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Leadership for the 21st Century
Mississippi State University Priorities and Goals
FY 2000-2004
Adopted May 1999; Revised May 2000

With progress reports as of fall 2002 in italic, as submitted by senior administrators

I. STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP IN UNDERGRADUATE INSTRUCTION

A. Mississippi State will become a premier public undergraduate teaching institution.

1. Every academic program at the university will be the best in Mississippi.

2. The university will attain prominence among public universities in adjacent states.

3. Select programs will be among the best in the nation.

• The Departments of Forestry and Forest Products have added FO 3123 (Forest Ecology and the Global Environment) to curricula within two of their academic options. The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has added WF 4453 (Natural Resources and International Cultures) to curricula within three of their academic options. (CFR/FWRC)
• A 20 percent increase in entering class size at the College of Veterinary Medicine provides an opportunity for more Mississippians to complete the professional veterinary medical curriculum. Over half of the practicing veterinarians in Mississippi received their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Mississippi State University. College of Veterinary Medicine. (CVM)

4. Class sizes will be reduced and the proportion of full-time faculty in the classroom will be increased. Seventy-five new faculty members will be employed at the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. Additional lecturers will be employed in selected disciplines.

• The ratio of students to instructional faculty:
  1997      18.3
  1998      18.0
  1999      17.2
  2000      17.0
  2001      17.0
  2002      18.7
• While the number of full-time faculty has increased over the past three years, the number of part-time faculty has increased more.
  

  	Full-time	Part-time	Ratio
  1999	892	128	.14
  2000	934	122	.13
  2001	930	182	.196

5. Academic units will establish specific measures of success in their disciplines and develop strategies to achieve them. The Office of Academic Affairs and the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Institutional Effectiveness will lead development of a university-wide academic assessment and reporting process.

• All academic units are required to have at least one learning objective in their annual planning document. These are submitted at year’s end and filed in the Office of Institutional Research.
• A joint pilot effort has been completed between MSU Information Technology Services and the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine to design and develop a data warehouse, maintaining selected data that is collected and used in tactical and strategic decisions.

6. A collaborative group will be established to deal with student services including academic advising, athletic advising, developmental programs, the Freshman Year Experience, the Learning Center, the Academic Advising Center, and Student Support Services. An advising group made up of faculty and professional staff will develop and conduct advising workshops, with particular emphasis on the needs of freshmen.

• While this was not done, an effort by most of these units was completed to assess the first-year experience of our students. This was done as part of a consortium effort with John Garner’s First Year Experience Center at Brevard College. The report’s major concern was related to the need to improve academic advising. [Academic Affairs]
• Some attention has been given to these issues.However, a more systematic approach needs to be used in developing and implementing programs and services for at-risk students and freshmen by having an organized committee consisting of key people from these units to work on this goal, which would be a more effective approach than what is currently in place. [Student Affairs]
• Thirty-eight CFR faculty are involved in academic advising.(CFR/FWRC). The College of Forest Resources hosts two academic advising workshops each year.(CFR/FWRC) – [DAFVM]

7. The University Honors Program will expand access to lower-division honors courses for talented students and provide increased opportunities for study abroad, internships, and independent research. Upper division Honors Program components will be established in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business and Industry, and Engineering.

• The "H" designation was established to ease the identification of offerings for honors credit. This should increase the number of honor credit hours in both lower and upper level courses. The “H” designation allows all departments to designate honors core level courses. Biomedical engineering recommends an honors curriculum, including designated upper division courses for the major. The effects of this change are yet to be seen.
• Recent enrollment for the last few years indicates a decrease in the number of credit hours for honors. The change above may rectify this. The data:
  2001-2002=1,330 students in courses/1,416 student projects
       Fall 2001: 44 courses (816 students)/38 projects(854 students)
       Spring 2002: 39 courses (514 students)/48 projects (562 students)
  2002-2003(Est.)=1,011 students in courses/1,054 student projects
       Fall 2002:46 courses (567 students)/43 projects (610 students)
       Spring 2003: 41 courses (444 students)/ projects TBA

8. A campus-wide Center for International Programs will be established and a global perspective will be integrated throughout the curriculum.

• Since joining the College Consortium for Study Abroad, MSU has had 45 students and five faculty participate. We are currently exploring an affiliation with International Study Abroad to increase opportunities for both students and faculty. [Academic Affairs]

9. Academic Affairs will lead development of a coordinated approach to academically oriented summer programs for high school students.

B. Mississippi State students will be the most academically talented in Mississippi and will be among the best in the region, and students and faculty will be recognized for excellence.

1. The average composite ACT score for entering freshmen will increase to 25.

• The average ACT went from 23.1 in the fall of 2000 to 23.5 in the fall of 2001 to 23.8 in the fall of 2002.

2. The six-year graduation rate will be at least 60 percent.

• 1994 freshman cohort:47.2 percent
  1995 freshman cohort: 50.7 percent
  1996 freshman cohort: 53 percent

3. At least 55 percent of the Mississippi university students who score 28 or higher on the ACT will enroll at Mississippi State.

• This percentage was 43.4 percent for fall 2000, 43.4 percent for fall 2001, and 46.1 percent for fall 2002.

4. At least 40 percent of the National Merit Scholars from Mississippi will attend Mississippi State.

• The number of entering freshman National Merit/Achievement Scholars was of 32 in 2000, 29 in 2001, and 37 in 2002. MSU has enrolled 30 to 34 percent of the state’s National Merit Scholars each year.

5. The university will produce a Truman Scholar each year and a Rhodes Scholar within five years, as well as winners of other national scholarships and awards, including Goldwater Scholarships and All-USA College Academic Team recognition.

