HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation issues - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Oct 7, 2004

HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation issues

Date: Oct 7, 2004

Money quote from SFT: "Because economic development is a new field, there are not a lot of PhDs in the field," Thames said. "We want to keep the program going and not impair the accreditation."

And then futher down: Several economics professors at Southern Miss hold degrees in economic development but aren't interested in all aspects of the discipline, Klinedinst said. (this is Mark Klinedinst, chair of the economics, finance and international business department).

HUH??? How did these renegade economics professors get those PhDs in economic development if this is such a "new" field? Time travel??? SFT, does your definition of "new" include economic development programs that have been around for over fifty years? (as in the case of Vanderbilt's economic development program and other such programs around the country). I suppose if SFT hasn't seen it, it quite simply doesn't exist. How wurl'-class of him!

SFT's brain just keeps getting softer and softer...

Date: Oct 7, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/news/stories/20041007/localnews/1374806.html"

The Pine Belt Airport Authority is going to love this sentence from the story:

"Because the students need access to air service, the PhD program moved to the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach this fall."

Date: Oct 7, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Shuffle Off to Buffalo
" The Pine Belt Airport Authority is going to love this sentence from the story: "Because the students need access to air service, the PhD program moved to the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach this fall.""

The more appropriate translation is:

"Because the move got us out from underneath the watchful eye of the real economists and their d... faculty votes in Hattiesburg to where the Kenbot could protect us on the coast."

And that's the rest of the story.

Date: Oct 7, 2004

RE: HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation is

Date: Oct 7, 2004

RE: HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation issues

Date: Oct 7, 2004

RE: HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation is

Date: Oct 7, 2004

RE: HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation issues

Date: Oct 7, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"hey--it's 5:00 somewhere!"

Mr. (Dr.) Cheese Man,

Thanks for reminding me. I'm thinking a few martinis should do the trick, stirred, not shaken. Starting now.....

AE, aka 007

Date: Oct 7, 2004

RE: RE: HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation is

Date: Oct 7, 2004

RE: RE: HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditatio

Date: Oct 7, 2004

RE: RE: HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation is

Date: Oct 7, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Polyonymous
"Austin Eagle - are you in town for this game?"

Sadly, I am not. I'll be watching on ESPN2. If you should hear cheers emanating from Austin's direction, that'll probably be me. I'm hoping to be in the Burg for either the 10/23 East Carolina or 11/6 Cincinnati game, which sandwich my birthday. When plans are in place I'll attempt to orchestrate a rendezvous for libations and exchange of USM intelligence, under cover of course, with whomever can be lured out (from the message board). In fact, I'll get my Risk Manager working on that project right away.

AE

Date: Dec 27, 2004

RE: HA:SFT asks for CBED split re:accreditation issues

Date: Dec 27, 2004

The Student Printz article of October 12 (the one where Mader says Economic Development can be moved back to the College of Business at any time) can be seen at

http://www.usm.edu/printz/archives/10_12_2004/

Robert Campbell

Date: Dec 27, 2004

Here's the HA story from Oct. 7, 2004. The subtitle must be a formatting glitch.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Changes sought in economic development
Mini-van crashes into Wal-Mart

By Janet Braswell
American Senior Writer jbraswell@hattiesb.gannett.com

The University of Southern Mississippi will ask the state College Board to approve splitting its economic development department and dropping "economic development" from the College of Business and Economic Development.

Southern Miss President Shelby Thames wants to shift the department's degree programs so that the College of Business and Economic Development can maintain its accreditation through the American Association of Schools of Business, he said during Wednesday's meeting of the President's Council.

"Because economic development is a new field, there are not a lot of PhDs in the field," Thames said. "We want to keep the program going and not impair the accreditation."

The doctoral program in international development will move to the political science department in the College of Arts and Letters. The master's degree programs will move to the College of Science and Technology.

