By By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
May 15, 2001
University of Southern Mississippi Foundation officials say they are working to see that state budget cuts never again hamper the university.
John McCarty, development officer, reported Monday during a local USM alumni banquet that a $100 million fund-raising effort is under way to create an endowment for USM. More than $45 million has been raised.
McCarty was substituting for USM President Horace Fleming, who had been scheduled to attend the meeting. McCarty said the priorities of the fund-raising effort are: 1) scholarships; 2) faulty enhancement; 3) athletics; 4) library and infrastructure; and 5) the USM Gulf Coast campus.
McCarty said USM officials plan to create a four-year degree program on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He said it is not USM's intention to invade Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College's turf, but to meet an economic need of the community.
He said the University of South Alabama and the University of New Orleans have lowered out-of-state fees to draw Mississippi students.
McCarty said the relationship will be analogous to the one Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus has with Meridian Community College and other area community colleges.
Under the new plan, 150 students would be accepted to the first freshman class on the USM Long Beach campus. That number would grow year for the next five years, leaving the college with 750 freshmen.
For more information about USM, visit www.usm.edu.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor of The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3217, or e-mail him at sswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.