One way or another, sweeping changes are on the way for Mississippi University for Women.
Gov. Haley Barbour is expected to recommend MUW be consolidated with Mississippi State University as a cost-saving measure when he releases his proposed 2011 budget, Monday. Merging the two universities would result in eliminating one set of administrators.
But according to MUW President Dr. Claudia Limbert, jobs are going to be cut whether or not the schools merge. And Rep. Esther Harrison, D-Columbus, an MUW alum, doesn”t think a merger would solve the school”s problems.
“I don”t think that would cure, by itself, the funding problem with the deficit that we have. For us, I don”t see an advantage,” said Harrison.
MUW stands to lose $5 million in funding over the next three years, said Limbert. This year, the school had a $1.3 million cut, but no jobs were lost.
Next year, MUW will lose another $1.3 million, equaling 24 positions. An anticipated $2.5 million drop in 2011 will lead to the loss of 45 positions.
“Seventy percent of our budget is in people. We”ve cut everything we can cut,” said Limbert.
If MUW can maintain or increase its enrollment over the next few years and the Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning approves a requested 5 percent tuition hike, Limbert says some of those jobs may be saved.
“The budget situation is not looking good for anyone in the state. The state is losing about $40 million during the same period we”re losing $5 million,” said Limbert. “Everybody is going to get this cut. There will be talks about merging school districts, cutting community colleges and all state agencies. Who knows what”s going to happen at this point?”
Economy woes
Sen. Terry Brown, R-Columbus, agrees with Limbert”s assessment of Mississippi”s financial troubles.
“I don”t think people on the street even know how bad our funding situation is right now,” said Brown. “We started out $450 million in the hole last year because of Medicaid.
”If Obama”s health care bill passes, that”s another $350 million we don”t have. We could easily be $1 billion in the hole the day we (legislators) get there in January.”
Limbert, legislators and local officials agree closing MUW would be a bad move, and Harrison and Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus, agree a merger, of MUW with Mississippi State, Ole Miss, East Mississippi Community College or any other school, is unlikely.
“Right now, we”re not looking at merging any of the universities,” said Harrison.
“(A merger) is required to pass both the House and the Senate. I don”t think it will pass either one,” said Chism.
The state Legislature would have to introduce legislation to merge any of the state”s colleges. They also would have to introduce legislation to change MUW”s name. Limbert in August announced Reneau University as the college”s choice for a new name.
Despite MUW”s potential to grow its student population as an arm of MSU — MUW enrolls about 2.400 students — Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders hopes the university remains an independent entity.
“As a last resort, if that”s what you have to do to keep it open, that”s what you have to do,” Sanders said.
The college employs more than 400 people, making it one of the county”s 10 largest employers. In the fiscal year 2004 — the most recent economic impact report released by the school — MUW reported $16.75 million in salaries and wages, generating about 752 jobs and $26.3 million in total labor income.
Columbus Mayor Robert Smith also would like to see MUW succeed independently but sees the economic value in combining the two schools.
“If it did happen, I think that would be a great asset from an economic standpoint for the city,” he said.
Smith believes a merger would lead to increased enrollment, which would bring more tax revenue into Columbus.
Expenditures for students — $38.5 million annually — generate $138,780 in local sales tax.
More than 19,000 people participated in public events hosted at MUW in 2004, spending about $846,969, regionally and generating $15,810 in local sales tax.
Budget slashes
Major cuts are in store for all state schools, said Scott Ross, president of the College Board.
“All of our universities are going to be very different when we come through this budget crisis. I don”t think anyone should expect to not see change and feel pain,” he said.
The IHL board will meet Nov. 18-19 in Jackson, after Barbour releases his budget. A merger likely will be discussed if it appears in Barbour”s budget, said Ross. The board also will discuss plans begin the search for Limbert”s successor when she retires in July 2010.
Both Ross and Harrison have heard rumors about Barbour”s intentions, but neither have been told by Barbour of anyone on his staff of his recommendation. Chism and Brown also had not received any official word on the merger recommendation.
“I don”t know what (Barbour”s budget) is going to contain,” said Ross. I expect it will contain some pretty bold recommendations given the state of the economy.”
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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