As Summer winds down, the state’s universities are preparing for returning students for the 2023-2024 academic semester.
At Mississippi State University, admissions kick off on Aug.1 with welcome events featuring fun, games and orientation knowledge.
“Additional campus activities throughout the semester give students a multiplicity of options for getting involved, enhancing academic experiences and enjoying entertainment,” an MSU press release states. “Football games, tailgating and Bulldog Bash — Mississippi’s largest free outdoor concert — are among student favorites during the fall, but other chances to engage with the Bulldog family are ongoing.”
MSU officials said undergraduate students planning to enroll at Mississippi State next summer or fall can apply for university admission beginning Aug. 1 at 8 p.m. during “Hail State @ 8.”
Those events and activities include New Maroon Camp week; MVNU2MSU (Movin’ You to MSU); Dawg Days; Student Success Kickoff Carnival; First day of classes; Fall Convocation and Cowbell Yell.
Other MSU events:
- New Maroon Camp, Aug. 6-10 — Those pre-registered will enjoy a week-long student-led retreat that prepares first-year students for the transition to MSU. They will learn MSU history and traditions, get to know other new students and learn about campus and how to get involved.
- MVNU2MSU (Movin’ You to MSU), Aug. 12 — MSU’s annual move-in day for students not scheduled to move into residence halls earlier, due to participation in New Maroon Camp, band, athletics or panhellenic recruitment. For more, visit www.housing.msstate.edu.
- Dawg Days, Aug. 12-20 — A variety of activities and events are designed to make students feel welcome as they enjoy movie nights, live entertainment, trivia and game nights, free food, giveaways, and lots of MSU Southern hospitality. For more, visit www.dawgdays.msstate.edu. Click “view event calendar” or access the Dawg Days schedule through Cowbell Connect.
- Student Success Kickoff Carnival, Aug. 15, noon-2 p.m., Old Main Academic Center — Hosted by MSU’s Center for Academic Excellence, all incoming first-year students are invited to pick up their class schedule, meet with an academic representative, and learn about various campus resources and organizations. A free lunch will be provided. Learn more about student resources at www.studentsuccess.msstate.edu.
- First day of classes, Aug. 16 — With the campus bustling, students can reference map.msstate.edu as they navigate classes.
- Fall Convocation, Aug. 22, 6:30 p.m., Dudy Noble Field at Polk-DeMent Stadium — Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and shuttles begin at 5 p.m. with a drop-off for students at the Right Field Gate. MSU Alumnus Stanley Blackmon, a partner at Bradley law firm, will give the keynote address during this annual event celebrating the new academic year.
- Cowbell Yell, Aug. 31, 9 p.m., Scott Field at Davis-Wade Stadium — To celebrate the launch of football season, this pep rally brings together fans as coaches, players, spirit groups, the Famous Maroon Band and special guests gear up the Maroon and White spirit.
For more information, email [email protected] or call 662-325-2224.
University of Mississippi outreach program partners for special deliveries
The University of Mississippi Community First Research Center for Wellbeing and Creative Achievement and the Happy Foods Project launched the North Delta FoodRx program, an effort to provide produce to homebound clients across Quitman County, at the beginning of June, according to an Ole Miss press release.
“The pilot food prescription program delivers weekly boxes containing 10-15 pounds of produce to 20 clients, including Jimmy Long, who has diabetes and must use a wheelchair, making shopping for groceries challenging,” the release states.
Since the program’s inception, Natalie Minton, research associate at the center, known as UM CREW, has received numerous phone calls from patients expressing their gratitude for their deliveries.
Betty Long, Jimmy Long’s wife, said the program came at a very difficult time for them.
“I don’t know how we could do this without y’all,” Betty said.
Joyce Ann Robinzine of Marks said the program had blessed her family.
“I heard about the food box program through a handout by Natalie Minton,” Robinzine said. “The boxes are very beneficial because it is extremely nutritious and provides a healthier lifestyle.”
According to the press release, “The Happy Foods Project, run by Robbie Pollard in Marks, includes farmers who grow food in different parts of north Mississippi but work together to provide their communities with fresh fruits and vegetables.”
UM CREW asked Pollard about collaborating on the project in the fall of 2022. Officials said that the Ole Miss Center created the program with him to evaluate the logistics of a food prescription home delivery system.
UM CREW members worked with the farmers to plan for anticipated clients and the food box contents. Minton developed a flyer to recruit clients in May through a diabetes treatment center, nursing home, and several apartment complexes in Quitman County.
Pollard said eight farmers are involved, whose Start 2 Finish Farms serves as the anchor farm and coordinates the group’s activities, including its value-added products under the brand Harvest of the Delta.
“I have provided okra, eggplant, collards, white and red onion, yellow squash, cabbage and zucchini squash, red and green tomatoes,” Pollard said.
Together, evaluation data will be used to expand the program from 20 clients to 50 in 2024, with a goal of 100 clients in 2025, officials said.
The center’s co-directors Ann Cafer, also director of the university’s Center for Population Studies and associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Meagan Rosenthal, assistant professor of pharmacy administration, have been working on FoodRx programming and research for some time, Minton said.
“It was their idea, originally, to work with a telehealth nutritionist and create a home delivery food prescription,” she said. “During that conversation, I suggested we work with Robbie because of his history working with food prescription programs, his wonderful team of farmers and his delivery capabilities.”
“We reached the program’s 20-patient capacity within 24 hours of handing out the flyers,” she said. “Since then, I have been taking calls from patients who have questions or comments about the boxes and have been working on the evaluation survey to provide to patients and Robbie’s group and, hopefully, get an accurate picture of how the program is going and shed light on any problems folks might be experiencing.”
Jackson Public School District continues extended weekdays and weekend registration opportunities for parents and students
Parents can register their child or children every Tuesday and Thursday at Poindexter Administrative Complex from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., according to a JPS press release.
The first day of students returning to school is Monday, Aug. 7.
Another registration opportunity will at the same location on Saturday, July 28, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The last days to register are Tuesday, Aug. 1, and Thursday, Aug. 3, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Registration is open to new and returning students, including Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. No appointments are required.
Parents are encouraged to register their children by Aug. 2 to ensure their child has transportation.