Mississippi's Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning

IHL Faculty Salaries $8,600 Behind Peer Average After 5 percent merit-based salary increases for two consecutive years, Mississippi's public university faculty still make $8,600 less than the average (not the top) of their peers in other southern states. University faculty are critical to the state, not only because they teach, mentor, and recruit Mississippi students, but also because they conduct research and innovative projects that attract outside investment dollars topping $500 million a year. To recruit and retain professors, maintain educational quality, keep up morale, and provide a healthy work environment, the university System must offer competitive salaries. "We appreciate the increases we have received the past two years," said Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith. "But these raises came after six dry years. We urge our legislators to make a commitment to our university faculty and staff, just as they have made a commitment to K-12 and the community and junior colleges over the last several years." IHL faculty are farther from their peers in salaries than either K-12 teachers, who are $5,500 behind, or community and junior college instructors, who are $3,500 behind. Learn more about IHL's fiscal year 2009 legislative funding request. Contact IHL Assistant Commissioner for Governmental Relations Dr. Jim Borsig. Dr. Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong Board President Wishes Foglesong Best Following Resignation On Friday, March 7, Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Thomas C. Meredith announced his acceptance of the resignation of Mississippi State University President Dr. Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong, effective June 30, 2008. The announcement followed an emergency teleconference meeting of the IHL Board of Trustees. "The Board is very appreciative of the many accomplishments of Dr. Foglesong and we wish him the very best," said Board President Dr. L. Stacy Davidson. "This is a major loss for our System and for Mississippi State University," said Commissioner Meredith. "Under Dr. Foglesong's leadership, Mississippi State is currently enjoying its best year in many years, which is evidenced by its enrollment growth, its increase in research productivity, and numerous other positive changes at the institution." Commissioner Meredith continued, "President Foglesong stated he had a number of goals for Mississippi State when he arrived, which have primarily been accomplished. He feels that now is an appropriate time for a transition in leadership." IHL Board of Trustees IHL March Board Meeting Next Week The IHL Board of Trustees will hold its regular monthly meeting next Thursday, March 20, beginning at 8:30 a.m., in the IHL Board Room in the Universities Center, 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS, 39211. The full Board will convene at 8:30 a.m., and will then conduct business as a committee of the whole. The Board meeting will be available for viewing via live webcast beginning at 8:30 a.m. on the IHL website. Various Board committees, including Educational Policies and Programs; Budget, Finance, and Audit; Governance; Real Estate and Facilities; Legal; and the Gulf Coast will meet as part of the Board meeting. An executive session may be held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. As part of the meeting, the Board will consider approval of modifications of existing academic programs at Delta State University and Mississippi University for Women, as well as approval of a new academic unit at Mississippi State University. The Board will also consider modifications to existing academic units at Mississippi State University and Mississippi University for Women.

Items included in the "University News" section of the System Review are submitted each week by the universities. The news items are listed in rotating alphabetical order by university.

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND VETERINARY MEDICINE NEWS
MSU Extension Computer Donation to Help Emergency Agencies
A donation of old-but-functional computers from the Mississippi State University Extension Service soon will give local law enforcement, intelligence, and public safety agencies connectivity for sharing information. Vance Watson, MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine vice president, said many small town emergency management agencies lack adequate computers. Extension's donation gives these agencies additional communication tools to respond to criminal activities, natural disasters, and emergencies. Extension is partnering with the Mississippi Analysis and Information Center (MSAIC) and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Some local agencies already have started using the computers they received, Watson said. "Extension's statewide network has been extensively upgraded in the past year," he said. "I can't think of a better way to encourage agencies to gather and share information than by making it possible for them to do so by donating the computers." The computers will be distributed through Extension's 82 county offices, said Dan Brook, head of Extension Computer Applications and Services. Priority will be given to agencies with no computers. Agencies with outdated models will receive second priority, and those remaining will be considered based upon assessment information they submitted, he said. "MSAIC is polling local emergency and law enforcement agencies so we can transfer the equipment at the local level," Brook said. Learn more.

