Assembly, SMSU lags behind in average state appropriations per student. The state average was $7,399 appropriated per student and SMSU received $5,103 per full-time equivalent enrollment last year. The state's Coordinating Board for Higher Education recommended the university receive an equity adjustment of $3.8 million to be allocated over the next two years. In addition, SMSU will increase student fees to $138 per credit hour beginning with the fall 2003 semester.

"The legislature provided over $77 million during this fiscal year. To put things into perspective, SMSU's total budget of about $183 million is the same as the R-12 School District and the same as the city of Springfield. SMSU is the second-largest university in the state and one of the top five employers in Springfield," Kincaid said.

SMSU has 2,006 employees in its Springfield facilities, according to the SBJ 2003 Book of Lists.

In addition to budget concerns, the university's Legislative Advocacy Network will be asked to telephone, write or e-mail legislative contacts regarding the school's special initiatives. For instance, Missouri's General Assembly has agreed to provide funding for the Darr Agricultural Center next to the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners on Kansas Expressway in Springfield. Efforts will be made in the 2004 session to get those funds released to the university.

Another special project for promotion will be funding for the Ozarks Public Health Institute to construct a facility on the Springfield campus. Funds will be requested from tobacco settlement funds. "The new facility will house a much-needed state forensic crime laboratory for use by law enforcement personnel," said Kincaid.

Efforts will continue in support of changing the name of Southwest Missouri State University to Missouri State University. According to Kincaid, supporters thought they had the votes needed in the last two sessions to pass the name change bill, but the threat of a filibuster kept it from being brought to a vote.