IHL March 2007 meeting highlights

http://www.ihl.state.ms.us/ADMIN/downloads/BdMarch07.pdf

Dr. Bettye Henderson Neely and Ms. Amy Whitten were absent. (p.1)

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5. USM - Approved the request to purchase equipment for the Forensic Science Program in the amount
of $341,008.10 from Perkin Elmer.  Grant funds are available from the U.S. Department of Justice. (p. 5)

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6. USM - Approved the request to initiate IHL 208-267, Residence Hall Space, Hattiesburg Campus
and to proceed with the selection of a project professional.  The project will construct an 850 to 900 bed
residence hall.  Funding is available from university sources for preplanning.  Funding for the entire
project will be determined during the planning process.

7. USM - Approved the request to initiate IHL 210-236, Wet Laboratory, Cedar Point, Gulf Coast
Research Lab and to appoint Allred-McNabb Architects of Pascagoula, MS as the architects.  This
project will expand the research facilities at Cedar Point.  Funding is available through the Katrina
Foreign Contributions Award, with a twenty-four month completion date, in the amount of $2,442,775. ...

9. USM - Approved a resolution to sell Educational Building Corporation revenue bonds and the
subsequent lease documents and other financing documents to complete the bond issuance. The
university's Educational Building Corporation was previously approved to issue up to $29,000,000 in
revenue bonds to finance the construction and expansion of the M. M. Roberts Football Stadium and
to expand the Pete Taylor baseball park.   (p. 6)

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7. USM - Approved the request to enter into an agreement with the City of Hattiesburg, the City of Petal,
the Board of Supervisors of Forrest County, the Board of Supervisors of Lamar County and the Forrest
General Hospital Police Department creating the Metro Area Crime Scene Unit to be housed on the
university's campus.  A copy of the agreement which has been reviewed and approved by the Attorney
General's Office is included in the March 14, 2007 Board Working File.  

8. System Administration (Information item.) - Payment of legal fees to outside counsel, as follows:
a. In relation to litigation and other matters:
Payment of legal fees for professional services rendered by Adams & Reese (Statement dated
1/10/07) from the funds of the University of Southern Mississippi.  (This statement represents
services and expenses in connection with the Servedio case.)
TOTAL DUE.......................................................$ 165.40

Payment of legal fees for professional services rendered by Bryant, Dukes & Blakeslee
(Statements dated 1/24/07) from the funds of the University of Southern Mississippi.  (These
statements, in the amounts of $1,415.88, $1,378.92 and $2,814.51, represent services and
expenses in connection with the Mollaghan, O'Connor and Vincent cases, respectively.)
TOTAL DUE..................................................... $ 5,609.31 ...

Payment of legal fees for professional services rendered by David S. Raines (Statement dated
11/1/06) from the funds of the University of Southern Mississippi.  (This statement represents
services and expenses in connection with deed work.)
TOTAL DUE..................................................... $ 1,612.00  (pp. 8-10)

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1. System Administration - Approved the request for the four comprehensive universities Jackson
State University, Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi and the University of
Southern Mississippi - to enter into an agreement with the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative (LONI).
The agreement will allow the universities to connect to the commodity Internet via LONI which has a
point-of-presence in Jackson, MS.  The agreement will begin July 1, 2007.  Supplemental documentation
is included in the March 14, 2007 Board Working File.   (p. 11)

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Commissioner's Report...


The searches for President at Alcorn State and Southern Miss continue to progress on schedule.  ... (p. 12)


The University of Southern Mississippi's Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special
Education has been rated 10th in America by measure of scholarly output of its faculty members.
The results of the study, conducted by Academic Analytics', were highlighted in the January 12th
edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education.  Southern Miss is also proud to announce the
opening of its new Math Zone, a computer-based learning system designed to improve
performance in introductory math classes. (p. 14)

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Ms. Newton commended Dr. Shelby Thames, President of the University of Southern Mississippi, and
the university's nursing program.  In February, twenty-nine senior nursing students did a fine job of
conducting a health fair at her daughter's school.  Ms. Newton then thanked Dr. Faye Mitchell,
Coordinator of the School of Nursing, for their extraordinary efforts.  (p. 15)

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On motion by Dr. Magee, with Dr. Neely and Ms. Whitten absent and not voting, the Board voted to close the
meeting to determine whether or not it should declare an Executive Session.  On motion by Dr. Magee,
seconded by Dr. Davidson, with Dr. Neely and Ms. Whitten absent and not voting, the Board voted to go into
Executive Session for the reasons later reported by the President in Open Session and stated in these minutes,
as follows:
Discussion of two litigation matters at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Discussion of a personnel matter at Mississippi Valley State University.
Discussion of a personnel matter at Delta State University.
Discussion of a personnel matter at Jackson State University.
Discussion of a personnel matter at University of Southern Mississippi. ...

The Board discussed personnel matters at Mississippi Valley State University, The University of
Southern Mississippi, Jackson State University and Delta State University.  No action was taken.   (pp. 15-16)

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University of Southern Mississippi

The Board staff approved the Design Development Documents prepared by Andrews-Ford
Engineering Services Paving Repairs and Maintenance for GS 108-245, Campus Paving Repairs,
and requested approval by the Bureau of Building, Grounds and Real Property Management.  The
project budget is approximately $600,000.  Funds are available from SB 2010, Laws of 2004.
 
The Board staff approved the award of a contract to Harrell Contractors of Jackson, MS the lowest
of six bidders, in the amount of $28,643,000.  Funds are available from university sources and
proceeds from an S.M. Educational Building Corporation Bond as follows: EBC Bond -
$21,250,000, USM Athletic Foundation donation -  $9,000,000, Private Donations (through
February 2007) -  $1,445,000 and Facility Fees -  $450,000, for a total project budget of
$32,145,000.  (p. 20)