Seven of the eight public universities in Mississippi, as well as the University of Mississippi Medical Center, are set to receive millions from the state to spend on capital improvement projects.
Senate Bill 2468, which was signed into law by Gov. Tate Reeves last week, is an annual appropriations bill. A part of the bill transfers money to the "2022 IHL Capital Improvements Fund." In total, the state is sending $110 million in funds to Mississippi's Institution of Higher Learning, which oversees each of the state's eight universities. The IHL is in-charge of distributing the funds.
This year's funding to the IHL Capital Improvements Fund is about $90 million fewer than 2023, which saw Reeves sign off on just over $193 million.
What college isn't receiving any funds from the bill?
While seven universities are receiving funds from this year's bill, one has been completely omitted: the Mississippi University for Women.
In last year's bill, the university received $9.3 million in state funds for capital improvements, with $8.7 million going to repair and upgrade campus facilities, $300,000 to repair and upgrade the Pohl Gymnasium and another $300,000 to improve the Hogarth Center, which is a dining hall.
Nora Miller, the president of the Mississippi University for Women, told the Clarion Ledger in a statement the W is still receiving funds from the state legislature, including $3.16 million for capital needs, as well as $300,000 for the renovation of Painter Hall, from another appropriation bill to the IHL: Senate Bill 3006.
In total, SB 3006 is sending over $381 million to the IHL to distribute to all eight universities.
Miller's statement does say that the needs her university has "are greater than we received." She still expressed gratitude to the Mississippi Legislature for the funds they did receive. Miller's statement offered no comment on why The W was left out of this year's IHL Capital Improvements Fund.
Read the full statement from Miller below:
“We are grateful to the Mississippi Legislature for the appropriations we received for general support in SB 3006, which included capital needs,campus support, Governor’s School, defrayed expenses related to general repair and renovation of $3.16 Million, and $300,000 preplanning money in the renovation of Painter Hall, as well as reauthorizing $2.4M for our nursing expansion plans.We appreciate that we received what we requested regarding these projects.While the needs we have are greater than we received, we are certainly appreciative of the support we have. We are looking forward to working with the Legislature next session to continue our work of providing a quality education for our students," the statement reads.
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See how much each university will receive and how the funds will be spent below:
- Alcorn State University — $8,311,736 — For repairs, renovation and expansion to the Davey L. Whitney Complex, which is the home of the Alcorn State University Braves men's and women's basketball teams and men's and women's volleyball teams.
- Delta State University — $4,020,808 — For repairs and replacement of roofs for various campus and administrative buildings.
- Jackson State University — $23,020,794 — For repairs, renovation and upgrades to campus buildings and facilities, including McAllister-Whiteside Hall and other critical campus facilities. The monies will also be spent for the development of alternative water resources.
- $7 million of JSU's funds will go for the purchase of a new residence hall.
- Mississippi State University — $13,284,608 — The College of Architecture, Art and Design will be receiving repairs and renovations, as well as acquisition of property and equipping of related facilities.
- Mississippi State's Division of Agriculture will also be receiving an additional $10,231,362 for repairs and upgrades to the Bost Extension Center and Dorman Hall.
- Mississippi Valley State University — $8,856,405 — Construction and furnishing of a new residence hall and related facilities.
- University of Mississippi — $16,561,477.00 — Construction, furnishing and equipping of a new mechanical and power plant building, as well as related facilities to serve the northwest quadrant of the campus. Also, repairs and expansion of the Data Center Building and related facilities.
- University of Mississippi Medical Center — $7,085,124 — Repair, renovation and upgrading of campus buildings, facilities and infrastructure.
- University of Southern Mississippi — $ 18,627,686 — Construction, furnishing and equipping of the Science Research Facility with a central mechanical plant and related infrastructure and facilities on the Hattiesburg Campus.
