The Board of Trustees of the Institutions of Higher Learning on Oct. 16 approved a package of academic program changes, facility budgets and contracts and moved forward steps in the search for a new president at Jackson State University.

The board received a report from Dr. Gerald Briggs, president of Mississippi Valley State University, on enrollment, student outcomes and partnerships, approved amendments to freshman admission policy language on ACT super‑scoring, authorized new academic programs and centers, and approved contracts and capital funding adjustments for campus projects. The board also voted to add and authorize staff to form a search advisory constituency to inform the Jackson State presidential search.

Why it matters: The actions affect university operations, program offerings and capital spending across Mississippi’s public university system and begin a publicly announced nationwide search for Jackson State’s next president. Several items have implications for student recruitment and workforce alignment, while facility and contract approvals affect university budgets and vendor relationships.

Mississippi Valley State update

Dr. Gerald Briggs, president of Mississippi Valley State University, told trustees the university is sustaining high access and improving student retention. He said 75% of the university’s students come from Mississippi and that the university’s “access rate” — the share of students from households earning under $46,000 — is 75%, which he described as the highest among historically Black colleges and universities. Briggs also reported a mobility rate of 40.9% for undergraduates from low‑income backgrounds and said first‑to‑second‑year retention improved to about 73% in the most recent preliminary figures.

Briggs highlighted campus partnerships, including a campus satellite arrangement with FedEx Logistics (which provides paid work experience for students), and collaborations with Toyota, Nissan and regional cultural and health organizations. He described ongoing campus projects, including student union and academic building renovations and a new baseball pavilion, and noted the university’s Prison Education Partnership Program, which offers bachelor’s degrees at correctional facilities and has SACSCOC affirmation for that work.

On the presidential search process for Jackson State

The board’s search committee reported that the board retained AGB Search to lead the nationwide search for Jackson State’s next president. Dr. Kim Bobo, principal with AGB Search, and Dr. Carlton Brown, senior executive search consultant, joined virtually to outline a six‑stage search process: initiation and planning; recruiting (about eight weeks); semifinalist review and interviews; finalist interviews with stakeholder engagement; negotiation and appointment; and transition support.

Kim Bobo said the firm conducts deep due diligence, including background checks and social media reviews, and remains involved after appointment to support transition: "Once an appointment is made, that's not the end of the work. In fact, we stay and remain and assist with transition activities," she said.

Trustee Don Cunningham moved — and the board approved — adding a meeting agenda item to authorize the commissioner and the search committee chair to prepare a proposed list of members for a search advisory constituency under IHL policy 201.0509. Cunningham then moved, and the board approved, directing the commissioner and the search committee chair to produce that proposed list for board review at a subsequent meeting.

Academic approvals and program reviews

The board approved a policy amendment (board policy 602) to allow institutions to recalculate ACT scores from tests taken before ACT’s April 2025 composite‑score changes when recalculation benefits the student. Board staff recommended immediate effect and a waiver of the second reading; the board approved the change.

The board also approved the University of Mississippi’s request to offer a new Master of Science in Air and Space Law (to be housed in the law school). Board staff recommended approval, and trustees approved the item.

Trustees approved several new center and institute requests, including Mississippi State University’s Nancy Fairlink Laminitis Research Center (equine health), and three University of Mississippi initiatives: the Center for Information Advantage and Effectiveness, the National Center for Tactical Readiness, and the Mississippi Institute for National Security and Resilience (which will house the two centers). Board staff summaries included projected annual operating costs and proposed funding sources for each center.

On academic productivity reviews, board staff reported review of 35 programs. The board approved recommendations that included: five degree programs to continue with stipulations (subject to two‑year review and reporting due Dec. 1, 2026); seven programs placed in suspension (deletion if no change by Oct. 2028); and two programs recommended for deletion. The institutions and program titles were listed in board materials presented at the meeting.

