Letters from the Chancellor

Today, the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions issued its report to the University of Mississippi regarding the NCAA investigation of the football program.  In the report, the committee disagreed with the institution’s position on most of the contested allegations.  In addition to accepting our previously self-imposed sanctions, the committee has imposed a postseason ban for 2018.

While we continue to review the full report, we will vigorously appeal the 2018 postseason ban. The additional postseason ban is excessive and does not take into account the corrective actions that we have made in personnel, structure, policies and processes to address the issues.

Vice Chancellor for Athletics Ross Bjork and I will be available to the media at 1 p.m. CT in the Burns Team Meeting Room in the Manning Center to discuss the Committee’s findings.

For links to public case documents, please visit umncaacase.com.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey S. Vitter

Chancellor and Distinguished Professor

 

Greetings:

Each year, Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the hustle and bustle of the ensuing holiday season. We especially embrace it as a time to appreciate the many wonderful people in our lives and the multitude of blessings we share. Since we arrived almost two years ago, Sharon and I continue to be tremendously grateful to be part of such a diverse, caring, and dynamic university community. I am inspired on a daily basis by the dedication and outstanding accomplishments across our campuses.Read More

We are proud of our students and their leadership and active engagement as important members of our university community.  We recognize that their efforts stem from a desire to unify the Ole Miss family.  The results of the Landshark poll confirm the sentiments that Ross and I have heard since arriving on campus — that the Landshark and “Fins Up” have become synonymous with the positive spirit and strength of our athletics program and the “Never Quit” attitude of Rebel Nation.Read More

I am so pleased to welcome everyone back to an exciting new academic year. Our campuses come alive with optimism and energy each August when our full student body returns — students truly form the heart of our Ole Miss community.

Our excitement for the new year, however, is tempered by feelings of shock, disgust, and sorrow from the recent tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia. We are all struggling with the horrific events that unfolded when white supremacist groups incited violence, hatred, and even death in a college town with a vibrant and diverse community similar to our own.

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Greetings:

As we complete our celebration of our nation’s birthday, I am writing to update the University of Mississippi community about another important milestone: the conclusion of the work of the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on History and Context (CACHC).

In this letter, I provide the CACHC final report and the university response to its recommendations.  In discussion with the university’s senior leadership team, I have decided to accept all the committee’s recommendations related to its charge, and we will seek community input this month on two related recommendations — involving recognition of the sacrifice of the University Greys and the acknowledgment of both Confederate and African American men who fought in the Civil War.  We are not adopting some remaining recommendations that are beyond the scope of the committee’s charge.Read More

I am writing today to clarify misperceptions about the Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on History and Context and its work.  I refer everyone to my June 10, 2016 letter, which explains in detail the importance of the work, the progress made, and the committee’s remaining work.  Feedback on the letter was very positive.  We have since been doing exactly what the letter laid out, and we will continue to do so.Read More