Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

Celebrating Mississippi State University’s new Interprofessional Simulation Program in the Rosenbaum Building at the MSU-Meridian Riley Campus are, from left, Associate Vice Provost for Health Sciences and Interim Head of Campus David Buys; Executive Director of The Riley Foundation Becky Farley; President and CEO of The Riley Foundation Marty Davidson; Gov. Tate Reeves cutting the ribbon; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; U.S. Rep. Michael Guest; and MSU Director of Simulation and Clinical Affairs Alaina Herrington. PHOTO: Revere Photography

MSU Extension’s Barrett receives outreach award
A Mississippi State University associate Extension professor of water and wastewater systems is one of nine recipients of annual awards presented by the Universities Council on Water Resources, or UCOWR. Jason Barrett, interim director of the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, or WRRI, was honored with the UCOWR Institute Mid-Career Award for Extension, Outreach and Engagement. The award acknowledges outstanding contributions to water-related efforts in each of these areas. Barrett also leads the Mississippi Well Owner Network, or MWON, which specializes in private well and decentralized wastewater education and screening. His efforts help private well owners in the state maintain groundwater resources and septic systems while ensuring water quality through providing education on well maintenance and water treatment.

Javorsky receives first College of Education endowed professorship
Mississippi State’s Kristin Javorsky is making history as the first faculty member to receive an endowed professorship within the College of Education. An associate professor in the Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, Javorsky is the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Susan McLaren Brooks Endowed Elementary Education Professorship. “I am deeply grateful to the Brooks family for their generous support in establishing the Dr. Susan McLaren Brooks Endowed Elementary Education Professorship,” said Teresa Jayroe, dean of the College of Education. “This endowment will allow Dr. Javorsky to further her impactful work in advancing literacy across our state. The Brooks’ generosity is a testament to the value of education and the power of community support in shaping the future of our students.”

Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association partners with MSU to advance mass timber through endowed professorship
A new partnership between Mississippi State and the state’s leading lumber organization is positioning the university as a leader in forest products innovation. The Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association has established the Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association Endowed Professorship in Innovative Wood Construction and Design at MSU. The endowment -- housed in the College of Forest Resources’ Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, with a joint appointment in the College of Architecture, Art and Design’s School of Architecture -- aims to drive innovation in mass timber manufacturing, construction and design, with a research emphasis on sustainable wood construction, strength and durability. Applications for the endowed professorship position will open this fall with an expected starting date of August 2025.

ERDC Days at MSU to highlight research collaborations, job opportunities
Mississippi State University hosts professionals from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) this week for discussions with students and employees on research collaborations, internships and employment, as well as keynote presentations by university and ERDC leaders. This marks the third annual “ERDC Days” hosted by Mississippi State. ERDC personnel will spend Tuesday [Oct. 29] touring MSU research facilities. MSU students, faculty and staff are encouraged to attend a series of casual and formal programs on Wednesday [Oct. 30] to learn more about ERDC, which is headquartered in Vicksburg. A longtime MSU research partner, ERDC helps solve our nation’s most challenging problems in civil and military engineering, geospatial sciences, water resources, and environmental sciences for the Army, Department of Defense, civilian agencies, and our nation’s public good.

New website provides support, resources for free speech
Mississippi State has launched a new website dedicated to supporting and promoting freedom of speech and expression within our university. You can access the website at www.freespeech.msstate.edu. This platform has been created to provide accessible resources and guidance to foster a campus environment where open dialogue, respectful debate and diverse perspectives can thrive. All members of the MSU community -- students, faculty and staff -- are encouraged to explore this site and take advantage of the materials and opportunities it offers. Whether you are seeking to deepen your understanding of free speech principles, enhance your ability to engage in thoughtful dialogue or learn more about your rights and responsibilities, this resource is here to support you.

Reminder: University policy addresses employee political activity
With campaigning for elected offices underway this year, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers the following reminder of the university’s policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. MSU employees are encouraged to review OP 01.14: Political Activities in its entirety and to understand their rights and responsibilities.

Open enrollment for benefits underway
Open enrollment for 2025 for benefits-eligible Mississippi State University employees is from Oct. 1-31, 2024. This is your opportunity to review your coverage, make any necessary changes and ensure your benefits meet your needs and those of your family. If you do not make any changes, your current coverage will carry over through next year. The deadline for submission is Oct. 31, 2024, 5 p.m. No changes will be accepted after this date. If you have any questions or require assistance during the open enrollment process, please contact us at 662-325-3713 or benefits@hrm.msstate.edu.

