MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Polk, McDaniel, Moran, Gandy, Smith, Fillingane, Hill, Hudson, Watson, Tindell, Butler (38th), Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Lee, Montgomery, Stone
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY WITH CAMPUSES IN HATTIESBURG AND BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI, UPON RECEIVING THE NUMBER 1 BEST VALUE RANKING AMONG REGIONAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE SOUTH BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT.
WHEREAS, William Carey University was founded as Pearl River Boarding School in Poplarville, Mississippi, in 1892, relocated to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, in 1906 as South Mississippi College, became affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention and changed its name to Mississippi Woman's College in 1911, went co-educational in 1954 and was renamed William Carey College, and became William Carey University in 2006; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University's enrollment has grown more than 60% over the last six years to a current 4,000 students in 28 undergraduate majors, 10 master's degrees, and four doctorate degrees; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University has made a major impact in the health care sector with the establishment of the state's second medical school, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, which will graduate its first class of 96 doctors in May of 2014; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University's School of Nursing has experienced significant growth, including the addition of a new PhD degree to meet the demand for nursing professionals, while maintaining an overall board pass rate of 98% between Mississippi campuses; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University educates more than 300 student athletes across 14 teams and 8 sports, boasts a 96% graduation rate among Crusader athletes, has attained the Halbrook Award for top student-athlete success among the state's colleges and universities, and has achieved NAIA national rankings in men's basketball, women's soccer, softball, baseball, and women's tennis; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University has been named a College of Distinction, a Military Friendly School, "America's 100 Best College Buys," participates in the NAIA Champions of Character Program, one of the "Top 10 American Colleges with Lowest Room and Board Fees," and ranked 36 overall among regional universities in the south by U.S. News & World Report; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University received a perfect "College Financial Responsibility Composite Score" by the U.S. Department of Education for WCU's financial strength and stability; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University was recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for reducing greenhouse emissions as a participant in the ENERGY STAR Low Carbon IT Campaign; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University has an exchange relationship with Linyi University in Linyi, China, and has over 100 international students from 38 countries; and
WHEREAS, William Carey University houses over 600 art works by 20th Century Mississippi Artist, the largest known collection in existence, in the Sarah Ellen Gillespie Museum of Art:
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 William Carey University with campuses in Hattiesburg and Biloxi, Mississippi, upon receiving the Number 1 Best Value Ranking among regional universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, and extend our best wishes to the administration and students on this auspicious honor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the President and Board of Trustees of William Carey University and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.