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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> An Eroding Power Base
Post Info TOPIC: An Eroding Power Base
Educational Dysfunction

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An Eroding Power Base
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Many questions about Shelby Thames' power base can be answered by understanding the state's economic development push, especially as it relates to high technology growth in Mississippi.  Haley Barbour, Trent Lott, Thad Cochran, Gene Taylor, Mississippi Economic Council, Blueprint Mississippi and dozens of other influential individuals, commercial groups and state agencies look to high technology industries to spark economic growth in the state, which ranks 50th in the nation according to some high technology indicators.


These people are solidly behind the mission of high technology growth.  Their agenda is not going to change.  The question is will their minds be changed about Shelby's role in their plans?  These are individuals who surely understand the importance of leadership, human resources management, accountability and quality.  They must be questioning Shelby Thames' ability to lead the university, work cooperatively and effectively with the faculty, manage one crisis after another, and deliver credible programs.  Heads would roll if any industry manager exhibited such a poor track record over a 30-month period. 


This is not so much an "old boy network" problem as it is a successful PR campaign by the Thames administration to convince the above power structure that the University of Southern Mississippi can help it achieve its goals.  The drop in national rankings and the university's academic probation, in addition to an absurd level of administrative and faculty turnover, should point to the obvious disconnect between the public relations campaign by the university and the reality of the Thames administration.


A polymer scientist, with no successful administrative experience and no desire to learn, has no business running a university.  He told the power brokers in this state what they wanted to hear and they wanted to believe in him. He has failed them just as he has failed the students, alumni, faculty, and friends of the university. 


Successful high technology parks have built up all over the country around universities that created high quality academic programs first. The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University are both doing things to support the state's mission.  The difference is they seem to remember that they are universities and are focusing on academics first. They have not redefined themselves to be the economic development buzzword du jour.  At the risk of being blasphemous, maybe one of those universities should take over USM.


 



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David Johnson

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Your point is eloquently made. In an age of "spin" and "sound bites," and given the tendency toward grade inflation, etc., the question is begged: Is the interest of business properly served by appearance or by reality? How will MS ever recruit significant high-technology industry when it ranks so poorly in education (and dozens of other areas)?

Of course, one could make the point that increasing numbers of executives in US companies are products of this less-than-stellar system of education. The problem goes far beyond the borders of Mississippi.

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Invictus

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On the topic of economic development, I recommend a recent article, "Mississippi's Economic Development Incentives: Some Basic Questions" (Robert Neal, Mississippi Economic Review & Outlook, IHL Center for Policy Research & Planning, December 2004). Some interesting excerpts:
"... approximately 5 percent of U.S. workers are employed in high-tech occupations and 3 percent are employed at high-tech firms. In Mississippi, an estimated 3.6 percent of workers are employed in high-tech occupations and 0.7 percent are employed at high-tech firms."

"High-tech firms and workers prefer to be located in large metropolitan areas. Since Mississippi has only three small to moderately-sized MSA's, the tendency for high-tech firms and workers to locate in large markets explains why Mississippi's percentage of high-tech firms and workers is so low."

"It is unlikely that high-tech firms will locate in thinly-populated or economically-challenged areas of the state. Therefore, economic development incentives created to help depressed counties are unlikely to attract high-tech industries to Mississippi. Many firms, particularly high-tech, do not report any corporate profits in the early years of operation. So, incentives that reduce corporate income taxes during start-up years are not likely to encourage high-tech firms to choose Mississippi over an adjacent state. Most high-tech start-ups are relatively small, employing fewer than 100 workers and spending less than $20 million on initial capital improvements. Thus, incentives like Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority and the Economic Development Highway Program will provide little if any incentive for a high-tech firm to locate in Mississippi."

"As the U.S. economy evolves more and more into an idea producing, information providing economy, there will be fewer and fewer smoke-stack jobs and Mississippi's workforce will be forced to compete in a high-tech, high-skill job market. But, today, the majority of Mississippi workers are not prepared to assume these high-tech, high-wage jobs. Therefore, Mississippi must continue to concentrate on traditional smoke-stack industries while laying the foundation for a high-tech future."


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OLDIEGOLDIE

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Excellent! Excellent! Excellent!  This post should be sent over all available media sources to those components of the university, the community and the state who are not readers of this board.



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Robert Campbell

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ED,

Would you consider writing a letter to the editor making precisely the points you made in your post?

It could have a major impact.

Robert Campbell

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educator

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I second RC's recomendation.

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ED

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"ED, Would you consider writing a letter to the editor making precisely the points you made in your post? It could have a major impact. Robert Campbell"

What minute amount of influence I have is not best exerted in a letter to the editor at this time.  Frankly, trying to help with this academic debacle has become something of a mission for me.  I would ask that you have some faith that I am doing all that I can wherever I can.  If my post(s) are helpful to any of you who share my thoughts and can write signed letters, please feel free to borrow from them in whole or in part.  Students, parents, alums, and former supporters are the necessary voices right now.



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Jameela Lares

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: David Johnson
". . .  the question is begged: Is the interest of business properly served by appearance or by reality? How will MS ever recruit significant high-technology industry when it ranks so poorly in education (and dozens of other areas)?

David,


At the risk of sounding pedantic, please let me point out to you and perhaps many others that the phrase "begging the question" is being misused more and more.  "Begging the question" (Latin, petitio principii) is a logical fallacy in which a claim that needs to be proven is itself used as the proof or foundation for an argument.  It would appear that USM's administration has begged the question on one or more occasion (e.g., our ED program is the first such program in the country, therefore ...) but I don't recall you ever having done so.


Jameela


 



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