Jan. 5, 2010

The Max Experience: Benefits & Facilities Plan

Athletics Departments across the country are continually searching for creative ways to engage the student-body in athletics. With this in mind, we began a series of brainstorming sessions with our corporate partners, Gold Coat Club and student government association to gather information on their image of Griffon Athletics and what they desire to see in a quality athletics program.

The information gathered from our student government association revealed that they wanted to use athletics as a tool for increasing campus life, as well as a source of pride for the institution. The student’s recognized the athletics department as the “front porch of the institution” and with a quality program it would allow for greater success in recruiting students to Missouri Western State University (MWSU). Two major needs arose from the brainstorming sessions: better facilities and increased programming at athletics events.

From the data collected, a plan was formulated that would allow Missouri Western athletics to generate a new funding source to be used to enhance athletics facilities while improving the overall student experience. It consisted of a benefits and facilities fee of $5.00 per credit hour, up to 12 hours, for each student. This student fee had the potential to generate an additional $1 million annually for the department of athletics. These funds would be restricted to improving athletics facilities and student benefits.

A major factor in implementing a student fee program is to get the students to buy into your plans. We did this by holding campus meetings with student groups, student leaders and student organizations to educate them on the “Max Experience” benefits and facilities plan. Open forums were held on campus Monday afternoon’s throughout the campaign to answer questions and concerns of the university community, as well as, distributed informational materials identifying the major benefits for the students. “The Max Experience” was put before a student vote in the spring of 2006. It passed by a 3 to 1 ratio and was implemented in the fall of 2006.

The students wanted an improved football stadium with visitor accommodations, remodeled basketball arena and for our soccer and baseball programs to have a facility to play on campus. Funding from “The Max Experience” has directly resulted in the construction of visitor side bleachers ($400,000), artificial turf for the football stadium ($850,000), a new wood basketball arena floor ($360,000) and $1.2 million pledged to the construction of a new $13.6 million indoor practice facility that will be home to the Kansas City Chiefs training camp beginning in the summer of 2010. In November, the MWSU Board of Governors approved a bid of $3,498,000 to build a spring sports complex (baseball & softball fields) on campus, plus a restroom and concessions building for the football stadium.

In addition, the students receive free admission to all athletics contests, free admission for immediate family members, free concessions at home football and basketball contests, fitness center summer fee waiver, enhanced pep band and cheer squad, free promotional events and items, shuttle bus from/to dorms for home basketball games, free transportation to one selected away football and basketball game, priority parking for off-campus students and a babysitting service for young children of students.

We believe that through the improvements that we have made to date the student body is more engaged in our athletics programs and the university atmosphere is enhanced when games are played on campus.

About Dave Lau: Dave Lau came to Missouri Western in 1999 as an assistant baseball coach/ administrator. In 2003 he made the switch to full time administrator as the athletics development/special events coordinator. Now in his tenth year at Missouri Western, Dave has established himself as one of the top development officers in the MIAA and NCAA Division II raising over $350,000.00 annually.

In 2003, Dave created the Missouri Western Celebrity Golf Classic. This golf tournament, now in its eighth year, has raised over $425,000.00 to help support Missouri Western athletics and the YWCA Shelter for Abused and Homeless Women and Children.

Currently, Dave serves as the MIAA Conference Representative for NAADD, Missouri Western Alumni Board of Directors, Missouri Western Development Council, the Development Ad-hoc Committee; and he served one year on the MWSU Staff Council.

Dave and his new wife, Kendra resides in St. Joseph with their children: Alex, Carson, Kody and Josey.