The Mississippi Valley State University interim vice president for academic affairs is retiring today as planned.
Dr. Curtis Baham, a retiree of Jackson State University, is "riding off into the sunset for complete retirement," he said, to his home in Lake Providence, La.
When MVSU's vice president for academic affairs retired, Baham was asked to fill in at the university for six months, beginning in October, during the search for a permanent replacement.
"I've had an exciting journey for six months. I'm closing out my career in higher education," Baham said.
He spent the majority of Thursday in search meetings for his replacement.
Although Baham doesn't like to brag, he has had a productive stay at the university and is loved by many faculty and staff members.
"I think the Valley family will truly miss Dr. Baham," said Dr. Abigail Newsome, director of the bioinformatics program. "He's done a lot for the university in the small amount of time he's been here. I truly hate that he's leaving."
Recently, Baham has served as part of a special committee to discuss campus issues given as reasons for a Feb. 27 no-confidence vote in university President Lester C. Newman.
The committee was an initiative established by Newman for campus improvement and includes 10 faculty members, who were chosen by their peers, as well as Provost Dr. Cassie Osborne.
"I think it's a good, balanced committee," Baham said.
"I think they're going to come through with some productive kind of recommendations that will improve the university," he said.
The committee is scheduled to present suggestions to Newman today.
Much of Baham's service at the university has involved accreditation visits for undergraduate degree programs in teacher education, computer science and art and the graduate program in social work.
The accreditation work was a "tremendous task," Baham said.
The university is in the process of gaining national accreditation in all of its majors. About 90 percent of its programs are currently accredited, he said.
At MVSU Baham has also:
Worked with a faculty senate committee help update the faculty handbook.
"The committee is doing an excellent job" revising and updating the handbook, he said.
Overseen the completion of a comprehensive university catalog, which is being printed. The catalog contains complete faculty and staff information and degree program requirements for all students.
Worked to develop cooperative arrangements with sister institutions, specifically community colleges.
MVSU has made strides in its relationship with Coahoma Community College and wants to do the same with Mississippi Delta Community College, Holmes Community College and others.
The idea is a "seamless relationship," Baham said, so matriculating students do not lose credits.
The outgoing interim vice president for academic affairs believes his office is important.Without academics, the university has no reason to exist, he said.
"Academic affairs is the top priority of the university," he said.
Baham said he has enjoyed his time at MVSU and in the future is willing to help from afar in any way he can.
"I've met some outstanding people at this university," he said.