• An MSU student has not been named a Truman Scholar since 1998, but other national awards have included:
  Goldwater Scholars:
  1999 = 3
  2000 = 1
  2001 = 1
  Morris Udall Fellows:
  2000 = 1
  2001 = 1
  James Madison Fellow:
  2000 = 1

6. Individual students and chapters of professional and honor societies will win regional and national competitions.

• Randy DeYoung, a Ph.D. candidate in Wildlife and Fisheries, received the Southeast Deer Study Group’s Outstanding Student Presentation Award at its 2002 Annual Meeting. (CFR/FWRC)
• One veterinary student participated in the 12-week Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine Leadership Program in summer 2002. (CVM)
• Nine professional students participated in CVM’s Summer 2002 Research Program for Veterinary Students. The program is supported by the National Institutes of Health and Merck-Merial.(CVM)
• Six students attended the Merck National Symposium on veterinary student research at Purdue University (August 2002.)(CVM)

7. A Mississippi State faculty member will be named the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Professor of the Year in Mississippi at least every other year.

• Dr. Nancy Hargrove was the Mississippi Professor of the year for 2000 and Dr. Michael Neumann was Mississippi Professor of the Year for 2001. (A Millsaps professor won the 2002 award).

8. A faculty member will be named the CASE National Professor of the Year.

C. Mississippi State will build on its history as the People's University by ensuring access and support for students from all sectors of the population.

1. African-American enrollment will reach 20 percent of total enrollment.

• This percentage was 17.9 percent for the fall of 2000, 18 percent for the fall of 2001, and 18 percent for the fall of 2002.
• In the spring 2002 semester, the CFR had 22 females and 20 minorities enrolled in graduate education and 35 females and 12 minorities enrolled in undergraduate education.(CFR/FWRC)

2. Meridian Campus funding and program offerings, including interactive courses offered via distance learning, will be enhanced.

• The funding at Meridian has not increased, but there continues to be an increase in the number of interactive courses being shared between the two campuses. For example, the new Ph.D. in community college leadership will be taught partly on the Meridian Campus.
• Increasingly, committee meetings are conducted on the interactive network to facilitate involvement by Meridian faculty and staff.

3. Cooperation will increase between the Starkville and Meridian campuses in areas related to faculty recruitment, tenure, and promotion.

• A new document has been developed that specifies the procedures for implementing the promotion and tenure policies to faculty on that campus.

4. Meridian Campus enrollment will increase to 1,000.

	Undergraduate	Graduate	Total
Fall 1995	436	235	671
Fall 1996	442	259	701
Fall 1997	481	298	779
Fall 1998	469	268	737
Fall 1999	443	267	710
Fall 2000	489	232	721
Fall 2001	523	207	730
Fall 2002	498	164	662

4. Enrollment of community college graduates will increase by 10 percent.

• The number of first time community college transfer students was 1,551 in fall 2000, 1,590 in fall 2001, and 1,483 in fall 2002.

5. Cooperative academic programs with community colleges and other universities will be expanded.

• The College of Education is engaged in a program with Northeast Mississippi Community College in which the university offers the undergraduate and graduate programs in elementary education on the community college campus.
• A joint program is being implemented for a Master of Workforce Education Leadership with Alcorn State University. This will be a joint degree program. Similarly, the College of Forest Resources is proposing joint undergraduate degree programs with Alcorn State University in Forest Resources.

7. The university will ensure full access to academic programs for persons with disabilities.

• When faculty develop new teaching methods, i.e., on line courses, computer programs for specific courses, and other innovations in instruction, consideration should be given to including access for persons with disabilities. Access to computer labs continues to be a problem at for students with disabilities.Some academic labs are not equipped with the hardware or the software that would meet ADA compliance.[Student Affairs]

II. ENHANCE NATIONAL PROMINENCE IN RESEARCH

A. Attain recognition as a top-tier national research university.

1. The university will rank among the top 50 public research universities as reported by the National Science Foundation.

• The National Science Foundation ranked MSU 57^th among public universities in science and engineering research and development expenditures in its survey for 2000. Rankings for 2001 are scheduled but have not been released.
• MAFES contributes the largest part of the $55 million attributed to agriculture R&D funds by NSF. (MAFES)
• MSU ranks 5^th nationally in Agriculture R&D expenditures.(MAFES)
• Within the southern region MAFES has moved from number 5 in 1995 to number 1 in 1997 for return on investment. (MAFES)
• MAFES scientists have increased leveraging from $0.43 per state dollar invested in FY 1998 to $0.78 per dollar in FY 2001. Overall leveraging is $225,000 per SY. (MAFES)
• The newly created Institute for Furniture Manufacturing and Management will provide workforce education and training to furniture and related industries to maintain competitiveness of the workforce. (CFR/FWRC)
• A team of MSU-CVM, CES and ARS professionals has been awarded a competitive USDA three year grant of over of $1 million to support research that will assist Mississippi poultry processors in meeting food safety requirements for their products.(CVM)
• Researchers in CVM’s Center for Environmental Health Sciences are conducting studies to evaluate the safety of common flea control products for pets’ owners and the environment. Efforts to determine if young children are more susceptible to these products than adults are an important aspect of this study. (CVM)

2. Science and engineering research expenditures as reported by the National Science Foundation will increase to $130 million a year.

• MSU reported science and engineering expenditures of $148 million for FY 2001. Calculation of expenditures for 2002 should be completed in January 2003 for reporting to NSF.
• MAFES has been central to the securing of funds and establishment of the Remote Sensing Technologies Center. Approximately $5 million has been received to support advanced spatial technologies in agriculture. (MAFES)
• MAFES has taken the lead at MSU in promoting biotechnology and has invested $1.75 million to date in start up to the Institute infrastructure, salaries, and research effort. (MAFES)

3. Federal grant awards as reported by the National Science Foundation will increase to $60 million a year.

• Federal grant awards for FY 2001 totaled more than $78 million and the total for FY 2002 is almost $82 million.
• From calendar year 1988 to 2001 awards to MAFES scientists increased 374% from $11,290,150 to $42,318,860. (MAFES)
• The Forest and Wildlife Research Center research expenditures totaled $4,666,575.00 for FY2002. (CFR/FWRC)
• The Forest and Wildlife Research Center submitted 151 proposals during FY2002. Of these, 138 were funded for a total of $5,380,073.00. (CFR/FWRC)

4. The library will become a member of the Association of Research Libraries.

• An ARL site visit took place in fall 2002 and consideration of MSU for membership is scheduled for 2003.

