MAC Conference Focuses on Retention The 74th Annual Conference of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities (MAC), hosted by Jackson State University, took place this week in Jackson and brought together approximately 235 higher education stakeholders to discuss the importance of student retention. Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, delivered the keynote address on Monday, during which he discussed practices that have led to high retention and graduation rates among minority students participating in a science and engineering program at his university. The proven components of the program, which include high expectations of student performance from faculty, high faculty involvement, student participation in substantive research projects, intensive group study, strong advisement, mentoring, and the cultivation of community, can be applied in all first-year situations for positive results. Other conference presenters included Dr. John Gardner, executive director of the Policy Center on the First Year of College and senior fellow at the National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, who identified a number of best practices for first-year student success and retention; and Dr. Thomas G. Mortenson, senior scholar at the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, who underscored the importance of education in the emerging "global human capital economy." Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour also addressed the conference and shared his vision for education in the state. Additionally, the Tuesday morning plenary session highlighted Jackson State University's Mississippi Learning Institute, an initiative addressing student retention through a P-20 literacy-based public school partnership. Improving retention rates is an important aspect of the IHL Board's commitment to access and success; therefore, conference information will be shared with faculty, staff, and other interested parties at each public university. For more information about the MAC Conference hosted by Jackson State University, contact Menia Dykes  in the Office of the MAC Secretary-Treasurer at 601-432-6372. Next year's conference will be hosted by Delta State University.  Dr. Martha Catlette IHL Welcomes Nursing Director The IHL Executive Office is pleased to welcome Dr. Martha Catlette as the new director of nursing education in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs. With more than 30 years of experience in nursing education and administration at the two-year and four-year college levels, Dr. Catlette is uniquely positioned to oversee the nursing education programs offered by the state's community colleges and universities. Dr. Catlette came to IHL from Delta State University, where she taught courses while serving as director of the nurse administrator track for the School of Nursing's Graduate Program and as director of the newly-acquired Delta Area Health Education Center (AHEC). She has also served as director of the Associate Degree Nursing Program and dean of Health Sciences at Mississippi Delta Community College, as well as chair of the Mississippi Council of Deans and Directors of Schools of Nursing. Dr. Catlette currently chairs the Advisory Committee to the Mississippi Office of Nursing Workforce and serves as president of the Mississippi Rural Health Association. She earned her doctorate in nursing education administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a master's degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and a bachelor's degree from Mississippi College. Dr. Reginald Sykes (far left) and Pearl Pennington (far right) presented a workshop during the College and Career Fair. 2,500+ Attend Bennie Thompson College Fair On Friday, September 14, 2007, more than 2,500 students in middle school and grades 9 through 12 converged on the Washington County Convention Center in Greenville, Mississippi, to attend the first annual College and Career Fair sponsored by Congressman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi's second congressional district. Representatives from businesses, colleges, universities, trade schools, apprenticeship programs, government agencies, and military academies participated in the fair. Ms. Pearl Pennington, Director of Academic and Student Affairs, and Dr. Reginald Sykes, Assistant Commissioner of Community and Junior College Relations, presented "Who Wants to be a College Graduate?," a well-received workshop designed to inform students about the high school courses needed for college, opportunities for financial aid, and survival skills for freshmen. By providing a wealth of information in one place in the Delta, the fair helped students who are often underrepresented in higher education learn more about college admissions, scholarships and financial aid, career planning, and employment opportunities. IHL Board of Trustees IHL Board Meeting and Retreat Next Week The IHL Board will hold its regular monthly meeting next Tuesday, October 16, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Alluvian Hotel in Greenwood. Various Board committees, including Budget, Finance, and Audit; Legal; and Real Estate and Facilities will meet as part of the Board meeting. An executive session may be held in accordance with the Open Meetings Act. Following Tuesday's meeting, the Board will hold its annual retreat through Thursday, October 18. During the retreat, the Board will discuss topics of interest for the upcoming year. #10 - University Graduates Enjoy Better Health A recently published study, conducted by the College Board, reveals that the percentage of adults who report very good or excellent health increases with higher levels of education, regardless of age or income. In 2005, 68 percent of university graduates, ages 55 to 64, reported being in excellent or very good health, compared to 53 percent of associate degree holders in the same age group, 51 percent of those with only some college, 44 percent of high school graduates, and 28 percent of those who never completed high school. Similarly, 83 percent of university graduates with incomes between $55,000 and $74,999 reported very good or excellent health, compared to 75 percent of associate degree holders in the same income bracket, 74 percent of those with only some college, 73 percent of high school graduates, and 66 percent of those who never completed high school. The study also shows that college graduates were as likely as others to smoke in 1970 before the dangers of smoking became clear; they now smoke at much lower rates. By 2005, only 9 percent of university graduates smoked (and over half of those had made an effort to stop smoking in the past year), compared to 21 percent of associate degree holders, 23 percent of people with some college, and 26 percent of high school graduates. University graduates are also more likely to exercise and more likely to receive employer-provided health insurance. For more statistical data on the impact of higher education on health and other aspects of community life, read the study Education Pays: The Benefits of Higher Education to Individuals and Society.

