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Originally posted by: gurunuburg
". . .the Chroncile of Higher Ed has the info on USM's recent claim of housing the nation's only online ethics journal, when a very prestigious one is already located up in the Ivy League.  "

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Did I miss something?  I thought it was UM that was claiming the first medical ethics online journal.  Do we claim to have one too?

Thanks ram, I bungled the mill this morning.  The online journal mill meant to say UM's claim of the only online journal, and that the CHE might produce a small report on it and link it with USM's recent troubles/problematic claims in a sort of "what's up with higher ed instititutes in MS?" angle.  artsy's reference to USM claiming to have the nation's only online  degree in DNA is a take-off on all this mess.

Sorry readers, and thanks again ram (We are short-staffed and I am often tired.  Perhaps USM should develop a new major in rumor milling so we can get some staff in here to proofread).

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Originally posted by: gurunuburg
"3. Funny statement from mclubber about 101 ballers' role at an 099 school:  "...Coach Bower should probably slot some time in the players' daily routines for tutoring members of the general student body...This would probably be a good PR tool and might keep retention rates up....."  Thanks mclubber."

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That would be a terrific piece of PR. Athletes do visit area schools a lot, so why not on-campus tutorial work? Think of how this would play with prospective athletes parents: "In the SEC, they provide tutors for the football team. At USM, the football team is so much brighter that players serve as tutors for the rest of the college."

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Originally posted by: gurunuburg
"1. Word from Friday's HA about the manpower shortage in MS in the area of state crime lab DNA testing.  Seems USM meddler and Attny Gen Hood is urging USM to develop a forensic science/DNA testing degree and fund a DNA lab.  Word on this from grapevine this morning via email: "...Sounds like Hood wants to drain the university's resources even more by having it fund a DNA lab....looks like no more raises for USM faculty..And, what about this new degree?  Can't wait for Johnny Cochran or Barry Scheck to cross-examine one of these graduates for the defense and show, up on an Elmo, that they got the major online and came in as 099....." 

This degree plan has been in the works for years and predates the current administration. The problem is that state crime labs pay low salaries and therefore have a high turnover of personnel. The public is enamored with the CSI-type shows. Like police work, it's exciting but doesn't pay very well.

The state would be better off, in my opinion, to increase the salaries of the crime lab personnel rather than try to increase the personnel stream.

As far as a crime lab at USM, it would not necessarily be a bad idea, particularly if it could attract bioterrorism grant money. We already have the needed expertise and it would be an excellent "laboratory" for the many students who even now minor in forensic science. I don't see it as a drain on USM resources.

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Originally posted by: COST faculty
" As far as a crime lab at USM, it would not necessarily be a bad idea, particularly if it could attract bioterrorism grant money. We already have the needed expertise and it would be an excellent "laboratory" for the many students who even now minor in forensic science. I don't see it as a drain on USM resources."

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I agree with COST faculty (and you can sign me as "COST alum", if desired). Putting a state crime lab on the USM campus would be a boon to all law enforcement in South Mississippi. It would be good for students, faculty, the state employees in the lab & it could very well attract grant money.

South Mississippi law enforcement needs a lab nearer than Jackson, too.

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Originally posted by: Occupational Outlook
"If there is a shortage of personnel in this field, then the salaries should be high. I believe that those over in business call it supply & demand. Why should that principle not work in this case? Is there really a shortage in this field, or is this just another "spin" designed to get support for another academic program? "

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Let me rephrase. There is not a shortage of available personnel as much as there is a high turnover. These are low level civil service jobs, not corporate jobs. Eventually salaries will rise because of market forces, but I suspect government jobs are not as responsive to market forces as corporate jobs. 

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Originally posted by: Invictus
"Putting a state crime lab on the USM campus would be a boon to all law enforcement in South Mississippi."

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A crime lab. Good idea. And while we're at it, let's also relocate the coroner's office to USM. I know the perfect place for the morgue. And a tombstone manufactory and sales office too (economic development at its best!). We could get double-duty out of such a physical arrangement by also establishing a mortuary training program for prospective undertakers (joint program between COST and CBED).  When all of that is done, let's put some teeth into the bailbondsman program once touted by criminal justice. A training progam for private eyes would cap it off. A full array of forensic-related public services, all administered by COST.   D.C Publications would surely put the entire array on the front cover of Detective Comics. Again, we would be #1

(I'm just kidding, Invictus. I know you have a sense of humor. Please don't flame me).

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Originally posted by: We're #1
" A crime lab. Good idea. And while we're at it, let's also relocate the coroner's office to USM. I know the perfect place for the morgue. And a tombstone manufactory and sales office too (economic development at its best!). We could get double-duty out of such a physical arrangement by also establishing a mortuary training program for prospective undertakers (joint program between COST and CBED).  When all of that is done, let's put some teeth into the bailbondsman program once touted by criminal justice. A training progam for private eyes would cap it off. A full array of forensic-related public services, all administered by COST.   D.C Publications would surely put the entire array on the front cover of Detective Comics. Again, we would be #1 (I'm just kidding, Invictus. I know you have a sense of humor. Please don't flame me)."

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And let us not forget our colleagues on the coast. We have a new program for them too. Their casino management program, evidently designed to train students for the local job market, could be enhanced through an ancillary program in pawn shop management. The number of pawn shops on the coast grew with the growth in number of casinos. Lots of local jobs with the coast pawn shops. Such a program would fit well with USM'svcasino management program. Probably more jobs with the pawn shops than with the casinos. A good back up choice: major in casinos, minor in pawn shops. Graduates of the casino program couldn't land a job with the casinos, they would have an alternate career. Or full time casino employees could moonlight with a pawn whop. After all, the casinos and pawn shops on the coast are open 24/7. Of course another idea is to put USM's resources into the basic academic programs which have made other universities great.

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Originally posted by: Invictus
"wouldn't be all that different housing the Dept of Wildlife Conservation & Parks, which USM did for years in the days of the Game & Fish Commission. And it really is good for fostering ties between the state agencies (field practitioners) & the faculty & students."

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True, Invictus. That's an edge which, as a land-grant institution, Mississippi State has over other public universities in Mississippi. No reason why USM couldn't capitalize on similar arrangements not otherwise reserved for land-grant schools.