Northwest’s Missouri State University’s Board of Regents during its regular meeting Thursday approved a pair of multi-year contracts for software at the University.

The Board authorized the University to renew software maintenance agreements with Ellucian Banner for a five-year term and Evisions for a three-year term.

Northwest employs Ellucian Banner as a student information system. At its June meeting, Vice President of Finance and Administration Stacy Carrick noted, the Board approved a renewal of the software maintenance agreement for a three-year term. However, Carrick said, the University has continued negotiations to reduce the annual escalation factor while also evaluating and securing additional software functionality, which she brought in a proposal to the Board Thursday.

Evisions provides specialized software for Northwest to address the design and delivery of documents such as student transcripts and tax forms as well as efficiencies in its payment processes.

In other business, the Board approved faculty appointments of the 2019-20 academic year and reviewed Northwest’s FY21 state appropriations requests, which the University annual submits to the state of Missouri.

The meeting also was the first for Mel Tjeerdsma, who was appointed to the Board last month to succeed Dr. Pat Harr.

The tentative agenda also includes a vote to close part of the meeting pursuant to R.S. MO 610.021(1)(2)(3)(13). After any closed session, the Board, at its discretion, may decide to go back into open session to discuss any old business or raise new items as individual members deem appropriate.

The Board of Regents is responsible for sound resource management of the University and determining general, educational and financial policies.