MSU Extension Opens One-stop Fire Ant Web Site

MSU Hosts Natural Resources Summer Camp

MSU Specialist Labels Southern Pine Bark Beetles as Top State Timber Threat

MSU Co-sponsors 38th Annual Mississippi Water Resources Research Conference

MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN NEWS
MUW Students Place Third in National Culinology Competition
Students from Mississippi University for Women's Culinary Arts Institute were awarded third place at the finals of the Research Chefs Association Student Culinology Competition in Seattle, Wash., on Sunday. Team leader Leslie Beach of Columbus and her teammates Johnna Emerson of Glen, Laura Farrell of Lexington, Ky., and Catherine Stewart of Philadelphia won $1500 for their entree of lemon ginger salmon with toasted Israeli couscous and steamed asparagus. Johnson and Wales University, Providence was awarded first place and the University of Cincinnati received second. Other schools that competed were Louisiana State University and Mississippi State University. In order to be placed as one of the three finalists, the teams must create a gourmet meal for two that would possibly be sold in the frozen food section of a grocery store based on northwestern cuisine. The frozen meal and concept was then sent in to be judged to see if they would advance to the finals. At the finals, the team's goal was to recreate its entree onsite which was then judged against the reheated frozen entree initially submitted. Learn more.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
 Mississippi Valley State University Online
www.mvsu.edu

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI NEWS
UM Honors College Student Chosen for USA Today 's Academic Team
University of Mississippi senior Shad White of Sandersville is among 60 students nationwide chosen for USA Today's All-USA College Academic teams. Enrolled in Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and a Truman Scholar, White made the competition's Third Team. Selection criteria include grades, academic rigor, leadership, activities, and, most importantly, how students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom. "Being named to the Third Team is a stellar accomplishment," said USA Today's Education, Religion, and Behavior Editor Leslie Miller in a news release. "There were hundreds of nominees from four-year colleges nationwide, and the judges selected only 20 students each for the first, second, and third teams." "I was excited to be named; I didn't hold any expectations," said White, an economics and political science major with a 4.0 GPA. "It's a nice way to cap off your college experience after working hard for four years." According to the USA Today Web site, the All-USA College Academic Team honors full-time undergraduates who not only excel in scholarship but also extend their intellectual abilities beyond the classroom to benefit society. White was chosen for the team due in part to his interest in education, specifically his work to put on the "65% Solution" symposium, showcasing a plan to address school funding disparities in Mississippi. Learn more.

NOAA Recognizes Biology Student for Research to Preserve Marine Life

New Scholarship to Allow Recipient to Live, Study for a Year in Japan

Pharmacy Students Work with Interfaith Compassion Ministry to Assist Local Citizens

Sea Grant Law Center to Host Conference on Natural Disaster Preparation

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER NEWS
State-of-the-art Disk Replacement Found at Medical Center
The University of Mississippi Medical Center Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation is the only place in Mississippi to offer state-of-the-art disc replacement of the cervical and lumbar regions of the spine. Both Dr. Robert McGuire, professor and chair of orthopedic surgery, and Dr. Ashraf Ragab, associate professor of orthopedic surgery, say the procedures aren't for everyone, which is why they are highly selective about which patients qualify. "This is for a patient who's young, has not had any surgeries in the past, and has mostly degenerative disc disease," Ragab said. "With the artificial discs, the advantage is to maintain the motion, and that way there's no additional stress on the adjacent segments. We hope this will reduce the need for further surgeries down the line." Learn more.

Still Time to Sign Up for Remaining Sessions of MiniMed School 2008

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI NEWS
Former Hanes Companies CEO to Receive Trent Lott Center Award
Entrepreneur R. Philip Hanes, former CEO of Hanes Companies in Winston Salem, N.C., will be honored with the Trent Lott National Center of Excellence for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship Innovation Award by The University of Southern Mississippi on March 20. Former Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott will be on hand to present the award during a noon luncheon and awards ceremony where Hanes will be the keynote speaker. The award celebrates Hanes' lifetime of innovation and highly successful contribution to the economic development of downtown Winston-Salem. The luncheon and awards ceremony will be held at The Bottling Company, 126 Mobile St. in Hattiesburg. The cost is $20 per person and reservations may be made by calling (601) 583-4329. In addition to his business expertise, Hanes has a remarkable record of activity in the arts and conservation communities. Hanes earned a reputation as a business leader through his achievements growing the Hanes Companies as president from 1965-77 and as the board chairman from 1978-90. His innovative leadership style is recounted in his book How to Get Anyone to do Anything . Learn more.

