A word of wisdom to all who post here: STAY WITH THE FACTS. There are those who read this board and take postings out of context and misrepresent what is being stated. Tongue-in-cheek humor is not received in the manner in which it is posted. Please keep this in mind when you post. There is more to post....if there are "facts" to be contested, please debate with data.

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Originally posted by: From Someone Who Was There!
"Southern Miss has experienced an increase in enrollment again for the 2004-2005 academic year

Grew spring enrollment by 92 students over last spring ."

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Isn't an increase of 92 sort of like damning with faint praise?  Aside from that, aren't these two facts a duplicate redundancy?  I keep reading them, but it looks like they're just saying the same thing, two different ways.

Honors College:

• The Honors College opened the 2004-05 academic year with an increase in enrollment that included a rise, from 17 to 31, in the number of freshman students with ACT scores of 31 or higher.


• The retention rate for first year students rose from 57 per cent in 2002-2003 to 98 per cent in 04-05.


• The number of students transferring into the College at the beginning of their junior year rose from 24 to 35 (I assume these are percentages; was not indicated in the packet.)


• The freshman entry included six national merit finalists and, and for the first time, students on the Gulf Park Campus were eligible to join the Honors College.


• A record number of students interviewed for Presidential Scholarships in spring 2005; 68 students interviewed this year compared to 54 last year.

Research and Federal Funding:

• Sixth consecutive year of growth - up 1.9 million from 2003.


• 472 projects and grants funded this eyar compared to 409 last year - a 15% increase.


• Faculty submitted more proposals in 2004 - 712 in all. This is an 11% increase.


• A new research consortium with Southern Miss and the Gulf Coast VA will support endeavors to advance clinical educatoin and practice to advance health care research in the state.

More to come....

USM Foundation:

• $100 million comprehensive campaign goal was reached and surpassed.


• Total was $107,772,415.72




• scholarships


• faculty and staff development


• libraries and technology


• Gulf coast campuses


• athletics


• other

Faculty and Staff Raises:

• Legislature did not provide sufficient money for across-the-board raises for this fiscal year - but said we could award raises if we could "find the money."


• More than $2.5 million was allocated to faculty and staff based on merit.


• An additional $800,000 was allocated across-the-board to all faculty and staff - at the suggestion of David Beckett and the Faculty Senate.


• With the additional $320,000 distributed to 10 percent of the faculty at midyear, Southern Miss faculty and staff are receiving pay increases totaling more than $3.6 million for the year.


• According to a study completed by the University of Alabama, Southern Miss awarded larger raises than the super-majority of universities across the Southeast.

More to come.....

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Originally posted by: FSWWT
The retention rate for first year students rose from 57 per cent in 2002-2003 to 98 per cent in 04-05.

I, too,would like to see the data on this.  I don't see how these numbers can be correct.

A record number of students interviewed for Presidential Scholarships in spring 2005; 68 students interviewed this year compared to 54 last year.

This is meaningless.  200 students could easily have been interviewed for Presidential scholarships.  The real news is how many actually accepted.  I know of 2 right off who were offered presidential scholarships and turned them down.

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Construction on Campus:

• Completed in the last 3 years:




• Addition to Polymer Science Building (20,000+ sq ft) ($6.6 mil)


• new athletic center ($8.5 mil)


• addition to the 3-D Arts Bldg ($825k)


• new International Center (48,000 sq ft) ($7.4mil)


• constructed 1000 additional parking spaces ($450k)


• installed artificial turf on the football field ($350k)


• replaced piping and air handlers for heating/cooling in Coliseum ($1.5 mil)


• renovated 18,000 sq ft in Bond Hall for administrative space ($1.1 mil)


• renovated first floor College Hall for classroom space ($50k)


• renovated space in Walker Science Bldg to provide a large demonstration/lecture auditorium ($75k)


• upgraded/replaced classroom furniture ($600k)


