University of Mississippi - Ole Miss Yearbook (Oxford, MS)

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Chancellors Dr. Gerald Walton Provost and Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Walton is a Neshoba County native whose life demon- strates devotion to the University of Mississippi. With two graduate degrees from Ole Miss, he has gone on to serve the University as an English professor. Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Interim Chancellor, and now Provost and Vice- Chancellor for Academic Affairs. As Provost, he oversees planning and policy on the Oxford, Tupelo, and DeSoto County campuses. Chancellor Khayat says of Dr. Walton, His dedication to Ole Miss, its people, and its future is unwavering! ' Dr. Carolyn Ellis Staton ( Associate Provost and Associate Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs A native of Vicksburg, Dr. Staton is an integral part of the Universit) leadership. She earned her Juris Doctor from Yale Law School in 1972 and returned to Mississippi sev- eral years later. In 1994, she served as a Defense Secretary appointee to the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service. In 1995, she was named Mississippis first Outstanding Woman Lawyer for her con- tributions to the states legal system and her work on behalf of womeas rights and child abuse issues. r ( r V r 20 Administration -

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Dear Ole Miss Students: When we pause to reflect on the 1996-1997 academic year at the University of Mississippi, we are pleased by the progress, challenged by the opportunities, and excited about the future. We have witnessed extraordinary efforts of students, alumni, faculty, administrators, staff, and friends to invigorate and strengthen our University. This action has led to tangible leaps in a number of areas. During the distinguished history of our University, students have provided energy, vitality, compassion, laugh- ter, and inspiration to the community. Individually and through a variety of organizations and activities, our students have continued to demonstrate that the University is truly a laboratory for leaders. As the number, quality, and diver- sity of students increased, the commitment to our core values remained firm. The class of 1997 is well-prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century; those who follow you will build upon the strong foundations you have built. Recognizing that toda)fe quest for knowledge is deeply rooted in technology, the University has become wired to the world, from its residence hall rooms to its classrooms. Through an extensive underground network made pos- sible by vision and planning during the past decade, the University is providing a system for students to use personal computers to search library records, check class schedules and grades, and communicate with professors and fellow stu- dents, as well as access the Internet from the privacy and convenience of their dorms. Instead of hearing students say, Call me! to each other as we walk through hallways and across the campus, we hear, Send me an e-mail! As a community, we made a commitment to academic excellence and the creation of a nurturing, beautiful, and safe campus environment conducive to student growth and development. The year saw many more devoted faculty members join the ranks of those using cyberspace, multimedia classrooms and computerized laboratories to capture the interest and imagination of students and prepare you to compete in a global marketplace after graduation. Faculty became more involved in counseling and advising. An array of web sites on the Internet enabled the University to begin providing a wealth of information to attract and support students. Http: www.olemiss.edu became a standard pait of our communications programs, as prospective students applied for admission and explored financial aid via the Internet. And online registration is being perfected for use this summer. Everywhere you looked on the Oxford campus, there seemed to be bricks and mortar in motion. But buildings were not the only things under construction ' , as we continued our commitment to making this campus as student friendly as possible. A campaign to encourage more students to use priority registration was a great success for the spring semester and helped us attain a goal we all share - shorter lines! Final touches were put on architectural plans to turn the Old Gym into the new Student Services Center - a one-stop area for students to take care of their business from tuition and fees to career counseling. A decision was also made to postpone Rush until mid-fall 1997 to ease some of the pressure felt by new students. Our quest to obtain a coveted Phi Beta Kappa chapter intensified, and our ability to attract high-ability students was enhanced in 1996-1997. Netscape President and CEO James Barksdale and his wife, Sally McDonnell-Barksdale - - both Ole Miss graduates - gave the University $5.4 million to open the McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College, which impacted our enrollment along with other efforts. The fall enrollment saw an impressive increase in National Merit Scholars, as well as in the number of freshmen from Mississippi. Non-resident enrollment continued to be strong, reflecting our status as a national university. With regard to bricks and mortar, more than approximately $70 million in state and private money is being pumped into the Oxford campus in renovation and construction projects over the next three years to create an envi- ronment that better supports academic excellence. We continue to be both extremely grateful and humbled at the level of support the University receives from alumni and friends. This was a historic time on that front, with private gifts totaling $25.3 million - the largest amount ever in one year. This amount represents a 43 percent increase over last year, with our endowment growing to $137 million. This is meaningful to students because 53.1 percent of endowment income is designated for scholarships, 31.3 for academic support, 11.8 for faculty support and 3.8 for library support. Our generous and loyal alumni and friends are ensuring that you and students who come after you have the academic foundation needed to succeed after gradu- ation. To the 1997 graduates we wish success in both personal and professional pursuits. The University truly is reflected in the lives of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff Together we can make this University and its future anything we want it to be. Please join us in keeping the flame of academic excellence burning bright now and in the new millennium through support of extraordinary educational opportunities and outstanding programs. The faculty and staff join me in thanking each student for your contributions to the life of our beloved University. Robert C. Khayat Chancellor Administration 19

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.1 I J Mr. Robert W. Dowdy Interim V ice-Chancellor for Administration and Finance V Dr. Don Fruge V ice-Chancellor for University Advancement 4 Dr. Richard Mullendore Vice-Chancellor for Student Life Dr. Mullendore came to Ole Miss in the Spring of 1996 from UNC-Wilmington to create what he has coined a student centered environment at Ole Miss. In 1994, Dr. Mullendore received the Presidents Award from the National Orientation Directors ' Association. Administration 21