Enrollment increases by record 5.2% at universities in Miss

. | The Clarion-Ledger | www.clarionledger.com: www.clarionledger.com/article/20110911/NEWS/309110…|Home

Across the eight schools, attendance is up 5.2 percent compared to last fall – the system’s largest ever single-year increase, to push the system total enrollment over 80,800 students.

"(It) is a very positive sign for economic development in our state," said Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds. "A better educated citizenry stabilizes the economy and creates better opportunities to bring good jobs to our state."

The biggest jump was seen at Alcorn State University.

The university, which has campuses in Lorman, Natchez and Vicksburg, grew by nearly 20 percent and has about 4,391 students this semester.

#Mississippi #Education #Higher #Learning #IHL #ASU #Colleges

Davis goes back to Capitol

Desoto Times Tribune > News > : www.desototimes.com/articles/2011/09/08/news/doc4e…1.txt

HERNANDO — Despite a stinging defeat at the polls last month, Sen. Doug Davis, R-Hernando, said he will back at work at Mississippi’s Capitol week after next to work on the state’s 2013 budget.

"That’s what I’m focused on right now," said Davis, who was honored recently by his state Senate colleagues for his seven years in the Senate, especially his work on behalf of higher education.

Davis, arguably one of the most powerful lawmakers to serve at the Capitol from DeSoto County, lost in an upset to political newcomer Chris Massey on Aug. 2.

Lawmakers passed a resolution honoring Davis during the special session to consider economic projects last week. Davis, as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, wrestled with shaping the state’s multi-billion-dollar budget during one of the toughest economic times in the nation’s history.

"I’d like to think I played a small part in making a big difference," Davis said. "I’m leaving the state’s fiscal house in a lot better shape than when I found it."

Davis said he thinks some consideration needs to be given to restructuring the state’s education oversight boards, and he said it might take state constitutional action to do it.

Davis said the State College and Universities Board, the State Board of Education which oversees the state’s K-12 budget and the Community and Junior College Board often scrap and fight against each other for funding unnecessarily.

"When it comes to the budget, there are three educational entities pitted against each other," Davis said. "We need to consider looking at states like Florida which has one board."

For instance, Davis said higher education should not be underfunded at the expense of the state’s kindergarten through 12th grade program.

#Mississippi #Senator #Doug #Davis #Senate #Higher #Learning #Constitution #Chris #Massey #Desoto #County

Reeves touts MPACT

- WLBT 3 – Jackson, MS:: www.wlbt.com/story/15414467/reeves-touts-mpact

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) -
Governor Haley Barbour has declared September "College Savings Month".

Wednesday, State Treasurer Tate Reeves marked the occasion by kicking off the enrollment period for the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College tuition program or MPACT.

Reeves was surrounded by hundreds of Madison Station Elementary School students to announce that September 1st through December 31st, Mississippi families can lock-in today’s tuition rates for tomorrow’s college students.

Reeves said, "It’s a factor that tuition has risen in our state and virtually every other state over the last 10 to 20 years and so affordability and accessibility of a college degree is becoming an issue for many of these kids and their parents and their grandparents, so what we try to do is stress to them the importance of education, but also the importance of starting to save early."

MPACT earnings are tax exempt and contributions are fully deductible from state income tax. It is guaranteed by the state to cover the cost of college tuition and mandatory fees at Mississippi’s public colleges. The benefits can also be used for private or out-of-state schools.

#Mississippi #Tate #Reeves #Treasurer #Education #Higher #Learning #tuition #MPACT #Haley #Barbour

Sports agents on notice in Miss.

| The Clarion-Ledger | www.clarionledger.com: www.clarionledger.com/article/20110905/NEWS/109050…Miss-

Strengthening a Mississippi law is helping to ensure athletes are protected from unscrupulous agents, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said.

"Mississippi’s new law will provide greater accountability to sports agents who wish to recruit our student athletes and will bring more responsibility to the recruitment process," he said. "Our goal is to protect not only the eligibility, but also the future of our student athletes."

This past session, state lawmakers toughened requirements of the Uniform Athletes Agents Act, which the secretary of state’s office enforces.

Hosemann said he became interested in reforming the system after NFL running back Reggie Bush had to return the Heisman Trophy he earned while playing for the University of Southern California.

