Mississippi State University
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MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY Mississippi State University, founded in 1878, is a com- MSU ranks 55th nationally among public institutions for prehensive land-grant institution with a statewide enrollment research and development expenditures in science and engi- of more than 16,000 students. neering, according to the National Science Foundation. Established as the Agricultural and Mechanical College Annual expenditures are about $160 million. MSU is 31st of Mississippi, the university has traditional strengths in engi- among the nation's universities in engineering research neering and scientific agriculture, but has evolved into a com- expenditures, and accounts for more than half of all research prehensive institution with a diverse array of programs in and development expenditures among all of the state's pub- teaching, research and outreach. lic and private colleges. University research capabilities have More than three-fourths of Mississippi State students are played a direct role in attracting new aerospace and defense from Mississippi, but almost every state and more than 60 related industries to the area. During the past two years, countries around the world are also represented. Nearly 80 Aurora Flight Sciences, II-VI Incorporated, AEA Technology percent of the students are undergraduates, 48 percent are and General Electric all have partnered with the university to women, and about 20 percent are African-American. The near- Cullis Wade Depot establish research and development or production facilities. ly 300 campus student organizations include 29 social fraterni- During 2004-05, the university was cited by Southern Business ties and sororities, Army and Air Force ROTC, and a variety of and Development magazine as one of “Ten University Markets intramural and club sports. That Really Have Their Act Together.” MSU has more than 1,000 faculty members and over Major initiatives in the Mississippi State Cooperative 4,000 total full-time employees, with a total operating budget Extension Service and the university's Social Science Research of nearly $615 million. The campus and adjacent agricultural Center are seeking to improve the health of citizens around research lands comprise about 4,000 acres. the state. The Delta Health Initiative -- a consortium that The university offers 170 bachelor’s, master’s, special- includes MSU, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Delta ist’s, doctoral, and professional degrees in 118 academic pro- State and Mississippi Valley State universities, and the Delta grams through the colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Council -- is focusing on the region's pressing needs in such Arts and Sciences; Architecture, Art and Design; Bagley areas as diabetes and agricultural-related illness. Through the Engineering; Business and Industry; Education; Forest Rural Health Safety and Security Institute at the SSRC, sociol- Resources; and Veterinary Medicine. ogists and psychologists are seeking to learn more about how Giles Distinguished Professor of English Nancy Hargrove human behaviors affect health and to suggest strategies that was one of the nation’s 31 scholars selected as a Fulbright Chapel of Memories prevent illnesses. Distinguished Chair for 2005-06, recognizing a career of pro- Among research efforts are the Center for Advanced fessional accomplishment. She is a four-time previous Fulbright Vehicular Systems that supports the state’s emerging automo- Scholar. bile industry, neurotoxicology research in the MSU Center for Mississippi State is working to become a premier public Environmental Health Science funded by the National undergraduate teaching institution, emphasizing both access Institutes of Health, a computer security research program and excellence, while continuing to build on its history as "The sponsored by the National Security Agency, and a Center for People's University." Over the past several years, the freshman Historical Studies funded by the U.S. Department of retention and overall graduation rates have increased. A well- Education and focused on improving history instruction in established program called "Pathfinders" is helping the univer- public schools. A major research initiative in the biosciences, sity make progress in keeping students enrolled at Mississippi the Life Sciences and Biotechnology Institute combines State once they get to campus. Through the project, freshmen research, education and technology transfer, building on who miss more than two classes in the first six weeks of school strengths in agricultural biotechnology. can expect a friendly phone call, e-mail or personal visit to MSU also is committed to expanding its partnerships remind them how important class attendance is to academic with business and industry, communities, local governments, success. "Pathfinders" has attracted national attention, receiv- Drill Field / Lee Hall and public education to promote economic development and ing a Retention Excellence Award in 2003 from higher educa- increased opportunities for the state's citizens. The Industrial tion consulting firm Noel-Levitz. Outreach Services unit established in 2004 served more than In the fall of 2005, the university launched a group of 45 small- to medium-sized manufacturing businesses. eight new "learning communities," started the new "Math The university continues to receive record private sup- Domain" computer- assisted math learning laboratory, and port. During the 2006 fiscal year, alumni and friends con- opened its first new campus residence hall in more than 35 tributed $78 million in immediate and deferred gifts, as well years. Two more new residence halls opened this fall, with one as pledges payable over five years, and the university's $400 more scheduled for occupancy in January 2007, completing million State of the Future capital campaign totals more than the new Northeast Village complex. $325 million pledges with two years to go. The Cullis Wade Depot opened in August and houses This past May, the 128-year-old, landgrant university the new Barnes & Noble at MSU Bookstore, a full-service welcomed its 18th chief executive. Dr. Robert H. “Doc” Starbucks, the Wade Clock Museum, and a campus welcome Foglesong was a unanimous choice of the Board of Trustees, center. In addition, the old “Malfunction Junction” intersection State Institutions of Higher Learning. was razed and developed as a new green space for tailgating, now known as The Junction. Sanderson Center Bully the mascot Cowbells Bully XIX “Tonka” 44 MSU ADMINISTRATION ROBERT H. “DOC” LARRY FOGLESONG TEMPLETON MSU President Director of Athletics West Virginia, 1968 Mississippi State, 1965 Robert H. Foglesong is the 18th president of Mississippi State University, a Mississippi State University Director of Athletics Larry Templeton begins his 20th land-grant university committed to excellence in learning, research, and service. His year at the head of the Bulldog sport program in 2006, and under his watchful eye MSU vision is for MSU to become the most respected land-grant school in the Southeast. competes, and has competed, for championships in every sport program. MState stu- As president, he is responsible for planning, budgeting, and execution for the largest dent-athletes continue to excel in the classroom, setting academic records nearly every university in the state of Mississippi. He is also the president and executive director semester. And the department has operated in the black while expanding the program of the Appalachian Leadership and Education Foundation, a nonprofit operating to and drastically improving its facilities. He is the third-longest-tenured AD in MSU his- identify our next generation of leaders in Appalachia and mentor/financially support tory and the longest in the Southeastern Conference with 19 seasons under his belt, their journey toward academic, leadership, and character excellence. He’s a director and the university's athletic program has reached heights never before achieved under of Massey Energy, one of the largest producers of coal in the nation, and a director his guidance. of the Michael Baker Corp., an international energy and engineering firm. He also has On the playing field, the decade of the 1990s saw virtually every State sport establish a best-ever finish. During the 1990s, MSU appeared in five postseason foot- been designated by President George W. Bush to co-chair the United States-Russia ball bowl games and earned six postseason tournament berths in men's basketball, Joint Commission on POW/MIAs. including the 1996 NCAA Final Four effort and 1995's NCAA Sweet 16 showing. With Previously, he was nominated by the President, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, the Bulldogs having made back-to-back (1998 & '97) College World Series appear- and served as a four-star general in the United States Air Force. He had responsibili- ances, MSU joined Florida as the only two SEC schools to go to five bowl games, the ty for policy recommendations and implementation of policy relative to personnel, Final Four and the College World Series in the '90s. operations, infrastructure and intra/inter governmental affairs for an organization of The start of the new millennium has been no different with MSU sports teams 358,000 uniformed members and 158,000 civilian employees. He was responsible for having qualified for postseason play 51 times during the past seven seasons, including planning/programming for future strategies involving an annual budget of $90 billion a school-record 12 teams in 2004-05. (equivalent to the