College of Arts & SciencesMississippi State UniversityMANUAL FOR DEPARTMENT HEADSFall 1999 The following information is intended as a guide to Department Heads in the College of Arts & Sciences. It is meant to serve as a convenient supplement to other important sources of guidance and direction such as the IHL Board of Trustees, the Mississippi State University Faculty Handbook, the Principles for University Governance, current University operating policies, and other relevant documents. The information is provided in a loose-leaf format to enable Department Heads to replace obsolete documents and information with current, up-to-date materials. As always, Department Heads are encouraged to bring questions or concerns about appropriate actions and decisions directly to the Dean's Office. I. Statement of Institutional Purpose III. University Policies Complete collections of University policies are available on MSU 's home page and in the Dean's Office. See Volume II: Academic Affairs. (Department Heads are reminded that this Manual is intended to serve only as a convenient reference or guide during the course of their normal duties. The University policies and the contents of the Faculty Handbook should always be consulted in case of questions or apparent inconsistencies with respect to appropriate administrative actions.) IV. Division of Academic Affairs Master Calendar Each academic year the Division of Academic Affairs distributes a Master Calendar that includes dates of important events and deadlines by which various documents are to be submitted. College Operating Paper and PoliciesVI. Annual Department Reports Effective with the conclusion of the 1999 calendar year, annual reports of departmental activities during the previous calendar year are to be submitted to the Dean's Office no later than January 31 of the following year. In order to facilitate annual assessments of each department's performance with respect to its teaching, research and service missions, Department Heads are asked to prepare annual reports using this format. Beginning January, 2000, each Department Head and the Dean will arrive at mutually acceptable goals for individual departments with respect to the categories listed in the Format/Outline for Annual Department Reports. Beginning in the Spring, 2001, merit salary increase monies for the previous calendar year will be distributed among departments in a manner consistent with each department's success in achieving those goals during the previous calendar year. College Organizations VII. Arts & Sciences Faculty Senate VIII. Arts & Sciences Staff Senate The College of Arts & Sciences Staff Senate is a group of professional and support staff employees of the College who serve as an advisory body to the Dean regarding matters of importance to staff personnel. Department Heads should encourage and support participation of all staff members. This group exists as a peripheral body to the University's Professional and Support Staff Advisory Council. Meetings are held monthly. IX. Arts & Sciences Student Ambassadors The College annually interviews students to fill vacant positions among the group of approximately twelve student ambassadors. Student ambassadors, under the supervision of the College's Academic Coordinator, represent the College of Arts & Sciences and MSU during recruiting events such as high school and community college days. Additionally, they serve as hosts/hostesses during Homecoming and Super Bulldog Weekend festivities and at other College events such as the Zacharias Lecture Series. X. Arts & Sciences Advisory and Development Council Department Heads A list of current Department Heads and Directors is available. XI. Meetings Regular meetings of Department Heads and Directors with the Dean and Associate Deans are scheduled on the first Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m. Special meetings are scheduled at the request of Department Heads or the Dean on the third Wednesday of the month at 3:00 p.m. on an as needed basis. Department Heads are encouraged to submit tentative topics or agendas for such special meetings to the Dean. Unless otherwise notified, all meetings of Department Heads take place in 611 Allen Hall. When other commitments preclude a Department Head's attendance at one of these meetings, he or she is responsible for identifying another member of the department to represent that unit. XII. Annual Performance Evaluations XIII. Three-Year Reviews FACULTY XIV. Meetings XVI. Appointments (Tenure-Track, Adjunct, Emeritus) XVII. Faculty Workload Assignments In March, 1992, the Faculty of the College of Arts & Sciences approved the Faculty Workload Policy. In 1998 the Dean, working with Department Heads and Faculty in the College, drafted a set of Guidelines for Department Heads intended to clarify the process of identifying appropriate Faculty workloads within the College. Based on these Guidelines and careful assessment of each Faculty member's performance in the area of research and/or creative scholarship, the Dean meets with each Department Head during January or February of each year to determine appropriate teaching assignments for each member of the Faculty for the next academic