Want a text only version (good for printing)?  |  View this online: System Review
Volume 1, Issue 2
Friday, October 27, 2006
Edited by Jennifer Rogers

Mississippi's Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning
News from the System University News
yellowarrowAlcorn State University Search Committee Named yellowarrowThe Pride of Mississippi Perform at Lambeau Field
yellowarrowIHL Today Luncheon in Desoto County a Success yellowarrowMSU Dedicates New Residence Hall
yellowarrowCommissioner Speaks about Diversity at MAC Conference yellowarrowNew Book by MSU Professor Takes Readers on Outdoor Adventures
yellowarrowIHL Board Office Holds Campus Clean-Up Day yellowarrowMVSU Professor Develops Calculator to Aid Catfish Farmers
  yellowarrowChemistry, Biology, and Engineering Pique Interests of Students
  yellowarrowFunding Woes May Cause Tobacco Treatment Center to Go Up in Smoke
For more IHL News, click here. To subscribe to this e-newsletter, click here.

Alcorn State University Search Advisory Committee Named
Commissioner Meredith has announced the members of the Alcorn State University (ASU) Search Advisory Committee, a group of 22 individuals who will assist the Board with its search for the next president of Alcorn. Search Advisory Committee members were chosen based on recommendations by university constituencies and reflect key members of the university community as well as the public and private sectors. The Committee, chaired by ASU social sciences department chair and professor, Dr. Alpha Morris, is charged with identifying the most capable and qualified applicants and nominees to be presented to the Board Search Committee for review. Some Search Advisory Committee members will also participate in the final interview process with the Board of Trustees. Read more.

State representatives, university personnel, and business and student leaders attended the IHL Today luncheon sponsored by Mississippi State University.

Commissioner Meredith discussed the importance of higher education at the IHL Today luncheon sponsored by Delta State University.
IHL Today Luncheon in Desoto County a Success
University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat and Alumni Association President Bill Renovich hosted a luncheon for legislators, business and community leaders, and Board members at Bonne Terre Country Inn in Nesbit (Desoto County) on Wednesday, October 25. The luncheon was the seventh of 12 luncheons being held throughout the state to discuss "Partnering for the Future: IHL Today." Commissioner Meredith presented the keynote address, in which he outlined the benefits of higher education to individuals and the state; discussed changes in appropriations and tuition; and provided an overview of the current state of Mississippi’s public university system. The purpose of the luncheons is to promote Mississippi’s system of higher education and encourage government and business leaders to help IHL spread the message of the importance of higher education. Luncheons have been held in Cleveland, Starkville, Oxford, Greenwood, Biloxi, and Meridian. The next luncheon will take place October 31 at the Walter Peyton Recreation and Wellness Center on the Jackson State University campus.
Commissioner Speaks about Diversity at MAC Conference
Commissioner Meredith attended the Mississippi Association of Colleges (MAC) annual conference on Sunday and Monday at Rust College in Holly Springs, where he discussed the importance of embracing diversity in higher education. In an increasingly global world, where people are connected by the Internet and satellite rather than separated by oceans and languages, Mississippi’s institutions of higher learning must meet the needs of a diverse student body and diverse communities. Meredith noted that one of the goals of IHL is to promote ethnic and gender diversity. Females make up about 58 percent of all students enrolled in our public universities and 60.5 percent of all graduates. “It is wonderful that so many women are enrolling in and graduating from college in this state,” said Meredith, “but disparities still exist in certain academic fields, particularly the sciences and engineering.” Likewise, the representation of women in high-level faculty positions does not reflect the great strides made in female enrollment. The tide is turning there as well. The Commissioner expressed great concern that the increased enrollment of women has not been matched by their male counterparts. Commissioner Meredith challenged the audience to continue to encourage the female population on college campuses in ways such that no areas of the academy are perceived as “off-limits;” to promote parity between women and men working in academia; and to find a way to bring young men back to campus.

Mary Jane Covington and Glenda Lester scrub windows on Campus Clean-Up Day.
IHL Board Office Holds Campus Clean-Up Day
Board office employees participated in the first-ever Campus Clean-Up Day on Friday, October 20, 2006. IHL employees along with employees of Mississippi Public Broadcasting and Jackson State University volunteered to undertake such varied tasks as painting, gardening, cleaning windows and doors, and power washing to clean up and beautify their campus. Staff members without specific assignments organized files and cleaned their offices. The campus clean-up was truly a team effort. ATMOS Energy cooked hamburgers for the volunteers for lunch. Members of the Jackson State University marching band provided lunchtime entertainment. The University of Southern Mississippi graciously donated paint for the painting projects. Eley Associates/Architects; Cook Douglas Farr Lemons, Ltd. Architects and Engineers; Atherton Consulting Engineers; and Dale and Associates Architects all contributed money to provide Campus Clean-Up Day t-shirts for volunteers featuring the employee-driven slogan “making it happen together.”


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.

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI NEWS
The Pride of Mississippi Perform at Lambeau Field
"Awesome" was the buzzword of the day for band members and directors from the University of Southern Mississippi who traveled to Green Bay, Wisconsin, Sunday, October 22, to perform for fans attending the Green Bay Packers game against the St. Louis Rams. The 245-member Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, including the renowned Dixie Darlings dance team, was invited by the Green Bay Packers organization for the game. The band is directed by Mr. Jamie Standland and Dr. Reginald Houze. See pictures online.