Contracts, procurement and capital projects

The University of Mississippi Medical Center received board approval to enter a three‑year anesthesia services agreement with Willow Anesthesia Services LLC for full coverage at UMMC’s Grenada facility at a cost of $5.5 million; the contract allows UMMC to terminate with 180 days’ notice. The board also approved a requested increase to a system volume licensing agreement with Microsoft (originally entered in 2017), raising the total contract expenditure by $1 million to $17.6 million because of increased usage; the agreement may be terminated with 60 days’ notice.

Mississippi State University projects: trustees approved an increase to the Yves Center renovation/additions budget from $33 million to $36 million (adding $3 million funded by the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine) to pay for mechanical and facility improvements tied to new additions, including the Nancy Fairlink Laminitis Center. The board also approved a budget increase for MSU’s Aquatic Food Research Center from $7.3 million to $9 million; MSU said the project will be phased as funding is secured and listed House Bill and Senate Bill resources as funding sources.

The board approved the system’s capital facility needs request (the system bond plan) for submission for the 2026 legislative session; board staff said the plan aligns university priorities with findings from the Gordian facility assessment presented earlier to trustees.

Legal and appointments

The board granted retroactive approval to Jackson State University’s outside counsel agreement with the law firm Butler Snow to advise on patents, trademarks and related intellectual property matters, subject to final approval by the Mississippi Attorney General’s office.

In the administrative and policy agenda, trustees approved several appointments to state and university boards and commissions, including appointments to the Education Achievement Council, the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program Commission, the University Press of Mississippi board, and the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Services. Board staff presented terms and a brief description of each body.

Information items and risk management update

Board staff outlined a timeline and stakeholder process to develop a new allocation/funding model led by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS). Staff said NCHEMS will convene stakeholders beginning next month, present draft model options in November 2025, continue stakeholder engagement through early 2026, and present a recommended model in February 2026 for potential use when the board allocates state appropriations in April 2026.

David Buford, the board’s director of risk management, gave an informational update on the system’s self‑insured plans (workers’ compensation, tort, unemployment), system insurance programs (including cyber and student health), inspections, emergency planning and vendor arrangements for disaster response. Buford described declining trends in claims frequency and said the office also supports campus safety training and preparedness.

Votes at a glance

- Add agenda item and direct commissioner/chair to prepare proposed search advisory constituency list (IHL policy 201.0509): passed (motion by Trustee Don Cunningham; board approved).
- Amend board policy 602 (freshman admission ACT scoring language) to allow recalculation when beneficial to students: passed.
- Approve Master of Science in Air and Space Law (University of Mississippi): passed.
- Approve creation of research centers and institutes described in board materials (MSU and University of Mississippi): passed.
- Academic productivity recommendations (continuations with stipulation, suspensions, deletions as listed in materials): passed.
- UMMC anesthesia services agreement with Willow Anesthesia Services LLC, 3 years, $5.5M: passed.
- UMMC Microsoft licensing contract increase, +$1M to $17.6M: passed.
- MSU Yves Center budget increase to $36M and Aquatic Food Research Center increase to $9M: passed.
- System capital facility needs request (2026 bond plan) for legislative submission: passed.
- Retroactive approval of Jackson State outside counsel agreement with Butler Snow (subject to Attorney General approval): passed.
- Multiple trustee and presidential appointments to state boards/commissions (as listed in board materials): passed.

What the board said

Dr. Briggs on MVSU’s mission and data: "Valley was built for first‑generation dreamers," he said, adding that the university’s access and mobility statistics show the institution is focused on changing students’ economic trajectories.

On the search process, AGB Search representative Kim Bobo described post‑selection transition support: "We stay and remain and assist with transition activities," she said.

Next steps

Board staff said the proposed search advisory constituency list will be drafted by the commissioner and the search committee chair and returned to the full board for review at a future meeting. Staff also said NCHEMS will return with draft funding‑model options in November 2025. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 20, 2025.

(For full motions, materials, vote records and the board packet, see the Institutions of Higher Learning meeting materials and minutes.)