State Higher Education Commissioner Tom Meredith encouraged Mississippi Valley State University faculty and staff members to "adopt the philosophy that every student will be successful" at convocation exercises Monday.
It was Meredith's first visit to the Itta Bena campus since Dr. Roy Hudson assumed the role of interim president after the resignation of Lester Newman July 15.
The College Board will begin the search process for an MVSU president in the spring of 2008 at the earliest, Meredith said in an interview. He said he could not say whether Hudson would be a candidate for the position.
Meredith told the convocation audience that high school graduates today are not necessarily prepared for college-level work. Students are "coming in maybe not as prepared as we want them to be, but that's where we come in," he said.
He said faculty must:
- Offer more support for first-generation students;
- Do a better job of monitoring class attendance; and
- Help students with financial aid.
Meredith also spoke about trust and building good relationships. "Let students know you care and want to help," he said.
Associate professor Garfield Burke, who teaches math and education, said he felt good about the start of the academic year.
"The (College Board) has shown some interest in Valley. In the 10 years I have been here, it's the first time they've been visible," he said.
Burke was happy for the physical presence on campus and that the board expressed interest in students, he said.
Hudson also spoke at the convocation. He was greeted by cheers and a standing ovation from faculty and staff. He joked frequently while echoing many of Meredith's themes.
Hudson stressed gaining continued accreditation for programs such as teacher education, social work, applied technology, music, computer science, mass communication and business administration.
He also encouraged teachers to give their all to their students.
"We must be serious about teaching classes," he said.
Sometimes, he said, teachers let students in night classes out early and the students distract those in Hudson's classes, asking, "Where's my ride?" Hudson said he would find out which teachers were doing this and put a stop to it.
"It costs a lot of money to go to school," he said.
Hudson also encouraged faculty, staff, friends and family to support university athletics.
He closed by encouraging MVSU to move forward.
"Whatever issues we've got, we got to get behind us," he said. The College Board doesn't want to keep hearing from Valley, Hudson said.
Debbie Montgomery, the university's director of public relations, estimated 575 faculty and staff members attended. It was the largest crowd to attend orientation in recent years, she said.
