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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Higher Education Crisis in MS?
Post Info TOPIC: Higher Education Crisis in MS?
Why do you think MS institutions failed to produce a student Fulbright scholar? [33 vote(s)]

Institutions are not academically rigorous enough, so students were not competitive applicants
63.6%
Most MS students don't want to leave state/region/country
3.0%
Fulbright? What's that? (aka no one at MS schools is even aware of these types of programs)
21.2%
I have no clue. And I don't care.
12.1%
Just My Thoughts....

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Higher Education Crisis in MS?
Permalink Closed

The Fulbright Commission wesbite lists the names of the institutions where the 1000+ graduating college seniors who have been awarded Fulbright awards (this year, 2005-2006) attended.

Mississippi is to be the only state to not have a single college or university produce a winner.

I personally think the Fulbright is a good indicator of how well an institution produces "global thinkers."

Lest you complain only the Harvard/Michigan/Dukes of the world have all of the students receiving this award...consider this...many states that lack a "prestigious" state university or college (and prestigious is generally a matter of personal interpretation...I am sure Shelby would describe USM as prestigious) have multiple winners. Even the "esoteric" states that many would group MS with (in terms of national recognition for education) such as Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Louisiana, Alabama, Nevada, New Mexico, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Delaware, Minnesota...they ALL have winners.

Mississippi is literally the ONLY state in the entire country without a single student Fulbright scholar this year.

I just think this reflects bigger issues going on in this state......

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P-16 Reform

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It's clearly time for a change in the way we think about, deliver, and coordinate education at all levels.  Referring to states with schools like Brown, Tulane, the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities), and the University of Wisconsin (Madison) as "esoteric" is probabaly not a great place to start.

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Mirado

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Mississippi is a Third World Country. How many student Fulbright winners come directly from Third World Countries?

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Adam's observer

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I think the USM leadership and the Hattiesburg mayor both fall from the same tree.

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For higher standards

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I urge those of you who believe "institutions are not academically rigorous enough "-around 60% of respondents- to join me in opposing affimative action programs for minorities. These students often fail to meet basic academic standards. I also hope you will oppose loose standards for student athletes.

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Fuldim

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Back in the day Dr. Odom in Foreign Languages consistently did a bang up job in helping USM students get Fulbrights.  Under his guidance we were always competitive and usually had Fulbright winners.  The selection process takes a lot of guidance and on campus help -- as Bill well knows.  Part of the problem is that we need another person or people to step up and do the leg work that he did for so long (and for which I suspect he gained little).  There are, no doubt, other reasons too why our lot in the Fulbright world is rather sorry.  However, knowing and playing the system is important.  As is good old insitutional memory -- something the henchcrew don't cotton to.  Faculty members willing to do loads of extra work to help their charges is also key -- but here you no longer even get the warm fuzzies that used to accompany such work.  Toads ain't all that warm or fuzzy.

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A Recent Detail

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Fuldim wrote:
Back in the day Dr. Odom in Foreign Languages consistently did a bang up job in helping USM students get Fulbrights.  Under his guidance we were always competitive and usually had Fulbright winners.  The selection process takes a lot of guidance and on campus help -- as Bill well knows.  Part of the problem is that we need another person or people to step up and do the leg work that he did for so long (and for which I suspect he gained little).  There are, no doubt, other reasons too why our lot in the Fulbright world is rather sorry.  However, knowing and playing the system is important.  As is good old insitutional memory -- something the henchcrew don't cotton to.  Faculty members willing to do loads of extra work to help their charges is also key -- but here you no longer even get the warm fuzzies that used to accompany such work.  Toads ain't all that warm or fuzzy.

This is a recent addition to USM and is found under the Honors College link on the USM web site:

Office of Scholarships

In January 2006, Peggy Varnado joined the Honors College as the University's Scholarship Officer.

Peggy Varnado
Scholarship Officer
Honors College*
118 College Drive #5162
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001

*Though housed in the Honors College, the scholarship officer will assist any Southern Miss student interested in making application for scholarships.

E-mail: peggy.varnado@usm.edu or pbvarnado@aol.com

Office Phone: 601.266.4263
Cell Phone: 601.466.1406

Fax: 601.266.4534



Maybe this will help fill the void that you write of without someone having to take on extra duties. Peggy has been successful in helping kids from the community compete for competetive scholarships and admissions.

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Fuldim

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I also hope that Peggy can help to fill the void, because Fulbrights are wonderful opportunities and some of our students deserve them.

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other approach

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For higher standards wrote:

I urge those of you who believe "institutions are not academically rigorous enough "-around 60% of respondents- to join me in opposing affimative action programs for minorities. These students often fail to meet basic academic standards. I also hope you will oppose loose standards for student athletes.

The quality of an institution and its faculty is what attracts good students, our student body reflects us.



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