[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6191247,"mediaKeyId","4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109","parentId",4836585,"title","IHL trustees approve array of vendor contracts for dining, services and medical distribution","audioSeconds",202,"startMs",3148000,"endMs",3350000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109&start=3148&end=3350","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109/thumbnail_3148000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6191247/Mississippi/IHL-trustees-approve-array-of-vendor-contracts-for-dining-services-and-medical-distribution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191247-160092c9ac54e12d910a3eabf32c241c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770736212&Signature=ZLWmEn3xIgFJ4lYzAhSUc9eg2Wu~6R78Z6dk7pdxbiXJnyJqL0Jjq-ve4yoPSDkJeoE7cMZXSH5hyRdjFAQgpLFSHOy6lY9tPxCpVedes50iYxdGqBgS7jplbUIlrWarYahNpz1iSdICpnnbCgKKEWwTDx1YLy4E~Usly6IRy6vCgh5S9fEdlcWMiPHsk2P0TitUQtCgy0ZkVRP-UwrnQdysItZNKH2mhLgiosQ-2AJiN0BqPICGFLCtexmKfBy1HZYOGSOfFSnDOy-AB3ohg8Rkj~g3TnhnTaPzMR73A7IQD824s-iTR1oAfS2amqn3pPBR8gGihe4zqLbSaXeuoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mississippi Public Universities","date","2025-06-20T04:04:44Z","article","During its June 18 meeting the Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved a group of vendor contracts covering campus dining and beverage rights, facilities services, insurance renewals and medical distribution agreements.

Among revenue-generating sponsorships, Delta State University was authorized to enter a beverage sales and sponsorship agreement with PepsiCo (estimated value $426,000; Pepsi to provide annual support funds and commissions), and the University of Southern Mississippi approved a 10-year beverage pouring and sponsorship agreement with Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Gulf Coast LLC (total value reported at about $7.7 million in cash and sponsorships, plus in-kind contributions and programming initiatives).

In auxiliary and service contracts, trustees approved Mississippi State University's amendment raising Aramark's capital investment to $38 million for food services (projected MSU commissions about $46 million over contract life), and multiple food-service agreements with Proof of the Pudding LLC for game-day concessions and athlete nutrition services. Jackson State University gained approval to contract TrainUS Inc. for campus HVAC preventive maintenance and ATS Facilities LLC for campuswide custodial and housing maintenance services (five-year agreements with stated totals of $5.43 million and $15.26 million, respectively).

The board also renewed the IHL Executive Office excess auto liability insurance with Genesis (Berkshire Hathaway) for approximately $320,000 in premium, covering excess limits described in the presentation.

Medical supply and distribution items approved included a University of Mississippi Medical Center five-year wholesale pharmaceutical distribution agreement with Morrison & Dixon (estimated contract amount $1.35 billion over five years, funded by hospital patient revenue) and a second amendment extending an outcome-based agreement with Novartis for CAR-T cell therapy support (Novartis agreements remain in place with total contract cost noted in the presentation). Legal staff reported reviews of contracts for compliance with applicable law; board staff recommended approval and trustees voted to adopt the items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","IHL Board of Trustees Meeting - June 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The IHL board approved multiple contracts during the finance and real estate agendas, including beverage pouring rights, food-service and concessions agreements, custodial and HVAC services, an insurance renewal, and medical distribution and therapy supply agreements.","taxTitle","Mississippi Public Universities, Agencies, Organizations, Executive, Mississippi","taxId",30977,"location","Mississippi","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6191252,"University of Mississippi Medical Center to participate in $43M Medicaid directed-payment program approved by IHL",133,4019000,4152000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109&start=4019&end=4152","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109/thumbnail_4019000.jpg","/articles/6191252/Mississippi/University-of-Mississippi-Medical-Center-to-participate-in-43M-Medicaid-directed-payment-program-approved-by-IHL","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191252-f7c7237db22893994556b9ef54ae73f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770736212&Signature=aZlrY9JhnreTiX~uxC~EvLsZXeQrm0hw19TNrA-X1znRUaozTUTc-IMkQlv~msVYPVOtrsCCKsOGHpCp84ZwROkFWv6J3943UdQ6oxwcgF7BHAoUINhbSnH24S9VyZB-kEgmm~9L4rdZkKNgCkRsSyIYcinqRFDoN-HPx9GTuefB76snRrPJO0a6hdSF1~JX1Int34aCxZHWOfXRbhQIXy6f90BvtT0ic1iXOFT6tRl49OJTIobHPkzM0Js5Z3oVK6Zf1GbICi6q877ich7Ug9wklRgWN4Mt0fnFeZoq2Y2iq01rokCSuB65zE7qye1eVSRRf76-UUGKPwsxUFphuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees voted June 18 to allow the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) to enter a five-year interagency agreement with the Mississippi Division of Medicaid for the Mississippi Medicaid Access to Physician Services program.

