This past year graced our university with exceptional achievements, and one thing is clear: Ole Miss is on the rise! Our successes — and our future growth — spring from the deep dedication, contributions, and belief of our entire university family. Read on for some of the many ways that talent and excellence define the University of Mississippi.
Hotty Toddy and best wishes for a joyful holiday season and a happy new year!
Glenn F. Boyce
Chancellor
Enrollment Flourishing
We are serving a larger student body, including more students from Mississippi. Overall enrollment grew 5.1% this year, and the university welcomed its largest-ever freshman class of 4,480 students. These numbers buck national trends, and we expect to grow again next year.
Students Staying on Track
This year, our retention rate for first-year students reached a record high 89.3%, well above state and national averages. This record reflects our ability to attract new students as well as support those who already call Ole Miss home.
Building Professional Legacies
The university’s six-year graduation rate is 68.4%, 10 points higher than Mississippi’s overall rate and higher than national averages. Once they enter the workplace, our grads are the best in the state at finding employment and keeping it with a 91.4% rate of employment 10 years after graduation.
Seizing Student Accolades
Our students received exceptional awards that reflect their talents and offer opportunities to make valuable contributions to society. We celebrated three Goldwater Scholars, six Fulbright recipients (the highest number ever at Ole Miss), one Boren Scholar, one Rangel Fellow, and two Truman Scholars (only six universities nationwide had multiple Truman Scholars this year).
STEM Taking Center Stage
Our brand new Jim and Thomas Duff Center for Science and Technology Innovation is more than halfway complete and on track to open in fall 2024. The building will be one of the nation’s transformational facilities for STEM education.
Growing Resources
We are well beyond the $1.2 billion mark toward our $1.5 billion goal for the Now & Ever campaign, the largest fundraising campaign in the history of Mississippi universities. Helping reach this milestone, supporters gave more than $150.6 million in gifts during the university’s 2022 fiscal year. One of these commitments close to our hearts is the $3.5 million dedicated to build a new marching band practice field for The Pride of the South to support the spirit and enthusiasm that the band’s 300-plus members inspire!
Staying on Top
The University of Mississippi is the top-ranked university in Mississippi and among the top 10% of public universities in the nation, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. The ranking also places us in the top 6% nationally for best value and tops in the state for veteran support programs.
Contributing to the Greater Good
Our faculty and researchers make amazing contributions to Mississippi, the scientific community, and society at large. One research project funded by the National Institutes of Health is examining cytoskeletal diseases such as cancer and heart disease. A grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse supports research seeking to reduce HIV-related pain through cannabis. And, the American Cancer Society is funding a study for new treatments for metastatic breast cancer.
Making History
In commemorating the 60th anniversary of the university’s integration, we honored distinguished alumnus James Meredith and his family during an inspiring week of programs and events. We also celebrated big anniversaries marking the founding of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College (25 years) and the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts (20 years).
Caring for Mississippi
Our University of Mississippi Medical Center leads the way in creating a healthier Mississippi. A $3 million gift to Children’s of Mississippi will help UMMC make the most advanced cleft and craniofacial treatment available to Mississippi’s children. More Mississippi students will have access to telehealth providers from UMMC, thanks to a $17.6 million grant from the state Department of Education. And, the UMMC School of Nursing plays a vital role in supplying our state with nurses and is ranked No. 67 out of more than 650 programs by U.S. News and World Report.
Serving Communities
Ole Miss students are driven to support their community and serve others. A record number of participating students raised more than $225,000 at the 10th annual RebelTHON, a 12-hour danceathon benefiting Children’s of Mississippi. A month later, more than 1,000 students participated in the Big Event, our universitywide day of service, offering hands-on help throughout the Lafayette-Oxford-University community.
Rebs Are Hot
What a roller-coaster season for our Ole Miss baseball team that was defined by resilience and culminated with a defining moment in Omaha: the university’s first-ever men’s NCAA team title. And, for the second straight season, Ole Miss Athletics earned a program-record finish in the LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings at 20th place. Our student-athletes are performing tremendously on and off the field as Ole Miss Athletics achieved a record-high Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 88 percent in 2022.