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.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER NEWS
Jones to Faculty: Changes Needed to Scale Health Care "Mountain"
Dr. Dan Jones, vice chancellor for health affairs at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, welcomed 78 new faculty to the institution, reviewed the clinical, educational and research accomplishments of the last academic year, and challenged the faculty to build on that success during the annual fall faculty meeting Sept. 28 in the Norman C. Nelson Student Union. Jones said continued progress in writing research proposals, maintaining quality educational programs for a growing student body, devoting sufficient attention to accreditation, and embracing new business decisions is essential to a successful paradigm shift for the institution. Learn more.

Cochlear Implants Give 14-month-old "Infinite" Educational, Occupational Opportunities

Jones Assigns New Titles to Keeton, Stringer

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI NEWS
Katrina Urban Forestry Grants Helps Southern Miss Replenish Campus Trees
A grant from the Mississippi Forestry Commission is helping the University of Southern Mississippi put a new face on a highly visible area of campus where many trees were lost as a result of Hurricane Katrina. The university has received $29,000 through the Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program for Hurricane Katrina Recovery to replant trees lost in a five-acre portion of campus that encompasses Lake Byron. Approximately 30 mature deciduous oak and pine trees in the Lake Byron area were destroyed or heavily damaged by the hurricane. In addition to tree purchases, funds also provided for mulch, topsoil, tree assessment, and tree removal. Future plans include the creation of an arboretum atmosphere with a walking path in the area. The scope of the project was expanded to also include the addition of trees to Weathersby Lawn between the Hub and the Power House Restaurant in the center of campus. Since work began last spring, Southern Miss has installed underground irrigation in both locations, planted nearly 85 trees, and extended walking paths. In addition to recreational purposes, trees in the Lake Byron area also serve an academic purpose for students and faculty in biological sciences conducting tree identification exercises. Learn more.

Iron Chef Cat Cora Presents at Southern Miss University Forum

Ogletree House Improvements to Include Viking Range Equipment

Alumni to Induct Seven Graduates into Hall of Fame

Arts Sampler Series Features Most Popular Southern Miss Arts Events

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST NEWS
Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company Ready for Sell-Out Performance
The University of Southern Mississippi’s Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company will present a sold-out children’s performance of “Guys and Dolls” on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at the Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs. “Guys and Dolls,” which is set in the 1950s, tells the comical story of two couples in New York City. Nathan Detroit, who is having trouble committing to his fiancée of 14 years, runs an illegal “floating craps game.” When Detroit needs $1,000 to secure a venue for one of his games, he meets Sky Masterson, a high-rolling gambler. Knowing that Masterson cannot pass up a bet, Detroit tries to take advantage of Masterson in order to keep his game successful. The story unfolds with many humorous twists as both characters try to win the bet. The Southern Opera and Musical Theatre Company’s production of “Guys and Dolls” includes students from the Southern Miss School of Music and the Department of Theatre and Dance. Sponsored in part by Coca-Cola, the children’s performance is part of the Ambassador Series. The series, in its inaugural year, began as a way for the Southern Miss School of Music to extend performances to the Mississippi Gulf Coast for children and the public. Learn more.

ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Miss Mississippi 2007 to Speak at Convocation
Alcorn State University School of Education and Psychology is happy to announce that its 2007 Fall Convocation will take place on Thursday, October 11, 2007 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the James L. Bolden Campus Union Ballroom. Miss Mississippi 2007 Kimberly Nicole Morgan will serve as Guest Speaker. The program is co-sponsored by Student Engagement Program - Title III. Learn more.

DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Delta State Welcomes Pulitzer Prize Winner Trethewey to Campus
Delta State University welcomed Natasha Trethewey, the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry, to its campus while also announcing its intent to honor the Mississippi native with an honorary degree at the University’s winter commencement ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 8. “Ms. Trethewey is an accomplished poet who has achieved international recognition. Her Mississippi heritage makes all of us proud. We’re pleased that she will accept an honorary doctoral degree from Delta State at our December commencement,” Delta State President, Dr. John M. Hilpert offered during a press conference. “Her success is a wonderful story for our students and graduates to hear.” While on the Cleveland campus, Trethewey presented a reading from her collection of works. She also met with faculty, staff, and students, and signed copies of her books. The visit marked her first appearance on an institution of higher learning’s campus in her native state since winning the Pulitzer Prize. Her most recent collection of poems, “Native Guard,” (Houghton Mifflin 2006) earned her the prestigious Pulitzer, as well as the 2007 Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Book Prize. “Today has been a wonderful day – to be welcomed back as a native daughter, it is a dream come true,” Trethewey explained. Learn more.

University Choirs to Join Forces with Mississippi Symphony Orchestra in Concert at Delta State

Delta State Sophomore Creates Design for Chamber's Octoberfest

Delta State Partners to Present First-Ever Mississippi Delta Children's Arts & Letters Festival

Delta State's Eubanks Named GSC Player of the Week; Established Two New League Records

JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
Jackson State University Online
http://www.jsums.edu/

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
MSU Enrollment Growth Enhancing Academic Programs
A "tuition dividend" of more than $1 million is being distributed among Mississippi State's academic units this fall as a result of increased enrollment. For the second year, 75 percent of new tuition revenue generated by enrollment growth--but not from tuition increases--is being returned to university teaching departments and colleges responsible for the larger student numbers. MSU's 2007 fall headcount is a record 17,039, up 938 from two years ago. "This process helps us to allocate resources in a way that is consistent with student demand and rewards departments that have been successful in helping boost enrollment, which is a key to institutional financial stability," President Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong said Tuesday [Oct. 9]. "A top priority for use of the funds will be providing instructional support for the new students who generated the new revenue," he added. Fall full-time-equivalent enrollment is up by more than 5 percent from the 2005 baseline, and the number of student credit hours being taught is up by 9 percent. Both categories of growth are reflected in a formula being used to distribute $1,057,697 this semester and next. Learn more.

MSU 'Iron' Woman to Compete in Hawaii

MSU Receives Papers of Tenn. Congresswoman

MSU Waterfowl, Wetland Ecologist Named International Fellow

Mississippi Security Conference Tackles Asian, Middle East Security Issues

MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY DIVISION OF AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND VETERINARY MEDICINE NEWS
Master Gardener Workers to Flood the Gulf Coast
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita packed a one-two punch that washed away the Gulf Coast landscape, but a flood of volunteerism generated by the Mississippi Master Gardener Association aims to restore what the storms destroyed. The association has set Oct. 24, 25, and 26 as special workdays for Master Gardeners throughout Mississippi and other states to “swarm” the Coast for Operation Rejuvenation, an ongoing project to refurbish public landscapes in Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties. The Mississippi State University Extension Service and the Mississippi Nursery and Landscape Association are partners in the project. “The Mississippi Master Gardener Association has taken its first giant step in a project that reaches across our state and has national implications for disaster relief efforts,” said Lelia Kelly, MSU consumer horticulture specialist and state coordinator for the Mississippi Master Gardener Program. Members of the association have created a fund to purchase plants and other supplies at Mississippi-owned nurseries and garden centers, which will provide a source of native plants and also help those businesses rebound. Master Gardener groups on the Gulf Coast already have rebuilt the area around the Child Center in Hancock County, the gardens at Gulfport High School, the John Henry Beck Park in Harrison County, the conference center in Gautier, and the landscape around the O’Keefe/Ore House in Ocean Springs. Learn more.