Under the approved agreement, UMMC will provide intergovernmental transfers of up to $42.5 million, plus $500,000 for support services, for a total of $43 million over the contract term beginning July 1, 2025. Board staff described the arrangement as a Medicaid directed-payment program designed to increase reimbursement rates for UMMC providers treating Medicaid beneficiaries; the Division of Medicaid will administer the program and selections as provided by Mississippi law.

IHL legal review found the agreement acceptable and board staff recommended approval. The contract allows optional one-year renewals for up to five years and is funded by patient revenue, the presenter said. Trustees approved the agreement by voice vote during the finance agenda.","The IHL board approved a five-year interagency agreement for UMMC to participate in a Medicaid directed-payment program that would use intergovernmental transfers to boost Medicaid reimbursement for UMMC providers.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6191257,"IHL board adopts FY2026 operating budget, approves FY2027 request after $36.6M appropriation cut",436,2359000,2795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109&start=2359&end=2795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109/thumbnail_2359000.jpg","/articles/6191257/Mississippi/IHL-board-adopts-FY2026-operating-budget-approves-FY2027-request-after-366M-appropriation-cut","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191257-36f0f30b4dd469ae9b1c94ffa1324a30/orig.mp4?Expires=1770736212&Signature=ijWJCQPidmuXtCdg5WP1P1DAhyPN7i9L6IA0rW~1613Go3jnlwWhKZGaAsKUuHkDqI6gdxuShrh2h9wZ3o80nSrZ97aq8ePXgigm7De3~nf~e3uC5n~Tttl~4R40YdEmBcIlGDVN~d1C-zOiGk0Grxje5i4U~IDyiZAv5a-XzVJRVwuEhwWzqYiLkqM~pdLZxr0KK7namgHDDzU-YUivpHmH0ggAj9dHoq5hhHWZ0M9OROYFjon~m3-pgfY54fEFk4x3rW8uTALEt0brHedk-2QtIxEoUVPWWmSJyiUgXovoMcb2-2N9QnSW~NcuoZwme5qsl4Slkg0MB-Qu0Gy48Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees approved the system'wide FY2026 operating budget and voted to send a FY2027 appropriation request to the state legislature after hearing staff analysis of recent reductions to the system's state funding.

Doctor Pierce, presenting the finance agenda, told trustees the spring legislative session left the system with a $36.6 million reduction in appropriations (a 4.2% cut). Pierce said the system also faces a roughly $10 million increase in pension (PERS) and health insurance costs; when combined, those changes amount to about $46 million in net negative impact.

Pierce presented an FY2026 annual operating budget totaling $6.3 billion for approval. He described structural shifts in the budget: a larger share generated by tuition and self'generated funds and decreased capital funding from the state. Pierce said education and general funds remain the board's primary concern and noted distributional differences among institutions driven by line-item legislative allocations.

Board staff recommended and trustees approved an FY2027 legislative request that the staff framed as approximately a $200 million increase (roughly 25% over recent session levels) to address prior cuts, faculty salary competitiveness, and capital repair and renovation (R&R) needs. The request includes $80 million for capital R&R and $20 million for the University of Mississippi Medical Center capital needs, along with restoration of subsidiary and agricultural budget cuts and funding to address inflationary costs.

Commissioner Rankins urged trustees to view investment in higher education as a long-term return on taxpayer dollars, emphasizing universities' economic impact and the broader benefits of degree completion.

Trustees approved the FY2026 appropriation allocations, the FY2026 operating budget and the FY2027 legislative request by voice vote.","The IHL board approved allocations reflecting a $36.6 million reduction from the recent legislative session and adopted a $6.3 billion system operating budget for fiscal 2026; board staff also approved a FY2027 request to the legislature that seeks roughly $200 million in additional funding and $80 million in capital repairs.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6191263,"IHL board approves multiple new degree programs, updates Title IV documentation policy",162,1333000,1495000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109&start=1333&end=1495","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109/thumbnail_1333000.jpg","/articles/6191263/Mississippi/IHL-board-approves-multiple-new-degree-programs-updates-Title-IV-documentation-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191263-0ae2eed01be3de50356cfbb9e39cc1db/orig.mp4?Expires=1770736212&Signature=mI-N-Ng6XXgMZURS0upxhIxCTO40i8as03A1Ge6oypAp9DeM9V6Y29Y3l8IZDrUhrenrz7GiDiUrr2DkZnXJqUXiDuLZuCMUAlcK~msC-5BK-pox1ed7eKnWrQ~SitVZpBX7ghORlaD57908ekF4JDeaekkgD7dT4z6sQXoK7WV6mWKnD5FAV8WyNEBoqZ~ziH~Vt7H36BhBrRIXaSLuva~gzsoqAlM6cGV~R5PXXwgYTO55wBEZwwzLeJrtxBbnSxmz8JhLIONyV5qog1Zr6PKzbJEh0jrMUOxG7ewtjTROlHs9KGpkI0C9g-xfDBtOqk6ErpiJ1HVIvMJnO0hMHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees on June 18 approved changes to board policy and multiple academic program requests from system universities, board staff said.