"At this time, there is not an active bachelor's program," said Harold Doty, dean of the College of Business and Economic Development. "My concern was that as currently structured and managed the program did pose a serious accreditation problem for the business school. Our accrediting body accredits the overall business school."

The economic development department was moved to the business college in July 2003 as part of Thames' academic reorganization. He combined nine degree-granting colleges into five.

"We were hoping in the College of Business to actually improve the program and keep the program in the College of Business but I think some people didn't think that was a good idea," said Mark Klinedinst, chair of the economics, finance and international business department. "There is actually quite a lot of expertise in the College of Business that would have been of use to people trying to do economic development. It's the natural place."

Several economics professors at Southern Miss hold degrees in economic development but aren't interested in all aspects of the discipline, Klinedinst said.

Nine students have received doctoral degrees from the international development program since it was started five years ago, said David Butler, program director. He said 65 students have been accepted or enrolled for the spring semester.

"All of our students are working professionals," Butler said. "They come from all over America." Because the students need access to air service, the PhD program moved to the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach this fall.

The doctoral program is inter-disciplinary with a heavy concentration in the social sciences and fits well with political science, Butler said.

Approximately 45 students are enrolled in the master's degree program in workforce training and economic development, which will move to the College of Science and Technology, chair Ken Malone said.

"The whole focus of workforce training is the high tech workforce of tomorrow so it's a perfect fit," Malone said. "Economic development originated in geography. Geography is back in science and technology. There's a strong component of land use in economic development, so there's a strong fit there."

The business college's accreditation review is expected to take place in the spring of 2007, Doty said. Although accreditation has been reviewed every 10 years, the association recently switched to a five-year cycle, he said.

Originally published Thursday, October 7, 2004

Date: Dec 28, 2004

info,

Many thanks!

The contract between Thames' assertions and Kleindinst's comments is most interesting...

Robert Campbell

Date: Dec 28, 2004

There's another interesting Thames quote but I don't have a copy of it and have never seen it (have only heard about it as it did not appear in an on-line version of the Clarion Ledger). Evidently, right after the IHL board meeting when ED was moved, Shelby was quoted as saying something along the lines of "there is no one qualified to teach economic development in the business school". This was AFTER he purportedly got an a$$ chewing behind closed doors for reorganizing the reorganization. Economists, give up the quote, I know you have it!

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: info
" Nine students have received doctoral degrees from the international development program since it was started five years ago, said David Butler, program director. Originally published Thursday, October 7, 2004"

And at least three have been hired back...

Date: Dec 28, 2004

Besides Judson Edwards, who are they?

Robert Campbell

Date: Dec 28, 2004

Well, that's hard to say b/c there is no oversight or control of economic development (except as what runs through the Kenbot and rubber stamped from above as necessary). I think they are in workforce development - don't know the names. Yesterday, you asked a question about confirmation of a single faculty member overseeing 50 or 60 dissertations. You would have to be privy to the boasting - don't know how else to confirm. Written plans for that department or those programs? If there are any, they are top secret. Also remember, that it is not necessary for these dissertation advisors to be traditional faculty members...after the extensive questioning Hadden's credential have received, my guess is that the rest are not as transparent...adjunct consultant advisors, Phoenix style? Don't forget that this economic development thing is much bigger than the academic problems. Strange Bedfellows! I commend you for trying to get your arms around it but it's awfully big and slimy!

Date: Dec 28, 2004

I see that some online universities are offering "incentives" such as a free class ring to go along with their diploma? Does your school offer any such perks? I'd like to have a ring to flash around in front of my friends and relatives, or to wear on the airplane so that the stewardess will see it as she leans over to serve my coffee.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Perk Jerk
"I see that some online universities are offering "incentives" such as a free class ring to go along with their diploma? Does your school offer any such perks? I'd like to have a ring to flash around in front of my friends and relatives, or to wear on the airplane so that the stewardess will see it as she leans over to serve my coffee."

