Dr. Marianne Hill (third from right) poses with members of the social science faculty at Glasgow Caledonian University, including Dr. Ailsa McKay (third from left), who organized the seminar series. Senior Economist Distinguished External Speaker in Scotland Dr. Marianne Hill, a senior economist in the Economics Department of the IHL Office of Research and Planning, recently returned from Glasgow, Scotland, where she spoke as the distinguished external speaker at the spring lecture series of the Division of Public Policy at Glasgow Caledonian University. In her discussion of "Human Development vs. Economic Development: Balancing Multiple Goals," Dr. Hill explored the theory behind the social choice process by which a society, guided by a number of values such as equity, efficiency, and sustainability, among others, sets goals related to incomes, health, education, and other variables. Differing perspectives exist on what the guiding values mean, and on which goals should take priority. Dr. Hill discussed how developing the different major standpoints and strengthening the debate surrounding the social choice process will have significant impact on the consensus regarding social goals and how those goals are pursued. In attendance at the seminar and discussion were faculty, students, and leaders of nonprofit organizations. While in Scotland, Dr. Hill also had the pleasure of visiting with her daughter, who is studying at the University of Dundee for the semester.  For more information, contact Dr. Marianne Hill at (601) 432-6376. Executive Office Cabinet Attends Working Retreat Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith and members of the IHL Executive Office Cabinet attended a working retreat at Plymouth Bluff Center in Columbus, Mississippi, on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning. The retreat was an opportunity for the Cabinet members to get away from the office environment and come together to discuss the big-picture issues facing Mississippi's public university system. The group discussed major ongoing initiatives, upcoming projects, ways to promote synergy among the various departments, and how best to meet the goals set by the IHL Board of Trustees. The Cabinet members who participated in the retreat are assistant commissioners Frank Alley (Real Estate and Facilities), Dr. Lynn House (Academic and Student Affairs), Dr. Linda McFall (Finance and Administration), Dr. Phil Pepper (Research and Planning), and Dr. Reginald Sykes (Community and Junior College Relations); directors Robert Bass (Gulf Coast Operations) and Brent Ballard (Internal Audit); and assistant attorney general Van Gillespie. Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning Board to Hold Regular April Meeting Next Wednesday The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) will hold its regular monthly meeting next Wednesday, April 18, in the IHL Board Room in the Universities' Center, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS, 39211. The full Board will convene at 8:30 a.m., and will then conduct business as a committee of the whole. Various Board committees, including Educational Policies and Programs; Budget, Finance, and Audit; Real Estate and Facilities; Legal; Governance; and Strategic Planning, will meet as part of the Board meeting. Among other matters, the Board will consider a report and recommendation from Broaddus and Associates for acquiring property for the location of an additional campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. The Board meeting will be available for viewing in real-time via live webcast on the IHL website.  An Executive Session may be held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

Items included in the “University News” section of the System Review are submitted each week by the universities. The news items are listed in rotating alphabetical order by university.

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
AP Executive Robert Naylor Jr. to Headline JSU Mass Communications Day
How will media organizations operate in the future and what skills will tomorrow's journalists need to become effective leaders? These questions will be explored in the keynote address to be given by Robert Naylor, Jr., director of career development, Global News Division, The Associated Press, at the Annual Mass Communications Day celebration. The event will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 18, in the Blackburn Language Arts Building Lecture Room at Jackson State University (JSU). Naylor is a Mississippi native and a 1978 graduate of the JSU Department of Mass Communications. His primary responsibilities include management training and leadership development for editors at the world's largest newsgathering organization. This year he is adding international crisis management to his portfolio of responsibilities. In addition to his work as part of a team of AP political reporters who were finalists for a 1993 Pulitzer Prize, Naylor has served as Chief of Bureau for Mississippi and as Chief of Bureau for Upstate New York where he was responsible for news, marketing, and business operations before assuming his current position. "We are looking forward to an expanded event that will provide our students with the opportunity to hone the specific skills they will need to develop successful careers," said Olorundare Aworuwa, acting chair of the mass communications department. Learn more.

