Campus Update from President Miller

Dear Campus,

We look forward to submitting our proposal to MDE for MSMS’s expansion on our campus and in the community. We are proud to have served the state by providing a home and services to support MSMS.

MSMS has been a vibrant part of our campus community over the past three decades, and I hope the state will invest in their operations and facilities here on our campus. 

The W and MSMS are both pioneers in education and our history has been intertwined since MSMS’s inception:

Intentionally created. The Mississippi Legislature created the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science in 1987 as a residential high school for 11^th and 12^th grade students located on the campus of The W for the purpose of educating “the gifted and talented students of the state.”

Size and proximity. The size of The W and the City of Columbus have been lauded as the perfect fit for MSMS students to acclimate to living away from home and adjusting to college life.

Decades of tradition. The W and MSMS have partnered for decades working on many longstanding programs and events that are central to the fabric of Columbus and Lowndes County, such as Tales from The Crypt, Eighth of May, MoreStory and the Community Read.

Shared resources and cost effectiveness. The W’s campus affords MSMS exclusive use of seven facilities for housing, academics and administration. All MSMS and W students share the cafeteria, library, recreation center, health center and post office. MSMS student athletes also use the same facilities used by W student athletes.

Fiscally responsible. With adequate, reasonable funding and intentional planning, the State of Mississippi will save money by investing in the current infrastructure of MSMS on The W campus. Both institutions are positioned well for growth and have an excellent track record of producing high-quality, exceptionally educated Mississippi students.

Funding for MSMS ultimately comes from the Mississippi Legislature. We are advocating through every available channel for funding to support their growth on our campus.

If the decision is made to move MSMS, we will address that as an opportunity for us to repurpose those facilities to enhance our programs and offerings. No matter the outcome of the RFP process, The W is adaptable and flexible and we will be fine and sustainable for the future!

We are grateful for the support from our campus, alumni, city, county and community leaders. We all share a strong commitment to the future of The W and MSMS.

Thank you for all you do to make The W successful and resilient!

Nora Miller
President