Southern Miss' Annual Book Festival Highlights Literature for Children

Southern Miss Center to Host Economic Data Workshops

Southern Miss Students Produce TV News Magazine

Southern Miss Elementary Education Program Changes Benefit Students

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST NEWS
Southern Miss Alum Heads Margaritaville Construction Project on Gulf Coast
"Margaritaville," the ever-popular Jimmy Buffett song, will no longer be just a lyrical paradise, but one of the largest developments in downtown Biloxi as work moves forward on the new Margaritaville Casino and Resort. A project of this magnitude requires someone with the knowledge and ability to handle the task. And Jason Wold, a 1999 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi's construction engineering technology program, has plenty of responsibility on his shoulders as project executive for the highly anticipated development. Although Wold went to work for Yates Construction right after graduation, he moved up from assistant project manager to project manager in only eight years. From the ground-breaking to the first day the resort is open to the public, Wold will make sure the casino and resort live up to the owner's expectations, all while reasonably maintaining its budget. Learn more.

Southern Miss History Majors Receive Glimpse inside Their Profession

Southern Miss Gulf Coast Hires Donna Valestro as New Budget Analyst

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Alcorn State Student Accepted into Study Abroad Program
Alcorn State University (ASU) student Joshlean Fair, a junior chemistry major from Chicago, Illinois, will be participating in a study abroad program at King's College, University of London, England. Kings College is known for its academic excellence in the biological and health sciences. She was accepted into a very competitive pre-med program (only 10 slots were available for US students) that features a hands-on seminar class offering hospital shadowing, seminars, workshops, and clinical experiences to put class theories into use. "Admission into this program is a personal success for me since I am interested in pursuing a professional career in medicine. Studying at King's College will enhance my college experience, prepare me for my career, and provide me with a unique opportunity to challenge myself," said Fair. The ASU Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Program and the National Science Foundation Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program is sponsoring Fair with a living expenses grant. Learn more.

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Delta State's Hilpert Earns Selection to SACS Executive Council
Delta State University President Dr. John M. Hilpert recently received a prestigious appointment from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), based in Decatur, Georgia. Dr. Hilpert was selected to serve a one-year term on the 2008 Executive Council of the Commission. As the state's elected Council member, he will also serve as Chair of the State Delegation Council from Mississippi. Learn more.

DSU Community Leaders Receive Economic Development Finance Professionals Certification

Delta State Archives Calling All Collectors

DSU to Host NCAA South Region Tournament

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Jackson State University receives $75,000 gift from AT&T Foundation
Jackson State University recently received $75,000 from the AT&T Foundation to support two technology-focused initiatives. A grant of $25,000 will support WiFi networking at JSU's College of Lifelong Learning, enabling adult students to retrieve class lectures, course materials, and other assignments through podcasts. A $50,000 grant from the philanthropy organization of AT&T Inc. will provide continuing support of the Mississippi Learning Institute's "Technology from the Inside Out," a hands-on learning program for students at Jim Hill High School in Jackson. The grant completed a two-year commitment of $100,000. Michael Walker, AT&T director of external affairs, presented the check Monday, March 10, to JSU President Ronald Mason, Jr., and Evangeline Robinson, executive director of the JSU Development Foundation. "We are deeply proud to have AT&T as one of our dedicated partners in providing educational opportunities at Jackson State," Mason said. "This gift will continue our university's ability to advance education through the use of technology." Walker said AT&T has had a long commitment to improving education by forging community partnerships with institutions such as Jackson State. Learn more.

Alice Walker, Harry Belafonte Speakers at Mississippi Civil Rights Movement Conference

Jackson State University's WJSU Debuts New Programming

JSU's Banks Nominated for Coach of the Year

Hamer Institute to Host Summer Workshops for Community College Teachers

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Foglesong Announces He Will Leave MSU
On Friday, March 7, Mississippi State University's 18th president, Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong, announced his plans to leave his position no later than June 30. He was named president in 2006, following more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, where he retired as a four-star general. In announcing his decision, Foglesong issued the following statement: "With the express purpose of helping the university move forward, I have asked the Commissioner of Higher Education that I be relieved as President not later than June 30, 2008. Mary and I are incredibly proud of the past two years and of the new records in enrollment and research, the economic development opportunities that have evolved across the state, the leadership performance of individuals and teams across the campus, the energy and enthusiasm of the Dawg Pack, and, of course, proud of our friends. Godspeed Bulldogs. Doc Foglesong." Learn more.