5. The number of doctoral degrees awarded in engineering, physical sciences, environmental sciences, mathematics, computer sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and cognitive science will increase to 75 a year.

• The totals of doctoral degrees awarded in these areas were 73 in FY 1999, 82 in FY 2000, and 66 in FY 2001. The totals for all doctoral degrees were 154 in FY 1999, 177 in FY 2000, and 147 in FY 2001.
• The College of Forest Resources awarded 5 doctoral degrees and 16 masters' degrees during the spring of 2002. (CFR/FWRC)

6. Endowed chairs will be created in remote sensing, biotechnology, and computational analysis.

• Endowed chairs have been added in the College of Engineering in three areas related to advanced vehicular systems. Funding for several more has recently been made available by a major contribution of $25 million.

7. Teaching and research loads will be equivalent to those at peer institutions.

• Teaching and research loads appear to be equivalent.

8. The number of refereed journal articles by faculty accepted for publication will increase to ___ and the number of patents awarded as a result of university research will increase to __.

• The faculty averaged 3.01 publications in FY 2000, 3.09 in FY 2001, and 2.86 in FY 2002.
• From FY 1999 through FY 2001, the university averaged 2.4 disclosures and 0.6 licenses per $10 million in research expenditures.
• MAFES averaged 6.14 publications per scientist in 2001.(MAFES)
• MAFES released two new cotton cultivars in 2002. (MAFES)
• Faculty and staff in the Forest and Wildlife Research Center had 67 refereed publications published during FY 2002. (CFR/FWRC)

9. The university will build on strengths in food science, veterinary medicine, and other areas to develop an interdisciplinary emphasis in food safety.

10. New graduate programs will be created in selected areas.

• A new graduate program in biomedical engineering was approved by IHL.
• A new undergraduate program in software engineering was the first accredited in the nation. A parallel graduate program is expected.

11. A faculty member will be elected to the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Science.

12. A faculty member in each discipline served by a professional organization that awards the distinction of "fellow" will be recognized as such.

• The university has averaged approximately two fellows per year for the past three years.
• MAFES has eleven faculty members who have been awarded the distinction "fellow" by a professional organization. (MAFES)
• Dr. Bob Daniels was named a fellow in the Society of American Foresters.(CFR/FWRC)

13. Reward structures will be developed to recognize faculty for achievements.

• Beginning in 2002-2003, faculty members will be honored for outstanding teaching at the undergraduate level with $10,000 Grisham Teaching Excellence Awards. Plans call for two awards from endowment earnings during the first year and three per year thereafter. The new Grisham Teaching Excellence Awards will renew and expand a faculty recognition program that MSU graduate and novelist John Grisham started in 1993. Since then, more than 50 faculty members have been honored with teaching awards supported by previous gifts. Recipients of the new Grisham Teaching Excellence Awards may come from any academic department and will be chosen annually by the provost and a committee of faculty, administrators, and students. Winners will become eligible for the award again after eight years.
• Dr. Lou D’Abramo was honored as the 2002 Outstanding Faculty Member at MSU during the statewide Higher Education Appreciation Day Working for Academic Excellence (HEADWAE) program for outstanding contributions to higher education in Mississippi. (CFR/FWRC)
• Wildlife and Fisheries student Chad Dacus, along with faculty member Rich Minnis and MDWFP employee Jim Wilcutt, were awarded the Best Paper of the Year in the Law Enforcement Section at the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. (CFR/FWRC)
• Dr. Hal Schramm recently was awarded the Outstanding Research Award from the American Fisheries Society. The award was given "in recognition for going the extra mile in sharing the value of fisheries science with the general public through the popular media and other communication channels". (CFR/FWRC)
• Dr. Michael Barnes received the Forest Products Society’s 2002 Fred W. Gottschalk Memorial Award. The award recognizes and honors exceptional service to the international organization by an individual member. (CFR/FWRC)
• Staff member Karen Brasher received four awards from the 2001 Golden Triangle Advertising Federation American Advertising Awards.

III. PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE PARTNERSHIPS

Expand partnerships with business and industry, communities, local governments, and public education to apply university expertise to issues affecting Mississippi's citizens and to increase state revenues.

1. Relationships with the Mississippi Research and Technology Park will be strengthened and high-wage jobs will be recruited to the park.

• The Research and Technology Park is now almost filled with the following structures: ERC, the Multi-tenant Building, TVA, DIAL, Service Zone, CAVS, Viking Range, and the Powe Innovative Technology Center.
• Mississippi State has had a prominent role in recruiting new industries to the state, including a major Nissan plant, an American Eurocopter plant, and Viking Range’s new research facility.

2. The number of spin-off companies created will average three per year.

• Direct spin-off companies are averaging about two per year.
• Incubated high technology companies are averaging an additional two per year.

3. The number of license agreements will average 10 a year.

• License agreements are averaging about five per year.
• Expanding steadily. (MAFES)
• Eighteen of the 48 patents held by MSU were originated in the FWRC. (CFR/FWRC)
• Aquatic disease researchers at the College of Veterinary Medicine are developing molecular biology based tests for existing and yet to be identified catfish diseases. Similar techniques are being utilized to produce vaccines that offer promise for the control common pathogens of channel catfish.(CVM)
• In FY02, the Forest and Wildlife Research Center generated 1 new license agreement. Income generated in FY02 through license agreements was $21,740. This brings the current number of license agreements within the Forest and Wildlife Research Center to 8 with a total income of $146,850 to the University. (CFR/FWRC)

