Missouri State University’s Board of Governors has extended the employment contract of President Clif Smart to June 30, 2026. That’s a four-year extension of his existing contract.
"We are extremely pleased with the direction of Missouri State University under President Smart’s guidance,” said Board Chair Carrie Tergin. “His leadership has been invaluable in helping the university successfully navigate through a difficult year of budget reduction and uncertainty.”
The contract extension raises Smart’s salary to no less than $380,000 effective July 1, 2022.
Smart currently earns $50,000 each year as part of a deferred compensation plan, which MSU said in a statement, will fully vest in 2022. Effective June 30, 2023, he'll be eligible to earn an annual cash retention bonus of $50,000, in lieu of deferred compensation.
Board chair, Carrie Tergin, said they “want to provide a strong incentive for President Smart to serve the entirety of the contract extension while also ensuring that the university is positioned well for the future.”
Smart will not receive a salary increase for the 2018-2019 year. He said he would not accept a salary increase in a year when faculty and staff do not receive across-the-board salary raises.
Smart has served as president of Missouri State since 2011.
