The Department of Music at Mississippi University for Women is seeking musicians of all ages and experience levels to join its Community Band for the 2025-26 academic year.
Members of the Golden Triangle community are invited to join the Community Band at The W.
The band is currently seeking woodwind, brass and percussion players to join the ranks and perform with other members of the Golden Triangle musical community.
“I would like to invite everyone in Columbus and the surrounding area to come join and play in The W’s Community Band,” said Melissa Reeves, director of bands at The W. “Whether you practice regularly or are picking up your instrument for the first time in several years, we welcome you.”
The band meets for rehearsals every Monday, beginning Aug. 25, from 6-8:30 p.m. in Shattuck Hall on The W’s campus. It is free to join, however, registration is required. Members also are asked to bring their own instruments.
The Community Band was founded in 2023 by the Department of Music at The W. It has served as a way for musical individuals in the community to come together and perform side-by-side for the very community they are a part of.
To register, please email Reeves at mmreeves@muw.edu and she will begin the registration process.
About the Department of Music The W’s Department of Music has been a part of the institution for nearly 150 years. The W was the first institution in the state to be accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Alumni of the program are music teachers, professors, music therapists and independent musicians creating music, educating the next generation of musicians and helping people all around the world.
Mississippi University for Women will start the academic year with a week full of activities for students, beginning Aug. 16.
Students at The W dance the night away at Blues Week 2024.
Sponsored by the Office of Student Life, Blues Week is an annual event that welcomes new and returning students to The W’s campus each fall. A week’s worth of programming gets students ready to take on the new school year.
“We are so excited for Blues Week 2025!” said Asia Duren, director of student life for The W. “The Blue Crew is ready to welcome new and returning students to campus. Blues Week is like an appetizer sampler – you get a taste of everything we have to offer at The W. It’s the time for students to make new friends, discover campus organizations, experience the events and resources departments have to offer and really get immersed in The W’s culture.”
Students have a variety of events to choose from throughout the week. Housing and Residence Life, Sodexo, Development & Alumni and Student Life will host a FareWelcome BBQ at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 on the Turner Hall field. There will be a first day photos event beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20 also on the Turner Hall Field.
Students will also get the chance to peruse organizational offerings on campus during the annual Organization and Community Fair in Pohl Gym, Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 10 a.m.
The festivities will close out Sunday, Aug. 24 with a Beach Blizzard Luau & Pool Party, hosted by the Office of Development & Alumni, Campus Recreation, Office of Student Life, MUW Alumni Association and Owls Athletics at 6 p.m. at the Stark Backyard and Pool.
For a complete listing of events, please go to https://www.muw.edu/bluesweek.
Highlights of Blues Week 2025:
• Sunday, Aug. 18 o 3:30 p.m.: The W Olympics, hosted by Student Life and W Leadership, in the Limbert Assembly Room. o 8 p.m.: Foam party, hosted by Housing and Residence Life, in the Stark Recreation Center Backyard.
• Monday, Aug. 18 o 6 p.m.: Trivioke in the Limbert Assembly Room.
• Tuesday, Aug. 19 o 1 p.m.: UN 101 Kickoff in the Pope Banquet Room, sponsored by the Student Success Center and Student Life (required for all first-year students). o 2 p.m.: SnoCones for Success on the Turner Hall Field, hosted by the Student Success Center. o 5 p.m.: The Serenade. o 9 p.m.: Late-night breakfast, hosted by Housing and Residence Life.
• Wednesday, Aug. 20 o 7:30 p.m.: Freeze the Moment with Social & Greek Life in the Stark Recreation Center Backyard.
• Friday, Aug. 22 o Owl Fest Concert at the Bryan Green Gazebo.
• Saturday, Aug. 23 o 5 p.m.: Mud volleyball on the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science Soccer Field.
It’s that time of the year when students return to Mississippi University for Women’s campus, move into their residence halls and prepare for a new school year.
An unusual sight from Move-In Day 2024, someone brought their own mattress.
“We are so excited to welcome students back on campus for the fall 2025 semester,” said Andrew Moneymaker, director of Housing and Residence Life at The W. “Our staff and volunteers will be ready when students arrive to campus. We have a great group of Resident Advisors and professional staff ready to go to help each student living on campus have a great experience.”
Check-in for Move-In Day 2025 will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 16.
Moneymaker said, “We have worked all summer to make improvements to the residence halls with Grossnickle Hall getting a relaxation room on the second floor, Columbus Hall getting a game room added to the basement floor and, of course, we cannot forget about our newly renovated bathrooms in Kincannon Hall.”
Whether a freshman entering campus for the first time or a returning student, there are a few things that everyone should know to make this Move-In Day as smooth as possible.
First and foremost, all students must have their student ID card with them to move into their residence hall. The ID card is the key card which allows a student access to their respective hall.
Student and guests are asked to please enter campus via the main entrance at the front gate and follow the map and signage to the appropriate hall to begin unloading items. Blues Week team members will be available to lend a helping hand.. Please make sure all boxes and containers are labeled with the name and room number of the student to ensure they make it to the correct room.
There will be check-in stations at each hall. The student must have their ID card ready and check in to receive their room key.
It is important to have another member of a student’s party move the vehicle to one of the designated parking spots once all items are unloaded to allow for more students to unload.
If, for any reason, a student is not able to move in on Move-In Day, they should contact Housing and Residence Life so that their room is not reassigned. Failure to move in does not cancel the contract.
