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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> "The List"
Post Info TOPIC: "The List"
Gnome Watcher

Date:
"The List"
Permalink Closed

This is the complete list of "talking points" put forth at the "bidness meeting" held tonight at Elks Lake, as posted by FSWWT on another thread.

***********************

Enrollment:


Southern Miss has experienced an increase in enrollment again for the 2004-2005 academic year

• Largest freshman class in our history

• 8 National Merit Finalists in this year's class (record number)

• Largest number of Presidential scholars in our history

• Grew spring enrollment by 92 students over last spring

• Southern Miss educates more Mississippians than any other institution in the State


Rankings:


• The University of Southern Mississippi is the only Southern Region Educational Board Category 1 institution in the state of Mississippi. MSU and UM are Category 2.

• Southern Miss is in the upper 20% of NCAA Division I in terms of graduation rates with a 67% rate in 2004-2005, which is the highest of all the Mississippi 1-A institutions.

• The Southern Miss football team had the highest GPA in C-USA during the 2003-2004 year and of 56 bowl participants in 2004-2005, its graduation rate of 66% was the fifth highest

• According to a national survey, Southern Miss ranked in the top 12 institutions in two categories for the 2001-2002 academic year: Federal funding and total funding. Federal support for Southern Miss marine research for that period totaled $14.2 million and composed two-thirds of the $21.4 million in total support for the university's ocean and estuarine research activities.


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 year 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 education and practice to advance health care research in the state.


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.


Responsible Fiscal Management:


• Reorganization - Reallocation of $2 million from administration costs into the classroom

• Fiscal responsibility of spending within the academic structure

• Outsourcing - food services (Aramak - $1.5 million/yr. Capitol contribution of $7.9 million over 10 yrs.)

• Outsourcing - bookstore (Barnes & Nobles - guaranteed commission of $1.2 million/yr.; capital contribution of $1 million in year one.)

• Looking at all auxiliary units


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)

• Re-roof buildings ($1,8 mil)

• addition to Peck House ($770k)

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


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 courtyard 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 pedestrian 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)


National and International Attention:


• Southern Miss nanotechnology program was featured in Small Times Magazine

• Vietnam Studies program featured in The Washington Post and on the History Channel

• Southern Miss noted in the Wall Street Journal

• Hattiesburg and Southern Miss were recognized in an article in Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine and msnbc.com

• Southern Miss and Beau Ravage Casino in Biloxi have teamed together to bring world renowned opera star Placido Domingo to perform April 1 with the USM Symphony Orchestra

• Southern Miss' world renowned Polymer Science Dept was mentioned by the New York Times in an article from Feb 22, 2005 regarding the nanotechnology company Hybrid Plastic's decision to relocate from CA to Hattiesburg

• Southern Miss was featured in the Sept. 1, 2003 issue of U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges edition

• Dr. Thames presented the university's plan for Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Innovation at the National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices Conference in Sept. 2003.

• The Pride of MS Band was invited to participate in the 2005 Edinburgh Easter Parade in Scotland

• The world-famous Dixie Darlings, the renowned drill team that performs with the Pride performed in the 18th New Year's Day 04 parade in London

• Pat Summerall's Production "Champions of Industry: Spotlight on Education" featured Southern Miss in Oct 2003

• In Feb 2004, Southern Miss was mentioned in the LA Times because of Hybrig Plastics' decision to move to Hattiesburg to work with the University to expand its research and production capabilities

• Dr. Thames was named 2002 Person of the Year by Modern Paint and Coatings

• American Pride Paint, developed at Southern Miss, was named one of the Top 10 new "green" building products by publisher BuildingGreen, Inc.


Did You Know???


• The Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra has performed with such greats as B.B. King, Doc Severinson, Yo-Yo Ma and Itzak Perlman

• Southern Miss School of Mass Communication and Journalism offers the state's only comprehensive mass communication program that provides the full breadth (print, broadcast journalism, broadcast production, photojournalism, film, advertising and public relations) and depth (Baccalaureate, to doctoral degrees) of mass communication education.

• The Certified Public Accountant exam passage rate for USM graduates exceeds the national average and is the highest in the state.

• Southern Miss educates more teachers than any other university in MS. More than half of all secondary English teachers come from USM.

• Southern Miss is one of the few institutions throughout the world accredited in all disciplines of psychology, including, clinical, school and counseling psychology.

• An on-going study of dolphins at Southern Miss has led researchers to consider one aspect of non-human culture, which is the ability to transmit behavior from one generation to the next.

• The Polymer Science Dept created and supplied a new polymer to WarmKraft, a company located in Taylorville, MS. The polymer treatment is now applied by WarmKraft to all US Marine Corps camouflage uniforms.

• Biologists at Southern MS are researching the effects of the herbal remedy ginkgo biloba on Alzheimer's disease.

