Mississippi senator wants to close 3 state universities by 2028. See why
A bill has been introduced into the Mississippi Senate that would call for the closure of three state-funded universities by June 30, 2028.
The bill, which was filed by Sen. John Polk, R-Hattiesburg, last week, did not specify which of the state's eight universities to close. The bill designates the Institutions of Higher Learning's Board of Trustees to choose three universities to close in 2028. The board would have to report to its decision to lawmakers by June 30, 2025.
The bill would also designate IHL to use factors such as enrollment data, degrees offered, economic impact, services offered, and any research that schools conduct serving the state to determine which schools would close.
As of the start of the 2023 fall semester that began August, the were more than 77,000 students enrolled in the state's nine public universities, according to an IHL enrollment report.
Of them, the least three attended according to IHL data from the fall are Delta State University with 2,716, the Mississippi University for Women, which has 2,227 students and Mississippi Valley State University, which reported 2,196.
Once the IHL closes those schools, the bill proposes, it would then move to sell those lands and buildings to nonprofits or gift them to other state agencies. Any research laboratories that are state sponsored could also be given to other IHL schools or closed indefinitely.
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IHL Spokesperson John Sewell told the Clarion Ledger the Board of Trustees is aware of the bill and is following it closely, but it does not have an official comment at this time.
Polk did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the bill.
Public university enrollment figures
Here is a look of fall 2023 enrollment figures by school, according to the IHL:
Mississippi State University — 22,657
University of Mississippi (Oxford) — 21,596
University of Southern Mississippi — 13,110
Jackson State University — 6,564
UMMC (Jackson) — 3,114
Alcorn State University — 2,894
Delta State University — 2,716
Mississippi University for Women — 2,227
Mississippi Valley State University — 2,196
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Grant McLaughlin covers state government for the Clarion Ledger. He can be reached at gmclaughlin@gannett.com or 972-571-2335.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 3 Mississippi public universities could close in 2028 if bill passes
