From the article:

"A provost needs to be somebody who understands the academic nature and mission of the university," said Stan Kuczaj, a member of the committee. "They have to understand the multi-faceted nature of contemporary universities."

Now *that* would be a welcomed change. I wonder how such a candidate would adapt to the current administative philosophy of the university.

 

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Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"I think it's appropriate to post the university's "vision" (as per the official website) here (my bolding): As a Carnegie Doctoral/Research-Extensive and a Four-Year Class 1 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) institution, The University of Southern Mississippi will be a premier, comprehensive, dual-campus university that is distinguished by its established excellence in undergraduate education with nationally known graduate programs, a groundbreaking economic development emphasis, and a demonstrated commitment to improving quality of life. With two campuses and five teaching and research sites across south Mississippi as well as France, Mexico, England, and Spain, The University of Southern Mississippi serves the state, the Southeastern U.S. region, and the nation through its strong, varied undergraduate programs built upon a sound general education curriculum; through its master’s and doctoral programs in the sciences, education, psychology, economic development, the humanities, business, health, engineering technologies, and the arts; and through its faculty’s innovative research achievements. Southern Miss’ academic and research initiatives demonstrate its commitment to knowledge-based economic development and to enhanced quality of life. The University of Southern Mississippi is committed to its academic programs and student services on the Gulf Coast and to working with community leaders to assure educational, cultural, and economic growth for all citizens who live and work in the coastal communities of Mississippi. The University of Southern Mississippi is distinguished by innovative research that includes scientific, technological, and societal projects a commitment to all population groups of our state and society among the student body, faculty, and staff by providing cross-cultural activities a faculty that is distinctive in teaching abilities, scholarly reputations, and a commitment to the education and achievements of its students excellent international education programs that contribute to global literacy for Mississippians leadership in addressing public interest and improving the quality of life close-working partnerships with government, business, community leaders, and groups who appreciate the contributions of higher education and serve as key advocates for the university cutting-edge economic development research and education The mission of The University of Southern Mississippi includes generating new knowledge, applying knowledge in service to humanity, facilitating an appreciation of artistic creations and performances, promoting cultural understanding, and, most importantly, fostering learning among students in ways that prepare them to become contributing citizens and leaders in a global society. Concisely stated, the university is in the business of helping people learn, and this learning occurs through the discovery, transmission, and application of knowledge. Therefore, Southern Miss can be characterized as a not-for-profit institution that is in the learning business. Need we say more?"

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Full of sound and fury, signifying everything.

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Originally posted by: Dialing for Dollars
"I wonder why you keep repeating 'economic development' over and over throughout the mission statement. It's almost like you can't even convince yourselves. I wonder why so much emphasis on pecuniary matters. I understand the 'not for profit' part. Not-for-profit for most, lots of profit for a few. I wonder how you ever got a committee together that would endorse such a thing. "

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By "you," I'm assuming you're referring to SFT, correct?  Knowing his modus operandi, there was a committee of one (two, if you count LSM) that drafted this "vision."

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Originally posted by: Dialing for Dollars
" I assumed a duly constituted faculty committee prepared that statement. Certainly not just a handful of people, no matter how high up in the pecking order. I may be wrong, but I thought a representative committee worked very hard on a mission statement when Horace Fleming was president. Has their work been trashed? I sure don't recall that their final product looked anything like this. The wheel seems to be reinvented fairly regularly at USM. Maybe we need a tire factory on campus."

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You're right...there was an entire Strategic Planning Committee on HF's watch.  In fact, it was the first thing he did, if I recall.  No SP under SFT, though!  No, sirree, gotta make those USM millionaires...got no time for planning.

Seriously, there's no buy-in for faculty when they are handed a "vision" statement such as this (or handed a vision statement of any sort!).  SFT has publicly stated that he's a man of action, not deliberation.  Committees just take too long, he says.  Problem is, it's difficult to be a leader when all of your followers are either:  1) disenfranchised, 2) relatives or cronies, and/or 3) scared to death of your autocratic and erratic ways.  It's amazing to me that SFT has last this long.

part of the emphasis on economic development is coming from the IHL and the legislature.  Here is a link to a clarion-ledger story about the presidents' retreat held about a week ago: 

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040811/NEWS01/40811003&SearchID=73181155643622

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Originally posted by: truth4usm/AH
"Regardless, don't you think that they should try to get more faculty buy-in rather than making it seem like it is all coming from the top down?  And the business with the FAR...I remember when that came out, it was like "you bring $$ to the university or else!""

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That should be "you will bring $$ to the university or else."  Itchy trigger finger.

undoubtedly there should be faculty buy in.  in fact, clarification of what economic development is would be useful.  i felt that economic development didn't have to be limited to how much money you brought in.  i figured that turning out good public school teachers who could improve k-12 education in the state would enhance economic development.  lots of other possibilities as well.  i hate to think that departments will have to economic impact analyses like gifted studies did.

but, when you have legislators and board members breathing down your neck on the issue, you typically get a poorly or vaguely thought-out idea.  frequently those sorts of ideas create the highest anxiety because they are so vague.

i would normally let national perspective's comment pass, but i can't.  that description of USM struck me as such a backwards step from where USM had been going.  it continues to regionalize USM--the gulf south, wherever that is.  the term national was Myron Henry's favorite because it was a term used by US News and World Report to categorize universities in their ranking scheme.  "a national university for the gulf south?"  sounds like some of our football season logos.  compare it to MSU's and Ole Miss's, and other universities. 

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Originally posted by: stinky cheese man
" i hate to think that departments will have to [create?] economic impact analyses like gifted studies did. ..."

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Wasn't it brilliant of Dr. Karnes to give them what they want?  In essence, she said, "If all that some people can understand is dollars and cents, let me show them where there are dollars and cents that they have never noticed."  Her numbers may or may not be credible, but who cares?  They are good-looking numbers and nobody in this administration, at the IHL board, or in the community, is inclined to look behind that kind of information.  Besides, it would take time and effort to investigate her data, and nobody is inclined in that direction either.

Do others "have to" do the same? Or would they simply be wise to choose to do something similar?

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Originally posted by: High Stakes
"Speaking of that, anyone planning to attend the $1,000/couple fundraiser?  "

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Me and spouse Mouthbreather will sit that one out, thankee very much.  I've been trying to think of a list of living people who I'd spend a grand just to eat with in the company of 100 others -- as if I had the grand to spare. So far, it is a real short list and Senator Thad ain't on it.

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Originally posted by: Reformed Mouthbreather
" Wasn't it brilliant of Dr. Karnes to give them what they want?  In essence, she said, "If all that some people can understand is dollars and cents, let me show them where there are dollars and cents that they have never noticed."  Her numbers may or may not be credible, but who cares?  They are good-looking numbers and nobody in this administration, at the IHL board, or in the community, is inclined to look behind that kind of information.  Besides, it would take time and effort to investigate her data, and nobody is inclined in that direction either. Do others "have to" do the same? Or would they simply be wise to choose to do something similar?"

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Astute and provocative...

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Originally posted by: National Perspective
"Two more ominous slogans, both implying geograhy: "The University of Southern Mississippi: Over by the Unleaded" "The University of Southern Mississippi: Here We Were""

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The University of Southern Mississippi:  Plastics R Us

The University of Southern Mississippi:  We Used to Be About More than Polymer Science

The University of Southern Mississippi:  We Don't Need No Stinkin' Shared Governance

The University of Southern Mississippi:  The University of Phoenix of the Gulf South

University of Southern Mississipi: The largest school between New Orleans and New York

U. OF SOUTHERN MS: LARGER THAN LIFE ITSELF