MSU has proudly been, ever since I applied 25 years ago, 'the people's university'.
The mission of MSU is different from Vandy or Air Force.
I am not justifying anything. I am not excusing the ranking. I am hesitant to support the idea that this state university, which exists to improve the socioeconomic standing of its people, should stop being the school of choice and tighten acceptance requirements for the very people it was created to benefit.
That is a catchphrase and is not the University’s Mission— and this is also something I’ve mentioned to L4.
This is The Mission:
Mission
Mississippi State University is a public research, land-grant university with a mission to provide access and opportunity to all sectors of Mississippi’s diverse population, as well as other states and countries, and to offer excellent programs of teaching, research, and service.
Yes I understand 'the people's university' isnt actually listed within an official Mission Statement. It would be inappropriate for a Mission Statement to be so casually worded.
But that doesnt mean the Mission Statement conflicts with what I said.
I view
"with a mission to provide access and opportunity to all sectors of Mississippi’s diverse population" to mean 'the people's university'.
If your mission is to provide access and opportunity to all sectors, then tightening admission standards while trying to reduce enrollment and also actively trying to not be the school of choice for Mississippians seems counter to the mission.
MSU isnt UC Berkeley where only 15% of applicants are accepted. It isnt Georgia Tech or UVA or Michigan, where less than 25% of applicants are accepted. MSU isnt those schools because it wasnt designed to be those schools and it isnt currently designed to be those schools.
The UC Berkeley Mission Statement says nothing about providing access and opportunity to all sectors of CA's diverse population. Its Mission Statement is basically 'we will be a leader in higher learning and create societal benefits thru research and teaching'. Thats a significantly different Mission Statement for a significantly different university.
Anyways, I would be very interested in reading a white paper on how higher education in Mississippi could be transformed. Ill just make the blueprint for the white paper right now!
- Make MSU a premiere university in the state where admission standards are higher, and acceptance is limited(the Mission Statement would need to change). MSU would be the go to for Veterinary, Engineering, Business degrees(Econ, Accounting, etc), Computer Sciences(within Engineering or separate), and all things Ag based(both animal and plant) for research and education.
There would be an emphasis on recruiting highly qualified students regardless of where they live, and generous financial aid would assist in bringing them to Starkville.
- Ole Miss would also a premiere university in the state where admission standards are higher and acceptance is limited. They would have law, medical and journalism, just like they do now. Everything else would be total crap because thats what they deserve. Again, an emphasis on recruiting highly qualified students regardless of where they live would exist, and strong financial aid would assist in bringing them in.
- Southern Miss and Jackson State could continue to operate and serve in the manners which they feel best for the students they serve. Their admissions would be very open and accessible.
- MVSU and Delta State would consolidate into 1 college and become part of the MSU system- called Mississippi State Delta. This would save money by reducing overlap costs.
- The W would just merge with MSU and if those students couldnt make the new MSU academic standards, tough titties- MSU will help place the students elsewhere.
- Alcorn State continues to exist so there can be a public university in SW MS and also so there are still 2 HBCUs in the state, since that is an important part of the state's history and culture.
- Anyone that graduates from one of the 584 JUCOs in the state are automatically accepted into Southern Miss, Jackson State, Mississippi State Delta, and Alcorn State. They then have to commit to one by the end of May to retain the auto acceptance, otherwise they can apply on their own later at any time.
GOALS-
- Create 2 elite universities that focus on research and high academics thru pursuing higher qualified students.
- Continue good work currently taking place at the other large state universities.
- Reduce the number of 4 year public institutions from 8 to 6 to save on costs.
- Continue the widespread geographic access to public education in the state.
- Continue the tradition and support HBCUs within the state.
- Create an easy and clear path from 2 year to 4 year degrees for those who want and will benefit from a 4 year degree, but dont have the grades or test scores to get into MSU and OM.
In Iowa, there are only 3 public universities. Basically the same population as MS, but only 3 public universities. UNI, ISU, Iowa. We then have 584 tiny private colleges that enroll between 1000 and 4000 students. Its bonkers how many tiny private universities and colleges there are. This state alone keeps D3 and NAIA athletics in business, I swear.
Sometimes I think having only 3 public institutions is a really good idea- dont spread resources too thin to be effective.
Other times, I think having some smaller directional public universities would be really good for those who benefit from smaller classes while still keeping costs down due to consolidation of administrative costs and state funding support.
...but while this state used to take pride in its public education system, the last 15 years has just been a steady defund of education, both k-12 and higher education. I doubt the current legislature would ever agree to fund another state university, even if the numbers looked good and were spoon fed to them.
Having a public directional university in the NW part of the state would be pretty nice. There are 6 small private universities in the NW 70 square miles of the state. 6 of em. Its nuts.
There are 10 private colleges/universities within 75mi of Dubuque. 10. Based on what I extensively know about 2 private colleges in other parts of the state, at least half of those 10 colleges are struggling and merging would be best. Merge and be bought by the state to have a directional smaller public university in that area(even though Iowa and UNI are both within 100mi of Dubuque.
Maybe all that talk of changing how public education in MS is a good idea, or maybe its all horrible. Whats currently happening though is hardly anything to talk about. Its a couple of middling large universities and then a bunch of afterthoughts, if they are thought of at all.
^ 17 me, the Methylphenidate is clearly in full effect right now.
