Friday, November 9, 2018

Vitter Resigns

Ole Miss issued the following statement.


The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning President Shane Hooper thanked Chancellor and Distinguished Professor Jeffrey S. Vitter for the many contributions he has made to the University of Mississippi as Dr. Vitter announced his intent to return to the faculty.

"Dr. Vitter has made substantial contributions to the University of Mississippi during his three years as Chancellor," said Trustee Hooper. "His leadership has moved the university forward in numerous ways and we are grateful for his service."

Dr. Vitter will serve as Chancellor through January 3, 2019 and continue as a tenured Distinguished Professor in the School of Engineering's Department of Computer and Information Science.

"It has been an extraordinary honor and privilege to serve as the leader of the University of Mississippi during a time of great progress and accomplishment," Dr. Vitter said. "Being the flagship university is not just a designation, it is a responsibility — to transform lives, communities, and the world. I am gratified that we have grown dramatically in impact, stature, and commitment in the past three years. We are stronger academically, enjoy more support in private giving and research funding, and engage more proactively with the world around us. In addition, we are a more diverse community with a more visible dedication to inclusion and civility.

"There is no more important role on a university campus than as a faculty member," Dr. Vitter said. "I am excited about the opportunity as a faculty member to advance the university's research and academic excellence. Both Sharon and I will remain strong citizens of Rebel Nation."

A renowned computer scientist and national academic leader, Dr. Vitter brought the University of Mississippi to a greater level of stature and prominence during his tenure with a leadership legacy and dynamic strategic plan that extends across academics, research, service, and athletics.

For the university's core mission, Dr. Vitter oversaw tremendous academic accomplishments and achievement:

Earning the university's first-ever, prestigious R-1 designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the definitive list for doctoral research universities that places UM among the top 2.5 percent of all colleges and universities in the U.S.;
Establishing five new academic centers and institutes, including the Haley Barbour Center for the Study of American Politics, the Center for Multi-Messenger Astrophysics, and the University of Mississippi Institute for the Arts;
Launching the Flagship Constellation program, a multidisciplinary approach to inspire and accelerate meaningful solutions to four of the grand challenges facing society;
Earning the Flagship Language Program designation for Arabic, an esteemed designation for undergraduate language programs available only at select institutions;
Creating new and fast-growing degree programs in biomedical engineering and entrepreneurship, as well as new Masters programs in accountancy & data analytics, taxation & data analytics, and industrial pharmaceutical sciences.
To position the university for sustained success for future generations of students, Dr. Vitter oversaw several key initiatives and expansion of the physical campuses by:

Launching Ole Miss International to recruit and attract more international students and enhance the diversity of our student body starting next fall;
Overseeing a robust university-wide construction program with $709 million in projects planned or underway;
Expanding the Oxford footprint through acquisition of the 15-acre site of the former Baptist Hospital facility and development of the new South Campus Recreation Center and the William Magee Center for Wellness Education; and,
Opening of the new medical education building at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson and gaining approval for the expansion now underway at Batson Children's Hospital.
Private giving and external research funding are more important than ever to support a leading university. In Dr. Vitter's tenure, external fund-raising expanded in a number of ways:

Attracting more than $134 million in external research funding in FY2018, representing a 9.3 percent year-over-year increase and reaching its highest level in four years;
Generating private donations of nearly $117 million in FY2018, the university's seventh consecutive year in excess of $100 million and culminating the best three-year period in university history;
Growing fund-raising for the Oxford campus almost 8 percent in FY2018;
Driving the university endowment to a record high of $715 million; and,
Hiring the university's first-ever Vice Chancellor for Development to strengthen its capabilities in this vital area.
Dr. Vitter launched far-reaching initiatives to enhance interaction and communication, while also addressing important aspects of the university's history by:

