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THANKS FOR BRINGING ME ALONGDelta State University – State of the University Address

August 17, 2006

Recently, I finished one of my summer reads. It was a novel entitled The Dante Club

written by Matthew Pearl. His setting was Boston in the late nineteenth century where a villain

was committing murders according to visions in Dante’s Inferno. Among the principal

characters of the story were several literary figures, Oliver Wendell Holmes (Sr.), James Russell

Lowell, the publisher J. T. Fields, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow who was the greybeard in

the group. It was a lively tale, and the poets solved the mystery. In the final scene, Pearl has

them heading for a large social event to celebrate. I want to share with you the two concluding

paragraphs of the novel, and then I’ll tell you how they relate to today’s address.

It was raining now, a night rain; a gentle, Christian rain. It must have been very inconvenient for J. T. Fields, driving from Boston to Cambridge only to go back to Boston again, but he had insisted.

Holmes and Greene had left a good space for Longfellow between them (in the carriage), on the seats across from Fields and Lowell. Longfellow, as he climbed up, hoped he would not be asked to speak in front of all the guests during the banquet, but if he were, he would thank his friends for bringing him along.

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I read these paragraphs the day that Paul Starkey decided I would be delivering the State of the

University Address today. It was early last week, and we heard that our invited guest speaker

would not be coming. Just before that news, I learned that a governing board meeting I thought

would take me out of town today would not be a conflict. We intended to schedule this address

next month, but the obvious solution was to move it to today. Like Longfellow, I hoped I would

not be asked to speak in front of everyone today, but since I’m here, I plan to thank all of you for

bringing me along on your adventures and accomplishments this past year.

Each year, I enjoy saying a particular sentence near the outset of this address. Here it is

again in clear and unambiguous terms: the state of this university is sound. As we begin our 81st

academic year, we can say unequivocally that Delta State University has more students and more

resources than at any moment in its history. We are blessed with a strong faculty and a

committed staff. We benefit from the support of our alumni and friends. During this past year,

most units and many individuals reached goals that enhanced the lives of our students, our

community, and the region we serve.

Are we without challenges? You and I both know that there are many issues confronting

us. We worry about budgets and the sufficiency of our funding. We’re concerned about short

staffing in some areas, and we can all list facility concerns that we wish could be addressed right

now. We would prefer that every student arrive fully prepared to do college-level work. We

want technology gains to move more quickly, and we would like to expand our collections in the

library. We wish that there were both more travel money and greater support for research. In

other words, we’ve got lots of areas for growth and many opportunities to apply our creativity in

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developing solutions. However, we owe it to ourselves to recognize that every day contributions

in the classrooms, laboratories, and offices of this university are tremendously significant. You

have a right to be proud of what you and your colleagues are accomplishing. This is an

outstanding institution.

Each year we discover some things about our organization, and what we learn makes us

better. One important message to us this past year came from our regional accrediting body, the

Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (or SACS). They

reported to us two years ago that in all dimensions – save one – we passed muster with flying

colors. The one area they told us to address was assessment. In this age of accountability, they

felt we would be a better university if we created a more thorough, more systematic approach to

setting learning outcome goals and determining whether our students achieve them. It is not that

we were not doing assessment, but the SACS peer reviewers directed us toward better, more

coordinated models. Many of you have been working hard with the Office of Academic Affairs

and an external consultant to reach the milestones set by the accrediting agency. We must

submit the results of your efforts in a couple of weeks. Thanks for all you are doing in this

important area of institutional life. We have discovered through this process how to better assess

the learning transactions that are at the heart of what we do. We’ll learn at the SACS meeting in

December whether we’ve satisfied the expectations of our peers.

Another lesson that grew out of the SACS accreditation process for us came as we

developed our Quality Enhancement Plan (or QEP) a prescribed aspect of the review. By now,

all of you know that the theme of our QEP is student engagement. This past year, our second

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team of Student Engagement Champions took several significant steps forward, not the least of

which began at the Greater Expectations Institute, where the team spent five days planning a

process that will introduce and immerse faculty – particularly those new to our community – in

the unique aspects and character of Delta State. We’ve learned anew the importance of faculty

development, and the SEC initiated faculty technology institutes that won a best practices award

from the offices of the state governing board.

