C.L. Editorial - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jan 22, 2005

C.L. Editorial

Date: Jan 22, 2005

I hope SFT reads this editorial. Reaching 20,000 student enrollment is the #1 goal of his strategic plan. He sure didn't have this goal because of the demand. It is ONLY to get that tuition $$$.

Date: Jan 22, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
"I hope SFT reads this editorial. Reaching 20,000 student enrollment is the #1 goal of his strategic plan. He sure didn't have this goal because of the demand. It is ONLY to get that tuition $$$."

Its the legislature that needs to read this editorial. It won't matter, however, as Mississippi is a state that doesn't believe in "public goods"--that's why is so poor. What a horrible place to raise children!!

Date: Jan 22, 2005

can all of the legislators read?

Date: Jan 22, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Reporter
"Reaching 20,000 student enrollment is the #1 goal of his strategic plan."

Given USM's very limited resources, reaching a 20,000 student enrollment would sink it to 20,000 leagues under the sea where it would live among the other bottom-dwelling scavengers. It would find plenty to eat down there at the bottom of the admissions chain, but not a terribly healthy fare.

Date: Jan 22, 2005

Of course all of these students can't fit on campus. The rumor I head is that most of these students will be on-line. USM will become Phoenix South.

I oppose this. I think a drive thru will bring much more business to the Hub City. We could put a drive thru window in the new Trent Lott Center. It would be convenient for on-off traffic from Hwy 49.

Date: Jan 22, 2005

there is this urban legend (may not be one) story about USM--Ole Miss tells their people when they drive through town to roll up their windows. otherwise they'll find USM diplomas being thrown through the windows.

Date: Jan 22, 2005

This Clarion-Ledger editorial confirms what I've been suspecting for a while, namely that the Clarion-Ledger editorial page people really don't understand what's happening to state universities.

The Clarion-Ledger is not going to be able to persuade the state legislature to substantially increase its direct appropriations to the state universities. Newspapers in states like Massachusetts can't even do that. It may, however be able to persuade the legislature to imposed a lid on tuition.

The combination of declining state appropriations and legislated limits on tuition increases will bring about even more of the desperate chasing after grant bucks that has characterized the SFT regime.

Tuition is a source of revenue, whether the C-L writer likes to admit it or not. The revenue can be well spent or poorly spent. SFT wants to peel off the tuition dollars, but he despises undergraduate education and is making sure that USM's undergrads will get as little of it as possible. However, a conscientious administration that was trying to improve undergraduate education at USM would need the tuition revenue, too.

It's going to be a very difficult year for all of the state universities in Mississippi, not just USM.

Robert