4. The university will strengthen and maintain partnerships with major agribusiness industries and commodity groups.

• Mississippi State's Forest and Wildlife Research Center is beginning an assessment of both company and individual employee needs in the state's forest products industry. Commissioned recently by the Mississippi Development Authority, the five-month project will employ a cluster analysis to identify ways to enhance the competitive advantages of various industry sectors. The project also will assess the readiness of the currently available workforce and of the projected workforce through the year. (CFR/FWRC)
• On July 1, 2002 the Mississippi Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Jackson merged with the College of Veterinary Medicine at MSU. The laboratory personnel are now MSU-CVM faculty and staff. This organizational change will allow the College of Veterinary Medicine to more rapidly and efficiently address emerging animal diseases that could negatively impact the profitability of the state’s animal industry.(CVM)
• Aquatic researchers and diagnosticians at the College of Veterinary Medicine have provided information and diagnostic services to assist state wildlife fisheries biologists in controlling large mouth bass virus and other diseases in wild fish populations in Mississippi. The sports fishing industry in the state is a major contributor to the state’s economy. (CVM)
• The Pathobiology and Population Medicine department processed 14,362 case submissions, which includes 474 mammalian necropsies and 119,506 tests done at CVM, 1879 submissions done at the Poultry Research & Diagnostic Lab, and 1742 submissions done at the Aquatic diagnostic lab in Stoneville. Faculty made 1476 farm calls with 10,589,446 animals examined or treated (Note: includes poultry house and pond counts).(CVM)

5. The university will work with public schools and community colleges to secure federal and state grants for workforce development and training.

6. Teacher preparation programs will stress skills and competencies that meet employer expectations and will work with public schools to enhance instruction in foreign languages, mathematics, science, and technology.

7. The university will increase 4-H youth development enrollment and educational opportunities and continue to be the largest youth-serving organization in Mississippi.

• Over 125,000 youth participated in 4-H last year; including 17,091 members of 1,184 4-H community-based clubs; in one of 2,388 4-H special interest groups; and 60,403 involved in 3,550 4-H school enrichment groups.(MSU-ES)
• To celebrate 100 years of 4-H programs, county 4-H programs organized 35 local conversations to discuss issues. Over 1,000 youth and adults attended the conversations. (MSU-ES)
• More than 300 teen leaders helped guide younger 4-H'ers last year by leading programs in personal growth and development, goal setting, communication, leadership skills, and interpersonal relationships. (MSU-ES)
• More than 4,638 youth and 865 adults worked together in planning, writing, submitting and receiving Community Pride grants that enabled them to improve their community through environmental projects. (MSU-ES)
• More than 611 youth aged 8 to 12 in pilot programs in Claiborne, Jefferson, Harrison, and Tishomingo Counties have participated in the decision-making program, Health Rocks, taught by more than 25 teens. (MSU-ES)
• More than 36,000 youth are enrolled in healthy lifestyle education. This program helps youth make wise choices about their physical and mental health.(MSU-ES)

8. The university will expand research-based family and consumer education extension/outreach programs that will be delivered statewide.

• The Family Nutrition Program (FNP) reached over 98,428 Mississippians. Among the areas of improvement that were documented are: food safety; increased vegetable and fruit consumption; decreased fat, sugar, and salt intake; food resource management; and planning and goal setting. (MSU-ES)
• Over 60 Extension agents throughout the state offered ServSafe food safety certification training sessions to more than 7,800 individuals in over 390 classes. Facilities represented in the training were hospitals, nursing homes, schools, restaurants, childcare facilities, Head Start, Department of Corrections, caterers, and others. The 16-hour certification program addresses critical issues such as the importance of proper personal hygiene, cross contamination, time and temperature abuse, safe preparing and serving of food, hazard analysis critical control points, and cleaning and sanitizing.(MSU-ES)
• More than 15,000 youth and 4,000 adults participated in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) to increase their nutrition knowledge and skills. Over 50 paraprofessional nutrition educators in 37 counties delivered the educational program to limited resource families. Youth programs included Head Start, kindergartens, day care facilities, Boys and Girls Clubs, and other special interest groups. Participants in the adult program included homemakers, TANF recipients, Even Start, Community Counseling, WIC, and high school mothers.(MSU-ES)
• The Nurturing Homes Initiative (NHI) project reached 150 family home providers in 16 counties. The program uses a nationally-normed assessment tool, the Family Day Care Rating Scale (FDCRS), to assess the quality of childcare provided by the family home providers. As a result of the NHI, significant improvements were made in the quality of childcare provided by all of the providers participating. In addition, 77% of the providers scored above the national median score of the FDCRS. The program, which is delivered through a unique distance education system utilizing a Web TV system and supported with printed educational materials, provides training that is time efficient and economically feasible for family home providers. (MSU-ES)
• The MSU Extension Service, as part of a statewide partnership, printed and distributed through local Extension offices 20,000 postcards to encourage women to have an annual mammogram. Immediately following the mail-out campaign, a three-month increase in the utilization of breast cancer screening was reported.(MSU-ES)
• The Rural Medical Scholars (RMS) tries to "grow local docs" for the state by identifying talented and interested high school students and exposing them to academics and experiences relevant to the life of a family medicine physician. During the program, the scholars enroll in two pre-medicine courses, "shadow" local physicians, and participate in a variety of activities related to rural physicians. To date, 107 students have participated in the RMS program; with 93 percent indicating that they were "certain of" or "considering" attending medical school. (MSU-ES)
• Mississippi Homemaker Volunteers, Inc. (MHV) extends the educational outreach of Extension Service by providing service and education to Mississippi communities. MHV supplies the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children at the University of Mississippi Medical Center with supplies, contributing 58,847 items this year. During the past year, almost 3,300 MHV members representing 256 clubs in 66 counties contributed 370,401 volunteer hours with an economic value of $5,493,054. (MSU-ES)

9. The university will increase extension/outreach programming in agriculture and forestry, business and industry, and community and government leadership.

