Now is the time for "stepping up to the plate"  The public needs to make thier voices heard.

NO QUARTER

Kick!

Crofts is quoted in the Saturday edition of the Hattiesburg American (posted on another thread) as Grimes' letter being to "risky" and that he advised SFT to either approve of the content of Grimes' letter or distance himself from it (send the letter of apology).

SFT is doing everything he can to cover his a## and survive.  Thursday will be a key day for Southern Miss. Before then, the IHL Board and the public need to see this as another in a long line of mis-steps and mistakes by this administration.  Grimes doesn't go to the restroom without SFT knowing about it.  SFT is responsible for the whole situtation, but will let Grimes fall on his sword to "escape".  If IHL members are viewing this, ask yourself this:  How many times must SFT blame his "provosts" for mismanagement and errors that has causes Southern Miss bad press, probation and possible loss of accreditation by SACs and lowering in USM's national tier ranking?  Remember IHL, you are judged by those who represent you.  I certainly would not want SFT to be my example of higher education administration in Mississippi.

Can we get the Grimes/Thames/Malone emails under FOIA?

Likely what you'll find is what we already have - memos from Jay Grimes that will indict -- Jay Grimes.  Bet most of the directives to Jay from Shelby and Kenbot were oral. 

I continue to hear of funny things going on in economic development - very high off cycle raises for his center directors (Gaudet? Butler?) - multiple new lines with very short window searches (perhaps for pre-chosen candidates, more of their own?) - questionable credentials for those teaching and/or serving on dissertation committees - university supported private companies - questionable program promotion strategies including but not limited to the Economist ad -pseudobusiness programs - incoming students who don't meet university-wide graduate school minimum requirements...

Everyone talks about the CoB getting rid of the ED program for reasons of quality and concern over accreditation. There's truth to that but it has also been suggested that there were some in ED who wanted to first move to the coast and then get out of the jurisdiction of the business college all together so they would not be so closely scrutinized.  Who's watching that department now as it spans three centers across two colleges?  Kenbot?  With all his university admnistrative competence divided between his multiple job titles?  Even if he had the academic expertise, does he have the time or is he delegating?  To whom is he delegating?  How tightly is Kenbot being managed as a department chair by his (two?) deans? his provost? his CFO? his president?  Who is managing whom for whom?

I suggest a FOIA for the right to inspect and copy any and all financial documents associated with Ken Malone.  Similarly, I suggest a FOIA for all information and financial data about the 'Executive ED Masters program".  Finally, if you track the Grad Council documents carefully, you will discover that the ED masters program was changed, and the course offering for the "Exec ED masters is no longer an approved program.  Technically, we no longer have the degree program they are offering.  Also look into who is teaching in this program and how they are offering the "prereq" business courses on an accelerated schedule -- none of the MBA courses are currently approved for online delivery.  This might be the stuff that is the final nail in the Kenbot's coffin.

Stickler,

Lots of good questions about Malone.

I think I know the answer to one of them.  Malone tells the Provost what to do, so he could hardly accept supervision by a mere Dean.  In his capacity as department chair--like all of his other capacities--Malone effectively reports only to the President, who probably cares little about how departmental business is being conducted as long as quotas (for enrollment, mainly) are being met.

Robert Campbell

Are you joking? Man, there ARE NO business prerequisites in the ED program. They teach their own "psuedo" courses. The old masters ED does have three CoB courses, but at least two of them are revamped catch-up, remedial type courses.

quote:

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Originally posted by: CoB Piper
"Are you joking? Man, there ARE NO business prerequisites in the ED program. They teach their own "psuedo" courses. The old masters ED does have three CoB courses, but at least two of them are revamped catch-up, remedial type courses."

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Yeah -- we learned yesterday in Senate that if a program's curriculum requires more than 50% traditional business courses (no matter where they orginate) then AACSB will need to accredit. We also learned that they are scrambling over in ED to try to get below that 50%.

Nice to know your academic discipline is being shaped by an anxiety to AVOID accreditation isn't it?

How flagrantly anti-quality can this get?

 

quote:

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Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"from the day the ED program was started, it was suspect. it's one that should never have been approved. "

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Are some of the deals you referred to earlier related to ED by any chance?

lego--not a one.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Invictus (aka Jimmy the Geek)
" I don't think a Malone-Grimes exacta is likely. Heck, I'm afraid that Malone may be proposed as the replacement for Grimes..."

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ED Chair/Gulf Coast COO/Director of Continuing Education/Provost. It's only one more job. Ken can handle it.       At this rate USM will end up with a two-box organizational chart: "President" and "All of Ken's Jobs."