A controversial proposal to merge three historically black Mississippi universities gained some political traction this week in the Senate.
Two bills were entered into the Senate this week calling for the merger of Mississippi Valley State and Alcorn State universities into Jackson State University. Senate Bill 2701 and 2710 were proposed by Doug Davis, chair of the Senate Universities and Colleges Committee, and they call for the merger of the administration of the universities.
“I’m strictly against this,” said state Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, a graduate of Mississippi Valley State. “I don’t think this bill will do anything to serve the people of the Delta.”
Jordan said the Senate will hold a hearing on the bill Feb. 18. He said he has also planned a rally of MVSU alumni to be held in Greenville.
“I haven’t seen any African-Americans in the Senate or the state who are OK with any sort of merger,” Jordan said. “If it happens, there will be problems.”
State Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona, said she needs to review the bill before making any decisions. She acknowledged the need for budget cuts but said she wasn’t sure merging schools was the answer.
Gov. Haley Barbour has estimated the merger would save the state $35 million. Jordan said it would likely cost the state money.
There is also the issue of whether merging the historically black universities would violate the intent of the Ayers desegregation decision. The last time the College Board recommended combining universities, in 1994, a judge rejected the idea.
“We are going to be back in court if the schools merge,” Jordan said.
According to the bill, the merger would leave MVSU at its Itta Bena campus, but the name would be changed to the “Mississippi Valley Campus of Jackson State University.“
Mississippi Valley State University President Donna H. Oliver held a town hall meeting on Wednesday to provide an update to the students, faculty, staff and alumni regarding the university’s position on the recommendation to merge.
Oliver said the legislation, introduced Tuesday would not be in the best interest of the citizens of the Mississippi Delta.
“We cannot afford to downsize or move backwards,” Oliver said. “The University’s independence is vital for the Mississippi Delta.”
Oliver said she hopes that more than economics will play into the decision of whether or not to merge Valley.
“We are hopeful that (Institutions of Higher Learning) and our state legislature will not only examine institutional mergers in state higher education in terms of cost/benefit analysis, but also what effect an action of that sort would have on our state’s educational and public service mission to the citizens of our state, and especially those citizens in the Mississippi Delta who make up some 80 percent of our student population,” Oliver said.
The president and many of her administration are attending an IHL meeting today.
“In good and bad economic times, the University is committed to maintaining a quality and accessible education at The Valley,” Oliver said. “We have developed a plan to address the expected shortfall and will be presenting this plan today at IHL.”
If the legislation passes, the merger will be effective July 1, 2011. On or before July 1, 2010, Senate Bill 2701 also calls for a “comprehensive study of the role and scope of the various institutions.”
Barbour originally made the recommendation to consolidate the universities in his budget proposal to the Legislature.