Our third lesson from the 2005/06 year was that the relationship we enjoy with our host

community is deep and strong. We celebrated the Year of Cleveland, and we had a great time

focusing on the richness of the ties that have existed over eight decades. Community leaders

came together to help us plan and make our yearlong theme a reality. There were fireworks,

cultural and entertainment events, contests for school children, displays, Main Street showcases,

community awards, and many other activities. We’ll conclude the formal celebration with a

bang on September 23 with more post-football-game fireworks, and we hope you will all attend.

Of course, the spirit of the year will continue and the relationship will grow. Cleveland is a

wonderful hometown for Delta State, and we are privileged to be so well located.

One aspect of this community that came into sharp focus this past year is yet another of

the lessons that arose out of 2005/06, namely, that Cleveland and Delta State pull together to

provide compassionate support for those in need. When the hurricanes of 2005 hit the Gulf

Coast and hundreds of people came streaming into Cleveland, our community and campus

citizens acted quickly to offer food, clothing, shelter, and financial help. It was a tremendous

demonstration of commitment to the welfare of people in extreme circumstances, those who

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were pulled up by the roots and cast adrift. Images from those days are still alive in my mind,

and they are likely to be there for a long while. Many in this room helped clean out Hugh White

Hall to offer housing. Several went out to the Expo Center to sort clothing or help with intake,

registration, and medical situations. Some cooked meals and fed families or bigger groups of

people every day. Time and energy were frequent gifts, but many of you also dug deep and gave

hard-earned dollars to your churches, relief agencies, or even to the university to aid in the relief

efforts. We saw similar responses in other communities, of course, but Cleveland and Delta

State provided exemplary service. We owe a special thanks to Governor Barbour, Commissioner

Meredith, and Senator Cochran for the federal student aid program created for students and their

families who were directly affected by the disaster.

These, then, are what I’m calling the four lessons of the past year: (1) we must pay closer

attention to assessment, particularly as it applies to learner outcomes; (2) while student

engagement is the theme of our Quality Enhancement Plan, faculty development is a critical

element of that effort; (3) our relationship with Cleveland is one of the most precious treasures of

this institution, and it has been a strength for our entire 80-year history; and (4) a humane spirit is

alive and well in our community and on our campus and working together we can make a

difference to people in crises.

One of the opportunities to which I look forward in this annual address is reciting many

of the top accomplishments of faculty and staff during the previous twelve months. I asked

members of the President’s Cabinet and the Academic Council to submit lists of three or four of

the best of the best from their areas, and, of course, most fudged a little and gave me a few more

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than that. If I read them all, it would take quite some time, so I’ve selected a few items from

each submission. Should you not hear me mention something of note that you or your unit did in

this last year, please forgive me. I’m sure your dean or vice president included it. Sit back and

join me in appreciating this abbreviated list of your accomplishments and those of your

colleagues.

In the College of Arts and Sciences:

There were 68 scholarly publications or presentations by faculty.

Faculty earned one state award, one national award, three outstanding teaching awards,

and the Kossman outstanding teacher award.

More than $550,000 came in grants, including $300,000 in private support for the

Excellence in Science fund.

Renovations began in Kethley in June after months of extensive planning by architects

and faculty. We appreciate the good will and cooperation shown by many of you who

were displaced in anticipation of this significant renovation. A year or two down the road

is a similar project for Caylor – White/Walters, the science building. Again, faculty are

playing a key role in the planning.

Social Work was re-accredited for eight years with no contingencies. This is really

significant, when you learn that only 20 percent of the reviewed programs achieve this

level of positive result.

Our GIS Center received regional and national recognition for its role in the recovery

efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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In the College of Education:

Accreditation was granted for the first time to our Athletic Training program.

Statewide governing board recognition came to the Educational Leadership program –

awarded second place in the best practices competition.

In its second year, the e-learning program served more than 200 high school students

with language instruction offered by two-way audio and video from studios here on the

campus. Already there are more than 300 enrolled for the coming year.

Viking Corporation donated equipment for the Family and Consumer Sciences program;

the facility was renovated, and dedicated as the Ada Swindle Mitchell Foods Laboratory.

Our alumnus, Fred Carl, is founder and CEO of this international firm, and we’re proud

of his success in life.

One unfortunate bit of news for us from the College of Education: Dean Lynn House is

leaving her post at Delta State to become the Chief Academic Officer for the statewide

Institutions of Higher Learning staff. We congratulate her and look forward to many

years of outstanding performance. Now we’re looking for a new dean. Dr. Matt Buckley

will serve during the interim.

