Wednesday, Nov 05, 2003
City & Region

City & Region

Posted on Wed, Nov. 05, 2003 story:PUB_DESC

USM aims to expand classes, lure students

Campus will add tourism, health courses


STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428

E-MAIL: mccaleb4thdist@aol.com or mccaleb4thdist@aol.com

WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

If you are looking to give your young adults a great education, please consider another University.

USM is, in my book a SCAM, political University with a low standard of education.

When our elementary through high schools are 50th out of 50 states, then what can you expect out of a Mississippi University.

On the other hand if you are looking for low standards in a University just to get your young adults a piece of paper showing graduation then perhaps this is the University for you. 

When it is known that the Secretary of State, Eric Clark, has committed Fraud, Waste, & Abuse by giving taxpayers dollars to an organization located on USM property, what does that say about this University and Mississippi political system.

I would say stay away, or at least be careful where you send your young adults to receive a higher education.

By MELISSA M. SCALLAN
THE SUN HERALD

GULFPORT - Officials at the University of Southern Mississippi want to increase the number of programs as well as the number of students on the Coast campus.

Jay Grimes, provost of the campus here, told members of the Gulfport Business Club on Tuesday that USM wants to add a tourism program by next fall and more health care degrees in the near future.

"It's wonderful to have the infrastructure we have, and we want to grow it and improve it," Grimes said.

USM Gulf Coast offers courses and research programs at Stennis Space Center, Long Beach, Keesler Air Force Base, Scott Aquarium in Biloxi and Gulf Coast Research Lab in Ocean Springs. The university also maintains an office on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Jackson County.

Grimes also said the school wants to increase the number of online, night and weekend programs for students who have full-time jobs but still want degrees.

"We're going to serve our students," Grimes said. "Whether they are traditional or non-traditional, and we're going to create innovative programs for non-traditional students."

Right now, USM Gulf Coast has 2,446 students and Grimes said he and other university officials want to see that rise to about 5,000 within the next few years.

Melissa Scallan can be reached at 896-0541 or at mmscallan@sunherald.com.

STEVEN A. McCALEB
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