Now that the university's tuition and fees for next year have been set by our board, (there will not be any increase in in-state tuition this year) we have a better sense of what our overall funding will be. We are still waiting for final budget action by our state legislators, so things could potentially change, but we think we know what the final numbers will be.
We've had to leave many open positions unfilled. This will impact both the faculty and students, as class sizes will have to increase somewhat and students may find themselves closed out of a small number of classes. We've also had to make some cuts in scholarships, departmental and center operating budgets, and other non-teaching staff positions. None of this is pleasant. There are so many things we do, and many more we want to do, but in difficult economic times we have to focus on our priorities.
In a series of open meetings with faculty and staff in late spring, I heard repeatedly that our priorities MUST be our teaching and research. Protect students' ability to get the courses they need, I was told, and protect our ability to deliver the essential services required to complete their programs in a timely fashion. I clearly heard that we cannot eliminate the faculty's ability to continue their research and creative activities. After all, it is these research and creative products that are unique to universities and that clearly distinguish the educational experience we can provide from those available at other types of institutions.
I speak to parents throughout the summer at our Freshman and Transfer "Preview" sessions and I tell them that here at Southern Miss, their student has wonderful opportunities to work directly with faculty in research, creative activity, and knowledge creation. I remind them that such opportunities are typically not available in community colleges or private schools. Staying current and at the top of their field can give our students an important edge in a competitive marketplace and, I believe, greatly enhances the quality of education we can provide them.