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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> daily rumor mill #84
Post Info TOPIC: daily rumor mill #84
gurunuburg

Date:
daily rumor mill #84
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1. Still no word on the Provost situation.  Wouldn't think USM would head into a new academic year without one, but who knows?  We'll seen soon (we think).


2. More excerpts from our 099 acquaitance about life at one: "....the transition to open admissions can be a little unsettling, all the way around.  Having been an administrator and a faculty during a process like the one you described for me, I'll speak a little on being a faculty.  My sense is that you are a teaching school.  However, there are likely to be a few research- oriented people stuck over there.  My advice to them during this transition, work from home if at all possible.  Administrators there are probably going to be acting stranger than usual, and you will want to avoid all that mess............From what you've described, the university is an important part of the area's economy and life.  While the former will continue to be true, don't expect the latter aspect to survive unscathed, if at all.  At one of the places where I was, the town had a vibrant nightlife and local high schools were important to the welfare of the community.  I suspect that Hattiesburg has enough to draw from so that USM can fade away from city life without too much notice............."  Thanks friend/advisor.


3. Word travels about class cancellations on football Thursdays.  As you have seen, SFT is not averse to class cancellations left and right.  However with fall break and some other holidays, so many football games on weekdays became untenable (i.e., they couldn't positively spin so many days off).  Thus, the friday (and other) makeup times.  Thanks grapevine.


4. What's with the new prominence of the term "student acceptances"?  Reports are that JP's willingness to play games like this "became known" over at TAMU, and this became problematic with his app there.  Thanks gorod.


5. "William Carey, to the top!"  Word from crusader that alumni of the WCC are thrilled at "what's happening" with their alma mater.  Recent reports show that WCC's recruiting has been excellent, and the alums can sense their mater about to move forward some.  Their puzzlement.  "What's the deal with USM's Alumni Association?"  Oh well (they say).  Thanks crusader. 



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Jameela Lares

Date:
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Sir or Madam, you quote your 099 acquaintance as saying, "My sense is that you are a teaching school.  However, there are likely to be a few research-oriented people stuck over there."  I do hope you've pointed out to 099 that USM is designated as one of the three research higher-ed institutions in the State, and that in fact it is listed as Carnegie 1. 


Thanks, and No Quarter.


Jameela Lares



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Technically true, realistically questionable

Date:
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quote:
Originally posted by: Jameela Lares
"Sir or Madam, you quote your 099 acquaintance as saying, "My sense is that you are a teaching school.  However, there are likely to be a few research-oriented people stuck over there."  I do hope you've pointed out to 099 that USM is designated as one of the three research higher-ed institutions in the State, and that in fact it is listed as Carnegie 1.  Thanks, and No Quarter. Jameela Lares"

Jameela,


I don't think that gurunuburg's 099 acquaintence really thought USM was not a Carnegie I institution. I think that person was reflecting the general perception which some outsiders have (and a perception with which I agree, and one which is being rapidly disseminated across the nation following the sad USM debacle). I believe that most outsiders in the know acknowlege that USM meets the technical requirements for Carnegie I designation, but our institution does not really provide the proper atmosphere for fostering the type of scholarly endeavors which some other Carnegie I institutions provide. A New Mexico State University statment seems to realistically acknowledge that such is also the case at their institution: "Some NMSU faculty have high teaching loads compared to faculty at other Carnegie I institutions and have less time to devote to research projects."  When one states they are a Carnegie I institution, they are undoubtedly technically correct. But embedded in that statement is sometimes "less than meets the eye."



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Jameela Lares

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Thanks, Technically true, for the further discussion.  I just didn't want 099's bare statement to go unchallenged.  Being research minded is still the norm at USM, despite flagging administrative report for such thinking.



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Technically true, realistically questionable

Date:
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Originally posted by: Jameela Lares


"Thanks, Technically true, for the further discussion.  I just didn't want 099's bare statement to go unchallenged.  Being research minded is still the norm at USM, despite flagging administrative report for such thinking."


Jameela,


I am optimistic enough to believe that, one of these days, it will not be necessary to challenge statements such as was made by gurunuberg's 099 friend. I have no doubt that USM will prosper, and it will become the institution I had hoped for when I accepted their position offer. It will become that institution, however,  only when there is a clean sweep of the IHL's archaic thinking about higher education; and only when they are willing to do something about it. Perhaps not in our lifetime, but it will happen. It simply has to happen. Otherwise, USM will be dead in the water as a viable, major, comprehsive public university with Carnegie I designation. What a disservice that would be to Mississippi.



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Robert Campbell

Date:
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I take it that the Carnegie Foundation has come up with a new definition of Carnegie I (after scrapping the old "Research I" category).

Clemson's also Carnegie I. But unevenly so. Engineering and Science operate in the Carnegie I fashion, as does Agriculture (sort of). The Social Sciences and Business are lurching in that direction. The Humanities and Education don't work that way at all.

No one's reacted yet to the guru's comment about the absence of a provost. Seems to me that Shelby Thames has been quite content to operate without a provost; in fact, Hudson might well not have been there, for much of the past year, and Grimes is nearly invisible.

But the fancy title and the salary are rewards that Thames may wish to confer on someone.

The rumor that Lisa Mader was being considered for Provost was priceless...

Robert Campbell



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