• Production of Mississippi farm-raised catfish was approximately 381 million pounds this past year, approximately 70% of the total catfish production in the United States. Extension programs helped the industry generate over $261 million in sales. (MSU-ES)
• Extension programs continue to improve producer competencies in corn production. Mississippi corn acreage increased 2.5% and farm gate value increased $30 million.(MSU-ES)
• Average production of farms using SMART soybean management this past year was 42.7 bushels per acre, 9.7 bushels per acre higher than the state average. Assuming average price and if only 50% of the state’s soybean acreage adopted SMART practices, the program would generate over $18 million of increased income for the state’s producers. (MSU-ES)
• Eight meat and poultry and eleven seafood HACCP training sessions were conducted at various locations around the state. A total of 543 participants attended the 2-3 day training sessions, 335 meat and poultry industry personnel and 208 seafood-processing personnel. This training enabled processors to meet USDA requirements for compliance with federal pathogen reduction standards.(MSU-ES)
• Since 1997, MSU-ES has conducted management training for the state’s 1,000 rural water systems and small municipalities; 160 workshops have been held, with more than 3,900 board members trained. This program improves the management skills of rural water boards of directors and small municipal mayors and boards of aldermen to ensure a safe water supply for rural community residents and to support economic development. (MSU-ES)
• MSU-ES assisted in the layout and startup of continuous flow assembly lines at three furniture manufacturers and trained employees in their operation. These new lines have significantly increased productivity, improved worker ergonomics, and reduced costs. Overall plant process and materials flow have been analyzed at four other furniture-manufacturing plants with changes implemented that will impact 3000 workers. (MSU-ES)
• MSU-ES provided technical assistance to a day care operator in Attala County over a two-year period that resulted in the development of a new facility for her business. CRD Specialists developed a financial decision aid template that allowed the director to determine how much money she could borrow and service. A loan was secured for $120,000 to relocate the day care center. (MSU-ES)
• Certification and annual recertification entitles approximately 450 county assessors and appraisers to over $800,000 in annual salary supplements of up to $3,500 each. (MSU-ES)
• Integrated Resource Management (IRM) training for beef cattle producers has led to a 10% average improvement in pregnancy rate in cows and an 8% improvement in calf weaning weights. Combined with the use of production-tested bulls, profit per calf has increased for IRM producers by $50/calf. Those producers who retained ownership through the feedlot have added an additional $70.40 per head profit. IRM could increase producer profits by $1.2 million annually via increased income or reduced costs. (MSU-ES)
• Extension continued to reach almost 248,000 regular viewers each week with its Farmweek television program and made 850,790 total customer contacts this past year. (MSU-ES)
• Extension Forestry short courses and workshops reached over 1,400 landowners and impacted over 590,000 acres of forestland. Logger education programs reached over 900 logging contractors and employees. Program evaluations indicated that the value of information from these programs was worth over $13.5 million. Additionally, there were five workshops serving 387 underserved owners of over 41,000 forested acres. These underserved landowners valued the information received at over $3 million. (MSU-ES)

10. The university will continue to move toward a global perspective in research and service and will strengthen and maintain partnerships with universities, research institutes, and corporations in other countries.

• Mississippi State is teaming with an Australian company to locate an engineered-lumber pilot plant on the Starkville campus. The university’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center is working with TimTek, a firm with offices in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and Clarkesville, Ga., to develop a commercial market for a process the company has developed. The pilot plant will demonstrate the new product and spur opportunities within the state and the region for new companies.(CFR/FWRC)
• A veterinary medical sciences graduate student was awarded a travel grant from the International Association of Aquatic Animal Medicine to attend their meeting in Italy (May 2002.) (CVM)

IV. EXPAND HUMAN RESOURCES TO ENSURE QUALITY

A. Increase faculty and staff salaries.

1. Faculty salaries will reach the Southern University Group average.

• The CFR/FWRC increased salaries by an average of 4% beginning in FY03.(CFR/FWRC)

2. Staff salaries will be competitive with the market.

• Staff salaries are at 84.4% of the market, based on preliminary studies.
• The CFR/FWRC increased salaries by an average of 4% beginning in FY03.(CFR/FWRC)

3. A staff classification study will be completed to establish baseline data on the relevant job market and establish uniform position descriptions and requirements.

• The compensation study was completed in December 1999, reviewed by the vice presidents in February 2000 and the president in March 2000.

B. Ensure that the university is inclusive at all levels.

1. The university will increase the proportion of minorities and women in EEOC categories in which they are under-represented.

2. The affirmative action plan will be enhanced to include minority-hiring goals, guidelines for "grow-your-own" initiatives, and other active strategies to enhance diversity; to ensure equal access to positions by persons with disabilities; and to include guidelines on the employment of spouses.

V. OFFER HIGH-QUALITY RESIDENTIAL LIFE FOR STUDENTS

A. Enhance student housing and campus facilities.

1. Three existing residence halls will be renovated.

• Accomplished and on-going; as of 2002, the Department of Housing and Residence Life has renovated the following residence halls: Sessums, McKee, Critz, and Cresswell. Hathorn Hall will be renovated by August 2003.The overall goal is to have all residence halls and apartment complexes at Mississippi State fully renovated over the next 10-15 years, at a rate of one facility per year.

2. Public-private partnerships will be developed to provide apartment-style on-campus student housing.

• Not accomplished. The apartments project which was designed and bid during 1999 was not feasible financially for the university. Public-private partnerships were explored to build this project, but legislative action to authorize this option was not passed. The Department of Housing and Residence Life is talking with a private developer to facilitate construction of an apartment complex for students adjacent to the MSU campus. Another avenue being explored is the feasibility of private donations to expedite the renovation and construction process.

3. Colvard Union will be renovated to improve programs, services, and operation.

• In conjunction with the Bureau of Buildings an architectural firm has been hired to preplan the design of the renovation. The preplanning has been completed, approved by the MSU Campus Planning and Development Committee and submitted to the Bureau. Representatives from Student Affairs and Business Affairs will continue to seek information and visit other recently constructed or renovated unions prior to final planning. Funding is being sought from state and private sources.

4. Lodge-type facilities will be constructed for use by campus organizations, including African-American fraternities and sororities.

• Lodge-type facilities will be constructed for use by campus organizations, including African-American fraternities and sororities.
• An architect has designed a concept for lodges for organizations, and that concept has been reviewed by potential student organization occupants, including historically African-American fraternities and sororities, and approved by Campus Planning. Funding sources still have to be identified.

