In response to the Clarion Ledger article Sat Ap. 10 2010, Titled "JSU chief looks at new job".
Let's be clear, Dr.Mason has no clue for dealing with the problems that we face here in this state to redistribute the wealth. There are no more than 17 families that control the geopolitical economic structures of the state . Wresteling the power to define and redistribute resources from the mammoths will take a 400 lb gorilla. He aint it.
A bold plan to realign the resources will be necessary going forward,starting with education. Education business restructuring is inevitable. No longer can the tax payers afford to pay for ineffeciencies. My state and local tax bill is approximately $12,000 /year. Our students perform poorly at all levels of the education experiance. I know, I am one of those students. In addition, I have recently taught in the Jackson public school system and at Jackson State University and I have attended Holmes Junior College as a student . I have attended professional schools in 5 states. My children have attended Calloway and Bailey Magnum Public Schools and St. Andrews private school.
I find that the differance in the education experiance rendered between institutions has more to do with the methods used to deliver the information than with the contents of the information.The same information taught at Harvard is the same information taught at Jackson State. Why then is the Harvard Education viewed to be superior to that received at Jackson State? The principal underpinnings of the delivery system are the people envolved. There are only a limited number of people around who can really educate. The demand in the State by eight ( 8 ) institutions exceeds the limited supply of good educators to meet the demand. Therefore, we must restructure. Competition is not a bad thing for those who are strong and prepared. The weak cannot be protected nor should they be.
Every institution in the state shall differentiate it's competitive position. That position shall be converted to a center of excellance. That center of excellance is then incorporated into a new consolidation. Yes, there will be winners and loosers. Kingdoms will be dismanteled. Kings and queens will fall. People will have to be restructured .There are too many people who work in our institutions that fly under the radar of perfection , conspire to"squeezing out" qualifided people and refuse to continue to improve their skill levels. As a result ,we the tax paying investors are cheated.
As an urban university ,Jackson State University could serve as a benchmark institution for the use of the Center of Excellance concept by the community and state. Jackson State's Business school has a wide range of potential uses including serving as a major consulting service to small businesses, large businesses, non-governmental public organizations,state, federal municipal and county governments. Task such as quantitative methods of business decision making models, quality assurance models , marketing models and cost accounting models can be formulated. Contracts can be executed as revenue generators for the institutions.

The black community has the worse health profile of any of the other racial or ethnic group. This reality can only be reversed if the communities where black people live establish a culture of health. The leadership necessary to accomplish this shall come from community organizations education institutions , churches, businesses, NGO's and governmental organizations. As a urban university Jackson State University could serve as a Center of Health Culturel development.

The restucturing of the institutions in Mississippi will occur . It is not a matter of wheather but when. Therefore, all of the Universities in the state should prepare to assume their proper earned position at the new table of Centers of Excellance .There will be no set aside or affirmative action programs from which you may turn to for reprieval.

Frank McCune MD MBA CMCM CFE,Chairman
Cosmic Foundation

Response to the News Clarion Ledger article by Mason jan.28,2010. Title JSU chief undaunted by fuss





It is about time for Mississippians to get things right the first time. There is no such thing as merging colleges. Nonprofits do not merge ,they consolidate. Standard Corporations merge there stocks for the purpose of emerging with a one owner company. The stocks of one company are acquired by another. One company emerges as the new company. Colleges are not stock owners they are non profit corporations that are developed in the public interest . There are no owners. The corporations are charted by the state government ,recognized by the federal government and given a federal tax ID number. They file a non profit tax return as apposed to the 1120 IRS returns of standard corporations.


Non Profit Corp. consolidations are arrangement designed to strengthen the asset basis or the management efficiencies of the consolidating partners


If we as tax payers can envision our selves as stock holders and demand efficiency and effectiveness of our college investments , we must always look at consolidations as a reasonable option for improving efficiencies.


In this vein , let,s examine some reasonable options:


1) Consolidate the administrative functions ,Plant and Plant assets in Jackson Ms that will Combine the Medical Center and Jackson State University. All students who are seeking an education in health would come under the combined UMC/ Jackson State consolidation .


2)A student who would like an engineering career would enter a consolidation between Mississippi State and Jackson State at the Jackson or Starksville campus depending on convience and availibility of courses.


3) A student who would like a career in Agriculture would enter a consolidation between Alcorn and Mississippi State. Conditions as discribed above


4) A Student who is seeking a career in Business would enter a University of Mississippi/Jackson State consolidation as discribed above.