• Southern Miss educates more nurses than any other institution in MS.

• Southern Miss is one of only 24 universities in the nation and the only university in the State, which is accredited in all four areas of the performing arts (music, theater, dance, art)


__________________
FSWWT

Date:
Permalink Closed

One sublist I forgot:


Communication on Campus:



  • President's Council - meets monthly

  • Faculty Senate Officers - meets with SFT weekly and other officers monthly

  • Staff Council - meets with SFT weekly

  • Letters to the University community - twice monthly

  • Community Advisory Committee - meets quarterly

  • Eagle's Eye - a faculty and staff publication


__________________
View from a Distance

Date:
Permalink Closed

Note that under the "Did you know" bragging rights section, items 1 and 2 are liberal arts.

That is still the highest impact for the investment.

__________________
Invictus

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Gnome Watcher
"• Southern Miss educates more nurses than any other institution in MS.
"


Interesting that the NCLEX-RN pass rates were not cited, as were the CPA exam pass rates...

__________________
Amy Young

Date:
Permalink Closed

I believe this list will appear at this week's board meeting.  I think that those of us who are going on Thursday should be prepared to address some of these with facts.


More feedback from anyone in theknow would help.


Amy Young



__________________
LeavingASAP

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Amy Young
"I believe this list will appear at this week's board meeting.  I think that those of us who are going on Thursday should be prepared to address some of these with facts. More feedback from anyone in theknow would help. Amy Young"

I don't think we should appear negative when, and if, a positive accomplishment is listed.


Here are a few aomments off of the top of my head.


“Southern Miss has experienced an increase in enrollment again for the 2004-2005 academic year”


 


But isn’t our rate of increase below other institutions in the state?


 


 


 


“• Southern Miss is in the upper 20% of NCAA Division I in terms of graduation rates with a 67% rate in 2004-2005, which is the highest of all the Mississippi 1-A institutions.
• The Southern Miss football team had the highest GPA in C-USA during the 2003-2004 year and of 56 bowl participants in 2004-2005, its graduation rate of 66% was the fifth highest”


 


Can this be attributed to our documented grade inflation problem?


 


 


“• According to a national survey, Southern Miss ranked in the top 12 institutions in two categories for the 2001-2002 academic year: Federal funding and total funding. Federal support for Southern Miss marine research for that period totaled $14.2 million and composed two-thirds of the $21.4 million in total support for the university's ocean and estuarine research activities.”


 


This occurred before SFT became president.


 


“• Reorganization - Reallocation of $2 million from administration costs into the classroom”


 


But at the same time they increased the overall cost of administration.


 


Also they forgot to mention we were the only institution in the state palce on academic probation by SACS.  


 



__________________
informatique

Date:
Permalink Closed

There are so many half-truths and untruths here, to paraphrase a local car dealer, that one hardly knows where to start to respond. I'd say expose the weakest points, and use those to undermine the entire list. Here are my favorites:

Enrollment:

Southern Miss has experienced an increase in enrollment again for the 2004-2005 academic year
...

• Grew spring enrollment by 92 students over last spring

>>>Yes, continuing its "tradition" of barely-even enrollment budges. Go back to the fall figures for the big picture. The increase from fall 2003 to fall 2004 was 1.3%, less than half the rate of the overall IHL system average of 2.9%. IHL institutions ranged from -1.5% (Miss. State) to +13.0% (Medical Center). USM is second from the bottom of the growth chart. Reference: "USM Rolls Rank No. 2," Hatt. Am. chart using IHL figures, 9/14/04.

• Southern Miss educates more Mississippians than any other institution in the State

>>>Ministry of Truth alert. What does "educates" mean? Does it mean "accepts but doesn't graduate"? This one smells.

Rankings:
....

• According to a national survey, Southern Miss ranked in the top 12 institutions in two categories for the 2001-2002 academic year: Federal funding and total funding. Federal support for Southern Miss marine research for that period totaled $14.2 million and composed two-thirds of the $21.4 million in total support for the university's ocean and estuarine research activities.

>>>2001-2002 figures? You mean before Thames took office? This is to Don Cotten's credit.


Honors College:
...

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

>>>Not hard to do if you eliminate Colloquium, the only requirement for first-year Honors College students. One wonders how many of these students will acquire the skills they need to write a thesis, if that requirement isn't cut soon too.
...

• 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.

>>>GP students are now "eligible" because the Colloquium requirement, that could be completed only in Hattieburg, was abolished. This is a "definition change" that has little to do with any reality.

Research and Federal Funding:

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

>>>Again, trying to take credit for years of grant-writing that preceded SFT's appointment.

USM Foundation:

$100 million comprehensive campaign goal was reached and surpassed.

Total was $107,772,415.72

>>>A Fleming initiative, with Lucas as the chief cheerleader. You go, Horace and Aubrey!

