MSUās Keenum: āNo better investmentā in Magnolia Stateās future than higher education
Contact: Carl Smith
STARKVILLE, Miss.āMississippi State President Mark E. Keenum remains steadfast in his support of faculty and staff pay increases, saying there is āno better investmentā in the Magnolia Stateās future than through higher education.
Keenumās comments came Monday [Jan. 27] during the annual Spring General Faculty Meeting, where MSUās 19th leader noted the universityās positive momentum, growing student body and ongoing campus improvement projects while stressing the importance of having āresources to retain and recruit world-class faculty.ā
āWithout question, the best use of taxpayer dollars is investment in higher education for the development of economic opportunities for the state of Mississippi and the overall enrichment of our citizens,ā he said.
This legislative session, Keenum participated in four budget hearings with state lawmakers in which he emphasized continued financial support for the universityās operations and championed āinvestments in our people.ā
āIn all four meetings, I reminded lawmakers our greatest need is adequate support for our people, because itās our people that make our university the great institution it is and who do the important work legislators and the citizens of this state expect from us,ā he said. āItās the best investment [lawmakers] can make, and it has to be a partnership. We canāt put all these burdens on the backs of our students and their parents, and we canāt tuition our way out of this.ā
Ļć½¶Ö±²„also is seeking additional funding for various capital improvements, including renovations to the College of Veterinary Medicineās footprint in the Wise Center; facilities projects for the College of Architecture, Art and Design; as well as the south campus mechanical plant; and construction of the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.
āAdditional funding is essential, and we hope they can make these critical investments this session,ā Keenum said. āAs we always do, we are working very hard to tell our story at the State Capitol.ā
He also noted MSUās āstrong and growingā research portfolio and positive momentum in academics, which includes the recent reaffirmation of accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
This momentum will continue through the spring semester, Keenum said, due to āthe efforts of our world-class faculty.ā
Faculty praise also came from David Shaw, provost and executive vice president, Julie Jordan, vice president for research and economic development, and Keith Coble, vice president for the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, who highlighted key milestones from the past year.
Ļć½¶Ö±²„remains committed to student successāboth in and out of the classroomāand is developing new and innovative programs to prepare them for the career demands of today and the future, Shaw said, noting the universityās latest degree programs and new colleges.
āWeāve created a new School of Nursing, School of Health Professions, College of Integrative Studies and College of Professional and Continuing Studies, demonstrating how we at Ļć½¶Ö±²„are never resting on our laurels,ā he said. āThis institution is doing amazing things from an academic standpoint, and the best is yet to come.ā
In terms of research, Jordan said faculty contributed a combined $342 million in research activity during the previous fiscal yearāa record amount reported to the National Science Foundationāwhile Coble reported the university was ranked 11th nationally in both agriculture and natural science expenditures in the same timeframe by the NSF.
āWe continue to grow, and I continue to be amazed by the work this institution is doing,ā Jordan said. āAlong with the research dollars we receive for our work, the recognition our faculty receives helps make the research enterprise what it is.ā
The new NSF rankings place Ļć½¶Ö±²„ahead of other nationally recognized agriculture schoolsāa āremarkable accomplishment due to the work of our scientists,ā Coble said.
āWe have 42 academic fellows or presidents of their professional societies in the division, and we have eight Giles Distinguished Professors. That speaks to the quality of scientists we have,ā he said. āWhen their names are on a grant application, they are noted, recognized and valued.ā
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