10/4/2019 - Oxford, Miss.

Former Commissioner of Higher Education is Visionary Leader

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) has voted unanimously to name Dr. Glenn Boyce as Chancellor of the University of Mississippi.

Boyce, a well-respected leader in higher education, most recently served as Commissioner of Higher Education for the State of Mississippi, before retiring in June 2018. In that position Boyce guided the Board of Trustees on all higher education issues and provided oversight of the system's eight public universities and academic medical center.

"Dr. Boyce has deep ties to the University of Mississippi and within our state." said Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr., commissioner of higher education. "He has a passion for the university, its students, faculty and administration."

Named commissioner of higher education on April 17, 2015, he has enjoyed an expansive career in secondary and post-secondary education. Serving as Commissioner for almost three years, Dr. Boyce provided leadership for the state's university system, which includes four research and four regional universities, one academic health science center and the executive office. As commissioner, Boyce oversaw a university system that serves more than 95,000 students, with nearly 28,000 faculty and staff, 1,666 buildings with 36.7 million square feet, and a $4.5 billion operating budget. Under his leadership, the university system set record enrollments, awarded record numbers of degrees, launched a statewide program, Complete 2 Compete, to increase the number of degree holders in the state, worked to be more responsive to the needs of business and industry and streamlined operations to increase efficiencies.

"I am honored to be given this opportunity by the Board of Trustees and the Ole Miss family," Boyce said. "As an alumnus, I am deeply appreciative to the university for providing me the leadership skills and intellectual knowledge necessary for advancing my career. I am humbled by the responsibility given to me. Together, we will strive to make the state's flagship institution the most student-centered university in the nation, providing them with the education necessary to become the most creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial-minded students around. Our students will be at the forefront of designing and leading Mississippi's future. All this begins with the best faculty, staff, technology, facilities and supportive alumni. I believe those are already in place and as Chancellor, I am committed to building upon this solid foundation. I want the students of today and tomorrow to know their dreams are important, and this is a place where dreams are realized."

Prior to his tenure as commissioner of higher education, Boyce served as associate commissioner for academic and student affairs for IHL. He joined IHL after serving as president of Holmes Community College for more than nine years.

Buffkin / Baker, a national retained search firm, conducted the Chancellor search on behalf of IHL. A Campus Search Advisory Committee and campus constituency groups provided input throughout the process.

"As a leader in education, Dr. Boyce has a great track record of success," said Dr. Ford Dye, Vice President of the IHL Board of Trustees and Chair of the Board Search Committee. "During the search process, our alumni, faculty, students, staff and community members provided invaluable feedback about the qualities they expect in the next University of Mississippi Chancellor, specifically citing a need for someone with strong and experienced leadership skills, broad higher-education expertise, who knows and understands our state. We listened, and believe Glenn exemplifies those traits. His background and experience combine to make him the perfect choice to lead an outstanding public research university like ours to new levels of success."

Boyce has served on numerous regional and statewide boards throughout his career. He was a trustee for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Latin America and other international sites approved by the Commission on Colleges that award associate, baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees.

He was also on the board of directors of the Mississippi Commission on College Accreditation. This board is responsible for ensuring that all academic degree-granting institutions statewide, including both public and private sectors, are held to a shared standard of accountability.

Boyce served as a board member for the State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS). The SLDS securely and efficiently facilitates research and analysis and provides linkages between early childhood, K-12, postsecondary education, and the workforce. Mississippi was one of the first states in the nation to develop a data system to link, match, and share education and workforce data leading to an enriched ability within the state to improve career-readiness outcomes and enhance success in the economy.

He served for years as co-chair of the Education Achievement Council, established by state law to ensure all levels of education, state leaders and the business community work collaboratively to increase educational attainment in the state.

A collaborative effort between the university and community college systems, Complete 2 Compete (C2C) is a statewide program focused on encouraging Mississippi adults who have completed some college, but no degree, to return to college and complete the requirements necessary to earn their degrees. Since launching the C2C website in 2017, 16,400 Mississippians have applied to finish their degrees; 1,084 students have enrolled in a university or community college to finish their degrees and 1,267 degrees have been awarded. The total return on investment from C2C to date is $5,866,436.

Dr. Boyce holds a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Mississippi, a master's degree in education administration from Mississippi College and a doctorate in education leadership from the University of Mississippi.

He will begin serving as Chancellor on or before October 13, 2019.

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The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning governs the public universities in Mississippi, including Alcorn State University; Delta State University; Jackson State University; Mississippi State University including the Mississippi State University Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine; Mississippi University for Women; Mississippi Valley State University; the University of Mississippi including the University of Mississippi Medical Center; and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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