Current:Home > MarketsMississippi University for Women urges legislators to keep the school open-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Mississippi University for Women urges legislators to keep the school open
lotradecoin exclusive trading tools View Date:2024-12-26 02:09:00
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Leaders and alumni of Mississippi University for Women rallied Tuesday at the state Capitol, urging legislators to kill a bill that would make the school a branch of nearby Mississippi State University.
“Not everyone belongs in a big-box university,” MUW President Nora Miller said. “We really grow leaders. We have students who flourish with the extra attention and the leadership opportunities that are open to them on a small campus.”
The rally happened the same day that a divided state Senate advanced a separate bill that would create a group to study whether Mississippi should close some of its eight universities — a proposal that is most likely to target schools with lower enrollment, including possibly MUW.
In the Republican-controlled chamber, 12 Democrats voted against creating a study group amid concerns that closures would limit opportunities for higher education and hurt the communities where universities are located.
Democratic Sen. Hob Bryan of Amory, one of the opponents, said he has heard “profoundly disturbing” discussion about the purpose of universities, including that they should exist solely for job training rather than for offering a rounded education to help people understand complexities of the world.
Bryan also said closing campuses could discourage out-of-state students from seeking education in Mississippi, including those who would remain in the state or become donors to their alma mater. He also said closures could hurt the economy of college towns.
“We don’t write on a clean slate,” Bryan said.
Senate Universities and Colleges Committee Chairwoman Nicole Boyd, a Republican from Oxford, said most universities are growing and thriving, but some are not.
“This is the time that we step up and do something about it and look at how we move our state forward in regards to our higher education,” Boyd said.
Boyd’s committee last week killed a bill that would have required the state to close three universities by 2028. The bill caused concern among students and alumni of Mississippi’s three historically Black universities, but senators said schools with the smallest enrollment would have been the most vulnerable: Mississippi Valley State, which is historically Black, as well as Delta State University and Mississippi University for Women, which are predominantly white.
The study committee that passed the Senate on Tuesday was a compromise. The bill will move to the House for more work.
The bill to merge MUW into Mississippi State awaits debate.
MUW has also enrolled men since 1982, and about about 22% of the current 2,230 students are male. University leaders say having “women” in the name complicates recruiting, and they proposed two new names this year — Mississippi Brightwell University and Wynbridge State University of Mississippi. They recently paused the rebranding effort after receiving sharp criticism from some graduates.
A 1983 MUW graduate, Sylvia Starr of Memphis, Tennessee, said Tuesday that attending the small university gave her “a fantastic education” and the ability to lead.
“The women I went to school with, I’m still very close with,” Starr said. “Many of them are here today. We have each other’s back, still, as we’ve matured and grown.”
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Rob Schneider seeks forgiveness from daughter Elle King after 'fat camp' claims
- Hollywood has been giving out climate change-focused awards for 33 years. Who knew?
- New Hampshire vet admits he faked wheelchair use for 20 years, falsely claiming $660,000 in benefits
- Finns go to the polls to elect a new president at an unprecedented time for the NATO newcomer
- Democrats try to block Green Party from presidential ballot in Wisconsin, citing legal issues
- John Harbaugh credits Andy Reid for teaching him early NFL lessons
- Q&A: How YouTube Climate Denialism Is Morphing
- What's next for Bill Belichick as 2024 NFL head coaching vacancies dwindle?
- 'Business done right': Why the WWE-TNA partnership has been a success
- Hayden Panettiere Shares a Rare Look Inside Her Family World With Daughter Kaya
Ranking
- 'Business done right': Why the WWE-TNA partnership has been a success
- A suburban Florida castle with fairy-tale flair: Go inside this distinct $1.22M home
- Bangladesh appeals court grants bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in labor case
- US sees signs of progress on deal to release hostages, bring temporary pause to Israel-Hamas war
- State, local officials failed 12-year-old Pennsylvania girl who died after abuse, lawsuits say
- Most Americans feel they pay too much in taxes, AP-NORC poll finds
- Philadelphia Eagles hiring Kellen Moore as offensive coordinator, per report
- This one thing is 'crucial' to win Super Bowl for first time in decades, 49ers say
Recommendation
-
Conservative are pushing a ‘parental rights’ agenda in Florida school board races. But will it work?
-
Australian Open men's singles final: How to watch Daniil Medvedev vs. Jannik Sinner
-
Jillian Michaels Wants You to Throw Out Every F--king Fad Diet and Follow This Straightforward Advice
-
What is UNRWA, the main aid provider in Gaza that Israel accuses of militant links?
-
Kim Kardashian Says Her Four Kids Try to Set Her Up With Specific Types of Men
-
How Taiwan beat back disinformation and preserved the integrity of its election
-
J.Crew’s Epic Weekend Sale Can’t Be Missed – up to 60% off Select Styles, Starting at $8
-
U.S. pauses build-out of natural gas export terminals to weigh climate impacts