Higer Education Policy in Mississippi

My first year as a Jackson State University student was in the wake of the 1992 landmark Fordice Supreme Court decision. Seventeen years ago there was discussion of merging Mississippi’s public universities as a way to desegregate enrollments. With firm ideological resistance the initiative dissolved. Today, Governor Barbour’s proposal to merge state universities, although for different reasons, reminds me of why the idea is so implausible.

The history of higher education informs us of the value of institutional diversity. The idea is that a public system of higher education provides a range of institutions that effectively serve the needs of its citizenry. The goal is to provide a balance of more selective research institutions, comprehensive regional universities, smaller liberal arts colleges, and community colleges that offer geographical access and choice. In the Fordice decision Justice White wrote that: “like public universities throughout the country, Mississippi's institutions of higher learning are not fungible — they have been designated to perform certain missions. Students who qualify for admission enjoy a range of choices of which institution to attend.” Notwithstanding Mississippi’s educational history concerning the establishment of HBCUs and legal battles over equity and desegregation, it already has a relatively small compilation of public universities (8). Decreasing this number further limits access and the ability to serve students seeking diverse college experiences.

Equally important is that there is very little evidence to demonstrate university mergers are financially wise or that they are logistically worth any savings that might result. From a financial perspective one wonders if in better economic times we reestablish these universities or create new ones? Probably not, which is why it makes no sense to merge them now. Universities are not to be opened, closed, or merged based on the state budget. Alcorn was established in 1871. These institutions represent values of education, democracy, and opportunity which are expressly American. The idea of a merger represents a short-sighted business model that ignores these values.

Additionally, we have little proof that a merger will be organizationally effective. The closest thing to merging institutions in Mississippi is probably post-apartheid university mergers in South Africa. A clash of institutional cultures is probably under-stating the results. Merging institutions is about more than combining two administrative departments. It has taken far longer than most expected for South African universities to reconcile the culture of institutions with very different missions, historical sagas, and characteristically dissimilar students. My guess is that the state budget will have recovered and crashed again before the institutions in the proposed merger operate effectively as one. Most public universities are undergoing severe budget cuts. Barbour’s plan calls for a 12% reduction from state agencies. Public colleges in some states have been asked to reduce their budgets by as much as 20% and mergers are not a reasonable topic of conversation.

I hope Mississippi legislators will not underestimate investment in higher education as a means to improve its economy. Only 12% of Mississippi’s working age citizens (25-64 years old) have a bachelor’s degree during an era where national goals are being set at 60%. University mergers have been pitched as an alternative to closures which make no sense during a time when the nation’s economy is dependent on a college-educated workforce. Instead of mergers legislators might create incentives for institutional collaboration aimed at increasing the percentage of citizens who enroll and graduate from college. Additionally, they should invest in the capacity of public institutions with the most potential for growth, not merge them. In the long-term, this makes more sense financially and educationally. During their deliberations hopefully politicians can see farther than the next fiscal year or election cycle.