Gov. Haley Barbour is expected to recommend Mississippi University for Women be merged with another school, possibly Mississippi State University, as a cost-cutting move when he submits his proposed budget to the Legislature this Monday, according to sources briefed on the plan.
Even so, local legislators are expressing doubts a merger would take place as the Legislature pushes through a final 2011 budget.
“(A merger) is required to pass both the House and Senate. I don”t think it will pass either,” said Rep. Gary Chism, R-Columbus.
Chism says MUW alumni have heard rumors of consolidation or closing for the past 20 years and have become adept at expressing their disapproval of both options to local legislators.
“People (in government) listen to their constituents more than the governor”s way of trying to balance the budget. If W alums start calling legislators, they”re going to vote like their constituents want them to vote,” he said.
The budget from the Legislature”s Budget Office, which will be released Dec. 2, according to Chism, is the one to pay attention to.
“The governor”s budget, what the Legislature usually does with it is throw it in the garbage. He”s required to put one out, and we never really pay any attention to it,” said Chism. “I”m not belittling his suggestions. Some of them may be picked up on. As far as us carte blanche using his budget, we never do.”
Sen. Terry Brown, R-Columbus, says a merger may take place, but it”s too early to make that determination.
“I don”t want them to pick programs out and move them to (MSU). I don”t think they would do that, but I want to make sure of all that before we go forward,” said Brown.
MUW President Dr. Claudia Limbert is taking a similar wait-and-see approach to news of Barbour”s recommendation.
“I have no way of knowing (about a merger). I”m not even sure it would be with State. I”ve heard rumors it could be with Ole Miss or East Mississippi Community College,” said Limbert.
Limbert is unsure what a merger would entail for MUW, but says committees are exploring all possibilities.
“We”re planning for every eventuality,” she said.
MSU President Mark Keenum, in a prepared statement, dismissed talk of mergers as a secondary concern.
“We are focused on budget matters affecting Mississippi State and making it the best university it possibly can be. Issues relating to possible closures or mergers would come under the purview of the Institutions of Higher Learning and the Mississippi Legislature,” he said.
The discussion of merging MUW, and possibly closing the school altogether, comes as Limbert and her staff are asking the Legislature to approve a name change to Reneau University.
Chism says the name change is unlikely, and if it doesn”t pass this year, it”s less likely to pass next year during an election year.
“I”ve heard from several of my colleagues who are already in contact with W alums in the area. They”ve already committed to alums they”re not going to support a name change. I don”t think it”s even going to get out of committee,” he said. “I think when the session is over, MUW is still going to be MUW.”
Brown says closure is even less likely than the name change.
“I don”t think the W will get closed at all. I don”t even think that”s an option. I don”t think we”re going to close any institution in the state,” he said.
However, as MUW faces nearly $5 million in funding cuts over the next three years, sweeping changes are inevitable. Limbert expects 24 staff positions to be cut in 2010, followed by another 45 cuts in 2011. If enrollment remains steady or increases and the IHL allows the school to make a proposed 5 percent tuition increase, Limbert says the cuts will be less severe.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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