5. An outdoor swimming pool will be constructed.

• A site has been selected near the RecPlex on the South Farm and schematic designs have been approved. Funding of $1 to $1.5 million is needed. No action has been taken on this project due to the lack of funding. Schematic drawings of a recreational pool (with zero-depth entry, water features, picnic areas, a locker, office, and concessions building, and adequate parking) were made in 1998 by Weatherford/McDade, Ltd., the architects who designed the RecPlex. These drawings can be obtained from the Recreational Sports office. I recommend that this project remain a goal and that the University aggressively seek a donor for the project. However, the 1998 price tag given this project may need to be re-evaluated and modifications to the design (or the price tag) made as necessary. The reality is that any outdoor swimming facility built by the University will be heavily used by the Starkville community, not just the students and staff of MSU. An alternate source of funding for this project may be a joint effort between the University and the city.

B. Continually review and improve programs to promote and protect the health and safety of university students.

1. The university will heighten efforts to educate students about substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases, and other dangerous behaviors.

• Hired additional graduate service assistants and utilized health promotion interns to expand outreach in the areas of mental and physical health consequences of risky behaviors.
• Increased collaborative efforts with other campus departments and grant-sponsored programs to enhance the numbers of students reached.
• Increased the participation of students in the Health Practices Survey to assess students’ knowledge of health issues and to determine appropriate health education programming based on survey conclusions.
• Developed new, more student-oriented, media for getting health information to students.
• Developed a peer educator-training program, which will focus on risky sexual behavior, alcohol and drug issues, and eating disorders.

2. The university will expand and enhance education efforts and security operations to minimize campus crime.

• The university will continue to provide educational opportunities and law enforcement services within the limits of its resources.
• The University Police Department currently provides services 24 hours-a-day throughout the year and continues to do so to the best of its ability. However, approximately one-third of the university’s police officers are members of the Army Reserves or National Guard. A large-scale call to active military duty as a result of America’s war on terrorism will substantially affect the ability of the department to provide services and 24 hour-a-day coverage.
• The University Police Department has been successful in recruiting highly qualified individuals as police officers. Good, qualified police officers are extremely important to the provision of quality law enforcement services. Retention of these officers remains a major issue. Steps that have been taken to enhance retention include reducing the number of police officers and using the extra salaries to increase the salaries of the remaining officers. Implementing a Master Police Officer program, and providing enhanced access to specialized assignments. However, as other local agencies continue to pay higher salaries and offer greater benefits and as fewer individuals choose to pursue a career in law enforcement, recruitment and retention are expected to eventually become critical issues.
• The University Police Department, individually and in conjunction with other university departments, continues to educate individuals regarding crime prevention and safety issues by providing programming on campus. This includes the Rape Aggression Defense Programs for men or women, and the Police Department Information Table that is periodically offered at the Sanderson Center throughout the semester.
• The University Police Department previously had two officers assigned full-time to the residence halls. This popular program received many positive comments. This program allowed officers to provide crime prevention and personal safety education on a consistent basis. Additionally, it gave officers the opportunity to closely interact with students and housing staff members. Regrettably, the budget situation resulted in the cancellation of this program. However, when the budget situation is remedied and police officer staffing is increased to an acceptable level, reinstatement of this program will be a high priority.
• The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 created new responsibilities for the University Police Department in protecting the campus and its community. Officers continue to work closely with other university departments and off-campus groups using campus facilities to enhance personal safety and the protection of university property. Additionally, officers are working with local and federal law enforcement agencies to share intelligence information and participate in training.
• Generally, despite the budget situation, the attitudes and commitment levels demonstrated by University Police Department officers and support staff towards their duties is positive. We recognize that this is a great university and understand our role in helping to protect it and its community.

VI. PROVIDE EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

A. Require accountability of academic and administrative units and strengthen budget management.

1. Resources will be reallocated to support university priorities.

• MAFES has instituted a new performance review process to evaluate the following aspects of its research investment: quality, number of publications, leveraging of funds, and impacts. (MAFES)
• The CFR/FWRC has reduced faculty and staff positions by 11.54 FTEs since FY01.(CFR/FWRC)

2. The university will eliminate reliance on lapsed salaries for recurring expenditures and operational support.

3. Duplication in administrative and academic support services will be reduced and unnecessary positions will be eliminated to support movement toward fewer but better paid staff members.

4. A university motor pool will be established.

5. Meaningful performance reviews will be conducted annually for all staff and will be linked to salary adjustments.

6. Academic deans will ensure that each faculty member's teaching load is consistent with his or her research and service productivity.

• Teaching loads of approximately 60 faculty members were increased in 2000-2001 as a result of low productivity in research.

B. Ensure private sector support for the university.

1. Private contributions from all sources will increase to $50 million a year.

• Total funds raised in year 99-00 were $40.6 million; year 00-01 were $55.7 million; year 01-02 were $74.4 million. For two years in a row the goal of $50 million per year has been exceeded.
• In 2000, MAFES received $3.06 million in private gifts.(MAFES)
• Gifts to the CFR were $1,504,541 for FY2001-2002.(CFR/FWRC)
• The CFR has received timberland gifts of 510 acres for research and teaching purposes. The timberland gifts were received during FY02. (CFR/FWRC)

2. The university endowment will increase to $250 million.

• The endowment is $136 million (as of June 30, 2002). The down economy has had a negative effect on the market value of the endowment. (Note: If the present market conditions do not improve over the next year, the 2004 goal of $250 million may have to be revised downward).

3. The scholarship portion of the endowment will increase to $100 million.

• Scholarship endowments total $78.4 million. The down economy has had a negative effect on the market values of endowed scholarship funds.

4. Corporate and foundation support will increase to $14 million a year.

• The average of the last three years is $24.1 million: $15.5 million in 99-00, $26.1 million in 00-01, and $30.9 in 01-02. The goal of $14 million a year has been exceeded in each of the last 3 years.

