Keenum addresses budget concerns
Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum addressed the monthly Faculty Senate meeting on Friday and discussed the chance of MSU losing over $50 million in funding in the near future.
Keenum said the U.S. government’s attempt to cut about $100 billion in domestic spending has the potential to remove important earmarks sending money to MSU.
“Mississippi State, last year, received 47, almost 48, million dollars in Congressionally-directed funds that we’re probably going to lose,” Keenum said. “We’re going to be going to the agencies, and we’re going to try to work with our delegates […] to increase the publicly funded pool, give us more funds to be able to access.”
As for talking to those delegates, Keenum said he hopes to put together an initiative made up of Mississippi’s research universities with the goal of impressing upon legislators the significance the loss of these earmarks would have.
“It’s somewhat ironic that they’re going to do away with earmarks, tell us to go compete for competitive funds and then slash the competitive funds with the double whammy,” Keenum said. “It’s very alarming.”
On the other hand, Keenum said he feels good about MSU’s standing in the state’s budget.
The governor proposed a 3.6 percent cut in Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning funding and said MSU was previously planning for a 15 percent cut.
MSU hopes to add nursing program
Keenum announced the donations of two buildings on the Meridian campus, both located next to the Riley Center, and one of which Keenum said he hopes will house a RN to BSN nursing program, which would be new to MSU.
The Riley Foundation donated both of the new buildings and has already committed $6 million in order to refurbish one building. Keenum said he believes the foundation will help fund the renovation of the second building, as well.
“It’s something we’re very excited about,” Keenum said. “It’s something that’s needed in our state that our university can provide.”
The plan to add a nursing program is still in the developmental phase, and Keenum said it would require IHL approval to begin. He said it will likely be the end of the year before it is official.
“There are a lot of hoops we’ve got to jump through, but the reaction has been amazing,” Keenum said.
Plan for parking garage advances
Plans have been in the works for a parking garage on MSU’s campus, and Keenum took a big step toward making that plan a reality when he took his first look at three artist renderings of a potential facility. Keenum said the three renderings were very similar, with just a few differences in size and layout.
Keenum said he wants the help of the faculty and many others as the plan develops.
Despite the potential for budget cuts across MSU, Keenum said he believes the funding for the construction and maintenance of the parking garage will not be an issue, noting, in particular, revenue from parking services.
“I’m very confident that we have the mechanisms to support it, through the parking permits and other services that come in through parking to pay for it,” Keenum said.