• provide new lighting for 2 practice fields ($75k)


• new ladies softball field/lighting ($350k)


• renovated HVAC system, Performing Arts Center/Fine Arts Bldg ($1.1 mil)


• new chiller plant to service two dorm buildings ($1.7 mil)


• DuBard Language School ($2.4 mil)


• reroof buildings ($1,8 mil)


• addition to Peck House ($770k)


• New fitness exercise trail/course ($423k)

Next...."In Progress"

In Progress:

• Re-roof/waterproof 6 buildings


• new pedestrian/bicycle path through campus


• expansion to the Student Union (200,000 sp ft)


• pedestrian/street lighting upgrade, main campus


• street/parking lot repaving


• new Trent Lott Center for Economic Development


• new courtyear for student gatherings


• renovation of Bond Hall for administrative space (I guess they thought they should put this on the list twice)

To Begin This Year:

• renovate West Memorial Drive into a pedstrian plaza


• renovate/restore College Hall


• replace HVAC system, Joseph Green Hall


• renovate Reed Green Coliseum


• renovate Old Power House into restaurant


• new tennis courts


• fire safety/sprinklers, two buildings

On the Horizon:

• Sorority Village (12-14 mil)


• MM Roberts Expansion (20-25 mil)

Next....Communication on Campus

Believe me, this is not hype; this is the info that was provided to those in attendance; if you wish, I'll discontinue the "list" of accomplishments that was attributed to SFT; if you wish, I'll dispense with the list and offer the tone of the meeting...

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Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
"it's not clear what problems people are having with the retention rate figures. they pertain to Honors College students, not the university as a whole. "

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I see your point now - stand corrected.

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Originally posted by: Craig
"Much of this was done before SFT became president. He just inherited our good fortune from years before that. We can easily pick all those out. Shelby never could have pulled all this off. For instance, the fundraising. Most done before he got on board. The athletic center, gotten well underway before he came. The same with DuBard. And the list goes on and on. Sorry, SFT, we aren't buying your public relations ploy. Now for the negatives: faculty leaving in droves, lowest morale in the history of the school, community divided trying to save Klumb's and Nicholson's man, and SACS PROBATION. 'Nuff said."

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This is exactly why I wanted to post the list; so, those of us who may know differently can refute the claims that, if not for the present Administration, we would not be where we are now. I would strongly suggest that most of these accomplishments should be seen as accomplishments of the fine faculty who give their heart and soul to USM.

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Originally posted by: USM Sympathizer
"Please continue with the list, and THEN give us the tone."

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Please do not stop with the list - there is plenty of time to talk about tone.

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Originally posted by: FSWWT
"This is exactly why I wanted to post the list; so, those of us who may know differently can refute the claims that, if not for the present Administration, we would not be where we are now. I would strongly suggest that most of these accomplishments should be seen as accomplishments of the fine faculty who give their heart and soul to USM."

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Well put, FSWWT!

Thank you for your hard work and effort in getting out "the list." Yes, many of us are "chomping at the bit" to tear into any and all claims of theirs that are "bogus," but you are correct in wanting to post the complete "list" first before opening the discussion up to the floor!!!

Thank you again!

Excellent summary. Thanks.

Now, the important thing to note here is when each of these projects was started. SFT got handed a lot of things that had been done, including getting us to the highest standing of Doctoral Extensive University in 2000. This list is bogus. I urge folks to break it down and let's put it back together in the real historical context. SFT, I assure you, along with Lisa Slay Mader and all the deans he fired--and that was ALL of them--and those who came after could not have done this. Man, just think what time and effort Shelby's business team have put into trying to save their man! Just pleases the hell out of me that we are making them work so hard to defend their tyranny! Stay at it, boys, they have not only blinked but we dazed them!

Now, this part of the list reminds one of a drowing man grasping for anything in sight. INVITED to participate in a parade? Featured in 2003? Coatings and Paint? What is this?