'Message from the Provost': Exciting 2012 on horizon
In his latest update for the Mississippi State University community, Provost and Executive Vice President Jerry Gilbert looks ahead to a busy 2012, and sees progress being made on a number of fronts.
Dear Faculty and Staff,
As the fall semester draws to a close, let me join with others in wishing you a joyous holiday season. The year 2012 will bring progress on a number of fronts at Mississippi State.
The draft version of the MSU Strategic Plan rolled out in early December will be open for faculty and staff comments until Jan. 13, 2012. I encourage you to view the plan and provide input at https://w.msstate.edu/strategicplan/index.php.
Activities for the reaffirmation of MSU's accreditation by SACS will begin to take on an additional dimension in 2012 as we begin discussion of a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for the university. The QEP is required of all universities accredited by SACS and is intended to have a significant impact on undergraduate learning. Drs. Angi Bourgeois and Connie Forde will be leading the university's efforts to identify a QEP topic in early 2012.
In January 2012, the Division of Business at MSU-Meridian will move to a new location in the Newberry Building in downtown Meridian, adjacent to the Riley Center. MSU is expanding its presence in downtown Meridian and preparing for future growth.
MSU's plans for participation in the 2012 Smithsonian Institution Folklife Festival celebration of the Morrill Act will take shape in early 2012 under Dr. Peter Ryan's leadership. The festival will be held in Washington, D.C. June 27-July 8, 2012, and it will be a great opportunity to highlight the success of MSU as a land-grant university.
Planning for space allocation in the new classroom building will continue in 2012 by a subcommittee of the Master Plan Development and Advisory Committee under the direction of Dr. Julia Hodges.
Thank you for a great 2011 and best wishes for a wonderful new year.
With warm regards,
Jerry Gilbert
Provost and Executive Vice President