Holding more than 200 events in a listening and learning tour during his first 100 days as Chancellor to meet thousands of supporters of the university;
Establishing the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on History and Context to lead an academically sound, fact-focused process to offer more history and put the past into context at several sites across the campus;
Hiring the university's first-ever Vice Chancellor for Diversity & Community Engagement; and,
Promoting dialogue with all UM stakeholders through launching the annual University Town Hall and engaging actively on social media and through the Chancellor's blog.
To expand the university's outreach across the state, Dr. Vitter oversaw new initiatives designed to promote economic development and improve community well-being, including:

Launching the annual UM Tech Summit, started in 2016, which brings together government and industry leaders, along with UM faculty and staff, to inspire innovation and accelerate the university's impact in the technology arena;
Initiating the M Partner program of community engagement, in which faculty, staff, students, and community members partner to build sustainable vibrancy in Mississippi communities; and,
Championing legislation successfully that now allows the UM Medical Center to operate more efficiently and to engage in joint ventures that support community hospitals and improve access to healthcare.
An Interim Chancellor will be named soon.

59 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Contextualization Chancellor

Anonymous said...

The Contextualization Chancellor

Anonymous said...

I'm disappointed.
Disappointed that he's not being sent back to Louisiana.

Anonymous said...

He couldn't wash it off his hands, so he's cutting it loose.

Anonymous said...

I'm disappointed.
Disappointed that he's not being sent back to Louisiana.

Anonymous said...

"Dr. Vitter brought the University of Mississippi to a greater level of stature and prominence during his tenure with a leadership legacy and dynamic strategic plan that extends across academics, research, service, and athletics."

Oh we were at a greater level alright, least we forget the NCAA investigation, teachers inciting violence against republicans, hate crimes against statues, need we say more. As an Ole Miss Alumni, I'm glad he is gone. He's run this once great institution into the ground with the help of Dan Jones.

Anonymous said...

The guy is a computer geek with zero interpersonal skills. His selection by the IHL was basically a FU to Ole Miss for the Dan Jones fiasco. I honestly think the IHL selected the worst possible candidate they could find. It's amazing that it took this long to run this toolshed out of office.

Anonymous said...

That’s a hell of a long press release to divert attention from the fact that his tenure was so brief.

Anonymous said...

Somebody must have seen him with a magnolia flag and a stuffed bear and pitched a fit

Anonymous said...

Fail the network and they will cast you aside.

Anonymous said...

Somebody please comment on the real story. People on here always seem to be in the know. The rest of us are waiting.

Anonymous said...

The rule breaking and hookers had already been done by the time he came. His biggest problem was the way he allowed the Bork the athletic director, to respond to all the allegations with Freeze and Nutt. They should have dealt quickly with the problem. He was run off due to the fact that the ole boys want another alumni in there so they can do anything they want. They still believe that it is 1970 when they were in school. Watch them press for an alumni to get the job.

Anonymous said...

Did he post a Meek-ism on Facebook?

Anonymous said...

“His selection by the IHL was basically a FU to Ole Miss for the Dan Jones fiasco. I honestly think the IHL selected the worst possible candidate they could find. It's amazing that it took this long to run this toolshed out of office.” @1:09pm

Awesome analysis and absolutely spot on! His firing - I mean resignation - is far too overdue. I hope the IHL will get their heads out of their asses this next time around and get someone who actually benefits Ole Miss and the state.

Anonymous said...

Will Ole Miss make those little round stickers that say "_ for Chancellor", you know like every decent football player and coach yall have and the made up campaign for Heisman?

Grammar Police said...

Alumni is a plural noun referring either to a group male graduates or to a group of both male and female graduates.

The singular alumnus refers to one male graduate, alumna refers to one female graduate, and the plural alumnae refers to a group of female graduates.

If you have trouble keeping track of them all, one alternative is to use alum and alums. These increasingly appear as replacements for the traditional words—though they may be considered out of place in formal contexts—and they have the extra virtue of being ungendered and hence unconfusing.

Anonymous said...

This is all Dan Mullen, MSU, and Leo Lewis' fault.
#flagship #finsup #HYDR #hashtags #WAOM

Anonymous said...

I for one hate to see him gone. He did a lot to help the school that I will always love and admire including athletics. Of course, I am a Mississippi State alumni.

Anonymous said...

@1:09 and 2:20.Absolutely correct. Highly unlikely that IHL will get it correct this go around either. They have no business doing their secretive selection process. Every university in Mississippi would be better off without them. Bureaucratic archaic trash of an agency.

Anonymous said...

Whoever it is needs to be someone who reflects Mississippi's values. In a state where Republicans win elections by 20 percentage points why should public universities be dominated by liberals? There are plenty of academically qualified conservatives out there. Pick someone that the tax-payers and parents would actually support!

Anonymous said...

Haley Barbour for Chancellor?

Anonymous said...

3:14 - must be an Ole Miss accounting graduate. Republicans win elections by 20%? Only when running against truck drivers that don't bother to vote for themselves. Try 10 or 11% to be more accurate.

Anonymous said...

3:14 pm

Please provide a list of all qualifications of a “conservative academic?”


Anonymous said...

4:48 - in the OM mindset, that means someone that graduated from OM, preferably in the 60's, but may allow someone from the early 70's. Same qualifications that they have wanted to put on their football coaches and athletic directors. And we can all see how far that has taken them.

Anonymous said...

An academically qualified conservative would simply be a person with a strong academic resume (good schools, doctorate), who is also committed to an ideologically diverse faculty (fairly even split between liberals and conservatives, doesn’t have to be precise) and the free flow of ideas. They would need to have backbone and be willing to stand up to the PC police. They would need to be committed to free speech. Most schools are dominated by liberals. Is it too much to ask for a Mississippi university to be an exception?

Anonymous said...

Contract was not going to be renewed...

Shep Smyth said...

When Peyton announced his retirement from the Broncos, thousands of orange fans claimed (and prayed) he was headed to Tennessee. So, it's only proper that those driving Land Rovers with OM tabs start a movement to bring Ole Arch to campus.

I well remember that Vitter announced three years ago (or was it two) that he was headed to campus but would be there in a month and was leaving the issue of the state flag up to the interim. And 'the interim' removed it so Vitter could be unaccountable.

The downhill slide all started with Khayat, was continued by Jones and didn't change under Vitter.

If you alumni, alumna, alumnus and alumnae want this place to keep circling the bowl, then do what you've been doing. The two names that come to mind are McIlwain and Salter.

Anonymous said...

I'm starting a petition... Bennie Thompson for Chancellor.

Anonymous said...

Bennie would not put his hand in this sewer for a football coaches salary.

Anonymous said...

Haley, Trent and Chip P are names being floated

Anonymous said...

They never pass up an opportunity to bloviate at Ole Miss:

“Attracting more than $134 million in external research funding in FY2018, representing a 9.3 percent year-over-year increase and reaching its highest level in four years;”

UAB in Birmingham received over $500 million last year. Hell, the National Science Foundation says Delta State’s R&D’s spending in 2016 was $93 million.

Anonymous said...

Ole Miss stands around all day playing 'Switch' - a hame where you put one thumb in your mouth, and the other thumb up up your butt, & you 'switch'

Anonymous said...

Haley is too old and too rich. Trent is just too old. Thank goodness! He’d make a terrible chancellor. I don’t believe that Pickering is qualified, but not like that would stop IHL.

Anonymous said...

The next chancellor is already on campus.

Anonymous said...

Haley, Chip and Trent are not even remotely in the conversation. None have actually done a damn thing other than get elected and play politics. Well, maybe I’m wrong, they may be infinitely qualified.

Anonymous said...

6:32,

Mississippi State’s was $255 million.

Zelda said...

Ho hum. Boring story. Come on, KF, liven this site up and repost that video of the Bimbo Catfight at Mistletoe! Now, that there wuz some fiiiine entertainment!

Anonymous said...

The University of Mississippi could become a great institution of higher learning if it could just get out from under its age old white supremacist image, and begin to serve all Mississippians. The racist roots of its culture are legend, and are being held tightly by its alumni throughout the state. If they want the organization to keep circling the bowl, then as was said, keep doing what you're doing (which includes the corrupt IHL that protects so many).

Anonymous said...

Haley would be great for the Sharks. First Chancellor ever without a college degree

Anonymous said...

7:40 - You and your cadre of pinhead socialists won't be happy until every institution resembles Millsaps, football is banned and Starbucks occupies at least 20% of the campi.

Do yourself a favor and buy some socks. Cold weather is headed this way.

Anonymous said...

3:14 pm Academics is about facts, unbiased research, logic and the sciences. Demagoguery and oligarchy has no place other than to teach students how to recognize the characteristics of both.

Neither politics nor oligarchs purchasing research results , favoritism or athletes has any place in academia.

If that weren't enough, too few Mississippians graduate high school with the sufficient knowledge and ability to be accepted to university. You need to have out of state students.

Add to that we have more universities to support that States with much larger populations. Not consolidating is a huge burden on MS tax payers especially when you add too many junior and community colleges that are not geographically sensible and which leave some areas of MS out of academic reach.

But, being for lower taxes is selective when it comes to your alma maters or Ingles building ships the Navy doesn't want or closing military bases.

Ole Miss ranks #152 and or #119 on state supported universities.


Anonymous said...

You know absolutely nothing about what you're talking about if you think this had anything to do with political correctness. If any of that were the case, every leader of every state university would be fired and replaced with a Roy Moore clone.

Anonymous said...

What's wrong with Millsaps?

Anonymous said...

I think Ray Mabus could do it. He’s not an academic person,
But the guy loves Ole Miss and has a solid law and military
Background.

Anonymous said...

Didnt Ray use a starched collar to help gain a divorce his wife, or was that Ronnie? Either way their ways fit right in with the network business model.

Anonymous said...

I predict IHL will give strong consideration to Dr. Donald Cole.

Anonymous said...

I predict the Good Old Boys are now back in charge full steam ahead, and position replacement has been decided.









Anonymous said...

Ray Mabus has a solid military background? Holy Shit! I almost took you seriously. And Billy McCoy has a solid agricultural background since he had a worm farm.

Anonymous said...

I predict IHL will go out of state.

otisfyfe said...

TSUN has never had a black head football coach (like MSU has) or a black chancellor (Like USM has), and since so many of you (with Mississippi values) are all about progress, and Mike Espy will soon be available...

Search Kommity said...

While we're grasping at straws...Feel Brant would drop his USM allegiance in a split second for a turbo-prop and TSUN credit card.

Nationwide Search Except For California said...

"The next chancellor is already on campus."

Right. But that's what you said the last two times the job was open.

Don't forget...Nutt flew Mazoli in and Archie flew Freeze in and somebody flew Carey Wright in and curses on the heads of those who flew Moorhead in. Strange shit happens in this state.

Anonymous said...

Will appoint another liberal. Slowly everything is being removed because someone is offended. Give me back slow dixie.

Anonymous said...

^^^8:57

Anonymous said...

How about Allen Smith (Booster #14)? He knows how to raise large amounts of cash and can navigate the internal politics. Wouldn't miss a beat.

Anonymous said...

The future Chancellor (either this time or next time) moved back to Clinton, Mississippi this summer. The guy has done the work to be on the top of the list.

Anonymous said...

No respectable black man or woman would take the helm of that trash heap unless they first drop the white supremacist mascot and racist moniker references to the old south. The school's AA student body would riot.

Anonymous said...

12:33; You're wrong. Ike Collins doesn't now and never has lived in Clinton.

K.A.Ball said...

What continues to amaze is that Ross Bjork still has an office on the Oxford campus. Surely his head will roll now with the final report being out, the chancellor being gone and the Arkansas victory. The man is toxic, albeit well-spoken.



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