HA, 1/17/07 (update): College Board delays adding degree programs at MSU, Ole Miss - USM Forum -- Message Board

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HA, 1/17/07 (update): College Board delays adding degree programs at MSU, Ole Miss

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SH, 1/18/07

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/thesunherald/news/special_packages/renewal/long_beach/16486014.htm

Degree program additions discussed
More information on issue wanted

The state College Board on Wednesday declined to consider adding degree programs at Mississippi State and Ole Miss because members said they want more assurances that similar programs aren't offered at other universities....

...Shelby Thames, president of USM, said about 40 students graduate each year with degrees in construction management. He said, and House agreed, that if the university had the resources, the program could be expanded to meet the need.

"USM has had a construction program since the early 1930s, and it is accredited," he told the board. "We are an SREB Class I institution, so there's no reason that we can't meet the needs of this state."...

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CL, 1/18/07

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070118/NEWS/701180389/1001/NEWS

College Board will revisit new programs
Mississippi State aims to add program in building construction

Eight public universities, similar degree programs, a skeptical College Board....

...But USM's president, Shelby Thames, said a lean budget has kept the school from growing its program, the only one in the state.

"There's no reason why Southern Miss, if the resources are around and placed with us, that we can't meet the needs of this state," he said.

USM's program has 178 students, he said, 60 percent of them from Mississippi.

MSU officials expected to grow enrollment in their program, if it gets off the ground, from 50 to 180 in the first six years....

DEVELOPMENTS

Other actions taken Wednesday by the state College Board:...

...Approved the first reading of a new policy that would require board approval of the "aesthetics" of major new buildings on college campuses. It will have to be approved a second time to take effect....

donedoneit · Status: Offline

Ms State has been trying to slip in a duplicate Construction Eng. Tech or Construction Mgt. program for years now. This USM program has quietly produced a number of graduates, who are successful and well placed in the many facets of the construction industry. Starting salaries for USM Construction grads are, on average, higher that starting salaries for MSU architect grads, etc. MSU has been licking their chops to get a slice of the pie.

Barry Piazza · Status: Offline

Quote from Clarion Ledger:

"But USM's president, Shelby Thames, said a lean budget has kept the school from growing its program, the only one in the state.

"There's no reason why Southern Miss, if the resources are around and placed with us, that we can't meet the needs of this state," he said."

End quote.

In the past several years their has been money for expanding or creating several new programs at the university. If this program were as important to the administration as they are now claiming, it would have receive better funding long before now. Yet, in these words there is still no commitment to expanding this program to try to thwart MSU plans. They only say if they were given more resources, some of it could go to this program.