There are a number of necessary items that a student should bring with them when they move in. These include:
• Lamps for a desk • Pillows, blankets and bed linens • Alarm clock • Room decorations and pictures • Clothes hangers • Shower shoes, bathrobe • Towels and washcloths • Soap, shampoo, conditioner • Laundry bag/basket, detergent • Storage containers • Umbrella, rainwear • Headphones • Power strip with surge protector • Poster putty for hanging items • Warm and cool clothing • Flashlight • Water, drinks and snacks • Trash can • Cleaning supplies
Some optional items include: • PC with Ethernet connection • Throw rug • Crates or stacking containers • Seat cushion for desk chair • Radio, TV, DVD/Blu-Ray player, gaming console • Camera • Fan • Paper towels • Sewing kit, scissors, safety pins • Personal recreation equipment • Bicycle with lock
There are, however, some items that students should NOT bring. These items include: • Halogen lamps • Hotplates, skillet, toaster oven, etc. • Coffee maker • Candles, incense, fire hazards, etc. • Pets (except fish) • Waterbed • Nail picture hangers • Weapons • Extension cords • Multi-plug adapter • Microwave • Refrigerator
The W launches automatic admission to master’s program in speech-language pathology
Undergraduate students at Mississippi University for Women pursuing a degree in speech-language pathology will soon have a streamlined path to graduate school, with automatic admission to The W’s master’s program beginning fall 2025.
The recently approved automatic admission program offered through The W’s speech-language pathology program will allow students who meet specific academic criteria and character standards while completing their undergraduate degree at The W to be automatically accepted into The W’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program when they apply.
“To my knowledge, no other undergraduate speech-language pathology program in the state or surrounding region offers this type of advantage,” said Dr. Brandy Larmon, dean of the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences. “It allows students to fully concentrate on their studies with the assurance of a secured place in our graduate program, saving them the stress and cost of the traditional application process.”
Once enrolled and declared a speech-language pathology major, students will be considered for the automatic admission program. To remain eligible, students must maintain high academic performance standards and character standards.
Applicants for The W’s automatic admission into the M.S. Speech-Language Pathology program must meet the following requirements:
• Complete at least four consecutive semesters toward a Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at The W
• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.70 or higher across all undergraduate coursework
• Remain in good standing at The W throughout enrollment
• Earn a grade of B or higher in each SLP prerequisite course
• Earn a grade of B or higher in each prerequisite course in biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and social/behavioral sciences, completed within the past six years
• Submit three faculty endorsements from The W’s SLP Department
The most recent graduates of The W’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program achieved a 100% licensure exam pass rate and 100% job placement rate, with 60% choosing to remain in Mississippi.
SpeechPathology.org ranks programs nationwide, with a methodology that emphasizes clinical excellence, educational outcomes and program accessibility. There are six key ranking factors: clinical accreditation, certification exam pass rate, financial value, student success metrics, learning format diversity and clinical supervision quality.
Housed within the Vandergriff College of Nursing and Health Sciences, SLP offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology provides students with a basic understanding of normal and abnormal communication. The pre-professional program provides a strong foundation for graduate studies.
The Master of Science program in Speech-Language Pathology at The W is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
To apply for the speech-language pathology program or other academic offerings at The W, please visit muw.edu/admissions.
Mortyakova receives Mississippi Arts Commission Fellowship
Julia Mortyakova, chair of the Department of Music at Mississippi University for Women, has been awarded a $5,000 Performing Arts Fellowship award from the Mississippi Arts Commission.
Dr. Julia Mortyakova
The fellowship is a portion of the more than $1.7 million in grants and fellowships MAC awarded in Fiscal Year 2026 and will support travel for international and domestic piano performances, as well as to record a new solo piano album featuring music written by women composers.
“Receiving the 2026 MAC Performing Arts Fellowship is a great honor,” said Mortyakova. “I am incredibly proud to be recognized for my artistic achievements and to represent Mississippi and The W worldwide wherever my performance activities take me. Thank you, MAC!”
Mortyakova joined The W as a faculty member in 2012. At the university, she has served on the Teacher Education Council, Council of Chairs and Cultural Affairs Committee, among others. She is a member of the National Association of Schools of Music, where she was recently re-elected to a second term on the Commission on Accreditation.
“Mississippi is a vibrant hub of artistic talent that enriches lives and fuels local economies throughout our state,” said David Lewis, executive director for the Mississippi Arts Commission. “With the generous support from the Mississippi Legislature, we can leverage our citizens’ creativity to invest in our communities.”
The W also received a $4,000 Organization Project Grant from MAC for the annual Music by Women festival held on campus each spring. Mortyakova founded the Music by Women international festival at The W, which just completed its ninth year. The event features performances of new and historic music written by female composers.
MAC’s annual grant funds come from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Mississippi State Legislature. Awards were made in 94 Mississippi House of Representatives districts and 49 state Senate districts.
This is the second time that Morytakova has received the Performing Arts Fellowship award from the Mississippi Arts Commission.
The Mississippi Arts Commission is a state agency serving more than two million people through grants and special initiatives that enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations, promote arts education and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. MAC is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mississippi Endowment for the Arts at the Community Foundation for Mississippi and other private sources. For more information, visit www.arts.ms.gov.
For information about the Mississippi Arts Commission, please contact Ellie Banks, communications director, (601) 359-6546 or ebanks@arts.ms.gov.
About the Mississippi Arts Commission
The Mississippi Arts Commission (MAC) is a state agency serving more than two million people through grants and special initiatives that enhance communities, assist artists and arts organizations, promote arts education and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. MAC is funded by the Mississippi Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts, and other private sources. For more information, visit www.arts.ms.gov.
