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February 17, 2003 Volume 27, Issue 24 |
State appropriations to Mississippi State will increase by about $6 million for the next fiscal year starting July 1 following three years of declining state support, President Charles Lee told last week's meeting of the general faculty.
The $6 million includes about $1.1 million needed to annualize the salary increases awarded last year and an estimated $304,000 for the general fund.
The higher education funding bill approved at the beginning of the current legislative session also provides $3.5 million for operation of the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems, which was part of the state's commitment to help attract a Nissan automobile plant to the state.
The remainder of the increase consists of $500,000 designated for economic development efforts to be used as the university determines and about $685,000 for separately budgeted units in the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine.
Statewide, Mississippi universities and state-funded financial aid programs will receive a $22 million boost in state funding next fiscal year, rather than a further $48 million cut that was recommended last fall by the joint Legislative Budget Committee.
Although the university's total revenues have grown from $418 million in 2000-2001 to an estimated $462 million this year, the proportion represented by state funding has declined from 35 percent to 32 percent during that time.
The funding bill for next year does not provide for additional salary increases. President Lee said that another tuition increase for next year is unlikely, as legislators and Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning members have expressed concern over rising costs faced by students and parents.
The Legislature has not yet adopted a capital improvements bond bill this year. Lee said the university's top requests are for $15 million to help fund a proposed $28 million expansion and renovation of Colvard Union; $1.5 million for infrastructure repairs; preplanning funds for a renovation of Harned Hall; and $9 million for a new agricultural and biological engineering building.
In his first general faculty appearance since dropping "interim" from the president's title last month, Lee reiterated his emphasis on the priorities of academic excellence and access, outreach and community development, research and economic development, and improving the stature of the university.
Touching on a variety of topics, the president reported that:
-- A search and screening committee for the next provost and vice president for academic affairs is being formed. Faculty elections for six of the 11 committee slots will be held this month prior to a meeting with a search consultant.
-- Dr. Gary Pike begins his duties as director of institutional research on March 1.
-- External reviews have been planned for the Physical Plant Department and the Division of Student Affairs.
-- The executive committee of the Association of Research Libraries voted not to recommend MSU membership in the organization during the current year, but a generally positive site visit report provides information needed to keep moving toward that goal. Lee thanked the University Libraries faculty and staff for significant gains and for making a good case to ARL.
-- The dollar value of research awards for the first six months of the current year is up by 18 percent compared with last year, and the number of proposals submitted during the six months is up by 28 percent from last year.
-- Freshman enrollment applications for next year are up by 2 percent from the same date last year.
-- Lee also outlined plans for developing a comprehensive planning and assessment process and a performance-based budget process for the university.
Robert Holland Faculty Senate chair Walter Diehl presented proposed changes to the faculty charter dealing with academic titles. The changes would be consistent with the university operating policy on faculty titles adopted last year. Diehl said information about the proposed changes would be e-mailed to faculty and a vote on the changes would be planned for next month.
This spring's faculty-administration roundtable discussion is planned for March 29 and probably will focus on the graduate program, Diehl said.
A video of the Feb. 10 faculty meeting should be available online at http://www.facultysenate.msstate.edu/faculty_senate.html .