Robert Kennedy, Jr. Speaks About Environmental Destiny

Flutist Sir James Galway Performed with University Orchestra

Southern Miss Researchers Test Alternative Energy Production

World Wide Association Recognizes Southern Miss’ Support of Katrina Victim Assistance

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
MSU Dedicates New Residence Hall
In ceremonies preceding Mississippi State's October 28 Southeastern Conference football game between the Bulldogs and the Kentucky Wildcats, the university formally opened its newest student housing facility in the Northeast Campus complex. Public dedication ceremonies for the 82,000-square-foot Louis A. Hurst Jr. Residence Hall honored a longtime contributor to MSU's College of Business and Industry. Amenities in the new residence hall include double-occupancy rooms with private bathrooms, individual room heating and air conditioning units, and cable television. Read more.

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY – AFV DIVISION NEWS
New Book by MSU Professor Takes Readers on Outdoor Adventures
A collection of short stories and conservational essays by a veteran Mississippi State fisheries biologist and nationally recognized conservationist is now on bookshelves. "Tracks" reflects on the 20-year professional career—spent largely outdoors—of university professor Donald C. Jackson. The 279-page collection is published by University Press of Mississippi. Jackson is a teacher and researcher in MSU's Forest and Wildlife Research Center, a part of the College of Forest Resources. Read more.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Valley Professor Develops Calculator to Aid Catfish Farmers
Mississippi Valley State University Assistant Professor Rachel Beecham and Phillip Pearson a colleague at the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Pine Bluff have developed a liquid oxygen calculator, known as the LOX Calculator for Fasted Channel Catfish, to assist catfish farmers in computing the amount of oxygen consumed by fish in holding nets and live-haul tanks. "Live haulers can use the LOX Calculator to find out if they carry enough liquid oxygen to keep fish alive if they break down or have to wait at a processing plant," explained Dr. Beecham. Calculated values act as a guide for setting aerator flow rates in the grading nets and haul tanks. The calculator also provides benefit-cost data related to the use of a diffused oxygen aeration system. The calculator was developed from the results of scientific studies of catfish respiration conducted by Dr. Beecham and Mr. Pearson and reported in the "North American Journal of Aquaculture." See picture: Dr. Rachel Beecham and two MVSU students conduct research in a catfish pond on the Itta Bena campus.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI NEWS
Chemistry, Biology and Engineering Pique Interests of Students from Two Delta-Area Schools
More than 185 students from two Delta-area schools, Charleston High School and Quitman County Middle School, got an up-close-and-personal look at four programs of national need Tuesday, October 24, at the University of Mississippi’s annual Science Day. The students were given a tour of the host departments of Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, and witnessed a "magic show" of chemistry and physics demonstrations. "The idea is to turn (the students) on to the sciences and engineering as possible career choices," said Murrell Godfrey, assistant professor and director of forensic chemistry at UM. "These students are bright enough to successfully pursue professions in science, mathematics, engineering and technology fields, but they first have to be made aware of what is available to them in terms of educational opportunities here." Read more.

Innovative Gift from Jim 'N Nick's Benefits Southern Foodways Alliance

New Book Provides Sampling of Gov. William Winter's Writings

Museum's Annual Holiday Collectible Available Featuring Lafayette Courthouse

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER NEWS
Funding Woes May Cause Tobacco Treatment Center to Go Up in Smoke
John Hargrave, a 59-year-old heart patient, has been smoking for years, and the cigarettes are killing him. He has tried unsuccessfully to quit smoking many times. Now, with the help of the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School of Dentistry’s ACT Center for Tobacco Treatment, Education and Research, he hasn’t smoked in about a month. Nevertheless, the center may not be able to help Hargrave much longer. A $2 million annual grant from the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, which helps fund the center’s clinical services, appears to be in jeopardy because of recent court rulings. The award-winning nationally known center has guaranteed funding only through November 30. Read more.


Oct. 28 – USM hosts the formal dedication of the Thad Cochran Center at 2:00 p.m. The senator will be on hand for the event and will attend the ensuing Southern Miss - East Carolina football game at M.M. Roberts Stadium, where he will also be recognized during half-time.

Nov. 4 – MVSU hosts Community College Day and Fall Open House. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. in the W.A. Butts Social Science Building. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions at 662-254-3347.

Nov. 5 – UM presents "Jesus Christ Superstar" in the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Performances begin at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Learn more.

Nov. 6 - Dec. 2 – MSU presents “Six Degrees,” an exhibition of the work of six senior fine arts majors. The works will be featured in the McComas Hall gallery. Learn more.

Nov. 7-9 – MVSU Communication Department presents "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf," a play by Ntozake Shange. Curtains open at 6:30 p.m. each night in the H.G. Carpenter Auditorium. For more information, contact instructor Barbara Baymon at 662.254.3645.

Nov. 13 – MSU hosts New York-based Ailey II, a nationally acclaimed dance troupe, which will present a signature program of works by contemporary choreographers at 7:30 p.m. in historic Lee Hall auditorium as part of the university's 2006-07 Lyceum Series. Learn more.

Look for the next issue November 3 .
FOR FURTHER COMMUNICATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mississippi's Institutions of Higher Learning
Attention: Public Affairs
Jackson, Mississippi 39211-6453
Fax: (601) 432-6891

To comment on the content of the System Review newsletter, please send an email to jrogers@ihl.state.ms.us. For questions regarding your newsletter subscription please send an email to handerson@ihl.state.ms.us.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: You have received this email because you are a subscriber. To unsubscribe from this e-mail newsletter, please send an email to handerson@ihl.state.ms.us or click the link below.