University of Southern Mississippi reorganization approved

Published 6:00 am Sunday, August 20, 2017

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Trustees are approving a plan for the University of Southern Mississippi to reorganize its academic units.

The College Board voted Thursday for a plan that will reduce the number of component colleges from six to four at the 14,000-student university, which has campuses in Hattiesburg and on the Gulf Coast.

The plan creates a College of Arts and Sciences and three professional schools — the College of Business and Economic Development, the College of Education and Human Sciences and the College of Nursing and Health Professions.

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USM Provost Steven Moser says that the plan will create greater opportunities for working together and reduce duplication. He doesn’t have an estimate of savings, saying changes aren’t aimed at cutting jobs.

The reorganization is expected to be completed by fall 2020.