Original MSU Veterinary Faculty Member Named AU Distinguished Alumnus

MSU Trains Nursery Professionals

Seminar Targets Women Working in Agriculture

Veterinary Class of 2010 ‘Pays Forward’

MISSISSIPPI UNIVERSITY FOR WOMEN NEWS
MUW honors students participate in undergraduate research
The Ina E. Gordy Honors College at Mississippi University for Women awarded four grants to fund undergraduate student research. Proposals that were fully or partially funded this past year covered a range of subjects including music used in video games, leadership, English literature, and pop culture. Rachel Delk’s grant funded her trip to a conference, where she presented her research titled “A Video Gamer’s Use of Music in the Process of Self-Identification and Character Development.” Irene Miller traveled to Washington, D.C. for seven days in May for a seminar titled “Leaders on Leadership ’07: Critical Issues in the Age of Globalization.” The seminar immersed participants in the culture of Washington, D.C. from the historic monuments to current offices and organizations. Megan Stoner’s independent study senior project is titled “The Femme Fatale vs. The New Woman: Anti-feminism in Victorian Art and Poetry.” This summer, Stoner conducted research on a 10-day trip to London at the Tate’s Hyman Kreitman Research Centre, the British Library, the United Kingdom's Women’s Library, and the Royal Academy of Arts. While their focuses were different, the students agreed that undergraduate research is becoming increasingly important. All students who graduate with departmental honors at MUW complete a senior honors project. The Honors College supports this endeavor and related activity not only through faculty mentorship but also through student research grants. Learn more.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY NEWS
MVSU Celebrates Homecoming Oct. 14-20
Gospel music, a comedy show, and all the fanfare a homecoming parade can muster will be among the highlights of The Valley’s 2007 Homecoming celebration during Oct. 14-20. The Gospel Extravaganza will be held Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. in the H.G. Carpenter Auditorium. The MVSU Concert Choir, under the direction of Orlando Moss, will be joined by the Lee Cobbins Gospel Choir directed by Lee Cobbins; First United Baptist Church Senior Choir and Children's Choir directed by Lamondra Hamilton; New Zion Baptist Male Chorus directed by Kenneth Milton; Coahoma Community College Choir directed by Kelvin Towers; Humphreys County High School Concert Choir directed by Esther Scott; and the Golden Voices of Liberation of Greenville, directed by Dorothy Jones. Miss MVSU, Parkisha Davidson of Jackson, will celebrate her coronation on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Harrison HPER Complex. Afterwards, the annual Coronation Ball will be held. The MVSU National Alumni Association will hold its fall convention at the Devera Ball Alumni House beginning Oct. 19 at 8 a.m. Other activities include the Green and White Luncheon at noon in H.M. Ivy Cafeteria Dining Hall IV. The MVSU NAA is also planning a lunch on game day, Oct. 20, beginning at 2 p.m. at the Devera Ball Alumni House. Admission is $10. For more information, contact the Office of Student Activities, (662) 254-3526. For football tickets, contact the Cashier’s Office at (662) 254-3313. Learn more.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI NEWS
CERE Works to Improve Mathematics Education with New Funded Projects
New efforts to boost mathematics and science teaching in Mississippi's public schools by providing technology and intensive training for teachers are under way, thanks to two major grants to the Center for Educational Research and Evaluation at UM. The focus of the first grant, awarded by the National Science Foundation, is to gauge the effectiveness of a wireless system that links students' calculators with the teacher's PC to improve algebra scores for students who have learning disabilities or who are considered "at risk." The second grant, Developing Effective Leadership and Teaching Alternatives2, or Project Delta2, awarded by the Mississippi Department of Education's Mathematics and Science Partnership Program, helps train middle school math teachers to use different instructional approaches. Barbara J. Dougherty, the center's director and principal investigator for both grants, expects more than 1,000 middle and high school students to be involved with the NSF project. DELTA2, the largest CERE project, is a professional training grant that serves more than 100 middle school math teachers in some 30 schools across north Mississippi. Housed in the School of Education, CERE is a resource for the university and outside agencies that provides evaluation services to help find the best ways to practice education and prepare proposals. CERE provides services in grant writing, evaluation design, database management, and curriculum audits for K-12 schools. Learn more.

From Malaysia to Mississippi: Student Enjoys Robotics, Making New Friends

Physicists Get NSF Grant to Develop Equipment to Search for New Subatomic Particles

Archie Manning Duck Hunt is Fundraiser for Drew Community

Graduate Instructor Recognized for Excellence in Teaching Freshmen

Oct. 9 - Dec. 18 - A new exhibit entitled “Cleveland’s Historic Neighborhoods” is now on display at the Charlie W. Capps, Jr. Archives and Museum at Delta State. The exhibit which features a collection of memories, photographs, and other memorabilia will be on display through Dec. 18.