year. For example, based on the performance during the 1999 calendar year, teaching assignments for Faculty during the 2000-2001 academic year will be determined by the Department Head and the Dean during January or February, 2000. Of course, these assignments are subject to modification in the event that subsequent research activity and productivity warrant such a change. XVIII. Annual Performance Evaluations Department Heads will submit to the Dean copies of their annual performance evaluations of Faculty and Staff according to the Master Schedule provided by the Division of Academic Affairs. Department Heads are to meet individually with each member of the Faculty and Staff for the purpose of discussing the Head's evaluation of the previous year's work and determining mutually acceptable work assignments (i.e., teaching, research, and service) for the coming year. (Teaching assignments for individual Faculty will be discussed with the Dean as described in the workload policy guidelines.) It is appropriate to remind everyone involved in the annual performance evaluation process that performance assessments of each tenure-track Faculty member, as well as tenured Faculty working toward promotion, should include candid statements pertaining to the individual's progress (or lack thereof) toward promotion and/or tenure. Department Heads are encouraged to involve their department's Promotion and Tenure Committee in the annual performance evaluation process. Because annual performance evaluations will necessarily play an important role in Faculty members' subsequent applications for promotion and/or tenure, Department Heads are reminded that artificially inflated annual ratings are to be avoided. It is also appropriate to remind everyone that annual faculty performance evaluations should bear a recognizable, positive relationship to recommended merit salary increases for the next academic year. XIX. Promotion and Tenure University promotion and tenure policies and procedures are described in detail in the Faculty Handbook. Given the relatively large numbers of applications for promotion and/or tenure typically forthcoming from the College of Arts & Sciences, the deadline for submitting departmental recommendations (i.e., from the department's Promotion and Tenure Committee and from the Department Head) to the Dean's Office has been advanced to December 1 (rather than January 15) of each year. Department Heads are encouraged to obtain external reviews and evaluations from off-campus experts who are qualified to comment upon the quality and quantity of the applicant's research and/or creative scholarship. The College will provide honoraria of $100 each for up to three (3) external reviewers for each applicant for promotion and/or tenure. Following review of each candidate's application for promotion and/or tenure by the department's Promotion and Tenure Committee, by the Department Head, by the College's Promotion and Tenure Committee and by the Dean, verbatim copies of the Dean's recommendations to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will be sent to the appropriate Department Heads and faculty candidates. The Dean's recommendations will also summarize the recommendations obtained from each of the aforementioned participants in the promotion and tenure review process. Applications for sabbatical leaves of absence (either for one semester or a full academic year) should be submitted to the Dean according to the Master Schedule provided by the Division of Academic Affairs. The application should make clear the purpose of the requested sabbatical leave and the anticipated outcomes for the Faculty member and the University. Within one month of a Faculty member's return to campus from a sabbatical leave of absence, a report is to be submitted to the Dean describing the accomplishments that ensued during the Faculty member's absence. XXI. Research Grants and Contracts The mission of the Associate Dean for Research is to assist faculty (and students) pursue their research/creative scholarship agendas. Some research activities require external (i.e., off-campus federal, state, private) financial support. The office strives to provide as much logistical support as possible to faculty (and students) who apply for research grants or contracts. It also assists faculty in their efforts to obtain research support from on-campus sources. Faculty are encouraged to contact Associate Dean for Research Don Mabry for assistance. Important information about seeking grants and contracts to facilitate teaching, research and/or service is provided below: A. Trips to Washington, DC Faculty members can travel to Washington, DC free on the University airplane to consult with Program Directors and Managers of federal agencies about grant and contract opportunities. Seating is on a space-available basis and can be obtained by calling Aircraft Operations at 325-3010. Twice each month the plane leaves Starkville (Bryant Field) at 7:00 a.m. and leaves Washington National Airport at 5:00 p.m. the following day. The Associate Dean for Research will provide (until funds are exhausted) faculty members with $200 for on-the-ground expenses in Washington. B. MSU Research Initiation Grants