President Cofer announces plan to return to faculty
In order to more fully devote his time and energy “to helping students in a more meaningful way,” Missouri State University’s 10th President, Dr. James E. Cofer Sr., is relinquishing his duties as president and returning to the faculty. He will officially relinquish the position of president on July 31, 2011.
The Missouri State Board of Governors met yesterday (June 26) and accepted Cofer’s proposed transition to the faculty.
“We knew from the time he interviewed just how much Dr. Cofer enjoyed working with students,” said Board Chair Elizabeth Bradbury, “so we understand his desire to return to the faculty. We anticipate that he will be outstanding in his new faculty role, and our students will benefit greatly from his contributions.
“The university accomplished much under Dr. Cofer’s leadership. The new long-range plan was successfully completed. He initiated a review of the General Education Curriculum, expanded the campus’s thinking about ways in which to offer courses, and he pushed for greater emphasis on student learning outcomes.
“Dr. Cofer gave the internal budget process greater transparency while involving many on campus. In response to the state auditor’s report on Missouri State, he helped strengthen university policies and practices, and he organized a task force to review and make recommendations about JQH Arena. He was a strong advocate for faculty and staff pay raises, and as a result the university granted a large number of increases despite challenging state finances. And, of course, his financial expertise was invaluable in managing and developing the university’s finances.”
Cofer was named president on May 14, 2010, and officially began his duties on Aug. 1, 2010. He came to Missouri State after more than eight years as president of the University of Louisiana-Monroe.
“Last month as I began preparing a summary of our progress on the nine goals we established this year,” Cofer said, “I began to stop and reflect on what was accomplished. We opened up the budget process, we balanced the budget without cutting the academic departments even in light of the state appropriation reductions, and we gave equity raises to 40 percent of the faculty and started the process of raising the pay grades and salaries for staff, and we finished the 2011-2016 long-range plan. All laudable accomplishments, but I realized as I reviewed our year that I had not personally connected to, listened to and helped students in a meaningful way. I was not connected the way I wanted with the students on campus. I also realized that the rigor of my schedule and all the demands on me as president would not allow me to change that result.
“I deeply believe in what we are doing in higher education and what we are doing at Missouri State University and that is educating people regardless of background or economic status or ethnicity or religion. I believe that education is the great equalizer for those who come to our campus and really desire to succeed and lead a better life. My belief is that we owe it to ourselves and, most importantly, we owe it to our students to give them the best we have regardless of our place at the university. At this particular time, I believe that the position necessary to best serve Missouri State is one closely tied to the classroom and working with students much more directly than in the past.
“In that light, the Board of Governor’s has agreed for me to transition back to the classroom as provided in my contract. My plan is to take next year and work with my colleagues across the country and here at MSU to sharpen up my teaching and research skills so that I can return to the classroom in the fall of 2012. The agreement with the Board also moves the appropriate funds into the College of Business to support my position so that the college is not penalized for receiving a former administrator on the faculty. A procedure that I hope will be followed by future administrations.
“I am confident that the leadership on campus, especially on the Board and the faculty, will make the necessary changes in the administration for the institution to continue to not only survive but to thrive.
“I know this may seem sudden to many of you, but it is not. I sincerely hope that you understand and respect my decision. It is not one that I take lightly or made without talking to the Board and my closest personal advisors.
“It has been a pleasure to serve as your president this year and it will be equally an honor to move up to the faculty.”
Cofer will return to the faculty of the College of Business Administration as a tenured full professor effective Aug. 1. He will be paid 60 percent of his current base salary of $275,000 according to his contract, which will be $165,000 per year. The university will transfer appropriate funds to the College of Business Administration to cover the salary and other expenses associated with a tenured professor’s teaching and research activities.
In addition, the agreement calls for a one-time payment of deferred income accrued in the amount of $50,000, plus he will continue to receive his housing allowance of $45,000 for one year. All other additional benefits included in his contract (courtesy car, country club membership, etc.) will cease.
“The Board is very grateful for Dr. Cofer’s service as our president,” Bradbury concluded, “and in particular for his dedication to our students and to advancing the cause of their education.”
