HA: USM knew for 2 years - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Dec 9, 2004

HA: USM knew for 2 years

Date: Dec 9, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Advocate
"http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage USM knew for 2 years and cost could be $500,000"

Benign neglect?

Date: Dec 9, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Advocate
"http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
USM knew for 2 years and cost could be $500,000"

Shelby's in a real bind right now. He'll want to blame others, including SACS, but SACS won't stand for it. SACS has to protect the integrity of the accreditation process, and will defend itself when Shelby slams them in the press or minimizes the significance of probation. Shelby tells the press "I didn't know" and someone at SACS tells a reporter that USM has known for two years.

SACS has the fiddle, and USM has to dance to their tune. If Shelby makes trouble by passing the buck and complaining about the process to cover his ass (as his PR indicates), the exit of the administration will become part of the price of leaving probation. I recall that Auburn pretty much has to clean house in administration to get out of probation.

The stern respones from the IHL commissioner and even the knuckle-walking Klumb bode ill for SHT and his cabal. Probation makes IHL look bad.

Date: Dec 9, 2004

Didn't the post about a July PUC meeting quote David Johnson as saying "we're in trouble" or words to that effect? David Johnson knew and SFT didn't?

Date: Dec 9, 2004

Half a million here, half a million there, pretty soon it adds up to real money.

Date: Dec 9, 2004

Risk of losing accreditation, $500k for cleaning up this mess, Not knowing what is going on during your watch...

Do I need to say it?

Date: Dec 9, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Chicken Soup Lady
"Didn't the post about a July PUC meeting quote David Johnson as saying "we're in trouble" or words to that effect? David Johnson knew and SFT didn't?"

Your interpretation is not correct Chicken Soup Lady. The concern was USM was behind in getting ready for the NEXT SACS Review in 2006. All next year the work has to be done before the SACS visit. Joan Exline presented the PUC with the organization timetable in preparation for the UP COMING review. There was no mention of USM being in trouble for not complying with the 1995 review. My personal opinion is that the people who may have known were displaced during reorganization and the aftermath and the knowledge was lost. But this is only a guess.

The point I’m making is people thought USM wasn’t doing enough for the NEXT accreditation review. At no time was it suggested we were in trouble over the 1995 SACS review. That is what I find so scary. No telling what is going down that the faculty have no knowledge about.

Date: Dec 9, 2004

Thanks for the correction, Reporter.

Date: Dec 9, 2004

the 1995 SACS review said we should be doing certain specific things. In addition, by 1995 it was clear that the process was continuous--unlike the past where the university got geared up about 3 years before the site visit--it now had to be done year after year. Didn't happen after 1995.

I know someone who was in a cabinet meeting in 2000 where it was pointed out we were in trouble with SACS then. Note the date--2000. The midyear point in our reporting to SACS. They don't ask for the information and reports right at the end.

Date: Dec 9, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: qwerty
" Shelby's in a real bind right now. He'll want to blame others, including SACS, but SACS won't stand for it. SACS has to protect the integrity of the accreditation process, and will defend itself when Shelby slams them in the press or minimizes the significance of probation. Shelby tells the press "I didn't know" and someone at SACS tells a reporter that USM has known for two years. SACS has the fiddle, and USM has to dance to their tune. If Shelby makes trouble by passing the buck and complaining about the process to cover his ass (as his PR indicates), the exit of the administration will become part of the price of leaving probation. I recall that Auburn pretty much has to clean house in administration to get out of probation. The stern respones from the IHL commissioner and even the knuckle-walking Klumb bode ill for SHT and his cabal. Probation makes IHL look bad. "

qwerty,

I'm not sure how much the IHL Board cares about probation for USM. Some Board members may take deaccreditation of an institution they despise as a badge of honor, the way Governor Bilbo once did.

But if Thames criticizes SACS in public, SACS will become a force in demanding that his entire upper administration be swept out.

Since Thames never accepts blame for anything, this is a fairly likely outcome.

Robert Campbell

Date: Dec 9, 2004

robert--you are dead wrong about SACS taking a role in sweeping out an administration. they won't interfere. as i've said on other threads i have a close personal friend who is an associate executive direrctor and i've worked with the staff and pretty well understand their philosophy and approach. your comments would incense them. they rely upon an institution and its governing board to make such decisions. they can make certain points clear, but they would not "become a force in demanding that his entire upper administration be swept out." in fact, the Auburn University case tempered their attitude on some issues.

Date: Dec 9, 2004

I cannot believe that Shelboo actually said this:

University of Southern Mississippi President Shelby Thames said Thursday he had no idea that the university had been under scrutiny for two years by an accrediting agency for failing to meet standards.

Thames told the Hattiesburg American that Southern Association of Colleges and Schools officials never told him that Southern Miss was in danger of losing its accreditation or being put on probation. He said he delegated the responsibility for keeping up with SACS compliance to other departments, and employees of the departments never told him that the school was facing sanctions.

He wouldn't elaborate on who was responsible for telling him that the school's accreditation -- used as a gauge of effectiveness and as a litmus test for some federal funding -- was in jeopardy.

Thames said if he had been aware of the SACS problems he would have immediately gone to the organization's Georgia headquarters to address the issue.

"I'd have been there as quickly as an airplane could have carried me there," Thames said.

Thames said he had corresponded with SACS officials, but at no point in their communication did they hint at the severity of the problems at Southern Miss.

He said he asked personnel at Southern Miss about SACS standards, and he kept being told "we were OK."

He didn't know??? No one told him??? Excuse me, but who is running the show at USM??? You can't have it both ways, Shelboo--you can't be in charge when it's good for you, and not in charge when it's convenient for you. What a lack of leadership skills here--is this how a good business is run?? I THINK NOT!

NO FRICKIN QUARTER! FIRE SHELBY NOW!

Date: Dec 9, 2004

scm,

I lack inside information about SACS. I will defer to the information that you have.

But SACS can't rely on USM to straighten itself out--until SFT and his henchcrew are gone.

And it can't rely on the governing board, as presently constituted--SFT is a creature of the majority faction on the board.

Is there enough anger brewing among USM alumni that Roy Klumb can be successfully pressured to resign?

Unless Klumb is driven off the board, or so badly discredited that the other Board members no longer listen to him, how can Thames be removed from power--or deaccreditation averted?

Robert Campbell

Date: Dec 9, 2004

actually, chicken soup lady, you appear to be right. here is a clip from the July 28 minutes of the PUC...

"Dr. Exline then reported on SACS accreditation. She indicated that Mr. Johnson had asked her to do so as he had heard we were in trouble. She says this is not true. It will involve some work, but “all will be well.” Dr. Exline distributed a timeline for SACS accreditation process. She indicated that they are getting the committee in order and everything is on target."

So, it appears David Johnson did know before SFT. David Johnson for USM Prez! LOL

Date: Dec 9, 2004

robert--SACS has a sense that a university and its governing board have to work through these issues. SACS, in most instances, is not going to come in and try to do what the faculty, staff, alums, and the like won't do.

Date: Dec 10, 2004

This is on the WLBT (Jxn) web site:

"Dr. Shelby Thames, president of the University of Southern Mississippi says he takes full responsibility for his school being on probation. Thames says the problem is not with performance but how the school reports it's performance to the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. Southern has a year to fix the problem or lose it's accreditation.

Thames says the school will not lose accreditation and the problems will be fixed. He told reporters Thursday his is a "world class institution." The school is now trying to hire a full time person to deal with the problem."

Is it just me, or is SFT starting to sound like a "one-hit wonder"? Does he know any other tunes?