Board staff presented a proposed amendment to board policy 602.d to align with U.S. Department of Education documentation requirements for Title IV federal aid eligibility. Under the change, transfer students who have 30–60 transferable hours but lack an associate or bachelor's degree must provide proof of high school completion for federal Title IV aid. Board staff said students may be awarded federal aid for their first semester while providing documentation, but subsequent federal awards require the documentation or completion of 60 credit hours applicable to a degree.

The board also approved the University of Southern Mississippi's request to add the Mississippi Early Childhood Inclusion Center as a formal center housed in the College of Education and Human Sciences. That center, funded since 2016 by the Mississippi Department of Human Services Division of Early Childcare and Development, provides statewide professional development and classroom support for early childhood inclusion.

Trustees approved a slate of program changes and new programs across institutions. Actions included elevating several existing emphasis areas at USM to standalone degree programs (including paralegal studies and medical laboratory science), approvals for new bachelor's programs (for example, Delta State's Bachelor of Arts in Arts Entrepreneurship and USM's Bachelor of Arts in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry), a new online Master of Science in Business Analytics at USM, and a hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy delivery model proposed by Mississippi State University that combines online coursework, short-term on-campus labs and community clinical experiences. Board staff noted objections filed by the University of Mississippi Medical Center and William Carey University to the DPT proposal; staff nevertheless recommended approval.

Board staff recommended waiver of the second reading and final approval on multiple items; trustees voted to adopt the recommendations during the meeting.","The Institutions of Higher Learning board approved an amendment to a Title IV aid documentation policy and approved new centers, degree elevations and new degree programs across several state universities.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6191268,"Delta State president urges IHL trustees to back enrollment, keep tuition steady",765,380000,1145000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109&start=380&end=1145","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4836585-b2127c2dfa7305497733e304a3c93109/thumbnail_380000.jpg","/articles/6191268/Mississippi/Delta-State-president-urges-IHL-trustees-to-back-enrollment-keep-tuition-steady","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6191268-cf0fee37a8bbbf3e11225810394c01e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770736212&Signature=KPHsy0BWNM5k-SImZnQlRvs9SAqwEipqBTxR8c8xktVAr9InqTq5SiC5Em82MmJCqN0hDXQXjPt6RptzJtK6cjtV77e5w6yU4cDsxZyEOKt03ikNAF53Fd-azRmuhLk2Piumbpt6X9JJm6bRvK6sJ2Zmk184B0iErlTLZR6vgFwDaVcYR7HdSE3iJgHG~TbNJG6MuO70KwnflVybbS6jHeg41Mwa0wY98DTSkTa6kfxyDOk7zcKF6YxMqxff-ncgbr4ljQ6XfWrQKkACoywv0SAEMg7NMsBJM~R8r88HMoVXPBpfdchWLPKEe6zmpE0W-qrj70sOl2hH~rvw6qbrPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Delta State University President Daniel Ennis told the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning Board of Trustees on June 18 that the university will not raise tuition this year and is prioritizing programs and practices to boost enrollment and retain low-income students.

Ennis told trustees that Delta State \"didn't raise tuition last year, and we won't raise it this year,\" framing the decision as a commitment to economic access rather than a concession on quality. He said the university has moved its student-faculty ratio from 10-to-1 to 12-to-1, replaced 21 low-enrolled programs with four new degrees, and signed transfer agreements with regional community colleges to recruit students.

The president emphasized workforce-aligned offerings, citing new degrees and investments in technologies such as geospatial information systems, sound recording and engineering, and artificial intelligence. Ennis pointed to program outcomes, saying nursing graduates have a 100% NCLEX pass rate and that 73% of Delta State nurses remain employed in Mississippi within five years of graduation. He also noted a roughly 70% first-year student retention rate during his two-year tenure and highlighted that 49% of the student body is Pell eligible.

Ennis asked the board to consider how state funding formulas could create incentives that disadvantage institutions serving high proportions of low-income students. \"If a future funding formula does not take into account the financial status of a student at matriculation, IHL will create incentives to leave students behind,\" he said, urging trustees to weigh risk and benefit when setting funding policy.

The president credited recent fiscal improvements: a turnaround from a deficit to a surplus in year one and doubled cash on hand in year two after cost-control measures and operational changes. Ennis described new branding efforts and recruitment strategies intended to sustain the university’s regional mission.

SGA President Hayden Kirkhart briefly welcomed the board on behalf of Delta State’s students at the start of the meeting.

Ennis’s remarks were delivered as part of the board’s June meeting on campus; the presentation preceded the IHL agenda items that included academic program approvals and the system’s budget discussions.","Delta State University President Daniel Ennis told the Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) board that the university held tuition steady, improved fiscal position, and is focusing on marketable, tech-forward programs and student retention, especially for Pell-eligible students.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

IHL trustees approve array of vendor contracts for dining, services and medical distribution

University of Mississippi Medical Center to participate in $43M Medicaid directed-payment program approved by IHL

IHL board adopts FY2026 operating budget, approves FY2027 request after $36.6M appropriation cut

IHL board approves multiple new degree programs, updates Title IV documentation policy

Delta State president urges IHL trustees to back enrollment, keep tuition steady