MSU Student Team Using Google Skills to Help State Businesses

MSU Student Group Honors Wolverine State Justice

New MSU Student Association Officers Begin Serving

 Now-April 18 - The Jackson State University Department of Art will hold its 10th annual juried student exhibition in the first floor art gallery of the Dollye M.E. Robinson Building. For gallery information, call (601) 979-2040 or 2395. Learn more.

March 15 - The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station will auction surplus equipment at 9:00 a.m. at MSU's Mississippi Horse Park and AgriCenter. Items include vehicles (primarily trucks), tractors, combines, sprayers, field equipment, trailers, mowers, 4-wheelers, and miscellaneous agriculture equipment.  Learn more.

March 17 - Mississippi State University's Holmes Cultural Diversity Center presents "Live at Five." The discussion will focus on the role of women in society and how it has changed through the years, along with women's legacy to children. Learn more.

March 17 - The University of Mississippi Faculty Brass Quintet is slated to present a recital in Nutt Auditorium of Scruggs Hall. The 8 p.m. concert, which is free to the public, features compositions by Malcolm Arnold, Victor Ewald, Collier Jones, Arthur Frackenpohl, and Paquito D'Rivera. Learn more.

March 18 - Mississippi State University's Holmes Cultural Diversity Center presents an academic achievement awards program at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. For more information, contact Jerrie Bishop at (662) 325-2033. Learn more.

March 18 - The MSU Extension Service's 4-H therapeutic riding program volunteers will train for the spring session that runs each Tuesday from March 25 through April 29 at the Mississippi Horse Park. Contact Mary Riley at (662) 325-1695, or mriley@ext.msstate . Learn more.

March 18 - The "Composers at Ole Miss" spring concert, slated for 8 p.m. in the UM Ford Center rehearsal hall, highlights original works of UM faculty, students, and alumni. This year's program celebrates the achievements of internationally renowned composer and alumna Nancy Van de Vate. Admission is free. Learn more.

March 18 - The Science and Engineering Fair is set for March 18 at Southern Miss. Learn more.

March 19-20 - The annual Porter L. Fortune Jr. History Symposium at Ole Miss features lectures, discussions, and other presentations, this year focusing on "Writing Women's History: A Tribute to Anne Firor Scott." All sessions in the E. F. Yerby Conference Center Auditorium are free and open to the public. Learn more.

March 24 - Mississippi State University's Gender Studies Program and Holmes Cultural Diversity Center present Vanita Gupta, who will deliver a speech, titled "Injustice Anywhere Is a Threat to Justice Everywhere: Civil Rights and Women's Rights in the 21st Century," at 7 p.m. in Lee Hall Auditorium. Learn more.

March 27-28 - JSU's College of Lifelong Learning will tackle the topics of culturally appropriate character development and instruction during the ABCs of Childlife Management Conference at the Universities Center, 3825 Ridgewood Road. For more information, call (601) 432-6234 or visit http://www.jsums.edu/cll/abc.htm . Learn more.

March 30 - Delta State University will present "Chicago" in the Delta and Pine Land Theatre of its Bologna Performing Arts Center at 3:30 p.m. For ticket information, please call the Box Office at (662) 846-4626, or to order tickets online, go to http://bolognapac.ticketsxchange.com . Learn more.

March 31 - Southern Miss is taking applications for the Summer Gifted Studies program until March 31. Learn more.

Apr. 4-5 - At the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine Annual Open House every age group can experience live animal demonstrations and exhibits. Admission is free. Pre-registration, especially for groups, is strongly recommended. To schedule tours, call (662) 325-1103. Learn more.

FOR FURTHER COMMUNICATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Mississippi's Institutions of Higher Learning
Attention: Public Affairs
Jackson, Mississippi 39211-6453
Fax: (601) 432-6891

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