4 More Years - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Mar 13, 2005

4 More Years

Date: Mar 13, 2005

I am not faculty. But as a former student and recipient of two degrees, I would immediately enroll in another university and begin either my second Master's or my Ph.D. so in no way will I be affiliated with USM.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

If he gets an extension, that tells the world that IHL has total contempt for the USM faculty, and actually, total contempt for USM. Some faculty and senior staff would have to stay for retirement & personal reasons, and not every full professor with tenure is a Gary Stringer with the reputation and big grant to go somewhere else. But for most, there would be no reason to stay aboard the Titanic.

Recruitment will be dead, and whole departments will shut down. IF there's no reason to stay, there's no reason to come here to start with.

Honestly, I think you'll kiss accreditation goodbye and say hello to MSU-South Campus.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Third Witch
"Honestly, I think you'll kiss accreditation goodbye and say hello to MSU-South Campus."

If USM becomes MSU/South, I will demand that diplomas be reissued in the new name.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: A Visitor
"For a visitor from the business community, it would be educational to have a discussion of what you would anticipate occurring if SFT gets an extension of his contract for 4 more years. If this was decided by the IHL at their May meeting, it would be too late for most faculty to leave before the fall semester. A few may suddenly retire, but the mass exodus would be in 2006. Would you expect "No Confidence" votes after the fact--for what purpose? Strikes perhaps? Student uprisings? What do you think would occur? What would you do? "

The first thing you would see is a run on Prozac, perhaps self-imolations, and several jumpers from the Johnson Science Tower. And that would just be the Deans and Chairs--imagine how the rank and file faculty will react.

A 4-year renewal would be so "in your face" that it is hard to say what steps will come next. Every faculty member, chair, and staff worker I know is exhausted. Many faculty might just give up, collect the pay check, show up for class, and focus on outside pursuits--that is, we may begin to treat this as a 9-5 job. With each inevitable emergency de jour that we are asked to fix (on top of the zillion other daily tasks), we just might begin to say, Not my job, big fella, ask old Roy to fix it. I think that the only reason people are still busting hump is the unspoken expectation that something will change in the near future.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

1. The quality of the student body would continue to decline. We are already at lower than open enrollment and the average ACT has been dropping for several years as the better students migrate to State or Ole Miss. This will get worse as word gets around about the deals for good students in LA, AR, and AL.

2. The number of students would rise more slowly than it otherwise would. Total enrollment might rise but not very fast.

3. There will be more administrative screwups. A lot of the administrators Dr. Thames hires are comically incompetent. This is not as apparent to an outsider but it will be. For example, the chief financial officer is a lawyer and some of us love to go to his presentations because they are so funny. Unfortunately, there are many others.

4. A lot of the current faculty and staff are just hanging on to get in their 25 years. As soon as that happens they leave. This is one of the reasons the wheels haven't fallen off yet. Most of the new hires are just here long enough to establish a track record and then move on.

5. In anticipation of this, many university employees are slowly withdrawing from the community. The loss of this participation will not be immediately noticeable, but its there.

6. Others will comment but the bottom line is that USM is becoming a joke in the business and seems to be in a hurry to catch other "world class" places like East Carolina and Marshall.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: A Visitor
"For a visitor from the business community, it would be educational to have a discussion of what you would anticipate occurring if SFT gets an extension of his contract for 4 more years."

I can't say this with certainty, but my best guess is that if what you say actually happened, USM would have a one-man Academic Council, a one-man, Graduate Council, and a one-man Faculty Senate. Conducting the duties of the president's office, preparing the SACS report, and being the sole member of three major faculty bodies (Academic Council, Graduate Council, and the Faculty Senate) would be quite much for only one person to handle alone. SACS would not be a happy camper.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

You don't mention one of the major outcomes afffecting USM for years to come - the ability to hire qualified faculty. I heard today of a hire being made which is clearly subpar, and when questioned about it the administrator indicated that they were between a rock and a hard place. This is an area with 3 openings for every available qualified faculty member, and the failure to hire a PhD candidate would severly jepordize the accredition of that dept. Only one such candidate could be located willing to come here. We all know that the future quality of our academic departments depends on the type of candidates hired currently, and that the turmoil on the campuses, coupled with the pigheadedness of the administration in the dome contributes little to the effort to become a better university.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

When I came here three years ago it was to a school with an excellent English department. I have watched in horror as everything meaningful to a student was destroyed before my eyes. Professors began to be treated worse than prisoners of war. I was there the day that Dr. Stringer was locked out of his office and it is a day that I shall never forget. The same feeling of destruction and degradation is everywhere. It is not limited to the English department. Instead of a stroll on a beautiful campus to enjoy the rose garden one can only feel poison in the air.

You asked what I would do if President Thames is given four more years. I would leave at the very first opportunity. The faculty has fought a valiant fight to maintain its integrity, but even one more year of the current reign of terror for students and professors will not only destroy any serious attempt to learn, it will destroy the SACS accreditation. Once it is gone it can NOT be gotten back. Anyone who is at all familiar with the situation here knows that the phoenix will not rise from these ashes. The destruction will be total.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

OldieGolidie,

The last 5 years of hiring in our department is like an elevator on the way down. We haven't hit bottom yet but we're getting there. In 5 more years we'll look like Jackson State with Division I athletics (hopefully). Emphasis added for the original question.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: disgusted student
"When I came here three years ago it was to a school with an excellent English department. I have watched in horror as everything meaningful to a student was destroyed before my eyes. Professors began to be treated worse than prisoners of war. I was there the day that Dr. Stringer was locked out of his office and it is a day that I shall never forget. The same feeling of destruction and degradation is everywhere. It is not limited to the English department. Instead of a stroll on a beautiful campus to enjoy the rose garden one can only feel poison in the air. You asked what I would do if President Thames is given four more years. I would leave at the very first opportunity. The faculty has fought a valiant fight to maintain its integrity, but even one more year of the current reign of terror for students and professors will not only destroy any serious attempt to learn, it will destroy the SACS accreditation. Once it is gone it can NOT be gotten back. Anyone who is at all familiar with the situation here knows that the phoenix will not rise from these ashes. The destruction will be total. "

Very eloquent, but also very sad. May I ask whether you are an undergraduate or a graduate student? Is your major English?

