Many view the advent of a new year as the perfect time to make improvements, establishing resolutions that promise a better future. The University of Mississippi is no exception.
Below, we’ve listed our top resolutions for 2016. And based on our history of generous private support from alumni and friends, keeping these resolutions should be easy. In fiscal year 2015, generous members of the Ole Miss family provided more than $133 million to help build new facilities, strengthen faculty, award scholarships, contribute to research discoveries, fortify academic programs, enhance athletics and improve healthcare outcomes for Mississippians.
“The unwavering support of our alumni and friends is shown not just in dollars, but also in the number of those who gave back, an increase of more than 30 percent for the Oxford campus alone,” said UM Foundation President and CEO Wendell Weakley. “We could not be more appreciative of those who entrusted their hard-earned resources to the benefit of the University of Mississippi and its students.”
In 2016, we look forward to realizing the following resolutions:
New Directions – We look forward to reaching continually higher levels of excellence under the leadership of Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter.
New Inventions – It’s no secret that UM leads the way in many areas of research. Our faculty increasingly receives grants and contracts for the study and development of solutions to real-world problems. We look forward this year to developments that will change the world.
New Guests – With Ole Miss now in the national spotlight, both academically and athletically, we hope to share our hospitality with dignitaries and celebrities alike while also welcoming esteemed educators and renowned researchers to our faculty.
New Buildings – In 2016, students will enjoy accommodations of completed residence halls along Rebel Drive. Likewise, Rebel fans will appreciate the expansion and renovation of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and, of course, the gleaming, high-tech basketball arena that is the Pavilion at Ole Miss.
New Notoriety – As Ole Miss continues to build its status as one of America’s great public universities, we hope to see the word continue to spread with mentions in the most credible publications: the Chronicle of Higher Education, Forbes, Business Week, Fortune, and many more.
New Heights – We hope to see record enrollment in 2016 as we welcome ever more of the nation’s brightest scholars. Could this be the year in which our students become the recipients of every notable award? Goldwater. Rhodes. Truman. Fulbright. Udall. Gates.
New Highlights – We hope to enhance the university community with cultural experiences as never before. Among the coming attractions at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts is the hit Broadway musical "Annie!" in January, acclaimed pianist Bruce Levingston with the French Ballet in February and Shakespeare's timeless tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" in April. Award-winning painter Carl Bryer Fallert-Gentry will display "40 Years of Color, Light and Motion" at the University Museum beginning in March.
New Athletes – In 2016, we hope to see our best-ever recruiting classes as Athletic Director Ross Bjork and his coaching staff, already off to a great start, continue to win the day in high schools and homes across America.
Imagine the possibilities! Through private giving, these resolutions will be realities. For more information on supporting University of Mississippi programs, scholarships, faculty endowments, projects and more, contact Debbie Vaughn, senior executive director of University Development and chief development officer, at 662-915-3937 or dvaughn@olemiss.edu.
By University News Staff