DeSoto Campus is the 'fastest growing part' of Ole Miss, Stocks says
By Jimmie Covington
Memphis Commercial Appeal
February 20, 2007
The University of Mississippi's DeSoto Center campus in Southaven is playing a "tremendously important" role in the university's growth, a high-ranking school administrator said Monday.
"It is the fastest growing part of the university," said Dr. Morris H. Stocks, senior vice chancellor for planning and operations.
The Ole Miss enrollment at the center this spring has gone above 800 for the first time, Stocks said in an interview.
He was in Southaven filling in for Chancellor Robert Khayat at an induction ceremony for 35 charter members of a new chapter of Alpha Sigma Lambda, an honors society that recognizes high achievement among nontraditional adult students. Khayat had been scheduled but had to cancel because of a conflict in meetings.
Stocks, who was recently promoted from dean of the Ole Miss School of Accountancy, told the society's new members and their families that almost 25 percent of the university's accounting students attend classes at DeSoto Center.
The new members of Alpha Sigma Lambda are from a wide range of majors, including accountancy, education, nursing, management, liberal arts, criminal justice and other areas.
Dr. Bonnie Buntin, Ole Miss DeSoto Center dean, said the honors society chapter is a part of the expanding activities and services being provided for university students at the center.
"This is a big occasion for us," she told the students and family members assembled in the center's lobby. Northwest Mississippi Community College and Ole Miss share space in the center with NWCC providing freshman and sophomore classes and the university providing junior, senior and graduate level courses.
Competition is growing among universities to recruit students from DeSoto County.