8/31/2022 - Jackson, Miss.

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning leads the public university system that advances the state through its tri-fold mission of education, research and service. Through the academic programs approved by the Board, the universities prepare graduates to serve as the workforce to help Mississippi’s businesses and organizations grow and thrive. In 2021, Mississippi’s eight public universities awarded 19,681 degrees, including 4,697 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees, in 2021, and 2,722 graduates in healthcare including nursing.

The universities also advance the state through research that solves some of the state’s most pressing problems. In Fiscal Year 2021, the universities received $917 million in external research funding, which funded 2,115 projects. More than 87 percent of the research funding comes from federal sources including Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds related to pandemic response. Through outreach programs, service projects and patient care, the university system touches the lives of thousands of Mississippians beyond the approximately 80,000 students enrolled.

The leadership of the Board provides the strategic direction and policies that enable the universities to carry out their important mission and have a positive impact on the state. An important role of the Board of Trustees is to advocate for the university system to receive the resources necessary to support the universities’ mission.

“The public universities in Mississippi play a vital role in moving the state forward,” said Trustee Tom Duff, president of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. “The support the universities receive from the state helps the institutions succeed and provides opportunities for our students. We appreciate the support we receive from the Legislature and commit to providing an excellent return on that investment.”

The FY 2024 IHL funding request includes an increase of $85.7 million over FY 2023 funding. The increase would provide new funding for a faculty pay raise to continue moving faculty salaries to the SREB average and assist universities in managing inflation in operational costs. Currently, IHL faculty salaries are approximately 79.3% of the SREB average.

On behalf of the Postsecondary Education Financial Assistance Board, IHL submitted a budget request for $51.9 million for Student Financial Aid. This represents an increase of $1.3 million over FY 2023 funding.

The Board’s request includes $75 million in appropriated funds to address facility repair and renovation needs. Appropriated Capital Expense funds received by the universities in previous years have been vital to extending the useful life of older buildings throughout the system, and this investment of $75 million would have a transformational and lasting impact on university campuses.

Using the facilities priorities identified by the universities, IHL develops a 4-year bond plan to support the annual bond request, with each plan beginning with the new four-year terms of the state lawmakers. The Legislature funded the first three years of the plan in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The fourth year of the plan seeks to secure funding for important repair and renovation projects to existing campus buildings and to begin planning for future projects. Securing these funds this year will enable the institutions to address pressing facilities needs in a timely manner.

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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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