Jackson State University News
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bernard
THEE Realist
JSU faculty gearing up for the return of students
Jackson State University welcomed back faculty and staff with a morning full of music, food and fellowship.
The university held its annual fall convocation on Wednesday. JSU English instructor Arna Sines said all she could think about over the summer break was how she can better serve her students.
“What can I do differently? As I encounter things that can help me be more effective in what I do, I try to make a note of that, and how I can incorporate that into my new year,” Sines said.
The theme of the convocation was “Welcome Home to Thee,” and for a lot of the faculty, JSU has been a home for a long time.
“I’ve been working at Jackson State for 10 years, but I’ve been shooting for Jackson State literally since my college days,” said JSU chief photographer Charles A. Smith.
Smith said he is looking forward to capturing the moments of students walking across the stage, and to him, that image is worth a thousand words.
“I like seeing the joy on their faces. The joy on their parents’ faces and the professors being proud of the people they have educated and produced,” Smith said.
Denise Jones Gregory, the new provost vice president of academic affairs was also once in the shoes of the students who came after her.
bernard
THEE Realist
The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees has approved a lease agreement to house dozens of Jackson State University Students.
The approval was made Friday evening during a special called meeting.
During the meeting, members of the board approved the lease agreement between Jackson State and the Hilton Garden Jackson Downtown, also known as the King Edward Hotel.
The agreement is for the purpose of housing 56 students from Sept. 1 through Oct. 18.
The board said they were providing the temporary housing while a residential facility is undergoing repairs.
According to JSU Officials, the facility undergoing repairs is One University Place located at the corner of Lynch Street and Dalton Street.
Officials said the facility which formerly served as an apartment complex is being transformed into a modern, student-focused housing.
www.wapt.com
The approval was made Friday evening during a special called meeting.
During the meeting, members of the board approved the lease agreement between Jackson State and the Hilton Garden Jackson Downtown, also known as the King Edward Hotel.
The agreement is for the purpose of housing 56 students from Sept. 1 through Oct. 18.
The board said they were providing the temporary housing while a residential facility is undergoing repairs.
According to JSU Officials, the facility undergoing repairs is One University Place located at the corner of Lynch Street and Dalton Street.
Officials said the facility which formerly served as an apartment complex is being transformed into a modern, student-focused housing.
Jackson State approved for temporary housing by Mississippi IHL
Housing approved for Hilton Garden Jackson Downtown.
www.wapt.com
bernard
THEE Realist
Cedric The Entertainer and Anthony Anderson to attend Jackson State football game
Cedric and Anthony will host a meet-and-greet with students before catching the game against the Southern Jaguars
www.wlbt.com
bernard
THEE Realist
In less than three months, we have revived a cherished homecoming tradition: “Thee Official JSU Alumni Party.” Join us for an unforgettable evening of celebration, reconnection, and networking, November 2, 2024 at the stunning Two Mississippi Museums. Be sure to purchase your early bird tickets at https://jsunaa.org by September 25th to enjoy the discounted rate or consider reserving a table for your group.
bernard
THEE Realist
Jackson State eying downtown Marriott as solution to student housing shortage
Jackson State University has been eying an empty hotel in downtown Jackson as a potential solution to its shortage of student housing.
President Marcus Thompson pitched the project — a $5 million purchase of the Jackson Marriott at 200 E. Amite St. — to the university’s governing board last month, calling it a forward-thinking win-win for the historically Black university and the capital city.
“As Jackson grows, Jackson State grows, and vice versa, similar to what I believe and I’ve seen over the years at an Oxford or a Starkville,” Thompson told the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees at its retreat at Mississippi State University’s Riley Center in Meridian.
The effort comes as the state’s largest HBCU recently received roughly 800 more housing applications than it had room to accommodate, Thompson told trustees. The campus has about 2,000 available beds. In fall 2022, Jackson State had about 4,900 undergraduate students, according to federal data.
Enter the Marriott, a 15-story, 303-bed hotel that has been unused since the pandemic. It has had a number of owners over the years but is currently owned by a limited liability company affiliated with a Florida-based developer named Charles Everhardt. Everhardt could not be reached before press time.
Thompson told trustees some of them likely saw the hotel years ago. The IHL board has a policy that universities are required to seek approval for real estate purchases above $100,000. Jackson State did not respond to inquiries by press time.