5. Fund raising will focus on scholarships, endowed chairs, building renovations, and library acquisitions.

• Funds are still being raised for the renovation of McCain Hall. A fund raising plan for the renovation of Bowen Hall is in development. A fund raising plan for the construction of a band hall is underway. A new alumni and foundation building Hunter Henry Center) has been completed, and fund raising for completion of the project as well as the funding of an operating endowment is still under way. The James Bagley commitment of $25 million to name the College of Engineering will provide endowments, fellowships and facility enhancements. Numerous endowments have been created in various colleges and schools. Most deans have identified as priorities for the campaign the need for endowed chairs, fellowships and building additions. A verbal commitment of $5 million has been made to build an addition to McCool Hall.

6. The university will join with other colleges and universities to create a partnership with state government that provides some state matching funds for private gifts in support of scholarships and/or endowed chairs.

• Conversations are still under way with other universities and state officials. Current weak economic times in the state will likely not permit implementation of such a program prior to 2004.

7. The university will plan and begin a comprehensive major gifts campaign.

• As of July 1, 2001, the university is in the silent phase of a campaign. To date, over $80 million have been committed in the form of gifts, pledges and deferred gifts. The announcement of the public phase of the campaign is not expected until after the announcement of a new president.

Increase understanding of the university's unique role in the state as a land-grant, research institution and heighten national visibility.

1. External communications will support university priorities and will be recognized regionally and nationally for excellence.

• University Relations also won Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) awards of excellence in 2001 for feature writing in Alumnus magazine and for an email newsletter distributed to alumni and friends, and a special merit award in public affairs in for a program introducing new faculty and staff to the state. The Research magazine "Windows" won a first place award in 2002 in competition sponsored by the Printing Association of the South.
• The CFR/FWRC produced 23 news releases during FY2002. Additionally, FWRC faculty produced 129 publications, developed 7 software packages, and produced 3 newsletters. (CFR/FWRC)

2. External communications will help build greater national visibility in areas of particular strength.

• A two-year association with national university relations counselors Gehrung Associates has helped Mississippi State cultivate national media contacts and establish a recurring presence in premier media outlets. Over the past year, the University Relations-Gehrung team has generated stories about MSU in the Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Washington Post, USA Today, and on National Public Radio, as well as a host of regional and syndicated publications. Use of national news services such as ProfNet and SciNews has generated MSU placements in publications as varied as the Sacramento Bee and the Abilene Reporter-News. Areas currently being marketed to national media include automotive engineering, cognitive science, computer security, rural health research, remote sensing, and wildlife research.

D. Improve and sustain relationships with alumni and friends.

1. The Alumni Association will be the premier organization among its peers and will be recognized for excellence regionally and nationally.

• >The Alumni Association continues to submit alumni programs for recognition through CASE District 3. The Association has received the following awards:Grand Award: Educational Fund-Raising Programs -1995; Award of Excellence: Institutional Relations Programs - 1996; Special Merit Award:Alumni Relations Project, Mississippi State University Alumni Fellows Program - 2000. The Association won a CASE Award of Excellence in 2002 for its observance of the 100^th anniversary of the Maroon Band.
• The Alumni Association continues to exemplify leadership roles: Libba Andrews, Associate Director, currently serves as Treasurer of CASE District 3 and is being asked to serve as President-Elect; Michael Richardson, Coordinator of Chapter Programs, was a presenter at the 2001 CASE District 3 Conference; Vickie Brown, Associate Director, and Frances Carr, Coordinator of Data Management, were presenters at the 2000 Mississippi Community and Junior College Inter-Alumni Associations Annual Conference - Alumni Data Collection and Maintenance; Vickie Brown and Libba Andrews were presenters at the 2001 Mississippi Community and Junior College Inter-Alumni Associations Annual Conference - Alumni Web Design; John Correro, Executive Director, served as the 2000 President of the Alumni Directors of the Southeastern Conference; the Association hosted the 2000 Fall Conference of ADSEC on campus.

2. New alumni service programs and new alumni chapters will be established.

• The on-line directory was officially launched in the Spring of 2002. This service allowed alumni to update their record and post "Class Notes" on-line and allowed the Association to send broadcast emails to alumni. Currently, we have email information on over 29,000 alumni.
• Partnered with the Mississippi State University Career Center to provide on-line career assistance to alumni and students.
• Offered all alumni chapters technical support, software, and server space to host their local chapter websites.
• Provided additional scholarship funds for four chapter scholarship recipients.
• Considered establishing new alumni chapters in Miami, FL, Chattanooga, TN, Knoxville, TN, Charlotte, NC, Cincinnati, OH, Phoenix, AZ, and Chicago, IL.
• Partnered with the MSU Bulldog Club through the Alumni Chapter Program to promote greater alumni participation at the Bulldog Family Celebrations (Regional Chapter Events).
• Continued to support the Office of Enrollment Services in the recruitment of prospective students by providing email addresses of all chapter officers for their monthly electronic newsletter and also provided names and addresses of children, ages 14 - 17, of alumni for recruiting purposes.
• The CFR Alumni society has been reactivated and has hosted several events including Homecoming BBQ’s, and Fishing Rodeo and Picnic, and a Picnic and Ballgame. The Alumni Society has an active slate of officers and is preparing service activities and support of the College and Center.(CFR/FWRC)

VII. PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

A. Provide high-quality environments for learning, working, and living.

1. Roads, streets, and parking lots will be upgraded. Improvements will be financed in part by a better approach to parking fees.

• The North Entrance Road and Spring Street have been completed at a cost of $4,974,659. New gravel parking lots have been developed around North Hardy Street. $433,197 has been spent on parking lot and road re-surfacing. Roads, streets, and parking lots will be landscaped as funds are available.

2. Classrooms will be improved.

• With the completion of Phase III Hand Lab, the completion of the renovation of Bowen Hall, and the coming on-line of the Landscape Architecture building, there has been a significant increase in the number of improved classrooms and laboratories. Of special interest is the initiative to create the computer laboratory in the Math Department laboratory, which was completed in 2001. Money has been set aside to upgrade the technology used for instruction in large auditorium-style classrooms.

3. Deteriorating buildings will be renovated. Renovations will be financed through private fund raising and limited use of bonding authority. New construction will be limited.

