At The Flagship, August 2021 - Office of the Chancellor

CHANCELLOR’S 3 THINGS TO KNOW

We’re thrilled to get the 173rd academic year underway at Ole Miss! The energy and excitement of a new year is crackling across our campus. New friendships are taking hold, old friendships are being rekindled, and students and faculty alike are beginning the learning and discovery that defines our academic experience. It’s been a great summer (we are incredibly proud of our Ole Miss Olympians!), and we’re looking forward to the new academic year with a can-do spirit. Here are three things to know right now:

Groundbreaking STEM Building: We’re looking forward to the construction work beginning this fall on our new 202,000-square-foot Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation. The $160 million state-of-the-art facility will be the largest construction project in the history of the Oxford campus and will become one of the nation’s leading student-centered learning environments for STEM education. Without question this facility will be transformative for our students and our campus!
Nation’s #1 College Town: The good folks at ESPN confirmed what all Ole Miss family members, friends and fans know: Oxford is America’s best college town! We’re thrilled that Oxford received this designation and are grateful to call Oxford our home and partner in so many ways. Along with the city’s legacy as a charming center for arts and culture, today’s Oxford is a thriving destination for dining, shopping, entertainment and so much more. Check out the “Looking Ahead’ special section at the bottom of this e-newsletter for details on some of the exciting events and important dates coming up this fall.
Show Your Love for Ole Miss: Sometimes, you just need to freshen things up a bit, which is why we have a redesigned Ole Miss affinity license plate for Mississippi residents. The updated plate proclaims “Hotty Toddy” and features the “Ole Miss” script logo. For every plate purchased, more than $32 returns to the university to fund student scholarships and support the beautification of the Grove and Circle. Be sure to get one and showcase your pride in Ole Miss! And, what great promotion for our university across the state and wherever your journeys take you!

On a final note, I want to address the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp spike in cases caused by the Delta variant. We’re optimistic that our temporary mask utilization indoors (regardless of vaccination status) will help ensure a successful start to the school year, in-person learning and a full on-campus experience with the least amount of disruption. Thank you for your commitment to our shared success — it will require all of us, working collectively and in alignment, to limit the spread of the virus. If you have not done so yet, please get vaccinated and make sure that everyone in your family who is eligible gets vaccinated as well. It’s the fastest path to putting this pandemic behind us.

Until next month, take care!

Signature of Glenn

Glenn F. Boyce

Chancellor

FLAGSHIP FACTS

#22 Directors’ Cup Finish, Ole Miss Athletics Highest finish for a MS athletics program, line drawing of the Directors’ Cup 202,000 total square feet in Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation (largest single construction project in Oxford campus history), line drawing of an atom superimposed over a computer chip 7 all-time Olympic medals won by Rebels: 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze, line drawing of Olympic Rings

Looking Ahead

Aug. 26: Campus Recreation invites first-year and returning students alike to come by the South Campus Recreation Center on Thursday evening for RebFest with food trucks, laser tag, climbing wall challenges, and tours and fitness demonstrations. Many of the university’s club sports teams also will meet with students interested in joining a club team.

Sept. 6: The football season kicks off in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against the Louisville Cardinals in Atlanta. We’re excited to launch our second season under Head Coach Lane Kiffin and mark the full vaccination of our entire football team and staff, which will protect our players’ health and our season. Hotty Toddy!

Sept. 10: In an important event for our university, we will make official the renaming of what will become known as the Martindale-Cole Student Services Center to recognize the addition of the name and the contributions of Dr. Donald Cole, who served as a caring mentor and highly effective administrator for decades at UM.

Sept. 14: The Gertrude Ford Center for Performing Arts officially launches its Fall 2021 season with “Voices of Mississippi,” which celebrates the music, art, and storytelling traditions of the people of Mississippi.

Sept. 22: Students will Reclaim the Red Zone by joining the William Magee Center and campus partners for a substance-free, late-night event to learn how to socialize safely while also having a good time. The event will include games, food, music, and learning opportunities.

Oct. 9: Wear navy for Ole Miss Homecoming vs. Arkansas.

October 21: Harvest Supper is one of the great events of the year and a benefit for the University Museum and Historic Houses. Hosted by the Friends of the Museum, the dinner and art auction bring together museum patrons, artists, writers and musicians for an evening under the stars on the grounds of Rowan Oak, the historic home and former residence of Nobel Prize-winning author William Faulkner.

Dec. 3: Last Day of Classes

Dec. 6-10: Final Exams.