Mark Keenum, Mississippi State University president, spoke about tuition, upcoming projects and the future of the institution at the fall general faculty meeting Tuesday.
“We have continued to make progress doing more with less, and we are well positioned for the future — uncertain as it is,” he said.
Further tuition increases may be necessary to maintain the quality of MSU, Keenum said.
“Everybody wants high-quality universities, but we also want low tuition despite (a lack) of state funding,” he said.
Since the start of fiscal year 2010, state funding for MSU for on and off campus operations has decreased by 14 percent.
However, during this time, inflation has increased by three percent, resulting in the university’s buying power decreasing 17 percent, he said.
Revenue from tuition exceeds state funding for on campus operations by nearly $60 million, Keenum said.
Despite a decrease in state funding, MSU has enjoyed record levels of private support, which help finance MSU projects. “Gifts and pledges for the fiscal year that ended on June 30 reached an all-time high of more than $80 million,” Keenum said.  “The total exceeded $60 million for the third consecutive year.”
Keenum said enrollment is rapidly expanding and MSU is reaching full capacity in its laboratories and classrooms, so there is a need for a new classroom and laboratory building. He expects to see the board of trustees approval on the project this fall, allowing the building to open by 2014.
He said the new building will have four or five floors, with the first few floors designated for parking and will be built near the YMCA Building.
MSU plans on opening two new residence halls on the south side of campus a year from now.
They will be similar in design to South Hall, Keenum said.
MSU also plans to fill more teaching positions to counter expanding enrollment.
MSU created 21 new faculty positions during the spring, but only half of the positions have been filled, Keenum said.
Funding is now in place for a major renovation to Lee Hall, which will begin next year after the spring semester, Keenum said.
MSU will give state pride faculty awards, funded by private donors, this fall.
Over $1 million will be awarded to 405 faculty members in all colleges and the library in recognition of outstanding teaching, service and research.
Each winner will receive $2,500 and will be notified within the next few weeks.
Keenum said MSU bears a great responsibility for the future of Mississippi.
“We have a long tradition of leading, serving and making Mississippi a better place,” he said. “And that road has never been more important than today.”