A competitive intramural grant program is administered by the Office of Research. Applications are solicited during the fall semester. Grants as large as $10,000 may be obtained to serve as seed money for faculty to develop proposals for more substantial extramural support. Proposals must be explicit about the source(s) of extramural funding that will be solicited upon completion of the initial work supported by a Research Initiation Grant. Proposals should be written in a manner that permits colleagues representing a variety of disciplines on campus to understand the nature of the proposed project, its importance, and the realistic probability of future extramural support for the project. Proposals are reviewed at the College level by the Academic Excellence Committee and at the University level by the Faculty Research Advisory Committee. C. MSU Arts and Humanities Research Grants A second competitive intramural grant program administered by the Office of Research specifically for faculty in the arts and humanities solicits applications during the spring semester. Grants as large as $5,000 may be obtained to serve as seed money for future, more substantial extramural grant proposals. Successful proposals typically present specific plans for submitting a future proposal to one or more off-campus agencies. D. Academic Excellence Fund The College of Arts & Sciences Academic Excellence Committee awards small grants (typically around $200) to support faculty and student projects. These grants are often used to support student recipients' travel to present research papers at professional meetings and conferences. Preference is given to proposals submitted by undergraduate students, who seldom have other viable sources of funding. Applicants are asked to send a letter to the Academic Excellence Committee (Associate Dean's Office) explaining the nature of the project, the anticipated expenses, the financial commitment the academic department is willing to make to the project, and the amount of money sought from the Committee. The letter must be signed by the department head and, in the case of student applicants, by the faculty member who is supervising the student's research project/trip. E. Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Undergraduate Research Awards This small grant program is administered by the Associate Dean for Research in cooperation with the College's Academic Excellence Committee. Applications are due early in the fall semester and should be endorsed by the department head and the faculty member who is supervising the student's research project. F. Principal Contact Persons 1. Office of Research Sponsored
Programs Budget Proposal Assistance This Office is responsible for administration of sponsored program proposals, pre-award contractual negotiations regarding fiscal and administrative matters, non-fiscal post-award matters, and related areas of responsibility. 2. Grant database searches: Lynn Randall Individuals can register in and/or search the Community of Science Web site. 3. College of Arts & Sciences: Associate
Dean for Research (Don Mabry) 4. Web-Based Information on Funding Sources a. MSU Sponsored Programs Home Page: b. College of Arts & Sciences Research Page: Student and Academic AffairsThe Office of Student and Academic Affairs in the College of Arts & Sciences is located in 208 Allen Hall. It can be reached by telephone (325-7092; 325-2645) or at Campus Mail Stop #9706. Personnel include Dr. George Buehler (Associate Dean), Dr. James Price (Assistant to the Associate Dean), Ms. Elaine Reed (Academic Coordinator), Ms. Brenda Hampton (Executive Secretary) and Ms. Tanya Taylor (Academic Records Assistant). The College's Handbook for Academic Advisors is available in the Office of Student and Academic Affairs. XXII-XXV. Degree Requirements/Advisor Handbook Budget XXVI. Budget Office The Budget Office is responsible for final preparation and maintenance of the University budget. All documents that trigger changes in any University-based budget are processed by the Budget Office following appropriate signature approvals. These documents include (but are not limited to) Employment Action Forms (EAFs), Job Labor Redistribution Forms (JLRF), Budget Transfers (BTs), Intradepartmental Journal Vouchers, Interdepartmental Charge Vouchers, Journal Vouchers, and Requests for Additional Pay. Copies of the University budget are available at the MSU Home Page. Contacts include June Dempsey, Budget Manager (325-2824) and Susan Heath (325-2823). XXVII. Budgeting Process Soon after the beginning of each fiscal year, you will receive green sheets, which are copies of your unit's printed budget. The figures on the green sheets represent your unit's budget (including salaries, wages, and operating funds) as of July 1 of the current fiscal year. Note that the totals reflect E&G or 10 accounts only (i.e., monies provided by the legislature to support our instruction, research and service missions). Thus, if a faculty member is paid from E&G funds from your department as well as soft money (i.e., from a grant or contract), the total for salaries will include only the E&G portion of that faculty member's salary. Records are to be maintained