“Housing has been a topic and an issue for our university for a number of years,” Thompson said. “We’re really excited about the possibility to bring forward a solution to the issue of housing through this Marriott project.”
Jackson State hopes to purchase the hotel for $5.25 million, about $2 million below its assessed value, Thompson told trustees. It would provide housing to roughly 500 students, as well as meeting and parking space and leasing revenue.
The university has already obtained $7 million from the Legislature and conducted several key reports and assessments, Thompson said, adding that Jackson State anticipated the Marriott could be available to students in one to two years if the plan goes forward.
Originally, Thompson sought to get $68 million in funding to construct a new residence hall, but earlier this year, he asked Al Rankins, the IHL commissioner, for permission to pivot to purchasing an existing space that could be available sooner.
In January, the administration had to relocate students after discovering mold in its University Pointe apartment complex, which was purchased in 2015. Another dorm for female students, McAllister Whiteside, has been offline since 2021 due to mechanical, electrical and utility failures and broken equipment.
The housing shortage is a particular issue for out-of-state students who make up about a quarter of the university’s enrollment, Thompson said. During his presidential tour, he talked with parents in cities like Memphis and Chicago who told him it was a struggle to find off-campus housing. And, Thompson added that students with federal student loans may also not be able to afford off-campus housing.
Jackson State eying downtown Marriott as solution to student housing shortage
JSU is seeking IHL board's approval to purchase and rehab an empty downtown Jackson hotel for student housing.
mississippitoday.org
bernard
THEE Realist
bernard
THEE Realist
IHL approves capital needs bond proposal for capital improvements to MS's 8 universities
Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning board members on Thursday approved a multi-million dollar, four-year bond proposal to fund capital improvements at Mississippi’s eight universities.
IHL Associate Commissioner of Real Estate and Facilities Brad Rowland described the plan as a “system capital needs request” that was prepared after asking each university to prepare a list of their top five projected capital needs between now and 2027.
Thursday’s motion, which was made by IHL Trustee Gregg Rader and approved unanimously, does not officially commit to issuing bonds or spending proceeds not already approved by the 2024 Legislature. Rather it provides a framework for presenting future legislative budget requests beginning in 2025.
“It is about identifying the needs of each campus in preparation for presenting those needs to the Legislature in 2025,” said IHL Director of Communications John Sewell.
Thursday’s approval identifies $140.2 million in already-allocated funds for 2024; $126.2 million projected for 2025; $113.7 million for 2026; and $114.3 million for 2027; totaling $494.4 million over four years. Of that total about $354.2 million would be in new funds projected for the years 2025 through 2027.
The four-year capital improvement requests by campus are broken down thusly:
- Alcorn State: $39.5 million to fund the Whitney Center, the Poultry/Animal Science Academic Research Center, classroom renovations, ADA modifications, new faculty and staff housing and more.
- Delta State: $35.4 million to fund renovations to Ward and Cleveland Halls, new roofing, HVAC and electrical upgrades and more.
- Jackson State: $47.9 million to fund purchase of a new residence hall, develop alternative water resources, institute a campus safety project and more.
IHL approves capital needs bond proposal for capital improvements to MS's 8 universities
MS Institutions of Higher Learning on Thursday approved a multi-million dollar four year bond proposal to fund capital improvements at universities.
www.clarionledger.com
bernard
THEE Realist
GloRilla to headline Jackson State’s homecoming concert
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – GloRilla will headline “Thee House Party” for Jackson State University’s (JSU) homecoming concert.
JSU’s homecoming week is October 27 through November 2, 2024.
“Homecoming 2024 celebrates the spirit and traditions that make Jackson State University unique. This year’s theme, ‘Thee House Party,’ captures the energy and community that define the JSU experience. We invite students, alumni, and friends to join us for a week of events that honor our legacy, showcase our creativity, and bring us together in Tiger pride. We can’t wait to welcome everyone home to THEE and celebrate what it means to be part of Tiger nation.” said Dr. Jonas Vanderbilt, vice president of Student Affairs.
GloRilla is set to take the stage on Wednesday, October 30 at the Lee E. Williams Athletic & Assembly Center. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the show will start at 7:00 p.m.
General admission tickets are on sale now for $60. All residential and non-residential students can purchase tickets for just $25 through a link that will be distributed to their JSU e-mail accounts on Wednesday, October 16. The limit is one ticket per student. Parental supervision is required for non-JSU students and patrons under the age of 18.
