MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dearing, Simmons, Walls, Clarke, Jackson (11th), Butler, Davis, Hopson, Jackson (32nd), Kirby, Mettetal, Stone, Watson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. JOHN HILPERT UPON HIS ELECTION AS CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHERN ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS (SACS).
WHEREAS, Delta State University President Dr. John M. Hilpert was elected to the prestigious position of Chair of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Commission on Colleges on December 15, 2009, at the organization's annual conference held in Atlanta, Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Hilpert joins former University of Mississippi Chancellor Dr. Robert Khayat as the only representatives of Mississippi universities to hold the position with the agency; and
WHEREAS, the SACS Commission on Colleges is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. The Commission's mission is the enhancement of educational quality throughout the region and it strives to improve the effectiveness of institutions by ensuring that institutions meet standards established by the higher education community that address the needs of society and students. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites approved by the Commission on Colleges that award associate, baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Hilpert will assume the duties of Chair in 2010 after serving as 2009 Vice Chair and having served on the 2008 Executive Council of the Commission. "It is an honor to be elected by my colleagues," Dr. Hilpert said, "I look forward to the challenges ahead and to representing Mississippi on a commission that does such valuable work for higher education"; and
WHEREAS, "John has provided strong, fair and conscientious leadership as the Vice Chair of the Commission during the past year," said President for the SACS Commission on Colleges Dr. Belle Wheelan. "His understanding of the Commission activities coupled with his patient demeanor and thorough understanding of all issues make him the perfect choice to be the next Chair. I sincerely look forward to working with him as we move the business of the board forward"; and
WHEREAS, a Missouri native, Dr. Hilpert became the seventh President of Delta State University in 2003, after six successful years as President of Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota. During more than 30 years in higher education administration, he has served as Executive Vice President and acting President of the University of South Dakota and as a Vice President at Thiel College in Pennsylvania and executive assistant to the president at Suomi College (now Finlandia University) in Michigan; and
WHEREAS, throughout his career, Dr. Hilpert has provided leadership for various organizations on boards, task forces, and committees. He was appointed in 2004 by Governor Haley Barbour to serve on Mississippi's Council for Education Technology. For seven years, Hilpert was a member of the South Dakota Workforce Development Council, a policy group appointed by that state's governor. As a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, he served as an appointee to both the Commission for the Rural/Regional Agenda and the Task Force on Teacher Education, as well as being elected to the organization's Council of State Representatives for both South Dakota and Mississippi. Hilpert has served as a governing board member for two Chambers of Commerce, and has been co-chair of a hospital financing task force. He has testified before several state legislative committees and a select committee of the U.S. House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, since 2003, Dr. Hilpert has served as board president for the Delta Health Alliance, a regional non-profit corporation with a $25 million budget. He was elected president in 2008 of the Mississippi Association of Colleges and Universities, an organization of all public and private, two-year and four-year postsecondary institutions in the state; and
WHEREAS, "Dr. Hilpert will represent Mississippi well in this distinguished role," Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Hank Bounds said. "He continues to work tirelessly to ensure Delta State University remains a first-rate institution offering quality degree programs. I have no doubt that he will bring the same level of commitment and passion to SACS"; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the high esteem with which this Mississippi university leader is held by his peers and the honor which this election brings to his university and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Delta State University President Dr. John Hilpert upon his election as Chairman of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and we extend our best wishes to him and his academic family upon this high honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Hilpert, forwarded to the Commissioner of Higher Education and SACS President Dr. Belle Wheelan and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.