Thames: "I'm running USM as business" - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Aug 18, 2004

Thames: "I'm running USM as business"

Date: Aug 18, 2004

God Ble$$ u$ each and every one. Ble$$ our bu$ine$$ and make u$ money plea$e.

Date: Aug 19, 2004

"We always have run our own food service and book store. We weren't sure they were breaking even, though," he said.

WHAT?!?! Not sure if they were breaking even?!?! Is that how you run a business? You don't check these things out before making a decision about them?! You don't keep account of the red and black columns?!

No Quarter!

Date: Aug 19, 2004

I have to wonder...are the SERIOUS errors in this article the fault of the reporter or did Shelboo go on his own delusional mission to inflate EVERY FIGURE that was mentioned? So, now freshman "admissions" (not "acceptances") are up to 9%???? When did the annual research dollar figure go up to $82 million??? (I thought it was still somewhere around the mid 60s)???

This article should be disseminated far and wide at USM. It's the most blatant example of Shelboo "tipping his hand" that I've seen. Wonder why he had to go all the Natchez to the "real" story??? Why won't he share these incredible stories with the local Hattiesburg media?

Date: Aug 19, 2004

Last night on WDAM there was also a story about the "changes" occurring at USM, by which they meant the new construction and the bringing in of outside vendors for the bookstore and food services. In typical "We have an inferiority complex" fashion the USM representative (who I had never seen before and whose name I cannot remember from the story) kept highlighting how USM will have the BIGGEST BOOKSTORE IN MISSISSIPPI and the BIGGEST STARBUCKS IN MISSISSIPPI! Now those are reasons to pick a college if I have ever seen one.

Date: Aug 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Angeline
"Last night on WDAM there was also a story about the "changes" occurring at USM, by which they meant the new construction and the bringing in of outside vendors for the bookstore and food services. In typical "We have an inferiority complex" fashion the USM representative (who I had never seen before and whose name I cannot remember from the story) kept highlighting how USM will have the BIGGEST BOOKSTORE IN MISSISSIPPI and the BIGGEST STARBUCKS IN MISSISSIPPI! Now those are reasons to pick a college if I have ever seen one."

The University of Southern Mississippi: Short on Faculty, Big on Starbucks

Date: Aug 19, 2004

Oooooohhhhh this makes me mad.

You can't run a friggin' country like a business; you can't run a university like a business.

In a business, you have one goal: achieve profit. Usually, at the expense of competitors and your own employees. After all, less money spent on salary means more money for the coffers.

In a university, you have to care (or at least, pretend to show a semblance of caring) for every student, even those that are not ponying up the big bucks. Even those that make Cs.

You should care about the people serving food in the cafeteria. Screw that, let's outsource. That way, the outsourcing firms can pay the lowest pittance they can get away with, and we can minimize our total expenditures, while providing horrid service to our customer, the student.

I really want to use some profanity here.

If this was run like a business, we'd outsource liberal arts to PRCC, since they aren't profitable enough.

Jeez, I hate this drivel.

Date: Aug 19, 2004

I have a question about outsourcing. Are the employees of the bookstore, food services, etc. still university staff? In this I am mainly asking do they still get staff benefits like tuition reduction or free classes. I had one friend who got a job as an assistant food manager to help finish her degree and knew another mother who worked in the commons so that her son could get half tuition. Were these benefits still available before outsourcing and are they still available now?

Date: Aug 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: asdf
" Are the employees of the bookstore, food services, etc. still university staff? In this I am mainly asking do they still get staff benefits like tuition reduction or free classes. "

My understanding is that the outside contractors/vendors agreed to hire former staff -- at least temporarily. However, the former staff are now "at will" employees of the contrators/vendors.

Again, a no lose situation for c/v and administration. "We care about the staff," is the public story. We can fire them in private after we have learned all that their experience can teach us. The administration has eliminated all of those nasty paychecks (and benefits you mentioned), thereby "saving millions at the snap of a finger." (Thanks, Mr. Klumb.)

My information is second hand, friend-of-a-friend stuff, so someone closer to the situation may feel free to correct my misapprehensions.

Date: Aug 19, 2004

Enron??? World Com???????

Date: Aug 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
" My understanding is that the outside contractors/vendors agreed to hire former staff -- at least temporarily. However, the former staff are now "at will" employees of the contrators/vendors. Again, a no lose situation for c/v and administration. "We care about the staff," is the public story. We can fire them in private after we have learned all that their experience can teach us. The administration has eliminated all of those nasty paychecks (and benefits you mentioned), thereby "saving millions at the snap of a finger." (Thanks, Mr. Klumb.) My information is second hand, friend-of-a-friend stuff, so someone closer to the situation may feel free to correct my misapprehensions."

ram,

I can confirm your information, I heard the same thing from a former USM staff employee who now works for one of the "outsource" companies. This person was working on a degree and taking advantage of the employee benefits for one free class each semester. Now they have to pay. These companies are using the employees for their experience and knowledge about USM. Once they get their "people" up to speed, it will be interesting to see what employees are still with these companies next year........

Date: Aug 19, 2004

Albeit a RISKY one --

Just take those old records off the shelf
I'll sit and listen to 'em by myself
Today's music aln 't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
Don't try to take me to a disco
You'll never even get me out on the
In ten minutes I'll be late for the door
I like that old time rock'n' roll

Still like that old time rock'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll
Won't go to hear them play a tango
I'd rather hear some blues or funky old soul
There's only sure way to get me to go
Start playing old time rock 'n' roll
Call me a relic, call me what you will
Say I'm old-fashioned, say I'm over the hill
Today' music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll

Still like that old time rock'n' roll
That kind of music just soothes the soul
I reminisce about the days of old
With that old time rock 'n' roll

Date: Aug 19, 2004

The vast majority of businesses fail. Why? Because they aren't run very well. A lot of folks who run businesses have no business running a business. Why should I think that SFT has any business running a business? He's a frickin' organic chemist.

But since we're on the topic of running a university like a business, we now have an explanation for the nepotism. Most privately-held businesses are intensely nepotistic. Ask Roy Klumb.

Date: Aug 19, 2004

I talked to a friend today who has accepted a staff position at William Carey. The deal was already done when -- as an afterthought -- my friend was informed that EVERYONE IN HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY would get FULL TUITION REMISSION for any classes they take at WC.

(Sorry about the wanton capitalization, Truth. It won't happen again.)

Date: Aug 19, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: ram
" (Sorry about the wanton capitalization, Truth. It won't happen again.)"

It's quite alright, ram. I've had a penchant for it myself, lately.

Date: Aug 20, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Let Freedom Ring
""We always have run our own food service and book store. We weren't sure they were breaking even, though," he said.
"

The Book Store made enough profit to bail out the Athletic Department for several years. Maybe we need to outsource the Athletic Department, too.