'Our people' remain Keenum’s ‘No. 1 priority’
Contact: Carl Smith
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State President Mark E. Keenum praised lawmakers for funding employee merit raises this year and recommitted to seeking additional funds for pay increases in the upcoming legislative session.
Keenum’s pledge to faculty and staff came as he laid out the university’s top legislative priorities, noted the year’s highlights and looked toward future projects during Wednesday’s [Sept. 4] Fall General Faculty Meeting.
After “a good session†for 91´«Ã½, which included approved funding for a half-percent increase for the university’s PERS contribution, increase in health insurance premiums and an almost 3 percent raise for benefits-eligible employees, Keenum said future cost-of-living raises are needed to help unburden faculty and staff from inflation’s impact on their finances.
“I’m grateful we’ve been able to give raises in recent years, but we also know it’s not nearly enough to get us to where we need to be,†the university’s 19th president said. “As I have said many times, my top legislative priority has never changed and will continue to be our people.
“I am committed to securing the funding we need for our people. Faculty salaries and faculty retention are my main focus,†Keenum continued. “We can’t be the major research university and economic engine this state needs without outstanding people.â€
Keenum and other 91´«Ã½ administrators are spearheading planning efforts for the upcoming session, and the university recently hosted numerous state lawmakers for discussions about how to position the land-grant university to better the Magnolia State through teaching, service and research. One such discussion centered around providing all students access, opportunities and success during their time at the university.
“We’re not here to indoctrinate certain ideologies into our students—that’s not what we’re about here. We’re here to educate our students—to prepare them, to equip them, to help them understand how to think and to think critically and make decisions in the world,†Keenum said. “When they leave here, they’re going to go out into the world. We have to do everything we can to equip them and prepare them.
“We’re focused on teaching, mentoring and preparing highly skilled engineers, business leaders, teachers, healthcare professionals, cybersecurity specialists, agricultural leaders and on and on,†he added. “That’s what we’re about here at Mississippi State.â€
With the start of the fall semester, Keenum noted “the excitement and energy†on campus. In August, Keenum helped welcome 141 new teachers to campus via New Faculty Orientation and almost 5,600 first-time students to residence halls through several move-in days. Then, the university saw a record number of students join its Panhellenic sororities, Interfraternity Council chapters and National Panhellenic chapters, bolstering 91´«Ã½ to the third-largest National Panhellenic Council community in the Southeastern Conference. Following the start of classes, Keenum said the fun campus atmosphere continued thanks to the debut of Head Football Coach Jeff Lebby’s team in a strong performance against Eastern Kentucky University.
“There is something about our Bulldog culture—who we are. It’s special and unique. Here at Mississippi State, we’re all Bulldogs. We look out for our fellow Bulldogs, we care for each other and we love one another,†Keenum said. “I believe this helps us stand out from so many of the other schools in the region and the nation. I’m proud of who we are and what we have here on campus.â€
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