Hosemann talked with officials from the NCAA, universities and colleges, professional sports leagues and sports agents – conversations aimed at making it difficult for unscrupulous agents to operate.

"If Mississippi ever wins a Heisman trophy, we want to keep it," Hosemann said.

Brackey Brett, Mississippi State University’s associate athletic director for compliance, praised the new law. "Secretary of State Hosemann and the Mississippi Legislature have really put some teeth in this act," he said. "That’s the encouraging part for us."

With the success of the Southeastern Conference in general and MSU specifically come "issues you have to manage, dealing with agents and those acting on their behalf," he said. "We live in that part of the nation where the culture of college football is extremely strong compared to other parts of the nation."

One problem has been that of "runners," who act on behalf of agents, he said. "A lot of these runners are students on our campuses."

Athletic officials eventually figure out who they are, "but there’s not a way to know up front," he said.

Under the new law, "compensation" to an athlete has been broadened to include "anything of value."

That means if a runner gives something of value to a student athlete, he or she becomes an "agent" under the law and could face civil or criminal penalties.

#MIssissippi #athletics #agents #Delbert #Hosemann #Secretary #of #State #Heisman #Trophy #MSU #education #Higher #Learning #IHL

MSU surpasses 20,000 with record enrollment

(Mississippi State University): www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=5337

STARKVILLE, Miss.–Mississippi State University surpassed the 20,000 student enrollment milestone with a 2011 fall semester headcount of 20,424, a 3.97 percent increase from last year.

The gain of 780 students from last year’s 19,644 total shows MSU on the rise for the seventh consecutive year.

"Despite difficult economic times, we have worked hard to ensure that Mississippi State continues to offer the highest quality educational experience. Included in that experience is a friendly, welcoming and nurturing atmosphere that provides an environment for students to succeed," said MSU President Mark E. Keenum.

Among the enrollment gains, figures show increases in African American student enrollment, and the university continues to attract a high percentage of Mississippi students.

"We tell students that no matter their interest or career path, Mississippi State can help them get there. This all-time record enrollment figure, especially the high percentage of students from Mississippi, is a strong indication of the confidence those students have in our ability to help them become the future leaders of our state and nation," Keenum said.

Keenum has set an enrollment goal of 22,000 by 2015, and he said current enrollment shows the university is on track toward meeting that objective.

#Mississippi #IHL #Higher #Learning #MSU #Mark #Keenum #education

Fund to help college students includes money for Mississippi

- WTVA.com: www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Fund-to-help-college….cspx

A nonprofit organization that helps Americans benefit from higher education will provide some financial help to college students whose education plans were adversely affected by tornado outbreaks this spring.

USA Funds announced it was awarded $387 thousand to 30 postsecondary schools in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee.

The schools will use the money to help lower-income students who suffered financial hardships as a result of the tornado outbreaks in April and May.

The grants support supplemental financial aid up to $1,000 per student to help them with education-related expenses.

The Disaster Relief Fund for Postsecondary Education Students was created to help college students affected by Hurricane Katrina and three other major hurricanes that year.
The following colleges and universities were awarded grants under the program.

Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University
Alabama
$15,000

Athens State University
Alabama
$10,000

Calhoun State Community College
Alabama
$21,000

Gadsden State Community College
Alabama
$15,000

Northeast Alabama Community College
Alabama
$10,000

Northwest-Shoals Community College
Alabama
$10,000

Samford University
Alabama
$10,000

Shelton State Community College
Alabama
$15,000

Snead State Community College
Alabama
$10,000

Southeastern Bible College
Alabama
$ 3,000

Stillman College
Alabama
$10,000

University of Alabama
Alabama
$30,000

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Alabama
$30,000

University of North Alabama
Alabama
$15,000

University of West Alabama
Alabama
$15,000

Wallace State Community College
Alabama
$15,000

Covenant College
Georgia
$ 5,000

Gordon College
Georgia
$15,000

Crowder College
Missouri
$15,000

Missouri Southern State University
Missouri
$15,000

New Dimensions School of Hair Design
Missouri
$ 5,000

Ozark Christian College
Missouri
$ 5,000

Vatterott College
Missouri
$ 5,000

Jackson State University
Mississippi
$15,000

Bryan College
Tennessee
$10,000

Chattanooga State Community College
Tennessee
$30,000

Pentecostal Theological Seminary
Tennessee
$ 5,000

Tusculum College
Tennessee
$10,000

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Tennessee
$ 8,000

Walters State Community College-Greeneville
Tennessee
$10,000

#Mississippi #education #college #financial #assistance #Higher #Education

USM takes aim to make smoke-free campuses

| The Clarion-Ledger | www.clarionledger.com: www.clarionledger.com/article/20110827/NEWS01/1082…ome|s

