Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

NaToya Sanders, a Master of Public Policy and Administration graduate student, crosses the stage in Humphrey Coliseum to receive her diploma from President Mark E. Keenum. Along with Sanders, more than 1,100 Mississippi State students participated in in-person fall commencement ceremonies on Dec. 9 on the Starkville campus, marking the official end to a rewarding academic journey. On Dec. 8, an additional 124 MSU-Meridian graduates were honored at the Riley Center in Meridian, and more than 70 doctoral graduates were recognized at a Starkville campus hooding ceremony in Bettersworth Auditorium. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs

MSU Extension awarded $6.6M grant for coastal restoration work
Mississippi State University has been awarded a grant of nearly $6.6 million for shoreline restoration work on the Gulf Coast. Eric Sparks, director of the MSU Coastal Marine Extension Program, and a team from MSU Extension, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, The Nature Conservancy, Harte Research Institute, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant and the PEW Charitable Trusts received the grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Federation. Their project, “Living Shoreline Restoration in Back Bay to Enhance Community and Military Resilience,” was approved through the NFWF National Coastal Resilience Fund. The project involves the construction of a 2.5-mile living shoreline using marsh sill, fill, native planting and segmented breakwaters in the Back Bay in Biloxi.

Teacher education programs at MSU prove their status among nation’s best with CAEP accreditation
Mississippi State’s teacher education programs are once again securing the national seal of approval for excellence in educator preparation. MSU’s College of Education becomes one of only 55 programs in 28 states which this fall have met the high and rigorous standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. College of Education Dean Teresa Jayroe said of the welcomed announcement, “We’ve set a very high bar for our teacher prep programs, and this official endorsement from CAEP validates the outstanding work our faculty and students are doing to keep Mississippi State’s K-12 preparation programs at the top nationally. Our students and their families can be confident in the investment they’re making in our programs here at MSU.”

Association of Retired Faculty honors students with achievement awards
Four Mississippi State students are recent winners of achievement awards from the university’s Association of Retired Faculty. Founded in 1986 with 73 charter members, ARF holds programs of interest for retired MSU faculty and professionals; hosts a university overview luncheon each summer and awards monetary gifts to individuals during its annual Christmas banquet. ARF presents the William L. Giles Award for Excellence in Architecture, Peyton Ward Williams Distinguished Writing Award, Harry Charles F. Simrall Award for Engineering Excellence, and Charles E. Lindley Leadership in Agriculture Award in tribute to colleagues and ARF members who made major contributions to student development during their careers at MSU. Awardees are chosen by MSU faculty committees in the students’ areas of expertise.

New search committee training and resources in place
Mississippi State University is announcing a new online training module and handbook for university personnel serving on hiring committees. As part of the hiring process, all search committee members will be required to complete the online training offered through Human Resources Management. It is required for all faculty positions and professional positions that have a search committee. The goal of the training and focus on job search process is to ensure the university is attracting the broadest and most diverse applicant pools possible as the university seeks personnel to fulfill its learning, research and service missions. The training also helps to ensure candidates have a positive experience at all stages of the hiring process.

Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy. The complete policy is available at www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/91301.

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Mike Leach public memorial to be held Tuesday
Mississippi State University will host a public memorial service honoring the life of Mike Leach at 1 p.m. on Tuesday [Dec. 20] inside Humphrey Coliseum. Doors will open at noon and normal Humphrey Coliseum security screening will be in effect. Leach passed away the night of Dec. 12 following complications from a heart condition. Leach, who was named Mississippi State’s 34th head football coach on January 9, 2020, was finishing his third season in Starkville and 21st as a head coach. Forever a college football icon, he leaves an incredible legacy as a husband, father, friend and leader of young men. The memorial service will be streamed live on SEC Network and in the ESPN app.

University hosts intensive emergency management training
Mississippi State hosted a team of instructors last week from Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service that conducted an intensive, three-day crisis management training session. The TEEX team administered the Federal Emergency Management Agency course Crisis Management Affecting Institutions of Higher Education: A Collaborative Community Approach. “This training has given participants the chance to learn about best practices for emergency operations, including standards for collaborating with local and federal agencies in scenarios ranging from severe weather disasters to crimes and acts of terrorism,” said Regina Hyatt, vice president for student affairs, who also leads MSU’s Crisis Action Team. “We make preparedness and training a top priority so we can best respond to emergencies as they arise.”

MSU expands presence in Vicksburg to support tech, startup economy
Mississippi State University is expanding its presence in Vicksburg and helping grow the city’s technology and start-up sector. Utilizing $650,000 in funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach is establishing an office in Vicksburg at the Sen. Thad Cochran Mississippi Center for Information and Technology, commonly known as MCITy. The MSU Office of Technology Management will also have a full-time presence at MCITy as part of a state-funded Mississippi Research Consortium effort to enhance technology transfer efforts and research collaborations with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) and other federal partners. “We are excited to be a part of the movement to grow Vicksburg’s advanced technology and entrepreneurship presence, and I appreciate our state legislature and congressional delegation supporting these projects” said MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan.