Gov. Haley Barbour’s proposal to merge Mississippi Valley State University with two other historically black universities has met with objections from some people connected to Valley.
Under the threat of a tighter budget, Barbour called for the consolidation of Mississippi Valley State University and Alcorn State into Jackson State, all three historically black institutions. He also suggested folding Mississippi University for Women into Mississippi State.
State Sen. David Jordan, D-Greenwood, who graduated from Valley, said he was appalled that the governor would recommend any sort of consolidation involving that university.
“No way. I’m against it,” Jordan said. “I will fight the governor tooth and nail on this issue. It’s the only full four-year university in the Delta.”
Jordan said he knows the economy is bad, but Valley is too important to the region to risk doing anything that may harm the university.
“Education is the only opportunity up and out,” Jordan said. “For the governor to come along with some asinine statement like this… I would be very disappointed if the Legislature went along with this.”
Barbour said the campuses wouldn’t close, but administrative jobs would be cut and academic offerings would be reduced to eliminate duplication.
“Many of these bold changes would save large amounts of money either immediately or within two years,” Barbour wrote to legislators. “Many of the same changes will actually improve service to our citizens, including education.”
In his submitted budget, Barbour wrote, “no area of education can be immune to spending reductions.”
In a release issued Monday evening, Valley President Donna H. Oliver said, “We are hopeful that an examination of institutional mergers in state higher education will not only be made 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.”
Dr. Gordon Daniels, an assistant professor of history at Valley, said any consolidation of the historically black universities should be done to improve the quality of education, not because of budget restraints.
“We’ll have to find out what is suitable for the needs of the students,” Daniels said. “If it brings improvement to their education, then I am all for it. If it’s just for budgetary reasons, students, particularly black students, will suffer in that situation. It is black students making the ultimate sacrifice. It’s history repeating itself.”
Keeley White, a senior at Valley, said she had been hearing rumors of consolidation and they did not sit well with her.
“I am totally against it,” White said. “Valley has its own identity, and merging will take that away from us.”
White said she feels betrayed by the governor and any lawmaker who would want to merge Valley with another school.
“It’s kind of painful,” White said. “Some politicians came from here, but a lot went to Delta State, Ole Miss or Mississippi State. Their schools aren’t being threatened.”
Valley had already begun work to cut operating costs. An 18-member Renaissance Efficiency and Innovation Committee consisting of faculty and staff from throughout the university was charged with reviewing and analyzing cost savings and efficiency recommendations.
“The committee developed recommendations in three different phases which included suggestions ranging from restructuring, reallocation and outsourcing in academic, non-academic, and support units,” Oliver said, “and in keeping with Governor Barbour’s budget proposal, we are prepared to implement the recommendations of the committee if and when the need arises.”
According to the release, Valley “has implemented austere budget savings measures” for the proposed 12 percent budget cut Barbour recommended Monday.
Barbour does not have the authority to make the budget cuts, only recommendations. The decision will ultimately be made by the Legislature, which will begin meeting in January.
State Rep. Kelvin Buck, D-Holly Springs, chairman of the House Universities and Colleges Committee, issued a statement of disagreement with the governor.
“While this may appear to some to be the answer,” Buck said, “it is my view that this method would serve as only a short-term approach and would do considerable damage to the state’s future long-term economic viability.”
According to Barbour’s report, a merger would save little in its first year of implementation but would save $35 million in the second year.
In early November, state Higher Education Commissioner Hank Bounds said consolidation has been discussed every year he has been in education. In a visit to MVSU in September, he told staff that he saw no “political will” to change the status of any university.
“We have eight universities now, and if I were a betting man, I’d bet we’ll have eight universities in five years,” Bounds told staff members.
Valley has faced the possibility of consolidation before. In 1994, it was proposed that it be merged with a historically white institution, Mississippi University for Women. Protesters picketed the Legislature to allow both universities to keep their respective identities.
Mississippi Economic Council President Blake Wilson released a statement Monday night encouraging business leaders to review the proposal and offer their input to the council.
“MEC has long supported consolidation of school districts in the broadest sense and greater efficiency in government,” Wilson said. “ The governor has presented a challenging proposal for challenging times.”
Monday, Barbour also recommended that the Legislature:
- Consolidate public school districts from 152 to about 100.
- Close six mental health crisis centers and four Department of Mental Health facilities.
- Reduce the number of community colleges, currently 15. He said the elimination of campuses and satellite campuses must be considered.
- Reduce by 12 percent the 2010 appropriations for most state agencies.
- Enact a one-year suspension of the STEP program, a salary increase given to teachers automatically received for years of service.
- Merge the Mississippi School for the Arts and the Mississippi School for Math and Science.
- Discontinue support for the Mississippi Technology Alliance, Commission of the Status of Women, the Enterprise for Innovative Geospatial Solutions and Mississippi River Parkway Commission.
- Consolidate the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance into the Secretary of State’s Office.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
