By Staff
BREAKFAST BEFORE HOURS Hoot Gipson, left, president of Gipson Steel, and J. Charles Lee, president of Mississippi State University, discuss the future of MSU before Lee spoke to guests at the East Mississippi Business Development Corp.'s Business Before Hours. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Sept. 9, 2003
Mississippi State University President J. Charles Lee said today that the future of higher education depends on donations and support from the public.
Lee's comments came during the East Mississippi Business Development Corp.'s Business Before Hours. The early morning event was the first of nine that will be held the second Tuesday of each month between now and May.
Lee also spoke about the increase in enrollment at MSU and MSU-Meridian Campus for the fall semester. He attributed the increase to a number of factors, but most of all the convenience of the MSU-Meridian Campus.
Lee became MSU's 17th president in January and officially was inaugurated on Friday. Nick Nichols, dean of MSU-Meridian, said Lee's leadership has been good for the university.
The Riley Education and Performing Arts Center will offer a number of new programs for students in the Meridian area.
One new program will allow students in the broadcast program at Meridian Community College to earn an associate's degree and then continue toward a bachelor's degree in communications at MSU-Meridian Campus.