by each unit's budget manager for each salary and wage position, as well as for each operating category (e.g., travel, contractual, commodities, equipment). Fringe benefits for E&G salaries are automatically credited/debited as needed, so there is no need to maintain a balance for this category. A. Lapsed Salaries As appointments are made to vacant or new positions, and as funds are transferred to and from positions, the amount in each position changes from the July 1 figures. Funds that reside on July 1 in vacant faculty positions and funds that become available through termination of faculty employment (e.g., retirement, resignation, etc.) are labeled lapsed salaries and are automatically transferred when the line becomes vacant to the Academic Affairs Lapsed Salary Pool (Account #100000-440305-401000-011000; Position #1898). Lapsed salary funds may be used only for two purposes: [1] Instruction: To pay the salary of a qualified individual (e.g., faculty member, Lecturer, Visiting Faculty, graduate teaching assistant) who replaces the terminated faculty member in the classroom; and [2] Faculty Recruitment: To compensate departments for faculty recruitment expenses including transportation, lodging, and meals for candidates as well as meals for up to two current faculty members who host candidates. In order to utilize lapsed salaries for one or both of these purposes, a Budget Transfer must be prepared by the unit in order to transfer the necessary funds from the Lapsed Salary Pool to the position or line where the funding is required. The BT must accompany all necessary EAFs. Note: Lapsed salaries for staff and graduate teaching assistants will remain in their own budget lines but will be controlled by the Division of Academic Affairs. Funds in wage pool positions (i.e., Regular Wages, College Work-Study, Overtime, Temporary Employee) are also transferred to the Lapsed Salary Pool on July 1. An automatic transfer is made following each bi-weekly payroll period for the expended amount from the Lapsed Salary Pool to the appropriate wage pool position(s). B. Released Salaries Funds that become available in salary lines due to contracts, grants, etc., are labeled released salaries. Released salaries remain in the department but must be transferred to an operating category when released and must be used, first and foremost, to replace the teaching services of the faculty member whose salary has been released. Thus, if a faculty member is able to buy out some of his or her time using funds from an extramural grant or contract, the released salary money must be used first to replace that faculty member in his or her previously scheduled classes with another qualified instructor. Any remaining released salary monies may be used at the Department Head's discretion. C. Spring Budgeting Process The annual spring budgeting process may involve reallocation of vacant positions and uncommitted salaries based upon the College's needs. That is, faculty positions or partial funding for faculty positions may be transferred permanently during the budgeting process from one unit to another. To initiate the budgeting process, each unit will receive from the Comptroller's Office a copy of the Budget Worksheet showing the currently budgeted amounts of money in each position/line. These figures may differ from those on the green sheets due to permanent changes that have been made in the current budget (e.g., new hires, resignations, retirements, salary changes, etc.). The College's Business Manager will work with you to ensure that the information is correct and that the information to be submitted for the next fiscal year is input properly during the process (following any College re-allocations made by the Dean). Upon completion of the exercise determining final budgeted amounts for salaries, wages, and operating expenses, the Department Head will meet with the College Business Manager during the input of the final budget into the Banner Budget Module. XXVIII. Summer School A. Faculty on 9-month contracts may be paid a maximum of 33.33% of the 9-month salary for service performed during the May 16 - August 15 interval of any year. The Department Head is responsible for complying with this limitation when assigning faculty to teach summer school classes who are already being paid for research (or other) assignments during this period. B. In unusual circumstances a faculty member on a 9-month contract who has a 100% research assignment during the summer months may be assigned to teach a summer school class when the course must be taught and no other faculty member is available to teach it. In such a case, a Request for Additional Pay Form (with justification attached) must accompany the summer school budget paperwork. C. Faculty with 12-month appointments are not eligible to be compensated for teaching summer school classes except in emergency situations. In such a case, a Request for Additional Pay Form (with justification attached) must accompany the summer school budget paperwork. D. Any summer appointment of an individual who is not a member of your department but who is listed in the MSU budget must be accompanied by a Request for Additional Pay Form (with justification