CHANCELLOR’S 3 THINGS TO KNOW
With final exams set for next week, we’ve entered the closing stretch of a spectacular fall. ESPN’s College GameDay electrified our campus with its second-ever visit to Oxford. In the arts, we’ve dedicated the naming of a wing at our top-rated University Museum and held a star-studded stage production featuring students and alumni at the Gertrude C. Ford Center. We also honored the veterans and families among our students, faculty, and staff, and welcomed Lt. Col. Sheldon Morris (’00), a former Ole Miss football player who served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, for a conversation about vaccine safety. And, we’re still soaking in the joy and celebration from another Egg Bowl victory, which clinched a historic 10-win regular season for our Ole Miss Rebels football program! Here are three things to know right now:
- Now & Ever: The university launched the largest comprehensive campaign in the history of Mississippi universities. Now & Ever is an ambitious campaign whose name is drawn from the last line of our alma mater. The Now & Ever campaign will generate at least $1.5 billion in private support and grow our endowment to at least $1 billion. Gifts to this campaign will enable us to invest in the education, experiences, and opportunities that current and future generations of students need to build their personal legacies and lead fulfilling, successful lives. I want to thank the campaign’s first-year leaders: Maj. Gen. Leon and Debra Collins of Madison, and Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy of Memphis. Emily and I are moved by the support received so far for the campaign, and we’re thrilled about what this will mean for our future. Check out this issue’s special section at the end for more about Now & Ever.
- Access for All: As the state’s flagship university, we’re committed to serving all qualified Mississippi students. A vital part of this mission is serving students whose families are new to higher education. Findings from a recent campus survey show that nearly one-third of our student body are first-generation college students. We recently celebrated those students and our ongoing commitment to help succeed with the university’s First-Generation Celebration Week. As a first-gen student myself, I applaud the resiliency, motivation, and drive that I see in our first-generation students. And because of the close relationship between accessibility and affordability, I’m proud that we remain the best value college in Mississippi and one of the best values nationally among public universities, according to U.S. News and World Report. We want all of our students to experience academic success, engage with campus life, and reach their fullest potential.
- Positioned for Collaboration: The university’s partnerships with industry and government continue to expand how we can serve our students and our region. We hosted MS Competes, a gathering of state and national leaders who discussed their vision for Mississippi and the university’s leadership role in realizing it. We value the insight from U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker in our discussions about technology, innovation, and economic development. In a conversation before a student audience, Sen. Wicker also spoke with former Gov. Haley Barbour about working together in times of political divide. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship hosted the fourth annual REDe Summit, a conference that encourages, celebrates, and enhances entrepreneurial endeavors among students. Finally, we launched a new Industry Engagement Hub, a website to showcases ideas, resources and success stories, inspiring industry leaders to partner with the university in innovative ways. Prospective partners can check out the online portal to learn more about what Ole Miss offers.
Until next month, take care!!
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor
TOP STORIES
TOWER TURNS ONE
Children’s of Mississippi celebrated the first year of serving Mississippi families in the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower.The seven-story tower opened to patients Nov. 2, 2020.
REBEL RUN
The UM classes of 2024 and 2025 resumed the traditionalRebel Run at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as more than 1,400 students romped across the field before the Ole Miss-Liberty football game.
TOP MISSISSIPPI MUSEUM
The UM Museum has been named one of the state’s best for art by Mississippi Magazine, an honor that comes one year after the magazine named William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak, which the museum maintains, as the state’s best historic site.
FLAGSHIP FACTS
Now & Ever
The Campaign for Ole Miss
On Nov.12, the University of Mississippi launched the Now & Ever comprehensive campaign to raise at least $1.5 billion in private support and grow the flagship university’s endowment to at least $1 billion. Now & Ever will advance efforts across the university, from student scholarships and faculty research to campus facilities and athletics, touching all of our schools and units. Read on to learn how this campaign will bolster our university for generations to come.
Building Leaders: The University of Mississippi transforms lives by challenging students through rigorous academic programs and dynamic experiential learning. Our talented and diverse student body comes from around the state and across the globe. Now and ever, we will serve our students by offering innovative programs and supporting student success. Scholarships make dreams become reality. Outstanding graduate programs help our students attain a higher level of knowledge and make original contributions to their fields. Opening doors, serving under represented Mississippians, and expanding diversity is part of our Pathways to Equity. Finally, we recognize that to achieve all this, we must prioritize health and wellness.
Empowering Academic Excellence: Our faculty inspire students to reach for their highest goals. Their efforts go far beyond the classroom to include service, research, mentorship, creative achievement, and discovery. Our world-class faculty need our support to create more endowed faculty chairs and professorships, and find new ways to recognize and reward faculty merit. Now & Ever will inspire excellence and expand opportunities, including increasing graduates in STEM fields and supporting major new initiatives like the Institute for the Arts, the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom, the Center for Practical Ethics, the Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation, and more.
Fueling Research & Innovation: Our faculty are driven by curiosity, discovery, and the desire to understand and invent. These qualities enable them to tackle some of our biggest global challenges. Increased support can help us elevate health care for all, strengthen expertise around cybersecurity, and develop future leaders among our undergraduate and graduate student populations. We must also grow to meet exploding demand for new programs such as data analytics, biomedical engineering, and evidence-based policing and reform strategies. We will advance interdisciplinary research and creative achievement that is impactful and innovative.
Creating Economic Opportunity: The University of Mississippi plays a critical role in Mississippi’s economy. Our graduates are workforce-ready and prepared to achieve their fullest career potential. We’re dedicated to facilitating entrepreneurial initiatives that creates new opportunities. We engage with our surrounding communities and draw visitors and students to our state. We will continue to promote collaborations and partnerships with communities across Mississippi, expand business and industry engagement, and grow our presence across the state.