JSU to Celebrate Cultural Diversity during International Week

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
MSU Announces Faculty Winners of NSF CAREER Honors
Three Mississippi State University (MSU) faculty members are being honored with distinguished National Science Foundation (NSF) awards. Assistant professors Alicia M. Beatty of the university's chemistry department, Adrienne Minerick of chemical engineering, and Keith Walters of mechanical engineering recently were selected for 2007 Faculty Early Career Development Program awards. Also known as NSF CAREER Awards, they are considered by many in academia to be the most prestigious recognition for young faculty members. In 2006, only 413 awards were granted from nearly 2,600 submissions. Kirk H. Schulz, interim vice president of research and economic development, said having multiple members earn the highly competitive awards exemplifies the quality of MSU's faculty. "This represents the first time that MSU has received three CAREER awards in one year," Schulz said. "It is a testament to the outstanding quality of young faculty who are teaching and working with our students." Each honoree receives a project award spread over five years. The minimum amount is $400,000, while the average is about $500,000, said Elizabeth VanderPutten, program director for the NSF's division of research, evaluation, and communication. All proposals are reviewed on the basis of intellectual merit and broader impacts. The program also requires the selected scientists to include education and research components in their proposals. Learn more.

MSU Continues 'Best Value' Listing by Kiplinger's Magazine

Rush Named Preferred MSU Candidate for Development, Alum VP

MSU Invites Asian Exec to Explain Auto Management Styles

Canadian Brass to Complete MSU's 2006-07 Lyceum Series

MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN NEWS
Grant Will Improve Nature Trails at Plymouth Bluff Center
The experience of walking on nature trails at the Plymouth Bluff Center will soon be enhanced thanks to a grant funded by the Federal Highway Commission through the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. Mississippi University for Women (MUW) recently received notice of the approval of an application for a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant of $75,000 in reimbursable funds. The grant will require some matching funds from MUW. According to Dr. Harry Sherman, coordinator of public programs at the Plymouth Bluff Center, the total length of the trail system is 3.33 miles, including 2.45 miles of native trails and 0.88 miles with asphalt surface. The funds provided by the RTP grant will be used to add a crushed limestone surface to some of the native trails, to construct new footbridges or boardwalks over drainage areas, to widen or lengthen some existing footbridges, and to replace a number of deteriorated crossties in the steps that lead down to the floodplain along the river. Trails at Plymouth Bluff are designed for short hikes and provide access to some of the best scenery in Lowndes County, Sherman said, adding they also represent an outdoor classroom for school groups as well as the general public.  Learn more .

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Mississippi Valley State University Online
www.mvsu.edu

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI NEWS
UM to Concentrate on Education, Enforcement to Fight Alcohol Problem
The University of Mississippi (UM) is implementing a comprehensive plan to combat illegal and abusive use of alcohol that includes an intensive education program, cooperation with local governments, better enforcement, and revised rules governing campus behavior. Many of the recommendations of the Alcohol Task Force, which presented its report in January, are incorporated into the plan. "We want to teach our students to make healthy, smart choices," Chancellor Robert Khayat said. "Rules alone cannot change the culture of alcohol that is common to campuses across the country. But by educating our students about alcohol and reinforcing these efforts through realistic, enforceable rules with clear consequences, we believe we can effectively address this societal problem. This approach, along with aggressive enforcement, will help us to ensure a safe, pleasant environment for all our students, faculty, staff, and visitors." The educational component includes several new initiatives. UM is to increase resources for alcohol education and coordinate those efforts through its new Office of Health Promotion. All students will be required to complete an online alcohol education program, and the university will conduct periodic health assessments to monitor alcohol- and other health-related behaviors among the student population. Any student violating a campus alcohol policy will be required to receive alcohol counseling. Learn more.

Honors College Junior Studying in Buenos Aires on Prestigious IES Scholarship

UM Hosts Symposium for Educators to be Impacted by New Toyota Plant

Engineering Center Awarded National $350,000 Contract for Airport Research Program

Court of Appeals to Hold Session at Lamar Law Center

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER NEWS
University of Mississippi Medical Center Online
www.umc.edu

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI NEWS
Southern Miss Student Awarded National Scholarship
Rene Jackson, a Canton, Mississippi, native, has taken the male-dominated field of industrial engineering technology by storm. As proof of her academic success, the junior at The University of Southern Mississippi has received the General Electric Lord Trotter African American Forum Scholarship through the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). As one of only 16 recipients, Jackson is the first student from Southern Miss to win the prestigious national award from NSBE. Jackson is modest about the $2,500 scholarship and the recognition that accompanies it. "NSBE has provided me with great networking opportunities. It really encouraged me to branch out and try something new," said Jackson. NSBE national scholarship recipients were honored at the 2007 Golden Torch Awards banquet during the NSBE annual convention in Columbus, Ohio, in March. The conference provided Jackson a tremendous amount of networking opportunities to connect with professionals in the engineering field. After graduation, Jackson plans to find a job using her degree, hopefully working for a major car company and eventually pursuing a graduate degree. Learn more.

