Maroon MEMO: Employee News (Mississippi State University)

In a year when maroon and white spirit has been needed most, 22 Mississippi State students are seeing their efforts recognized with a 2021 Spirit of State Award. Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt (second row from bottom, left) and President Mark E. Keenum (second row from bottom, right) congratulate the university’s 16th annual Spirit of State Award recipients. Pictured with Hyatt and Keenum on the steps of Old Main Academic Center are (bottom row, l-r) Madison Taylor of Fulton; Alex Jackson of Greenville; April Yazza of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Makayla Brister of Raymond; (Hyatt); (Keenum); (third row, l-r) Sofia Alvarez of Belmont; Philippe Schicker of Hamburg, Germany; (fourth row, l-r) Malon Stratton of Ridgeland; Katey Koon of Franklin, Tennessee; Metri Lyons of Bay Saint Louis; Julianna Mills of Brookhaven; Sarah Helen Skelton of Jackson; (fifth row, l-r) Dell Ivy of Macon; Claire Hamblen of Franklin, Tennessee; Ethan Utterback of Ocean Springs; (sixth row, l-r) Jay Warren of Gulfport; Anirudh Aditya of Birmingham, Alabama; Elliott Ware of Jackson; Tyler Packer of State Line; (top row, l-r) Sydney Wicks of Clinton; Karsten Taylor of Meridian; and Asishana Ajayi of Edo State, Nigeria. Not pictured is Nirmal Bhatt of Collierville, Tennessee. PHOTO: Beth Wynn | Public Affairs

Services held for former Student Affairs associate VP Bill Foster
Longtime Mississippi State University administrator Bill R. Foster died April 11, 2021, at the age of 88. During his 39-year career with Mississippi State, Foster was fully invested in the success of MSU students. He helped grow the university’s enrollment of about 2,800 when he first arrived in 1960 to a flourishing and well-respected institution among its SEC peers and beyond with more than 18,000 enrolled at the time of his retirement. In 2008, the university honored Foster with the naming of the 9,200-square-foot assembly area in the newly renovated Colvard Student Union as the Bill R. Foster Ballroom.

MSU celebrates Unity Month with variety of free programs
Mississippi State is hosting a variety of free Unity Month programs that explore the dynamics of diversity and inclusion. In addition to the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, event sponsors include the MSU Access Program, MSU Libraries, World Neighbors Association, Department of Art, Health Professions Resource Center, Department of Health Promotion and Wellness, Department of Sociology, and Safe Zone Advisory Board. For a schedule of Unity Month events, click here. Questions can be directed to the Holmes Cultural Diversity Center at 662-325-2033.

Reminder: University policy addresses employee political activity
With political campaigning underway for local elections, Mississippi State's Office of General Counsel offers the following reminder of the university’s policy on political activities. There are several basic guidelines that university employees should keep in mind when engaging in any form of political activity. MSU employees are encouraged to review OP 01.14: Political Activities in its entirety and to understand their rights and responsibilities.

Looking for a way to help? Give to the MSU Student Relief Fund
The Mississippi State University community continually exhibits a great sense of responsibility and caring for enrolled students that make the land-grant institution such a special place. The MSU Student Relief Fund, built with private gifts, helps those members of the student body affected with day-to-day crises or like now, the impact to their daily lives posed by COVID-19. The Dean of Students' Office assesses needs and administers the fund for acute crises that may impact students’ ability to succeed academically. The MSU Foundation accepts gifts year-round for the MSU Student Relief Fund. Contributions for this effort can be made online or by contacting the Annual Giving office at (662) 325-2466.

Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy. The complete policy is available at www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/91301.

The Office of Public Affairs provides Maroon MEMO as a general information
resource for Mississippi State University employees.

Web links are subject to change. Submit news, questions or comments to Jim Laird.

Shaw discusses importance of R&D investments in U.S. Senate Commerce Committee testimony
During a U.S. Senate committee hearing last week, Mississippi State University Provost and Executive Vice President David Shaw encouraged lawmakers to make geographically diverse investments in research and development to help the country strengthen its global leadership in science and technology. He testified as part of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s hearing on the Endless Frontiers Act, a piece of proposed legislation aimed at increasing U.S. technological innovation. In his testimony, he discussed the economic impact he has seen first-hand at MSU from increased research capabilities at the land-grant university and the many state, federal and industry partnerships that have created new opportunities in the state.

University opens new State Street corridor
Mississippi State University's Division of Finance and Administration opened the new State Street corridor last week. After a year of construction on the new road, which is part of the university’s South Campus Gateway, students, faculty, staff and alumni who frequent the southern campus roadways will welcome the new route which stretches from Hardy Road (Engineering Row) to the newly named road Catalpa Street. Along with the State Street opening, 400 new parking spaces are becoming available at this same time in a lot at the intersection of Stone and State. Morgan Street on the south end of campus, known by many as the faculty housing circle, now has been extended to include traffic that flows around the south and east sides of the student housing building Magnolia Hall.

Maroon and White: MSU customizes graduation regalia to distinguish all Bulldogs
Mississippi State graduates are taking their walk across the Humphrey Coliseum stage next week with new style, donning the university’s first custom regalia. While solid black caps and gowns have been the standard, MSU’s Office of the Registrar is adding the colors that distinguish all Bulldogs -- maroon and white. According to John Dickerson, university registrar and assistant vice president for enrollment, the process of sampling, comparing and approving the new regalia took almost a full year. “We were eager to have handsomely designed regalia to contribute more to our sense of community and family here at MSU, and we wanted the attire to be motivation for students completing their degrees to participate in our ceremonies,” Dickerson said. “This will be a special keepsake from their momentous occasion.”

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