1. A new administration (all the way down to associate dean level) with substantial experience (none of it at USM).

2. Reorganization back to the pre-Thames "nine into five" plan.

3. Destruction of the "external funding" mentality.

Aye wrote:

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Dissertation Topic wrote:
 2. Reorganization back to the pre-Thames "nine into five" plan.
I like those hours very much. I could sleep a little later and get home in time for dinner by 5:30. Would we still get an hour for lunch?

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Either you're a comedian (don't quit your day job) or Dissertation Topic is referring to the number of colleges.

1. A concerted effort to bring disaffected alumni back into active support for the university & a plan for "small donors."

2. A systematic program to emphasize the professionalism of USM faculty & the tangible contributions that USM employees make every day to the quality of life in the entire South Mississippi community (i.e., undo the efforts that Thames' supporters have made over the past few years to promote the "lazy faculty" perception.)

3. Balancing the emphasis on external funding with academics & service. (External funding is important, but so is the academic reputation of the institution.)

All three of these revolve around one single goal: IMPROVING THE REPUTATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI. Sure, USM is not a Harvard or a Vanderbilt & never be. It is a medium-sized regional institution that can, as Dr. Lucas used to say, be "distinguished" in many disciplines.

Bring back disheartened former staff & faculty who would love nothing better than to be part of the reconstruction, and who know how to do things. [But not anybody who says "But that's the way we always did it . . ."]

Maybe we don't need to go back to nine colleges, but at least go back to seven. Do CE and Marine Science need to be colleges? We know Nursing definitely does, and so do Arts.

I thought Businessman was surely joking. One reason I decided not to teach at the CC level is the 15-hr teaching load, and that's without research, committees, etc. I don't see how anyone could possibly teach 12 hours and do anything else.

Just in case he wasnt' kidding, this is a university (or at least the remnants of one) not a small college where the emphasis is on teaching alone.