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."

>>>It now appears that SFT couldn't "find the money," which is why Lassen tried to sweep development accounts and why Malone finally grabbed Continuing Education in the middle of a semester. Someone somewhere has to pay for irresponsible decisons. Bump this down to the next category, " Responsible Fiscal Management."

Responsible Fiscal Management:

• Reorganization - Reallocation of $2 million from administration costs into the classroom

>>>The displaced deans went back to teaching at their same salaries. No savings there. There are more VPs for this-and-that under SFT than have ever existed at USM. The figure is bogus. The figure was never itemized. In a moment of weakness, Grimes even admitted that the reorganization was probably going to cost MORE in the long run than anything it would save. Shortly after that, Grimes found himself demoted to the coast. One more "fact": the figure originally touted was $1.8 million -- which has now "grown" to $2 million in SFT's continuing attempts to erase and rewrite history.

• Fiscal responsibility of spending within the academic structure

>>>Tell that to any dean trying to get hiring paperwork approved. You'll get a big laugh.

• Looking at all auxiliary units

>>>Looking?

Construction on Campus:

Completed in the last 3 years:

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

>>>A long list of ways SFT spends money to benefit local construction companies. Has little to do with education. And in a time of monumental budget shortfalls, one questions the wisdom of such building.

In Progress:
...

• new pedestrian/bicycle path through campus

>>>Where?

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

>>>The ongoing Student Union additions were started and financing arranged under Fleming.

• pedestrian/street lighting upgrade, main campus

• street/parking lot repaving

>>> Pot hole repair and $350,000 in unneeded faux Victorian street lamps.

• new Trent Lott Center for Economic Development

>>>The Lott Center was an initiative begun under Fleming with plans that went back to Lucas. Reference: "Lott Takes Pride in Future Center," Hatt. Am., 2/25/05. Chain's fundraising began under Fleming. SFT's primary contribution was to slow down the project through inept management, as Chain claimed on numerous occasions.


National and International Attention:
...

• Southern Miss was featured in the Sept. 1, 2003 issue of U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges edition

>>>This was an ad, as many have noted before. To say USM was "featured" in USNWR is the same as Bob Mixon saying Courtesy Ford is "featured" in the Hattiesburg American every time he advertises an Explorer for sale.

And one could counter with a list of "other" national and international attention in 2004.

Did You Know???
...

• Southern Miss educates more nurses than any other institution in MS.

>>>Perhaps not for long, given news released on 3/15/05 about NCLEX pass rates.

Communication on Campus:
...
• Letters to the University community - twice monthly

>>>Not true. After an initial flourish, the "letters" slowed to one per month. SInce the beginning of the school year, letters have appeared on 8/30/04, 9/7/04, 10/1/04, 10/25/04, 11/22/04, 1/25/05, and 2/21/05.
...

• Eagle's Eye - a faculty and staff publication

>>>This publication is nothing more than the renamed "Update," an internal publication that had been around for decades before SFT decided to rebrand it. The online version--still showing its roots in the URL "http://www.usm.edu/pr/update.htm"--has never materialized, despite a "Coming soon" page created on 1/19/05.


----------------

For my money, the weakest point is the USNWR "feature." It's paradigmatic of the way SFT treats the facts. Rhetorically, that would be the starting point of my rebuttal -- if Crofts, Klumb, or Mixon would listen. Or point to the bending of the facts with regard to how many letters per month SFT sends to the university community -- a minor point, perhaps, but again demonstrative of a pattern of behavior in a man who is now responsible for reporting facts to SACS.

__________________
STEPHEN JUDD

Date:
Permalink Closed

Good work Informatique.


I'm going to copy these points to take up to Jackson. All points alert! We caould use some more folks up in Jackson ----- the press will be there. A larger group will show better. Please at least consider coming for the morning on Thursday!


 


Anyone who wants to continue this diagnoisis please continue -- there are some great rebuttals here.


 


 



__________________
Amy Young

Date:
Permalink Closed

Good information here. I think faculty needs to be armed with facts at the IHL board in case these points are used to support Thames. I really hope we don't have to use this.

Amy Young

__________________
Andy

Date:
Permalink Closed

As an out-of-towner, who all is planning on attending the meeting? 



__________________
stephen judd

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: Andy
"As an out-of-towner, who all is planning on attending the meeting?  "

Mostly faculty but we also may have a mix of former faculty and former staff people. Since we are on Spring Break I'm not expecting any students although I might be suprised. The students of last year I think, are largely concentrating on graduating -- God bless them. Several of them have gotten some excellent grad school positions and post grad work. We are very proud of them for holding up the flag of academic freedom and shared governance and for staying on target with their studies.


Congrats all! You know who you are -- and we won't forget you.


 



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