Senate Bill 2710

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ORDERLY MERGER OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY WITH JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-121-1, 37-121-3, 37-121-5 AND 37-121-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO AND TO PROVIDE THAT ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY SHALL BE A DISTINCT CAMPUS OF JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY; TO AMEND SECTION 37-101-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; TO AMEND SECTION 37-101-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DIRECT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO STUDY THE SCOPE OF UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS AND CONSOLIDATE PROGRAMS WHICH ARE DUPLICATIVE OR NOT COST-EFFECTIVE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Effective July 1, 2011, the administrative offices of Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be transferred to and merged with the administrative offices of Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi. The President of Jackson State University shall have immediate supervision and management of Alcorn State University, subject to the general supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. The campus facilities at Alcorn State University shall remain a distinct campus, and shall be designated as the Alcorn Campus of Jackson State University. All records, personnel, property and unexpended balances of appropriations, allocations or other funds for the administration of Alcorn State University shall be transferred to Jackson State University according to the merger of these functions under this section. The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning shall promulgate rules and regulations for the progressive and orderly transfer of administrative functions and the disposition of staff, property and equipment according to the merger of these functions under this section. All personnel actions initiated as a result of this merger shall be subject to personnel procedures of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

SECTION 2. Section 37-121-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-121-1. The Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi, created by act approved February 28, 1878, shall continue as a body politic and corporate, and shall henceforth be known as "Alcorn State University," without interference with the rights, powers and prerogatives of said college which continue in all respects. Whenever the name "Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College" appears, the same is construed to denote "Alcorn State University."

Effective July 1, 2011, the administrative offices of Alcorn State University shall be transferred to and merged with the administrative offices of Jackson State University and the name "Alcorn State University" is hereafter changed to the "Alcorn Campus of Jackson State University." The President of Jackson State University shall have the immediate supervision and management of said campus and all its departments, subject to the general supervision and direction of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

SECTION 3. Section 37-121-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-121-3. All the provisions in Chapter 113 of this title, being sections applicable to the Mississippi State University * * *, that can reasonably apply to the Alcorn Campus of Jackson State University, shall apply to the campus, except those sections on the subject of apportioning students among the several counties of the state and dormitory privileges for them and those sections on the subject of agricultural experimental stations.

SECTION 4. Section 37-121-5, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-121-5. The Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station is hereby authorized to establish a branch at the Alcorn Campus of Jackson State University, Lorman, for the purpose of providing an organization for cooperative effort between the two (2) land grant institutions in furthering a unified agricultural research program for the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 5. Section 37-121-7, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-121-7. The new dining hall, currently under construction on the Alcorn Campus of Jackson State University, located in Lorman, Mississippi, shall be named the Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., Dining Facility. Alcorn Campus of Jackson State University shall prepare a distinctive plaque to be placed in a prominent place within the Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jr., Dining Facility, which states the background, accomplishments and service to the university of Dr. Bristow.

SECTION 6. Section 37-101-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-101-1. The following state institutions of higher learning, namely:

(a) The University of Mississippi;

(b) The Mississippi State University * * *;

(d) The University of Southern Mississippi;

(e) The Delta State College;

* * *

(f) The Jackson State University;

(g) The Mississippi Valley State College; and

(h) * * * Any other of like kind which may be hereafter established by the state;

shall be under the management and control of a board of trustees to be known as the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning.

SECTION 7. Section 37-101-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-101-13. On or before July 1, 2010, it shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning to develop a comprehensive study of the role and scope of all of the various institutions under its jurisdiction, including a detailed study of the programs of study, degrees and courses offered, and make a report thereon to the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature. Following the completion of such study, the board shall make such adjustments as may be found to be necessary in the programs of the various institutions, to the end that the broadest possible educational opportunities shall be offered to the citizens of this state without inefficient and needless duplication of duplicate programs on different campuses which are not cost-effective. The board shall, through such officers of the board and through such procedures as it shall see fit to establish, exercise continuing jurisdiction and control over the establishment of new courses of study, new departments and new functions and activities in each institution so that the growth and development of the program of higher education in the state shall proceed in an orderly and rational manner, inefficient and needless duplication may be avoided, and new expanded programs will be undertaken only as the same may become justified, based upon objective criteria to be established by the board. In carrying out the purposes of this section, particular attention shall be given to the extension programs of the various institutions. The board, in conjunction with the Chancellor and presidents of the institutions of higher learning, shall take such steps as may be necessary to improve and coordinate such programs and shall exercise such direct control over the establishment, organization, operation and granting of credit for such programs as may be necessary to accomplish such purposes.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.