attached). The Department Head and the Dean of each unit involved must approve such appointments. PARFs are not required when hiring temporary faculty to teach summer school classes. E. An individuals with a summer school appointment who is not listed in the MSU budget is designated a Lecturer and their salaries are determined through negotiation with the Dean's Office. F. A Lecturer whose appointment ended with the spring semester and who has not been renewed for the fall semester can be included in the summer school budget only if the appointment is accompanied by an Employment Action Form that reappoints the individual as a Lecturer for the summer term(s). Such summer appointments must also be accompanied by an offer letter signed by the Department Head and the Dean. G. Graduate Teaching Assistants whose appointments ended with the spring semester who wish to teach during the summer (but not enroll in classes) are designated Lecturers. The appointment must be accompanied by an Employment Action Form. H. In order to qualify as a Graduate Teaching Assistant during the summer, graduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of three (3) semester hours during any one of the summer terms (i.e., either of the five-week terms or the ten-week term). GTAs paid through the summer school budget must have an offer letter approved by the Dean. When these forms are returned to the department, accompanying tuition-remission forms should then be forwarded to the Office of Graduate Studies with the Request for Additional Pay Form (with attached justification). I. Summer appointments of undergraduate students as tutors and/or lab assistants to be paid on a bi-weekly pay schedule must be accompanied by a Request for Additional Pay Form(with attached justification). J. Please note the following constant entries for summer school Employment Action Forms and Request for Additional Pay Forms: 1. The summer school budget account number: 100000 300300 013000. 2. The Payment Type Code is always: MSC. 3. The Time Sheet Org Name is: Summer School Budget. 4. The Time Sheet Org Number is: 300300. 5. Departments must enter the employee's current MSU position number on all forms. 6. The date of payment for bi-weekly payrolls is the same as all other summer school pay--the next-to-last day of the term. XXIX. Budgetary Status Reports (Monthly Ledger Reports) A Monthly Ledger Report for each departmental account is to be printed by each budget administrator as soon as possible following the end of each calendar month. (Instructions were provided to departmental Banner users in a memo dated April 13, 1999). The information included in this report is to be used to verify all transactions that occurred in each departmental account during the past calendar month and should reflect all expenditures from, transfers involving, and encumbrances against each account. All discrepancies should be noted and then investigated and corrected as soon as possible. This Report is divided into four segments: Expenditures (Purchase Orders, Direct Pay Vouchers, Payrolls, Travel Vouchers, Interdepartmental Charges, etc.) by account number; Budgeted Expenditures (Budget Transfers to and from each account); Summary of Monthly Ledger Report; and, when necessary, a List of Encumbrances. For additional information, contact the Comptroller in the Budget Office at 325-8907. A copy of the Summary Sheet showing where the numbers come from can be seen here. Staff XXX. Banner Software Banner is the software of choice for the maintenance of records at Mississippi State University. The application is a combination of the original Banner software and internally created adaptations of the Banner package. Each department is required to have Banner-accessible equipment (IBM platform) and at least one designated Banner-trained individual who is responsible for the departmental use of this University-maintained software. Activities that are currently possible utilizing Banner processes include Journal Vouchers, Purchase Requisitions, Payroll, Job Labor Redistribution Forms, and Transactional Approvals for Purchase Requisitions and Vouchers. Training is available from the Department of Human Resources Management. See the Web site. XXXI. College Contact Persons A. Dean's Office (325-2646) 1. Frank E. Skip Saal, Dean 2. Elizabeth Trevathan, Development Officer 3. Rita Christopher, Administrative Assistant B. Student and Academic Affairs (325-8532) 1. George Buehler, Associate Dean 2. Elaine Reed, Academic Coordinator 3. Brenda Hampton, Executive Secretary 4. Tanya Taylor, Academic Records Assistant C. Research, Computing, and Business Affairs 1. Donald J. Mabry, Associate Dean 2. Janis L. Peacock, Business Manager 3. Patricia V. Wilkes, Staff Assistant XXXII. Procurement and Contracts A. Purchase Orders and Direct Pay Vouchers MSU operates under the laws of the State of Mississippi with regard to purchasing practices. The process of procuring services, commodities, and equipment is conducted in most cases through a Purchase Order system. Less frequently, when the need arises for an individual to purchase an item/service quickly, a Direct Pay Voucher can be used to pay for previously ordered items or services. Please