The University of Southern Mississippi is taking the first step toward being smoke-free by initiating a new smoking policy to be phased in during this fall semester on the Hattiesburg campus.

The policy will include designated areas with tobacco receptacles where people can smoke. The areas will be established in the coming weeks with signage.

The new policy won’t be enforced until in the spring 2012 semester when $50 fines will be issued to violators.

The effort is a collaboration of the university’s Student Government Association, Faculty Senate, Staff Council and the Office of Health Promotion, and is in keeping with one of the university’s strategic planning priorities – healthy minds, bodies and campuses.

Southern Miss Gulf Coast plans to form a committee during the 2011-2012 academic year to study benchmarks for its own smoking policy.

"We expect this policy to have a tremendous impact on the health of everyone on this campus, and that impact will result from the culture change that is the main goal of this campaign," said SGA President Erick Brown, an Honors College senior from Columbus. "This effort is where our commitment to a healthy campus shines brightest."

#Mississippi #USM #Colleges #Hattiesburg #Gulf #Coast #Student #Government #Association #Higher #Learning #Education

IHL Board extends contract for MSU President

(Mississippi State University): www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=5332

Mississippi State University President Dr. Mark Keenum received a great vote of confidence from the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning when they voted unanimously to extend his contract for four more years. The extension follows a careful review that included meetings with stakeholders across each campus. Since Dr. Keenum’s appointment in 2009, Mississippi State University has enjoyed record enrollment and achievements in all facets of the university.

"Dr. Keenum has proven himself to be a dedicated leader with a vision for the future of Mississippi State University," said Trustee Robin Robinson of Laurel, president, Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. "He appreciates the role that students, faculty, alumni and the community play in the success of the university and has brought all of them together to help MSU to excel."

Dr. Mark E. Keenum became the 19th president of Mississippi State University in January 2009. Very early in his tenure, Dr. Keenum realized that Mississippi and its universities were facing the biggest financial challenges, perhaps, since the Great Depression. MSU experienced significant budget cuts in FY 10 and FY 11. Thanks to decisive leadership by President Keenum, Mississippi State took immediate steps to seek out efficiencies and cost savings while protecting core academic functions. As a result, MSU is on solid financial footing.

"Despite very challenging financial times, Dr. Keenum has guided the university with a steady hand and sound decision-making," said Trustee Ed Blakeslee of Gulfport. "By engaging the campus community and forming a strong team, Dr. Keenum has met the challenges and put the university on a path to an even brighter future."

#Mississippi #MSU #Institutions #of #Higher #Learning #IHL #Mark #Keenum

Is now the right time to be talking pay raises for University Faculty?

Universities: Faculty need pay raise | The Clarion-Ledger | www.clarionledger.com: www.clarionledger.com/article/20110818/OPINION01/1…ion|p

Professors who teach in Mississippi are paid, on average, $10,000 a year less than their colleagues across the Southeast, according to the American Association of University Professors.

In turn, Mississippi lags even more nationally. At JSU, professors are paid only two-thirds the national average.

But JSU is not alone. Several schools have had to consolidate programs, and cut positions and freeze salaries in recent years because of repeated cuts to state appropriations.

This neglect, in turn, hurts Mississippi’s educational progress.

More than a year ago, noting this trend, University of Mississippi Chancellor Dan Jones started fundraising for a faculty endowment.

"With a growing gap in faculty compensation between us and peer universities, recruitment and retention of the best faculty is an increasing challenge," he said.

Such actions show the legitimate concerns by higher education leaders about attracting and keeping good faculty members.

#Mississippi #Universities #Higher #Education #Ole #Miss #JSU #spending #budget