I just spotted a little item in the on-line Sun-Herald announcing that USM is now offering an MBA at their "Gautier campus". This was announced by William Smith, director of graduate programs in the CBED. Speaking of the new program, USM President Shelby Thames is quoted as saying "You told us what you need, and we're glad to deliver."
I didn't know that USM had a "Gautier campus." Where is it specifically? Is it called USM at Gautier? Are there other campuses, in addition to Hattiesburg, Gulf Coast, and Gautier?
The comment from Thames is interesting. It's clear that you've all been using the wrong approach. All you need do is tell the Prez what you need, and it's yours. He's "glad to deliver".
quote: Originally posted by: stinky cheese man "USM teaches classes at various sites across the gulf coast--stennis, jackson county, etc."
Thanks. I am aware of the USM course offerings at various off-campus sites. Perhaps it was nothing more than a poor choice of words by the reporter, but I was surprised at the reference to a "Gautier campus." That term implies something more than the teaching of courses, like a physical plant, to me at least.
quote: Originally posted by: Austin Eagle "Are there other campuses, in addition to Hattiesburg, Gulf Coast, and Gautier?"
Eagle with spurs, you must not have heard. The motto "Anyplace, anytime, anybody, anywhere, anything" has been abandoned. It was far too restrictive and billboards that bigt cost too much. The motto "The world is our oyster" is cheaper on billboards and sums up what we do in only five words.
quote: Originally posted by: expanded cabinet "Eagle with spurs"
Expanded cabinet's use of "Eagle with Spurs" is right up there with Googler's "Spin Mistress" for this week's "Shoulda been Nom de Plumes in order to win 'Nom d'Aplomb' awards". The embedded but not used names category is becoming increasingly popular with this judge, no matter what Invictus and Miss I say.
The University Profile on the USM website describes USM composed of two campuses and five teaching and research sites.
"With two campuses and five teaching and research sites across south Mississippi as well as France, Mexico, England, and Spain, The University of Southern Mississippi serves the state, the Southeastern U.S. region, and the nation through its strong, varied undergraduate programs built upon a sound general education curriculum; through its master’s and doctoral programs in the sciences, education, psychology, economic development, the humanities, business, health, engineering technologies, and the arts; and through its faculty’s innovative research achievements."
I did note that when TH left the provost position there was a mention that he was in charge of 9 campuses. Perhaps the powers that be at USM don't have a clear idea of their organization when they mouth off to the HA.
The Gautier and all the expansion in business is purely a money-making scheme. There really isn't faculty to cover them, and it is a growing problem for the business folks, who spend half their time on the road, and who barely get gas money these days. Just another reason to get the hell out of Dodge. I don't think Doty is behind the programs, it's all from Ken Malone. I do believe that this year's MBA class is very small at Hattiesburg...the degree for full-time students is becoming worthless and very much cheapended in my opinion by this expansion. I also think that the undergrad programs will begin to suffer in business as faculty get thinned out and are never in Hattiesburg at the office. CBED is not a happy place, as you've probably been reading.
This thread seems to tie in quite well with all of the discussion about the rankings drop on other threads. Pursuing a quantity versus quality strategy has repercussions.
What to do?
Try your best to instill some reason and quality in the powers that be...
Failing that, do your best with what you have for who you have and contain the damage as much as possible...
When you can do no more, well, what's left? Wait it out or leave. Isn't that what people have been saying for six months? eighteen months? 30 months? Some took exception to the dichotomous choice but what is the other option? Shelby says the third option is the easy one. Get with the program. Unfortunately, it is the "program" that is destroying both what was and could have been.
Originally posted by: Anon "The University Profile on the USM website . . "With two campuses and five teaching and research sites across south Mississippi as well as France, Mexico, England, and Spain, The University of Southern Mississippi serves the state, the Southeastern U.S. region, and the nation."
That is an outrageously grandiose level of aspiration for a university that doesn't really have sufficient resources to support even the one campus.