Delta State University President, Dr. John M. Hilpert, delivered his annual State of the University address during opening convocation held today in the Bologna Performing Arts Center on campus.
While opening his address entitled “Amazing Resilience,” Hilpert welcomed faculty and staff to the 85th academic year with the assurance that despite the economic troubles faced by all institutions of higher learning Delta State University is sound. “Our academic programs are outstanding. Our services to students are first-rate. Our interactions with this geographic region are highly regarded. The business side of what we do is well-managed. By any measure Delta State University is sound. I am confident of that assessment, and I want you, our students, and our alumni and friends to be confident as well,” he said.
Praising faculty and staff for their resilience and commitment to fulfilling the university mission Hilpert stated, “As we’ve worked to find solutions to the millions in state cutbacks, still you have taught classes, helped students, provided services, and accomplished the tasks necessary for this university community to succeed. In the past 15 months we have reduced institutional budgets by $3.5 million, but you haven’t allowed any of our core obligations or any of our service aspirations to lapse or even slide. You are amazing.”
The president continued his address by going over an extensive list of the accomplishments of the previous year stating, “In spite of the challenges, the faculty and staff of Delta State University continue to work productively to fulfill the mission expected of us. We’re not spending all day every day wringing our hands wondering what mischief the next budget setback will cause. Indeed, teaching, research, and service are uppermost in our minds and in our hearts.”
Hilpert recalled his initial address as president where he challenged Delta State to become the best regional university in America. He then provided detailed information about two programs among the many regional services in which the university is engaged in.
The first program Hilpert discussed was Teach For America. “In the spring of 2009, we learned that the nationally renowned program was looking for an eighth location to site one of its summer training institutes. We took the opportunity to apply,” he said. “Given that the first seven are situated in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and Phoenix, logic suggested we didn’t fit neatly in that set. The competition eventually came down to Delta State and the University of Denver, and all of you know we were selected. We hosted our first institute from late May through late July.”
Hilpert examined several reasons hosting the Teach For America training institute was important not only to Delta State, but also the region. “First, there was the opportunity to be the first rural training site and to provide context for the many corps members who will teach in small town settings. Second, there was the chance to draw greater numbers of able teachers to the Delta. Third, we wanted to garner more national attention to the plight of so many students in our region’s underfunded elementary and secondary schools. Fourth, we knew this would bring enhanced visibility to Delta State and the university’s leadership in addressing education-related issues. Finally, we understood it would be a win-win for the region and the university.”
Hilpert noted that the training institute generated nearly $1.5 million in revenue paid to Delta State. “When the dust settles and the institute’s bills are paid, the hard work of many faculty, staff, and community members will have generated new resources to apply to our budget issues. We expect these resources to be annually available into the future,” he said.
The second illustration of Delta State’s regional service outlined by Hilpert was the Delta Health Alliance (DHA). The alliance was designed to be a collaborative of universities – Delta State University, Mississippi Valley State University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center – along with the Delta Council. The bylaws provide that the president of Delta State is the permanent chair of the DHA Board of Directors.
“We now support upwards of 30 projects that will have in the range of $40 million of funding this coming year,” said Hilpert. “The DHA has an able professional team and employs nearly one hundred staff. Our mission is simply stated: “. . . to improve the health of the men, women, and children who make the Mississippi Delta their home.”
Hilpert elaborated on several DHA-funded programs producing significant positive results. “The Delta Health Alliance is an important element of the broad and deep obligation this university has to fulfilling its regional mission,” he said. “Also, the School of Nursing, the College of Education, and various other Delta State units and scholars benefit from DHA funding that now approaches $4 million annually to our university.”
The university budget was discussed with Hilpert examining “where we are, and where we’re going.” He explained the roll and recommendations of the University Budget Committee (UBC) which has dealt with $3.5 million in cuts during FY09 and FY10, and nearly $800,000 in cuts in FY11. The projection is for another $3.6 million in lost state funding for Delta State’s budget in FY12.
“As we deal with the reality of the economic downturn between FY10 and FY12, we will adapt to cuts approximating 30 percent of our state appropriation within a three-year period,” said Hilpert. “Staggering is not an exaggerated adjective, but this campus community has again proven its amazing resilience.”
According to Hilpert, designing efficiencies within academic programs based on the findings of the UBC is critical to a sound future. “I couldn’t have been happier or more relieved than when I was able to make the announcement last week that our assessment indicates solutions need not include notifying any tenured or tenure-tracked faculty that they will lose their positions,” he said. “Now I ask that the faculty and deans work together to fill in the last necessary pieces by developing and implementing a plan for significant savings in our academic programs. Further, I ask that your work be done with a collegial spirit that recognizes organizational wellbeing is a responsibility we all share.”
Concluding, Hilpert expressed his gratitude to faculty and staff stating, “You are fulfilling our mission to the Mississippi Delta by educating its sons and daughters in our classrooms and meeting the needs of thousands of its citizens in the schools, businesses, and health centers of their communities. You are standing up to the challenge of a difficult economy and demonstrating amazing resilience. I am confident about Delta State University and its future because of you.”
