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How many times have we read "an interim will be appointed" when learning of a change in leadership at the university. In our world, we have come to expect a certain gap in time between the departure of one administrator and the appointment of another. In the meantime, someone is asked to step in to fulfill the duties of the departed one while the search is underway. The "interims" answer the call, leaving behind other duties or (too often) doing two jobs.
We rarely thank them enough.
The University budget is due to IHL on Monday, June 2. Since there are no new appropriated funds this year, and since the tuition increase will serve to cover only the increase in fixed costs and mandated accreditation issues, no formal budget hearings were held this year. Individual meetings with deans and departments heads in April regarding next year's budget provided a venue for discussion. The budget advisory council met separately with deans and directors to discuss their budgets and the financial impact of 'no new money.'
It's important to note that the 3.7% tuition increase approved by the board yesterday will be used to cover the increase in fixed costs. We are working hard to find some resources for modest raises. Stay tuned.
You have probably heard by now that the IHL board approved a 3.7 percent tuition hike for Southern Miss. Trustees attempted to keep tuition near the rate of inflation and were mindful of the hardships our students are experiencing in difficult economic times.
I will be working with the members of the executive cabinet to outline appropriate restructuring of our budgets to stretch these dollars to the maximum use.
The highlight of this week will be the IHL Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday afternoon and Thursday. Our new board members will be making their debut and it will be good to see a couple more Southern Miss alumni around that table as Doug Rouse and Christy Pickering assume their new responsibilities.
The toughest topic will be tuition increase requests. With little improvement in state funding, the universities have been forced to pass along some of our increased expenses to the students. We continue to attempt to find ways to minimize the impact on our most economically disadvantaged students.
The funding proposal for our new residence hall will also be addressed.
I walked across campus today feeling strangely let down. To be sure, the final weeks of any semester usually take their toll, but I was downright blue today and wondering why until it occurred to me that we had just said goodbye to 1600 family members as we graduated our newest crop of baccalaureate and graduate students. It's enough to make you pause. Where are they going? Did they learn enough? Are they ready for the big world?
We hope they'll stay in touch.
It's going to be a big day at Southern Miss, beginning with the commissioning of our Army and Air Force ROTC students.
Later, we'll host two graduation ceremonies. Our Spring 2008 Commencement will celebrate the accomplishments of almost 1,300 undergraduate students and 370 graduate students. In particular, I am proud to say that we will be awarding 48 doctoral degrees at this commencement.
My access to my blog changed last week and i have only just now tried out my new logon. Sorry for the gap in communications from me.
To bring you up to date, it's Graduation Week and my favorite time of the year. At our commencement ceremonies we celebrate the handiwork of this university -- our graduates. We will congratulate them and their families at two events in Hattiesburg on Friday and one on the coast on Saturday. They will leave us with our best wishes, our respect and our earnest plea for them to stay in touch.
This is also banquet season for presidents. I have enjoyed a number of end-of-year events, especially last night's Southern Miss Orchestra appreciation dinner. As I dined with the oldest orchestra in Mississippi, founded not long after the start of the university itself, it was wonderful to recognize the many achievements of the countless students who have been at its heart over 87 years.
