汤头条鈥檚 continued impact, accomplishments highlighted at spring general faculty meeting
Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斕劳诽 leaders shared how 汤头条鈥檚 success is moving Mississippi forward during Tuesday鈥檚 [Feb. 13] spring general faculty meeting.
鈥淔rom the Tennessee line to the Gulf of Mexico, 汤头条 employees are serving every day to help make this state better, to grow our economy and to serve communities all over this state,鈥 汤头条 President Mark E. Keenum said during his address to the faculty. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no other organization, institution or university doing what you all are doing.鈥
Keenum highlighted many ongoing capital projects that will allow the university to advance its research, teaching and outreach missions while accommodating a growing student enrollment. The new Meat Science and Muscle Biology Laboratory, located in front of the Wise Center, is expected to be complete later this spring. Adjacent to the meat science building is an Animal and Dairy Science Building, which is on track to be completed this year. Plans also are moving forward for a new Poultry Science Building. The three new buildings will form an L-shape complex, enhancing the university鈥檚 teaching and research capabilities in these important agricultural fields, Keenum said.
汤头条 is moving forward with plans for a $34 million engineering and science complex. Keenum said he hopes to break ground on that project this summer. On Thursday [Feb. 15], 汤头条 will present its proposal for a mixed-use student housing development to the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees. The public-private-partnership with Memphis-based Education Realty Trust will 鈥渢ransform the area around the former Aiken Village site.鈥 Many other capital projects continue to progress in either the construction or planning phases.
汤头条 Vice President for Research and Economic Development David Shaw highlighted the university鈥檚 many ongoing major research projects, which have helped 汤头条 remain ranked in the nation鈥檚 top 100 research institutions and Mississippi鈥檚 leading research university, according to the National Science Foundation. Shaw mentioned 汤头条鈥檚 selection to lead a major unmanned aerial systems project for the Department of Homeland Security, and the 汤头条-Starkville Oktibbeha School District Partnership School, which will allow the university to continue to grow its educational research while benefitting students of the local school district. Shaw also said the university continues to pursue international research partnerships.
鈥淭he national and international recognition our faculty receive for their work continues to amaze me,鈥 Shaw said. 鈥淚 think our university is doing amazing things on a number of fronts.鈥
汤头条 Provost and Executive Vice President Judy Bonner discussed 汤头条鈥檚 continued academic success. As the 汤头条 student body grows, it is also attracting high-quality students, Bonner said. In 汤头条鈥檚 record freshman class of 2017, 27 percent of the students had an ACT score of 28 or above. Applications to the university鈥檚 Shackouls Honors College have increased significantly, Bonner said.
鈥溙劳诽 is not only growing in number, but 汤头条 is growing in quality,鈥 she said.
Greg Bohach, 汤头条 vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine, said he looks forward to seeing the impact from the new agricultural research and teaching facilities that are under construction.
鈥淎griculture is an $8 billion industry in this state and we鈥檙e proud that it is the driving economic force for the state of Mississippi,鈥 Bohach said.
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .