As Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena approaches its golden
anniversary this summer, it has much to celebrate and much more to look
forward to.
"We feel we already have a good school and good programs," says university President, Dr. Lester Newman. "Where we're going as an institution is moving from excellence to pre-eminence, to be considered the premier regional institution in Mississippi and, ultimately, one of the top regional institutions in the nation."
Newman explains that the school isn't out to duplicate the missions of universities such as Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi or Jackson State University, but, says Newman, the school can ensure that "we have high quality in everything we do, that we review every academic program." To that end, the university hired outside consultants to conduct an external review and now, Newman says, "We are moving along and are ready to put in place the things that will lead to that level of pre-eminence."
The goal may seem an ambitious one for a school that averaged an enrollment of just around 2,200 in 1997 and 2,300 in 1998 (enrollment hit 2,500 this year), but Newman and the school's board of trustees are dedicated and determined, and are currently implementing their plans.
"We are reviewing and enhancing our present curriculum, looking at the requirements and skills students have, at the end product, what competencies and skills students have when they leave Valley," says Newman. "We're going to ensure that when students graduate from Valley, they can operate at a certain level. We know we do a good job. Now everybody will know it; we're guaranteeing our students will be able to perform at the level of quality we're talking about at Valley."
Part of the plan means making sure that the school supports its faculty's and students' technology needs. The goal is to make sure every faculty member has a new computer on his or her desk, to update computer labs and to place computers in dormitories and in other areas easily accessible to the student body. "We know our students are concerned about the 'digital
divide', but many of them can't afford to own a laptop. They need access to computers and technology beyond the classroom," says Newman.
The vision for the university goes beyond academics. "We're not only reviewing just academic programs, but also support programs. Every area of the campus has been or will be reviewed," he explains. That includes the school's athletic program, which Newman says, "is as much a part of who we are as anything else." The school is getting the help of a consultant in this
area as well. The school plans to enhance facilities and do what needs to be done to create a winning program because, as Newman points out, such success attracts students.
With its plan begun barely a year ago, Valley is beginning to see results, says Newman. One goal, for instance, is to reach an enrollment of 3,000 by 2002. This year the school is only about 500 students shy of that. With over a 9 percent increase in enrollment over the past couple of years, the school is one of the fastest growing in the state.
In addition to enhancing its existing programs, the school is looking at adding new ones. "Over the years, a number of academic programs were cut. We'd gone down to 17 programs [at one point]," says Newman. "We've built up to 33 programs now."
One new program soon to be submitted to the board is bio-informatics, an emerging field that combines technology and computer science with biology and chemistry. "With all the genetic data now, there is a need to have someone manage that data. This field teaches students how to do that. Only a few schools across the nation have implemented the program; we will be the first and only one in Mississippi [to offer it]," says Newman. "According to all research, this is the fastest growing field in terms of job creation."
The university also wants to offer an MBA program with classes on evenings and weekends, making it convenient for adults to attend. "We've had lots of requests from the local business community and industry to develop an MBA program. These types of programs will help us to grow," says Newman. He hopes it will be able to make these two programs available by next fall.
Another area in which the university is making strides is in allied health care. The school is working to get funding for a wellness center to include features such as examination rooms and exercise facilities that will benefit not only the school but the community as well.
"There is no facility like this in the Delta. Valley can provide that type of service for the
community and for academics as well," says Newman.
Another aspect of moving toward pre-eminence is developing a program in science and technology, and says Newman, the school already has the planning funds to develop a new science and technology building. Both the wellness center and the new science/technology buildings could be in place within the next two years, depending on funding, he explains.
Also on the science and technology front, the university will hold a related summer academy for middle and high school students this summer, developing a link between the community and the campus. "We've developed a partnership with 15 superintendents in the Delta who have signed on with us to develop the science and technology academy," says Newman.
Mississippi Valley State has always been recognized for producing excellent teachers, says Newman, and points out that another goal is to "make certain we continue to produce top-quality [instructors]."
Last but not least is an area that's close to Newman's heart. The school wants to develop a center of excellence in business and entrepreneurship. "We feel we have to play a role in helping develop the Delta. We see this as an academic piece and an outreach piece." The school aims to keep talented people in the Delta and plans to have small business programs on
campus and to offer a "one-stop capital shop" to encourage entrepreneurial-minded students to start their own businesses. "We're talking about also linkage - working with high school kids to teach them how to start a business and compete for seed monies," he says. Newman hopes the school will have the funding to also create an incubator-type center. "Those plans
are in place, and many pieces are done. We hope to connect all the pieces within a year and a half," he explains.
The school is proposing a Delta research and cultural institute to do research that Newman says "will make a difference. Every study of the Delta says we're poor. We want to do research that leads to policy decisions and getting people to thinking about prescriptions in terms of what we need to do. We know we have a problem. We want to find out what we need to
do to solve that problem, and we want teachers, faculty and students involved in the research."
Newman's goal is to stay on schedule in bringing the school's vision to reality, and in order to do that, the school needs proper funding. It has implemented a $25 million capital campaign that has garnered some high-profile support.
Legendary musician B.B. King and actor Morgan Freeman, both native Mississippians, have both attached their names to the fund-raising effort. King has already done ads for the school and will perform a fund-raising concert in June, and Freeman has agreed to make personal appearances for major campaign events.
Newman is optimistic about raising the money; in just under a year the campaign has raised nearly $3 million, and as Newman points out: "We did that much without a development office in place."
He says the school has never taken on an effort like this one, and he plans to educate the public. "We need to tell our story to get people to understand that it's okay to give to Valley. We're doing the right thing, and we deserve to have great students here." The next phase of the campaign is to go statewide.
Newman will lead the school's efforts with the edict that has made him a success. As he puts it: "One thing everyone hears from me is that I believe in remaining focused and on task. I try to keep everybody on task; I've always said that even if you've achieved your goal, you can always do better. Never be satisfied with what you've done but look toward building on
that. If you become satisfied, you lose your competitive edge. You can always do better. That's what keeps me going. I don't ever want to be satisfied with where we are."
A native of Shreveport, La., Dr. Lester C. Newman took the helm at Mississippi Valley State in July 1998. Having earned his undergraduate degree at Southern University in Baton Rouge in 1973, he went on to Atlanta University, where he earned both master and doctorate degrees. Newman comes to Valley with a wealth of experience.
"I've been around awhile," he says. His first job was serving as an assistant professor of African-American studies at the University of South Florida, Tampa. From there he became a political science faculty member at the University of Southern and eventually moved into administration as an assistant to the dean in the Junior Division and the university's self-study program, associate director. "It was the university's accreditation review program," explains Newman.
He was at the school from 1978 to 1989 then left for Kentucky State University in Frankfurt, Ky., where he served as dean of the college of arts and sciences until 1993. Newman spent the next two years at Shelby State College in Memphis, moving to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C. to take his most recent position before coming to Valley. At both Shelby and Johnson C. Smith, Newman served as Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Newman came to Valley not completely unfamiliar with the Delta. "Having grown up in Louisiana and gone to school and worked at Southern University, which is a member of the same conference as Mississippi Valley, I'd been to the campus quite often," says Newman. He still has family in Louisiana and is pleased to be close to his home town.
Newman is married and has two children, a 17-year-old daughter who is a senior in high school, and a 28-year-old son who is married, "no grandchildren yet," he says.
Newman's free time is practically non-existent, but when he does have a spare minute he enjoys reading business magazines. "I'm a frustrated entrepreneur," laughs Newman. He also loves to fish but has had time for only one excursion since taking office at Valley.
His focus for the time being, he points out, is his job.