Mississippi University for Women continues to lead the state in degree completion despite a decrease in overall headcount.

For fall 2022, the university enrolled 2,339 students accounting for a 5.6% drop in unduplicated enrollment. 

 “What we have experienced is not unusual, particularly for regional institutions. It’s part demographic cliff, part pandemic, coupled with enhanced competition from research institutions and community colleges,” said W President Nora Miller.

“Several efforts are already underway to address enrollment challenges. The university is implementing new technology to improve outreach to prospective students and hiring an executive director of enrollment management. Additionally, the university is exploring the idea of a more inclusive name.”

The university continues to lead the state’s public university system with the highest degree completion at 36.8 number of undergraduate degrees awarded per 100 undergraduate full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment. During the 2022 academic year, the university awarded 927 degrees, the second-highest ever.

The W ranked among the best in the region for best value and social mobility announced by U.S. News & World Report earlier this year. The 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges ranked the university at No. 1 for Best Value Schools among public southern regional universities and No. 4 among Regional Universities (South). The university also was ranked No. 2 in Top Performers on Social Mobility among public southern regional universities. Social Mobility measures the extent universities and colleges enrolled and graduated students who received Pell Grant. The W was ranked in the top 10 for Top Regional Universities (South).

The W ranks No. 1 in the nation among Master’s Universities for the percentage of transfer students enrolled, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

In other student characteristics at The W:

• 86% are from Mississippi
• 35% are African-American
• Average student age is 24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 2, 2022
Tyler Wheat
ltwheat@muw.edu

Col. Justin T. Grieve, commander at 14^th Flying Training Wing, Columbus AFB, will keynote Mississippi University for Women’s Veterans Day program Friday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m.

The program, which will be held at Pioneers Plaza (next to Welty Hall), is open to students, faculty, staff and the community. The rain location is Carrier Chapel.

Col. Grieve is responsible for conducting Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training for U.S. Air Force and allied officers. The wing is composed of 241 aircraft flying more than 40,000 sorties and 60,000 hours per year while training over 400 pilots and combat system operators annually. He manages an operations and maintenance budget of approximately $115 million with capital assets exceeding $2.3 billion.

Col. Grieve received his commission through the United States Air Force Academy in 2000. He attended Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, Oklahoma, earning his wings in 2001. Following pilot training, He was assigned to the 33rd Flying Training Squadron, Vance AFB, Oklahoma, as a T-37 instructor pilot.

Col. Grieve was accepted to join the 509th Bomb Wing and the B-2 program at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, in 2005. He served in several squadrons as a B-2 instructor pilot and T-38 pilot. In 2012, he served as chief, Bomber Aircraft and Nuclear Programs for the Secretary of the Air Force at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. This was followed by an assignment to work with the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University as an Air Force Foreign Policy Fellow for the 2013-2014 academic year. Col. Grieve commanded the 509th Operations Group after attending National War College on Ft. McNair in Washington, D.C.

Prior to this assignment, Col. Grieve served as the chief, Nuclear Mission Planning Division, Plans and Policy Directorate, United States Strategic Command, Offutt AFB, Nebraska.

The program also will feature the MUW Wind Ensemble and the Columbus High School Junior ROTC.

The Center for Women’s Research & Public Policy (CWRPP) at Mississippi University for Women has announced the inaugural NEW MS Legislative Fellowship which creates the next step toward political leadership for NEW MS alumni.

“The fellowship offers these college students and early professionals the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of politics, public policy and public service at the state level. Fellows will learn how legislation gets made in Jackson firsthand from a bipartisan group of lawmakers and will receive support and mentorship through biweekly leadership workshops,” said Dr. Chanley Rainey, director of NEW Leadership ® Mississippi and assistant professor of political science at The W.

Representing the Center for Women’s Research & Public Policy (CWRPP) at Mississippi University for Women, fellows will serve as legislative aides to the bipartisan Mississippi Senate Study Group on Women, Children, and Families. The fellowship will begin Monday, Nov. 14 and will end Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023 (deadline for legislative committees to report general bills and constitutional amendments originating in their chamber). Fellows will receive a stipend of $3,000 and a travel allowance of up to $2,000.

Rainey said the fellowship is also designed to be accessible because the center prioritizes socioeconomic diversity in its cultivation of tomorrow’s political leadership. Much of the work will be remote, and fellows are supported with a generous stipend and travel allowance, making the fellowship much more widely accessible than the typical D.C. fellowship.

Fellows will summarize and synthesize public comments and submissions received during the Mississippi Senate Study Group on Women, Children, and Families’ hearings and will conduct policy research on the needs of women, children and families in Mississippi. They will work with Senator Nicole Boyd—chair of the Senate Study Group—and the lieutenant governor’s legal staff to conduct their research and assist the Study Group in its efforts to improve various state policies.

Rainey added, “While working with legislators to improve policy for the benefit of women, children and families in Mississippi, fellows will develop a clearer vision of themselves as future lawmakers, putting them more firmly on the path to office.”

Any graduate of NEW (National Education for Women’s) Leadership ® Mississippi is eligible to apply. NEW Leadership ® Mississippi (NEW MS) is an annual summer institute designed to increase women’s political representation by gathering college students from across Mississippi to meet women leaders, learn about women in American politics and develop and practice leadership skills through panel discussions, workshops and hands-on projects. The CWRPP has offered the program since 2013.

The Fellowship is funded through the Ascend Fund, an initiative of Panorama Global dedicated to accelerating the pace of change toward gender parity in U.S. politics. The collaborative fund pools philanthropic capital to support nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations that are working to ensure women have access to the resources and support they need to run for office, and that are breaking down the barriers that prevent women from running and winning. The Center for Women’s Research & Public Policy was awarded a $50,000 grant in 2021 to deepen and expand its programming aimed at educating and empowering Mississippi’s college women to become politically active and to take on leadership roles in politics and public service.

The Center for Women’s Research & Public Policy is a multidisciplinary center established in 2005 for the study of Southern women in both traditional and nontraditional roles. The CWRPP promotes research and programming centered on Southern women’s lives—both past and present—with a focus on increasing their representation in all areas of leadership, advancing their interests in public policy, and continuing The W’s legacy of expanding women’s education and professional opportunities.

Mississippi University for Women has been awarded the Best Student Support Services on Intelligent.com’s list of the Best Online Colleges in the state of Mississippi in 2023.

The research identifies top schools in the state based on tuition costs, the number of credits required to graduate and the online coursework delivery format.

“As an online student, you get access not only to 24/7 technology support, but also to all of Fant Memorial Library’s online resources, mental health counseling services, career advice and resources, and most importantly, academic support, including dedicated Student Success Navigators, peer tutoring, The W Writing Center and more,” Intelligent.com wrote.

Intelligent.com researched more than 3,000 colleges and universities for its 2023 online report. It implemented a unique methodology that ranks each institution on a scale from 0-100 across six categories. The scoring system compares each school according to tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty and reputation, as well as the student resources provided for online students.

Studies show obtaining a degree increases income substantially, with graduates earning 84% more than those with only high school diplomas or those without a completed GED. The percentage difference in earnings grows with higher learning degrees such as master’s, doctoral or professional degrees, with the unemployment rate decreasing to as much as 1.6% for those with a doctorate. To access the ranking, visit https://www.intelligent.com/best-online-colleges/mississippi/#mississippi_university_for_women

Intelligent.com provides unbiased research to help students make informed decisions about higher education programs. The website offers curated guides that include the best degree programs as well as information about financial aid, internships and study strategies. To learn more, visit https://www.intelligent.com/.