The state College Board has approved two new academic programs at Mississippi Valley State University.
Valley can now offer its students a master of business administration degree beginning in the fall of 2006 and a master degree in bioinformatics in the fall of this year, said MVSU President Dr. Lester Newman.
"They are part of the Ayers settlement. We've been planning them for sometime," said Newman.
Although the board usually considers new academic program requests in October, Valley was given the authority to begin implementing these programs under the Ayers decision, Newman said.
He said the two programs were just a logical extension of the university given its tremendous enrollment growth over the past two years.
"People who wanted an MBA used to have to go elsewhere. We can keep them right here in the Delta," he said.
Valley's bioinformatics program, which deals with the process of searching biological databases, comparing DNA sequences, examining protein structures and researching biological questions with a computer, is the only bioinformatics degree program approved in the state, Newman said.
Three other programs that Valley is seeking College Board approval for are a master degree program in educational leadership, an undergraduate degree in special education and a master degree in computer science, he said.
Also on Thursday, the board voted to elect Dr. D.E. Magee as the next vice president of the board. His term will begin May 8. By board policy, vice presidents are nominated each January. After serving as vice president for one year, Magee will automatically serve as president of the board for one year. Virginia Shanteau Newton, the board's current vice president, will become president of the board on May 8.
The Commissioner Search Committee met immediately following Thursday's board meeting and informed the university leadership of recent visits with university systems in Georgia and North Carolina. The search committee plans to meet again in February to continue discussion and the search for a permanent commissioner.
The board also heard a report from the Budget and Financial Affairs Committee that outlined possible budget cuts during this legislative session. Both Gov. Haley Barbour's budget recommendation and the Legislative Budget Recommendation proposal to cut the higher education budget were discussed.
The Governor's recommendation would reduce College Board's budget by approximately 5 percent while the LBR proposes a 10.3 percent cut.
During the committee meetings on Wednesday, the board heard from the Presidents' Council. Some issues the council plans to study soon are multi-year tuition increase plans and ways to keep the board informed of universities' accreditation status.
The board is scheduled to meet next on Feb. 17.