How about a genuine 100% Mississippi cotton Golden Revelry Tee-Shirt with Ph.D. emblazoned on the front and an actual likeness of your USM diploma silk screened on the back? We can now offer these shirts at no extra cost to all Economic Development doctoral program graduates in S,M, L, and XL. I can assure you that these shirts will stand out in a crowd and guarantee you special attention from flight attendants and fellow passengers.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

33 1/3%,

The October 7 article contains a boast by Malone about pumping up enrollment in the Masters program to 45 and a coordinated boast by Butler about pumping up enrollment in the doctoral program to 65. (The doctoral program produced a total of 9 International Development PhD's between 1998 and 2003...)

Currently Economic Development has 5 faculty that we know of (assuming we can safely rule out Cecil Burge...) and I still wonder whether Hadden actually teaches anything or supervises any theses or dissertations. I would be very surprised if Malone plays any instructional role at all.

So either they're going to hire a bunch of more faculty--or each faculty member in the program will be responsible for, what, 9 Masters students and 13 doctoral students? (And that's assuming Malone and Hadden are responsible for any...)

Robert Campbell

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"33 1/3%, The October 7 article contains a boast by Malone about pumping up enrollment in the Masters program to 45 and a coordinated boast by Butler about pumping up enrollment in the doctoral program to 65. (The doctoral program produced a total of 9 International Development PhD's between 1998 and 2003...) Currently Economic Development has 5 faculty that we know of (assuming we can safely rule out Cecil Burge...) and I still wonder whether Hadden actually teaches anything or supervises any theses or dissertations. I would be very surprised if Malone plays any instructional role at all. So either they're going to hire a bunch of more faculty--or each faculty member in the program will be responsible for, what, 9 Masters students and 13 doctoral students? (And that's assuming Malone and Hadden are responsible for any...) Robert Campbell"

Robert-do you mean Richard Hadden? He is an MD. He may have a Ph.D. (from a combined MD/PhD program), but I doubt it.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"The October 7 article contains a boast by Malone about pumping up enrollment in the Masters program to 45 and a coordinated boast by Butler about pumping up enrollment in the doctoral program to 65."

Any accreditation site visit team in my discipline would not leave Hattiesburg as happy campers if graduate enrollment escalated beyond an appropriate student:faculty ratio. We'd be dead in the water.

Date: Dec 28, 2004

Minus dissertation,

Hadden's online vita mentions no PhD.

Robert Campbell

Date: Dec 29, 2004

Hadden does not have a PhD and has never completed a dissertation. I know that the Dean of the business school refused to approve Hadden for gradaute faculty status. I can only hope that the graduate council refused to approve gradaute status for this individual if his paperwork was submitted from COST

Date: Dec 29, 2004

Does anyone know whether CoST has tried to put Hadden on its Graduate Faculty?

And if so, whether the Graduate Council responded appropriately?

Robert Campbell

Date: Dec 29, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"33 1/3%, The October 7 article contains a boast by Malone about pumping up enrollment in the Masters program to 45 and a coordinated boast by Butler about pumping up enrollment in the doctoral program to 65. (The doctoral program produced a total of 9 International Development PhD's between 1998 and 2003...) Currently Economic Development has 5 faculty that we know of (assuming we can safely rule out Cecil Burge...) and I still wonder whether Hadden actually teaches anything or supervises any theses or dissertations. I would be very surprised if Malone plays any instructional role at all. So either they're going to hire a bunch of more faculty--or each faculty member in the program will be responsible for, what, 9 Masters students and 13 doctoral students? (And that's assuming Malone and Hadden are responsible for any...) Robert Campbell"

Robert, Malone actually does play an instructional role in the program. He teaches a finance course. Also, don't forget that with the merger with COAL, all sorts of additional faculty will be brought into that program, such as Denise von Hermann and Tom Lansford, both from political science (although I think von Herrmann will be teaching economics courses in the program).