In the College of Business:

Gaming Management became an option within the Hospitality Services Management

curriculum, and the first course enrolled 34 students.

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Our Commercial Aviation flight team received its tenth consecutive invitation to the

National Intercollegiate Flying Association Championship by placing in the top three

programs in Region Four, the largest region of nine in the nation.

Faculty and staff raised more than $1,000,000 in grants, contracts, and special

appropriation funding.

Studies showed that the Small Business Development Center had a $3,500,000 economic

impact on the Mississippi Delta.

In the School of Nursing:

Increased recruitment activities paid off – admissions to the undergraduate nursing

program grew 21 percent two years ago and an additional 33 percent this past year.

Retention rates are also up with three years of results going from 46 percent to 97

percent.

Nursing students contributed 35,398 service learning hours over the past academic year

which calculates to more than $630,000 in value added to local organizations and

communities.

Grant funding is up by five percent for the coming year with a significant new emphasis

on relieving the nursing shortage in the Delta.

For the first time, a senior nursing student was selected as a Congressional Fellow. Mary

Luther served one semester in Senator Thad Cochran’s office in Washington, D.C.

A nursing faculty member, Debbie Allen, served as Chair of the Faculty Senate. She was

an outstanding addition to the President’s Cabinet this past year.

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In Graduate and Continuing Studies:

Graduate school enrollment rose for the fourth straight year, and in last year’s fall

semester it was at an all-time high for a regular term.

Intersession courses were launched during the winter break between semesters. An

innovative resources-sharing plan means that faculty who participate can earn

departmental support.

Institutional Research and Planning moved under the supervision of Graduate and

Continuing Studies to better coordinate and integrate assessment with academic

operations.

Non-credit and personal enrichment enrollments were more than 50 percent larger than

the previous year.

Independent study courses showed an increase in enrollment of 30 percent over the past

twelve months.

In Library Services:

Roberts-LaForge Library is the most frequently used service and it consistently

demonstrates the highest quality rating of any campus service according to the most

recent graduation survey – more than 90 percent of faculty and students report

satisfaction with library services.

Capps Archives and Museum curated and/or hosted nine exhibits, including the award-

winning Emmett Till Exhibit and Education Project created by our own Henry Outlaw

and Luther Brown in conjunction with archives staff.

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Born to Read, a literacy program in partnership with the College of Education, drew local

and regional publicity for the Library.

In Delta Regional Development:

Center for Community and Economic Development staff attracted and managed nearly

$2,400,000 in sponsored program funding to employ almost 160 staff members for the

benefit of local communities and schools. This is part of a $6,900,000 grant total

supervised by Delta Regional Development.

Delta Center for Culture and Learning continued efforts to establish the Mississippi Delta

National Heritage Area, and staff worked closely with the Mississippi Blues Commission

to build a statewide Blues Heritage Trail. The Delta Center won two awards for

$300,000 to help with the establishment of the trail.

In Staff Council:

Staff compensation was a primary effort, and the council presented a proposal for a two-

year plan which was modified and became the basis for the distribution of the largest

salary increases for staff in a number of years. Council Chair, Elsie Lynn Ervin, provided

outstanding leadership in this endeavor.

After research on communications and related issues, a quarterly luncheon series was

scheduled between staff council officers and the senior leadership of the institution.

Staff Council sponsored “Feed a Family” in November and collected enough food to feed

25 families at Thanksgiving.

A new electronic newsletter went monthly to all staff at the university.

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In Student Affairs:

For the second straight year, the university achieved record enrollment with its focused

enrollment marketing and management model. Projected enrollment for this fall shows

another gain.

Nearly $30,000,000 in financial aid went to 3,500 of our students. Special funding for

Hurricane Katrina victims brought an additional $1,300,000 to the campus that was

distributed to 170 students.

Residence hall capacity increased by 280 as the renovation project for the Court of

Governors reached completion. A summer project in the Student Union is also nearing

completion.

Student Services now recognizes and supports 112 student organizations and clubs.

Student Affairs and the Division of Finance and Administration worked together to create

Delta State’s first disaster response plan. This was coordinated with universities across

the state.

In the Division of Finance and Administration:

Fiscal Year 2005 again showed a clean audit of our financial statements.

Services on the Okra Kard continued to expand.

Human Resources completed major projects related to compensation, job classification,

and performance evaluation.

