Mississippi University for Women’s Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center is expanding accessibility and improving the visitor experience through facility and trail renovations made possible by recent local and state grant funding.

“We are very thankful to MDOT and PACCAR for providing the funds to help improve our facility,” said Chandler Lester, director of Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center. “Our unique facility offers the perfect setting for any event — whether it’s a wedding or reception, family reunion, birthday celebration, class reunion or any other special occasion.”

PACCAR Inc awarded the center $110,000 in spring 2025 leading to a complete roof and gutter replacement of the Harry Sherman Conference Center. The 11,700-square-foot facility consists of multipurpose lecture and conference rooms, an auditorium and an interpretive museum of cultural and natural history.

The center will improve a portion of the nature trails at Plymouth Bluff with a $625,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). The project includes replacing the existing asphalt trail with concrete, adding ADA-accessible ramps and improving overall accessibility throughout the trail system. Interpretive signs along the paths highlight native plants and share insights into the area’s cultural and natural history.

“We’ve been hard at work making continued improvements to ensure a safe, comfortable and enjoyable experience for all our visitors,” Lester added. “Recent updates include tree removal near the trails and pavilion and upgraded Wi-Fi in the main center for better connectivity. We are proud of Plymouth Bluff and the professional and recreational opportunities it offers to the community.”

All projects are expected to complete by January 2026.

Located at 2200 Old West Point Road, the 190-acre educational and recreational center, owned and operated by The W, is situated above the old Tombigbee River Channel. The center’s offerings include nearly five miles of nature trails with varying terrain and levels of difficulty, 23 cabins with hotel-style amenities, a tennis court and an 11,700-square-foot conference building fully equipped to host events and retreats.

In 2024, the Plymouth Bluff Environmental Center installed a wraparound deck and renovated all cabins with new roofs, paint, flooring and structural improvements.

To inquire about booking or learn more about the bluff, please call (662) 370-1511, email crlester@muw.edu or visit the website at https://www.muw.edu/plymouthbluff/.

Mississippi University for Women is celebrating first generation students during First-Gen Week, Nov. 10-14. A first-gen student is a student whose parents or guardian did not complete a bachelor’s degree.

“First-Generation students make up over half of The W’s student body, and the entire campus community is committed to helping them blaze this new trail,” said Dr. Clear Moore, director of the Student Success Center at The W. “We chose a western theme for this year’s events in the spirit of these student pioneers.”

This year’s celebration is called “Saddle Up for Student Success: First-Gen Celebration Week.”

The planning for this year’s celebration has been largely student-led with the now two cohorts of First-Generation Student Ambassadors, a scholarship program, as well as Lowndes FYRST Leaders, a program funded through the Columbus Rotary Club, taking the lead.

Festivities will kick off Monday, Nov. 10 with the Pioneer Pancake Breakfast from 8-10 a.m. in Reneau Hall. The first day will close with Barnyard Board Games from 5-7 p.m. in the lobby of Fant Memorial Library.

Tuesday’s events begin at 5 p.m. with “Wrangling Up the Bucks: Financial Literacy & Salary Negotiation,” in the Gail P. Gunther Room at Fant Library. Wild West Dodgeball will begin at 5:15 p.m. in the Stark Recreation Center. This will close out Tuesday’s events.

Wednesday offers a preparedness event with Saddle Bag Survival Kits for Final Exams from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Hogarth Dining Hall.

Thursday will feature a full slate of events, beginning with “Trailblazers Roundup: A Salute to First-Gen Seniors” at 4 p.m. in Poindexter Hall.

The day will close out with the Cowboy Cookout Tailgate from 5-6 p.m. on the Pohl Gym lawn.

The celebration concludes on Friday with the First-Gen Flannel Fiesta: Food, Fun and Flannel from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in Reneau Hall room 402.

The celebration is part of a larger effort by The W to focus on first-gen students, making sure they are successful in their endeavor to earn a degree.

Mississippi University for Women is partnering with the Columbus Arts Council for the third year in a row to bring the Under the Oaks art festival to campus.

Set for Saturday, Nov. 15 from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., the festival will feature around 40 vendors, all selling handmade goods, under the Oak trees of Welty Drive. In addition, there will be live music and food trucks on site.

“We are excited to welcome all participants, as well as the community, to the W’s vibrant campus for the third Under the Oaks Arts Festival,” said Erik Studdard, graphic designer for The W, and one of the coordinators of the event.

The event is free and open to the public.

The partnership with CAC not only helps The W connect with artists for the event, but also helps CAC carry out its mission.

“The Columbus Arts Council is proud to announce its continued partnership with Mississippi University for Women for this year’s highly anticipated Under the Oaks Arts Festival,” said Quan Walker, executive director for CAC. “This collaboration reflects not only our shared commitment to the arts but also the power of partnership in enriching our community and uplifting artists across the region. This festival provides an essential platform for artists, both emerging and established, to showcase their work, connect with audiences and grow their careers.”