JSU’s homecoming parade will take place on campus, hitting the iconic Dr. Robert Smith Parkway on Saturday, November 2, kicking off at 8:00 a.m. Pro Football Hall of Famer Robert “Dr. Doom” Brazile will serve as the Grand Marshal.
On game day, the JSU Tigers will take on Arkansas Pine Bluff at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, in Veterans Memorial Stadium.
bernard
THEE Realist
THEE House Party Just Got Better: The Official Homecoming 2024 Concert with
GloRilla and special appearances by YTB Fatt and T99zy!
Jackson State University "Thee House Party" Homecoming 2024 is Oct. 27 – Nov. 2. This week-long celebration is packed with events, including the one-and-only always highly anticipated homecoming concert.
GloRilla, YTB Fatt and T99zy are set to take the stage on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly Center for an unforgettable night of epic proportions. Get ready for an evening of non-stop energy that will have you on your feet from start to finish.
GloRilla and special appearances by YTB Fatt and T99zy!
Jackson State University "Thee House Party" Homecoming 2024 is Oct. 27 – Nov. 2. This week-long celebration is packed with events, including the one-and-only always highly anticipated homecoming concert.
GloRilla, YTB Fatt and T99zy are set to take the stage on Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the Lee E. Williams Athletics & Assembly Center for an unforgettable night of epic proportions. Get ready for an evening of non-stop energy that will have you on your feet from start to finish.
THEE SHOW (2024 Homecoming Concert)
Mark your calendars! GloRilla is set to take the stage at the #JSUHomecoming Concert for an unforgettable night of epic proportions. General admission tickets a
jsustudentaffairs.myimpacttickets.com
THEE SHOW (2024 Homecoming Concert)
Mark your calendars! GloRilla is set to take the stage at the #JSUHomecoming Concert for an unforgettable night of epic proportions. General admission tickets a
jsustudentaffairs.myimpacttickets.com
bernard
THEE Realist
JSU homecoming parade moves back to campus this year.
Jackson State University's homecoming season is almost in full swing. This year, the much-anticipated homecoming parade will take place on campus and promises an exciting kick off to Saturday's football game.
The parade will begin at 8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, on Dr. Robert Smith Sr. Parkway with Pro Football Hall of Famer and JSU alum Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile serving as the parade's grand marshal.
In recent years, the JSU homecoming parade has taken place downtown. Chair of the Homecoming Parade Committee Arron Richardson said the decision to bring the parade back to campus was based on a desire to further highlight the JSU community.
The relocation will also allow a better flow with other homecoming events taking place on campus. Also returning this year is the parade tradition of throwing out candy. Richardson said in recent years, tossing candy to the crowds of spectators was not permitted, but the parade's return to campus made that tradition possible again.
Richardson said the JSU community has been supportive of the parade's return to campus.
"When they found out we were having the parade back on campus, the surrounding community really embraced us," Richardson said.
This year's JSU homecoming theme is "Thee House Party," paying homage to the popular '90s hip-hop duo Kid n' Play. The duo sparked the "House Party" movie franchise.
Jackson State University's homecoming season is almost in full swing. This year, the much-anticipated homecoming parade will take place on campus and promises an exciting kick off to Saturday's football game.
The parade will begin at 8 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 2, on Dr. Robert Smith Sr. Parkway with Pro Football Hall of Famer and JSU alum Robert "Dr. Doom" Brazile serving as the parade's grand marshal.
In recent years, the JSU homecoming parade has taken place downtown. Chair of the Homecoming Parade Committee Arron Richardson said the decision to bring the parade back to campus was based on a desire to further highlight the JSU community.
The relocation will also allow a better flow with other homecoming events taking place on campus. Also returning this year is the parade tradition of throwing out candy. Richardson said in recent years, tossing candy to the crowds of spectators was not permitted, but the parade's return to campus made that tradition possible again.
Richardson said the JSU community has been supportive of the parade's return to campus.
"When they found out we were having the parade back on campus, the surrounding community really embraced us," Richardson said.
This year's JSU homecoming theme is "Thee House Party," paying homage to the popular '90s hip-hop duo Kid n' Play. The duo sparked the "House Party" movie franchise.
JSU homecoming parade moves back to campus this year. See homecoming schedule here
The parade is just one event in the week-long JSU homecoming celebration.
www.clarionledger.com