Date: Mar 13, 2005

I think that should Shelby get four more years, a lot more parents will be thinking twice about paying for their kids to attend USM. (Of course, USM will still be the only choice for some students & the university will continue to pay some students to attend.)

As I've stated here before, I've already thought about it. My kid's not going to attend USM next fall. It will be the first time in FOUR generations that a member of my family has not attended USM (by one name or the other).

Date: Mar 13, 2005

Answer to USM Sympthizer

Thank you. I am an undergraduate and a rather determined English major.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

There are some great posts on this thread. Several of them should be copied and made available to local business leaders.

P.S. Choose your copy firm wisely.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: disgusted student
"Answer to USM Sympthizer Thank you. I am an undergraduate and a rather determined English major."

Disgusted Student,

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Write a letter to the IHL, to the newspaper. Get other students with your opinion to write also. Get your parents to write. GH

Date: Mar 13, 2005

I will quit making my Honor Club donations, withdraw from Partners for the Arts, drop out of the Eagle Club, quit directing the time and energy I've historically spent in support of the university. It will be a sad day, but I will know my continued efforts are to no avail.

I'll have fewer (and of lesser quality) concerts and plays to attend.

I'll notice the consequences in the business community--fewer people buying goods and services, fewer people moving into this area because of a reduced quality of life caused by all the above.

And I'll be sad for my university, sad for my town, but not sad for the business community who as a rule has either (1) been too chicken to step forward, or (2) contributed to the downfall of the univerisity and decline of our town because of their blind "management is always right" mentality.

Date: Mar 13, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: local supporter
"I'll notice the consequences in the business community--fewer people buying goods and services."

And it is not just the business owners who would feel the impact.Their employees would suffer greatly - from the minimum wage employee to the mid-level manager.

Date: Mar 14, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: local supporter
"I will quit making my Honor Club donations, withdraw from Partners for the Arts, drop out of the Eagle Club, quit directing the time and energy I've historically spent in support of the university. It will be a sad day, but I will know my continued efforts are to no avail. I'll have fewer (and of lesser quality) concerts and plays to attend. I'll notice the consequences in the business community--fewer people buying goods and services, fewer people moving into this area because of a reduced quality of life caused by all the above. And I'll be sad for my university, sad for my town, but not sad for the business community who as a rule has either (1) been too chicken to step forward, or (2) contributed to the downfall of the univerisity and decline of our town because of their blind "management is always right" mentality. "

Dear me . . . a Partner. I wonder if we have met?

This is painful -- like many in the university and the arts side in particular, I am hanging on by the fingernails. The damage that has been done can be fixed (not easily, however!) and many of those of us who are left are willing to stay and do it -- but not if the administraton is renewed. You can count on the exodus growing . . .

Date: Mar 14, 2005

Kick

Date: Mar 14, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
" Dear me . . . a Partner. I wonder if we have met? "

We have. Once. At JavaWerks. You were sitting in the back of the room with Gary and Frank. I look forward to a Thames retirement celebration when I can reintroduce myself.

Date: Mar 14, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: local supporter
"I will quit making my Honor Club donations, withdraw from Partners for the Arts, drop out of the Eagle Club, quit directing the time and energy I've historically spent in support of the university. It will be a sad day, but I will know my continued efforts are to no avail. I'll have fewer (and of lesser quality) concerts and plays to attend. I'll notice the consequences in the business community--fewer people buying goods and services, fewer people moving into this area because of a reduced quality of life caused by all the above. And I'll be sad for my university, sad for my town, but not sad for the business community who as a rule has either (1) been too chicken to step forward, or (2) contributed to the downfall of the univerisity and decline of our town because of their blind "management is always right" mentality. "

Emphasis- mine.

Gee, I was always taught that the CUSTOMER was always right? Even when a few are wrong And believe me, I'm not saying that the customer in this case (USM) is wrong, just its leader.

Date: Mar 14, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: local supporter
"We have. Once. At JavaWerks. You were sitting in the back of the room with Gary and Frank. I look forward to a Thames retirement celebration when I can reintroduce myself."

I think I remember this -- I'll look forward to it as well. And may it be soon.

PS: we have a great Southern Arena Theatre season lined up -- hope you can come.

Date: Mar 14, 2005

A little OT, but the best way I have ever heard it "put" is "The customer is not always right, but the customer is always the customer."

Date: Mar 14, 2005

Speaking of customer service.

I heard a report about Southwest Airlines. Their management assumes the employee is always right since they select the right people for the right job and empower them to do the work that needs to be done. They do investigate customer complaints, but with a different frame of mind.

An interesting 'business' concept that could be used.

Also note, the profitability of Southwest compared to other airlines.

Date: Mar 19, 2005

Kudzu King: Please read my post on this thread. Noel Polk in just one of the examples of the English department that has disentergrated into a bare bones department. If I was a thinking business person in this community I would be chasing Thames out of town, not just out of USM.