• Hilbun Hall and McCain Hall have been completed. Montgomery Hall is still being renovated. The new Landscape Architecture building will be complete in December 2002. The renovation of Bowen Hall and Phase III of Hand Lab will begin in Spring 2003.
• MAFES and MSU-ES have completed a $2.5 million central research and extension center located on the campus of Hinds Community College.(MAFES)
• MAFES and MSU-ES have initiated construction of a new $3.75 million coastal research and extension center to be located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. (MAFES)
• MAFES and MSU-ES have initiated planning for a new $2.5 million multi-purpose facility to be located on the grounds of the Delta Branch Experiment Station at Stoneville, Mississippi. (MAFES)
• The Forest and Wildlife Research Center has broken ground on the Franklin Center for Furniture Manufacturing and Management. The facility will include classrooms, an auditorium, offices, laboratories, and a distance-learning center. (CFR/FWRC)
• A poultry diagnostic laboratory currently under construction in Pearl, MS represents the first stage of a comprehensive veterinary diagnostic laboratory on the same site to serve animal producers and owners of the state. Projected completion date of the comprehensive laboratory is 2004. Enhanced animal disease diagnostic capabilities will reduce disease-associated losses for Mississippi poultry and livestock producers. This laboratory will also be integral to the state’s ability to evaluate and respond to threats of bioterrorism.(CVM)
• A recently-completed and equipped specific pathogen free catfish hatchery at MSU-CVM will provide MSU researchers capabilities for fish disease research unparalleled at any other aquaculture research program in the southeastern US.(CVM)
• Renovation and expansion of equine holding stall areas at the College of Veterinary Medicine has enhanced their capacity to provide reproductive management services to Mississippi’s robust equine industry. Faculty of the college provide embryo transfer and other advanced procedures while training veterinary students in order that they will be able to provide these services to their future clients. Each equine breeding utilizing shipped semen represents $1000 in income that is retained within Mississippi instead of being expended in another state while equine embryo transfers represent $4500 in retained income. (CVM)
• Planned upgrades to the critical care unit at MSU-CVM will enhance the college’s ability to support companion animal practitioners in the state and region in their quest to provide the level of intensive care for pets that their clients have come to expect. The companion animal industry contributes approximately $502 million directly to the Mississippi economy. (CVM)

4. Enhancing and expanding the campus network, including residence hall connections, will be a continuing process.

5. The university will implement a wide area network infrastructure linking the campus, Extension offices, and Research and Extension Centers.

6. The university will expand its capabilities and infrastructure to deliver extension/outreach programming via distance education and the Internet.

• The College of Forest Resources Office of Continuing Education has trained 382 individuals during FY2002. (CFR/FWRC)
• The CFR/FWRC web site averaged 6,000 hits per month during FY2002.Additionally, research bulletins and advances were downloaded 23, 127 times during FY2002. (CFR/FWRC)

7. The university will provide aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sustainable surroundings.

• MDOT is providing for attractive landscaping of the Highway Bypass around MSU.
• The parade field, a five-acre plus gathering site for student activities, was irrigated summer of 2001.
• "Bell Island," a popular center campus football tailgating area, was irrigated summer of 2001.
• The Bike Path, completed spring of 2002, is fully landscaped, and irrigation will be completed fall of 2002.
• All renovated Residence Halls have attractive landscapes complete with irrigation systems.
• Ornamental cast iron street signs were installed in 2000.

8. The university will provide an accessible campus for persons with disabilities.

• Campus construction still causes problems for students with disabilities, however, where construction is complete, students with disabilities are enjoying better access.

9. The university will develop a campus-wide plan for space utilization.

• The University has adopted the Space Needs Analysis and Planning System (SNAPS), using Texas A & M’s model. We have completed the needs assessment the first department, Agriculture and Biological Engineering, and are ready to begin on the College of Business and Industry. The plan is to expand to the entire university.

VIII. ATTAIN ATHLETIC COMPETITIVENESS IN ALL SPORTS

A. Compete and win in every sport in which the university participates.

1. The university will win Southeastern Conference championships in all sports and will be represented each year in post-season play in all sports.

• The men’s basketball team won the 2002 SEC tournament championship and the women soccer team won the 2001 SEC division championship. Teams participating in post-season NCAA competition included men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s tennis, men’s track. Softball, baseball, and women’s golf.

2. The university will win an NCAA championship.

B. Ensure the academic success of athletes.

1. The overall six-year graduation rate for student-athletes will be at least 60 percent, and graduation rates in each sport will be at least 50 percent.

• The six-year graduation rate for the most recent cohort of entering freshman student-athletes was 62.3 percent. Graduation rates were at least 50 percent in all sports except one, in which only one student was eligible.

2. The university will lead the Southeastern Conference in student-athletes named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in all sports combined.

• Seventy-four MSU student athletes were named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2001-02.

C. Enhance athletics facilities and funding.

1. Scott Field will be expanded to include skyboxes and club-level seating.

• A $30 million expansion including skyboxes and club-level seating was completed.

2. The football season ticket base will be expanded to 35,000.

• Season ticket sales for the 2002 season totaled 36,711.

3. Corporate support for football will be expanded, and private contributions for athletics will increase to $8 million a year.

• Contributions for FY 2002 totaled $7,173,128.

4. A football parking and gathering place will be created west of Scott Field.

• Football parking was improved with the implementation of a Special Events Parking policy that designates reserved, fee-based, and free parking areas and game-day traffic patterns throughout the campus and designates areas for tailgating and picnicking to help protect campus landscaping. The popular Bell Island area, recently renovated and irrigated, was designated for picnicking only.

D. Ensure gender equity and minority equity in athletics programs.

1. All athletic teams and related groups will have minority representation.

• All teams and related groups have minority members.

2. The percentage of female athletes will equal the percentage of females in the student population.

• Females make up 37 percent of the university’s student-athletes and 46 percent of the student body.

3. Minorities will be appointed as administrators and head coaches.

• No senior administrative positions or major head coach positions have been filled.

4. Salaries and professional opportunities for women administrators and coaches will be comparable to those for men.

• Salaries for women administrators and coaches were supplemented by an average of $5,000 during FY 2001.

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