Jackson Jambalaya

It is simple. Now firms are doing the hiring. They are paid for that service. If a person spends 20 years in a job that means they are not going to get any more money from that customer for 20 years. If the person they find lasts 2-3 years they will get paid to do the job again in 2-3 years.
Plus. Now a college has to pay their coaches much more, give free schooling to sports players, provide money to players and their families. That along with providing a staff for everyone above teacher level cost a lot.
If a college would get back to doing their original job, educating the kids, the presidents would last a long time.

At one time it was said that the best job a man could have in State employment was the president of a junior college. That still may be true. Seems the only ones to fall are those that are forgetting which credit card to use, the rare exception being the Holmes president who just got a nice promotion within the system. These jobs are lifetime appointments it seems. And there is rampant nepotism on Junior/Community college campi not to mention half the upper level staff living in tax-payer provided housing. Why the hell should we pay for their housing?

Since Kent Wyatt was mentioned in the story, I will say I have wondered since his appointment/coronation at Delta State College what it was that qualified him to lead a university. Other than his daddy being a long time coach at Delta State and the family being well-connected politically at the local level in Cleveland (and, thus, the legislature), why was he chosen to rise to that level? Of course ophthalmologist Stacy Davidson was a close family friend and was on the 'college board'.

It seems that we often jump into the pool of disaster with some of these appointments. The prior two at Southern Miss are examples of that and Mrs Rent was always embroiled in controversy at MUW. Then there's Jones and his notions of redefining Ole Miss (with the guidance of Khayat). Then there was Lucas' daughter, who had the hyphenated last names until her divorce, who quit the Millsaps job (although not a state supported school). And the upstanding Baptist President over at MC (private) who later revealed his lecherous and thieving behavior by absconding with school funds he spent at whore-houses. And there's the revolving doors at the HBCU campi.

So....these people who we at one time viewed as 'above the fray' and 'men among men' are not at all what we assumed them to be in so many cases.

But, at the Junior/Community College level, you can keep that job for decades, until you die in your chair, unless your really screw up. And we muddle along dreaming of 'term limits' for political office holders.

Who cares. No employer takes a degree from JSU seriously. Unless it's some northern corporation who is under government mandate to hire a certain number of 'minorities', aka global majority.

I have to say the 3 posters above have enlightened a lot of us who are not "in the know" about some of these issues. Having read this may open up a whole can of worms. I agree with the 2nd poster on the point as to why we have to furnish housing to the upper staff at the community colleges. It just doesn't make good sense. And I'm very sure after peeling back the skin covering a lot of these unknown facts then maybe we can eliminate some of the waste that is occurring. Those are some very good points you all hit on.

Would you hire anyone from JSU School of Engineering knowing your Error and Ommissions Insurance Policy would have to cover a loss for anything your engineering firm has designed using one of these engineers when you can employ an engineer from MSU?

President of Holmes Jr. College forever was Mr. Frank Branch along with his wife who served as a First Lady. This country le served with distinction and honor. And Mr. Frank's door was always open to students.

I remember when the Finance Managers at Holmes and Delta State and MDJC all lived in on campus housing provided by the taxpayer. What the hell is up with that. They probably still do and it's probably the same on every campus.

1:03 In certain quarters of this country NO degree from Mississippi is taken seriously. They think you and any graduate of UM, MSU, USM, and yes JSU are all a bunch of ignorant hicks who go barefoot and eat grits three times a day. Until you prove them wrong!

What the fig is wrong with 'grits three times a day'. Errybody want to stay reg'lar.

The community college districts are controlled by separate boards of trustees. While there is a state community college board, it's purpose is to serve as a coordinating agency for the 14 community colleges and one junior college (Jones).

The board of supervisors in each county of the community college district makes the trustee appointments, because the counties provide funds toward the operation of the college. In some cases, the local elected superintendent of education is on the community college board of trustees, while other appointees are alums or otherwise well-connected politically in their counties.

I read where Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit just dedicated a new men's dorm and named it after two trustees who served over 50 years. FIFTY years? Presumably the county supervisors (in this case, Pike and Walthall counties) kept reappointing them to the Southwest board.

The community college network in this state is powerful but that power can be traced to each college's board of trustees and back to the county boards of supervisors.

Dr. Clinton Bristow died suddenly. He was the reason for the improvements of academics and the graduation rate at ASU. Ross's tenure was just a stop over for a position at larger university and Brown caused money issues. Bristow used the Ayers money well and the student body is much more diverse than it ever was. He wanted Alcorn to known as the "Academic Resort" instead of the Reservation. Some people would ridicule the academic resort saying it is an oxymoron, but it was the spirit of the title he was trying to promote scholarship instead of just the athletics and extra curricular activities.

As was said early, the Junior/Community College President's job is the best in State jobs. Supervisors come and go and run for reelection every four years. JC Presidents and Finance Deans are lifetime jobs with paid housing unless you rob the coke machine and get caught. Or charge personal tires to the school credit card.

Fred Muse has just completed his 80th year at the helm I believe. He still has the 1936 Plymouth the Board gave him when he was hired at $2100 a year.