Mississippi University for Women isn’t merging, and the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is staying put, at least for now.
A bill that would merge MUW with Mississippi State University, along with a subsequent amendment to study the viability of MUW and MSMS, both died Wednesday on the Senate floor.
Senate Education Chairman Dennis DeBar, R-Leaksville, asked the chamber to defeat the committee substitute to Senate Bill 2715, which proposed merging the two universities to create “The W at Mississippi State University” – giving control of The W to MSU. He introduced an amendment that would instead create a feasibility study specific to MUW and MSMS.
DeBar cited issues with current and future enrollment numbers at The W as the motivation for the feasibility study.
The amendment died with 27 senators – a narrow majority – voting no, including District 17 Sen. Chuck Younger, R-Lowndes County, and District 16 Sen. Angela Turner-Ford, D-West Point.
DeBar first filed SB 2715 in February, originally proposing MSMS be relocated to MSU in Starkville. During a committee meeting on March 5, he introduced the substitute that would transfer control of MUW to MSU.
The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that calls for a task force to study the “efficiency and effectiveness” all eight of the state’s public universities.
Zack Plair is the managing editor for The Dispatch.
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