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