Application window open for university teaching awards
Mississippi State is accepting applications for the 2025 Grisham Master Teacher, Donald Zacharias Early Career Undergraduate Teaching Excellence and the Alumni Association Graduate and/or Professional Teaching Excellence awards. Visit www.provost.msstate.edu/announcements/2024/09/university-teaching-awards for more information and to download documents associated with the submission process. Interested faculty must submit an electronic application in PDF form to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President via email to grishamaward@provost.msstate.edu by Oct. 27 if their teaching can only be observed in the fall 2024 semester or by Jan. 5 if their teaching can be observed in the spring 2025 semester. All current full-time faculty members at MSU with the required years of service, regardless of rank, are eligible to apply for these awards. Late applications will not be accepted.

Applications open for annual community engagement awards
Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to apply for a 2024 Mississippi State University Excellence in Community Engagement Award on behalf of a project in the following categories: Community-Engaged Service, Community-Engaged Research and Community-Engaged Teaching and Learning. A $3,000 award will be given in each of those areas to recognize outstanding work and support its continuation. Projects that achieve honorable mention will receive $1,000. Applicants should be aware that the MSU CE Awards are not a grant proposal process but a recognition of existing projects. Submissions are due Oct. 30 at 11:59 p.m. Community Partner feedback forms are due by Nov. 1 at noon.

Free learning opportunities via LinkedIn Learning available to faculty, staff and students
Sharpen skills. Explore new interests. Increase professional value. These and other results are now available via no-cost learning opportunities to Mississippi State faculty, staff and students through MSU’s new agreement with LinkedIn Learning. A popular, online education platform, LinkedIn Learning’s 20,000-plus courses are available to campus via a quick login using their MSU NetID email addresses. With self-paced learning, courses are presented in various formats, including bite-sized video, audio only and in-depth content. The platform is directly integrated with Canvas, the university’s learning management system. MSU faculty can use it to supplement course material or even develop and load their own content onto the platform.

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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MSU-Meridian cuts ribbon, showcases new Interprofessional Simulation Program at its Riley Campus healthcare hub
Mississippi State University celebrated a milestone development at its MSU-Meridian downtown Riley Campus last week, with a ribbon-cutting and tours showcasing the new healthcare education facilities of the Interprofessional Simulation Program. MSU President Mark E. Keenum said the event marked “a great day for Mississippi State University, Meridian, Lauderdale County and the State of Mississippi.” “We have so much positive momentum here in Meridian, and that’s because of the strong partnerships we have here and that we are blessed to be a part of,” said Keenum, noting that construction was made possible by a $6.1 million gift from The Riley Foundation and a $1 million grant from AccelerateMS’s Nursing and Allied Heath Grant Program.

MSU CAVS-Extension, MSDH help rural hospitals improve processes, patient care
Mississippi State University and the Mississippi State Department of Health are partnering to support the Magnolia State’s rural hospitals. This fall, MSU’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems-Extension in Canton is offering the Healthcare Lean Certificate training for representatives from 11 hospitals. Funded by the MSDH Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program, class participants are learning process improvement methods to enhance the safety and quality of patient care, as well as organizational efficiency. “As our state’s small and rural hospitals face a wide range of challenges, I am glad we are able to partner with MSDH to deliver impactful training in service of these important hospitals and the communities they serve,” said John Moore, CAVS-E senior project manager and HLC lead instructor.

MSU, Ingalls Shipbuilding partner for employee education assistance benefits
Mississippi State University and HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division formally partnered last week to give eligible employees at Ingalls expanded education assistance benefits, including a 10% tuition discount for those who enroll in MSU for undergraduate or graduate courses. “We are so proud to give this benefit to the hardworking employees at Ingalls Shipbuilding to help individuals further their education and achieve their goals,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “Partnerships like this help MSU work with our state’s leading industries to grow our state together. Ingalls is clearly one of the most important companies in Mississippi, and we are pleased to support the many hardworking professionals they have working in all aspects of their industry.”

Faculty join efforts to boost retention in engineering academia
Two colleges at Mississippi State University are on a mission to help transform engineering academia. Backed by an $800,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, MSU and other institutions of higher learning are establishing a mentoring hub to provide crucial networking, training and resources for university and community college engineering faculty, as well for postdocs and graduate students preparing for careers in academia. MSU’s Bagley College of Engineering and College of Education are working with lead institution University of Akron, as well as Northeastern University and the University of Florida, to increase diversity, improve teaching effectiveness and retain top engineering talent in higher education. The MSU team is led by Tonya Stone and Linda Coats.