The Board of Trustees of the Institutions of Higher Learning has a new policy outlining how much money Mississippi public universities receive, which will take money away from the University of Mississippi.
Ole Miss is receiving less money from the IHL due to a policy change concerning distribution of money from the government to the public universities of Mississippi, and some of that money is going to other causes around Mississippi.
The board has a new formula for money distribution based on enrollment numbers and the types of classes offered by the university, Annie Mitchell, IHL director of media relations, said.
"For example, the undergraduate classes are less expensive than the graduate classes," Mitchell said.
Before the change, the money distributed to the university depended mostly on enrollment. Since the change, the university has experienced a loss of money, but the board is aware of this, Mitchell said. The board plans to try to take the issue to the legislators to help make up some of the money loss.
The Board of Trustees is a constitutional body made up of 12 people that are responsible for and oversee policies and finances for the eight public universities in Mississippi. These universities include Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, the University of Mississippi and the University of Southern Mississippi.
Each board member serves a nine-year term and is appointed by the governor of Mississippi.
Some have questioned why Mississippi will not allow students to have direct input like other college boards, where students are allowed to vote.
"I think it would be great if students could vote and be members of the board so we could have more say to what happens to Ole Miss," Krissy Reboul, a sophomore from New Orleans, said.
For the board to have students as members, the amendment would have to be changed in the Mississippi Constitution that allows only appointed officials by the governor to the Board of Trustees.
The board does reserve two seats for students where students are allowed to speak and give input, but the students are not allowed to vote, Mitchell said.
Student Government Association presidents and student newspapers are invited to a meeting every November with the board to state their opinions and give input. The board meets almost every month.