Southern Miss Ed Leadership Offers New Training for School Administrators

Groundbreaking for M.M. Roberts Stadium Expansion Set for April 14

Students Sell Fashion for a Cause

Southern Miss Fraternity Reaches Fund-raising Milestone

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Alcorn State University Honors Program Hosts 55th Biannual Honors Day
Alcorn State University hosted the 55th Biannual Honors Day Convocation on Tuesday, April 10, in the James L. Bolden Campus Ballroom. This event was held for the students that received a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the Fall 2006 semester. The Honors Day Program was directed by Dr. Lillie Jones, director of the Honors Program Office. This event is held biannually, honoring students at Alcorn State University for their hard work and great accomplishments. The guest speaker for the program was Mrs. Maggie Wade Dixon, co-anchor for the WLBT TV 3 News. Learn more.

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Delta State Seeks Aspiring Artists, $20,000 in Scholarships Available
The Delta State University art department will host its annual Spring Portfolio Day, Friday, April 20, at 9:30 a.m. in the Wright Art Center Gallery on campus. Held annually each spring semester, Portfolio Day is an effort to determine those students that will be awarded art scholarships for the coming year, while also giving high school students interested in art the opportunity to present their artwork for college scholarship consideration and review. Over $20,000 in one- to four-year scholarships are available on Portfolio Day to incoming freshman. These scholarships range from $1,000 to $4,000 and may be in addition to the University awards based on academic achievement. Learn more.

Delta State Walks Green Mile to Celebrate Health & Wellness Theme

Country Superstar Kathy Mattea to Visit Delta State Campus

Delta State Crawfish Boil Set, All Invited

Nine Former Statesmen and Lady Statesmen Set to be Enshrined in DSU Sports and Coaches Halls of Fame

Apr. 10 - June 18 - The Charles W. Capps Archives & Museum on Delta State University's campus is currently featuring "Delta State's School of Nursing: Past, Present & Future," as its main exhibit. For more information, please call (662) 846-4780.

Apr. 13 - Mississippi Supreme Court Presiding Justice Kay Beevers Cobb is the featured speaker during the Journal of Space Law reunion at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Cobb's 10 a.m. public address is hosted by the law school's National Center for Remote Sensing, Air, and Space Law. Learn more.

Apr. 14 - Jackson State University's (JSU) Army ROTC will host the "Annual Spring Banquet" at 6 p.m. in the Jacob Reddix Campus Union. The guest speaker will be Brig. Gen. Reuben Jones, a member of JSU's Class of 1978. Jones is the third JSU graduate to attain the rank of general. Tickets are $30. Learn more.

Apr. 14 - Mississippi State University's World Neighbors Association presents the 2007 International Fiesta at The Junction. The event includes a parade of flags, entertainment, and food from around the world, as well as children's games. For more information, contact Deborah Harris at (662) 325-4008. Learn more.

Apr. 14 - The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Athletics will host the groundbreaking ceremony for the M. M. Roberts Stadium South End Zone Complex at 11 a.m. at the south end zone of Carlisle-Faulkner Field. The public is invited. Learn more.

Apr. 16 - 20 - Delta State University will celebrate "National Library Week" with a series of activities to be hosted at the Roberts-Laforge Library on campus. For more information, please call (662) 846-4431. Learn more.

Apr. 17 - Mississippi State University presents the Graduate Student Association Awards Banquet at the Leo Seal M-Club. Graduate research, service, and teaching assistants and winners of the 2007 GSA Research Symposium will be honored at the banquet. For more information, contact Julie Goodin at (662) 325-1622. Learn more.

Apr. 19 - Mississippi State University's Institute for the Humanities presents writer Stanley Plumly of the University of Maryland reading his poetry in Griffis Hall at 7 p.m. For more information contact the College of Arts and Sciences at (662) 325-2646. Learn more.

Apr. 19 - Author Rachel Hadas, the Board of Governors Professor of English at Rutgers University, speaks at 7 p.m. in Holman Hall, Room 30, at the University of Mississippi as part of the Grisham Visiting Writers Series. The lecture is free and open to the public. Learn more.

Apr. 20 - Jackson State University's Department of Music will present "Jazz on the Plaza," a free outdoor concert at 6:30 p.m.  The three-hour event on the Gibbs-Green Plaza will include performances from the Department of Music's Jazz Ensemble I, Jazz Ensemble II, and Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Learn more.

Apr. 20 - 21 - Teams of walkers from across north Mississippi raise money for the American Cancer Society at the University of Mississippi's annual Relay for Life. To enter a team or contribute to the event, contact Jeremy Roberts  at (601) 622-1063.  Learn more.