quote:

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Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
"Pardon my ignorance, but is the IHL meeting open to the public, and if yes, will some rep from the FS board be attending? I'm wondering if there'll be an objective, unexpurgated account of the procedings available here, later.

AE"

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Austin Eagle,
IHL meeting are usually open unless personnel or legal issues arise. Thames was quoted as saying he will ask for the meeting to be closed when he presents his "goals for the future" of USM. I heard some Faculty Senators say they would try to attend.
I believe Stephen Judd was going to attend. I will looking for a report from them and/or
news updates from the papers, C.L. or H.A.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Austin Eagle
" Thanks; I'll be looking for updates later this evening. I don't understand why Thames would want to present his USM "goals for the future" in secrecy. If they're legit, it seems he'd want to wring maximum publicity from his appearance. AE"

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Great observation.  His cloak of secrecy is beginning to smother him.

Hattiesburg American

Thames: Faculty pay raises unlikely
Tuition increases probable, State College Board told

By Janet Braswell, jbraswell@hattiesb,gannett.com
American Senior Writer

BRIAN ALBERT BROOM The Clarion-Ledger


JACKSON - It appears that a small increase in state funding won't be enough to grant faculty raises at the University of Southern Mississippi and students will most likely face a tuition hike next fall, President Shelby Thames said Wednesday.

Increases in health insurance and other costs almost wipe out the 1.5 percent increase in the allocation approved by the state College Board's budget and financial affairs committee. The full board is expected to approve the allocation today.

For fiscal 2005, which begins on July 1, Southern Miss will get $74,269,709 in state funds, an increase of $1,159,356. But health insurance costs, which come from general funds, will be $1,097,727.

"I'm delighted we got an increase to offset that cost," Thames said. "But it does not provide us any resources to do some of the things we want to, like faculty raises. We don't see any money in this budget for increases in salaries."

The 2004 Legislature appropriated $330,368,694 to the Institutions of Higher Learning to run the eight universities and the system office.

Some programs that are funded separately, such as the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory at Ocean Springs and the Stennis Space Center, will have less state money next year, Thames said.

"We're almost at a wash," he said.

The board won't consider tuition or fee increases today, putting that off until the June 17 meeting. The budget and financial affairs committee will meet before then with the eight university presidents and/or financial officers to hear their proposals and prepare a recommendation for the board.

Southern Miss will ask for a $30 increase in its fee for meal plans but Thames couldn't say Wednesday how much tuition might go up. A basic five-day meal plan costs $835 with a seven-day plan at $895. Tuition for the spring semester was $1,937 for a full-time, in-state student.

Southern Miss has been getting 23 percent to 24 percent of the money appropriated by the Legislature since about 1989 when the board began a "hold harmless" policy that means the percentage of funding is not based on enrollment growth.

"I cannot in good conscience sit here many more years and penalize the schools that are growing," College Board President Roy Klumb said. "At some point, the board will have to reward growing schools with more money and take funds away from universities that are stagnant."

Also on the agenda:

# Approve 10-year contracts for Barnes and Noble to run USM's bookstore and with Aramark to operate and expand food service. The board also was to approve a contract with Delta State University today and Aramark, which already provides food service at the University of Mississippi.

# Approve starting design of a new traffic kiosk near Hardy Street and an addition to the baseball stadium. When board member Virginia Shanteau Newton asked cost estimates, which weren't included in the documents provided to the board, financial vice president Greg Lassen said building the kiosk would be a minimal cost and the baseball addition hasn't been finalized.

Originally published Thursday, May 20, 2004

Shelbo is outside the door while College Board is meeting according to CL

http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040520/NEWS01/40520029

quote:

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Originally posted by: Anon
"Again 10:59 a.m. College Board meets behind closed doors to discuss USM matters [without shelbo] Mississippi College Board members at mid-morning today were meeting behind closed doors to discuss “personnel matters” at the University of Southern Mississippi. "

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He was brought back in at 11:20 am...

BUMP

Any news?

 

Thames gets College Board's support
Thames says he has no plans to leave USM

Janet Braswell
Hattiesburg American

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University of Southern Mississippi President Shelby Thames met in executive session with state College Board members on Thursday and has their support, the board’s president said.

After the meeting, which was to discuss personnel issues, College Board President Roy Klumb of Gulfport said members heard of Thames’ plans to “improve communication with the university constituents.”

“The board is encouraged by the accomplishments that USM has achieved under Dr. Thames’ watch and by the efforts being made to rebuild the university community and to address the problems of unrest,” Klumb said.

After the meeting with the panel, Thames told reporters he plans to continue to work with the Presidents Council and the Faculty Senate. He said he also plans to begin meeting with faculty members in departments on campus.

Thames said he has no intention to step down as a result of hiring and firing controversies in the past two years.

NOW is the time for someone on the PUC to propose formally that the PUC turn itself over to elected representatives.  I hope David Johnson is still reading this board and will make this motion at the next possible opportunity -- right at the very beginning of the next meeting.  I hope the Peanut Gallery will be full of people supporting him and refusing to be quiet until his motion is put to a vote.  SFT should no longer be given the opportunity of dealing with his very own PUC.

How much longer is Mr. Klumb's term on the IHL (he was appointed by Fordice, but when?) And Virginia will be prez next year, we may really need her by then.

Of course the downside is, he might be replaced with another as bad or worse.

The only consolation [ha!] is that if we had elected Musgrove, his appointees may not have been any better.

quote:

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Originally posted by: Laughing out loud
"If anyone had any questions about whether G/S made the right choice, here is their answer. "

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Excellent point; they did the best they could given the fact that the game is so hugely rigged in SFT's favor. 

quote:

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Originally posted by: Invictus
"  I can guarantee that what Thames heard today was stuff like, "We agree with what you are trying to accomplish. You know that. But we have real concerns that you are generating too much bad press with how you're doing it. Be more discreet."

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I suspect you are absolutely correct; this is probably the exact sentiment of at least some (probably the majority) of the board members.

quote:

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Originally posted by: LVN
"
Of course the downside is, he might be replaced with another as bad or worse.
"

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<EDIT>
Of course the downside is, he might will be replaced with another as bad or worse.
</EDIT>

Let's be realistic.