Cafeteria renovations and improvements came on line in September 2005.

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During the year, the division completed more than $10,000,000 in construction and

renovation projects and planned or initiated another $40,000,000 in projects.

Vice President Billy Morehead announced that at the beginning of the second semester

this coming year, he will leave his position to become the Chair of the

Accounting/CIS/Finance Division in our College of Business. He’ll be hard to replace,

but we are soliciting applications in a national search.

In the Alumni Association and the DSU Foundation:

10,000 alumni, friends, donors, students, and parents participated in alumni events during

the last year

Seven monthly issues of a new electronic newsletter went to 9,000 alumni, and two issues

of the alumni magazine went to 21,000 alumni and other supporters of the university.

Wings and Roots, the multi-year fund raising campaign, sailed well past its initial goal of

$12,000,000 and its expanded goal of $35,000,000. The final announcement this past

year reported a total in excess of $37,000,000.

In 1995, the foundation provided $42,000 in scholarships. This past year that number

had grown to $282,000 serving 287 students.

Again this past year, the foundation provided $30,000 to fund six faculty awards of

$5,000 each for excellence in teaching, research, or service. Today the foundation is

sharing news that a similar program of staff awards is in the works. Watch for details to

be announced shortly.

In Technology Management:

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Several projects completed – fiber now reaches the entire campus and Microsoft

Exchange is implemented. There are 20 new smart classrooms (a total of 37) and five

new smart carts.

Personnel of the division implemented the award-winning Faculty Technology Institute,

and a SLOAN Award recognized the posting of ten on-line courses in response to

Hurricane Katrina.

There is a new student e-mail system and voice mail is campus-wide. There is a new

campus network alert system and wireless now serves the Student Union.

In Intercollegiate Athletics:

Of 330 athletes, 97 earned academic honor roll distinction.

Alyse Hasty, a softball player, was named the Gulf South Conference female athlete of

the year.

Jasper Johnson won the Howell Award for the top Mississippi Collegiate Basketball

Player and the honor of being named the National Player of the Year. Coach Steve Rives

was named the National Coach of the Year for men’s basketball.

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams won the conference title on the same court

on the same day, and their combined season records totaled 60-5.

Seven of our 13 intercollegiate teams qualified for postseason play.

Forgive me for reading lists, but there is so much information of note that I hope you found it

interesting. We received from the system office a list of performance indicators comparing our

status in a number of areas with the other institutions in Mississippi and across the Southern

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Region. There are several categories where Delta State’s performance is better than the mean for

both groups. These include the three-year increase in enrollment, the three-year increase in the

six-year graduation rate, and the three-year increase in retention. We’re also better than the

region in our average entering ACT score and the percentage of our faculty with terminal

degrees. In fact, in 26 of the 31 categories of data reported, Delta State led or equaled the region,

the state, or both. Again, the inescapable conclusion is that Delta State University is a strong

institution and that this faculty and staff are achieving remarkable results.

Each dawning academic year brings new strategic directions for departments working within

the framework of the institutional strategic plan. The President’s Cabinet and the Academic

Council likewise layout strategic directions year-by-year at a summer retreat. This summer we

reviewed our intentions for the recently past academic year and set new directions for 2006/07.

We accomplished what we set out to do over the past twelve months, and the new statements that

will guide our work include these areas: student success; programs related to student, staff, and

faculty diversity; salary distribution models; accreditation-related opportunities; feasibility of

unit-based fund raising; and various physical plant projects.

We’ve also established a new theme to replace the Year of Cleveland. You will hear more

about it and have opportunities to participate in the months to come. Our new theme is Health

and Wellness in the Delta. It is a good year for us to focus on this area because the Delta Health

Alliance – with Delta State as the lead institution in the collaborative – has expanded to become

an umbrella operation overseeing $25,000,000 in project funds. Several new affiliated

organizations will dramatically enhance the efforts that have been made over the past few years

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by DSU, Mississippi State University, Mississippi Valley State University, the University of

Mississippi Medical School, and the Delta Council. This is an aggressive approach to the health

challenges of our region.

We have completed and enjoyed a year filled with your achievements, and we are looking

forward to everything you will accomplish in this new academic year. Thank you for your

friendship and your support. Thank you for what you do for this organization and for our

students. And as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow resolved in the reading I shared with you, I want

to thank you for bringing me along.

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