remember, however, that in such cases, a higher price may be the result, along with the added cost associated with sales tax that would not be applicable if the Purchase Order system is utilized. Responsibility for Purchase Orders in the Office of Procurement and Contracts (P&C) is assigned to the P&C order clerks alphabetically according to the name of the vendor. A call to the main office (325-2550) will enable you to reach the individual who can assist you. The total amount of a Purchase Order will determine the need to obtain quotes or bids. P&C can inform you regarding the specific levels of spending that necessitate bids or quotes. Standing Purchase Orders will be issued by P&C upon request of a unit on an annual basis for the purpose of continuous purchase of items such as services (e.g., maintenance contracts on equipment, consultations, etc.) and supplies (e.g., copy machine ink, toner, etc.). Many of these services and supplies are contracted with MSU. Use of a Standing Purchase Order allows faster, more convenient delivery of items by eliminating the need for individual Purchase Orders for each separate transaction with the added safety feature of a maximum daily purchase limit. Partial Payment Vouchers are issued by each purchasing unit for payment of invoices on Standing Purchase Orders. The MSU Procurement Card program enables departments to enjoy spending flexibility for routine purchases from vendors such as department/discount stores, grocery stores, and other supply vendors. State purchasing laws must be obeyed at all times. If exceptional circumstances arise, contact the College's Business Manager at 325-7095. For general questions call 325-2550. B. Office Supplies Many office supplies (that are purchased through state contracts on a large-volume basis) are available for purchase in the Office Supply Store (OSS) located in Lee Hall. You must purchase these contracted items through the OSS unless another source is able to offer a lower documented price. Contact OSS at 325-0660. XXXIII. Payroll Professional employees on contract (exempt) can be paid on either a 9-month or a 12-month basis. The 9-month payroll (designated M1) begins on the 16th of each calendar month and ends on the 15th of the following month (e.g., August 16 - September 15). The 12-month payroll (designated M2) begins on the 1st of each calendar month and ends on the last day of the same month. Non-contractual professional employees (also exempt) may also be paid on 9- or 12-month payrolls. Classified employees (non-exempt) may be paid on 9- or 12-month payrolls or on a bi-weekly payroll plan (BW). An Employment Action Form (EAF) must be prepared in order to establish an employee in the Payroll and the Human Resources Management databases. All changes made in an employee's record (e.g., 9-month to 12-month payroll, name/address changes, title changes, etc.), with the exception of changes in account distribution (i.e., funding) changes, are made using the EAF. Account distribution changes are made using the Job Labor Redistribution Form (JLRF). Contacts include: Jeanette Allen, Payroll Manager (325-2754) or, for general questions, call 325-2753. XXXIV. Staff Workshops The College regularly offers workshops for departmental staff (and Department Heads) who have been recently employed or who might benefit from a review of policies, procedures and processes necessary to conduct the business of the unit. Topics covered include: the MSU budget, Entertainment Forms, Recruiting Reports, Position Questionnaires, Position Approval Request Forms (PARFs), Medical Certification, Applications for Leave, Applications for Leave of Absence without Pay, Request for Approval of International Travel and Reimbursement Forms, Travel Authorizations and Reimbursements, Applications for Sabbatical Leave, Interdepartmental Charge Vouchers, Requests for Payment, Requests for Budget Transfers, A-06 Vouchers for Payment, B-1 Account Distribution Forms, Requests for Additional Pay (RAPs), Employment Action Forms (EAFs), Job Labor Redistribution Forms (JLRF), due dates for EAFs, etc. Contact the College's Business Manager for more information (325-7095). University ResourcesXXXV. Human Resources Management The Office of Human Resources Management is responsible for administration of human resources at MSU. These responsibilities include Employment Services, Employee Benefits, Employee Development, Employee Compensation, Employee Relations, Employment Opportunities, Banner Training, HRM policies and procedures, and Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity. The HRM Policy and Procedure Manual is available in each departmental office in hard copy form and on the Web . Contact either the College office or Trena White (325-2228; 325-2713) with questions. XXXVI. Development Foundation The Development Foundation is a non-profit corporation that provides for MSU a comprehensive program of giving opportunities for alumni and friends in order to provide private funds and the flexibility to use those funds, an investment mechanism for endowed funds, and a method of identifying and ensuring that private funds are used in the manner intended by donors. Programs and activities supported through private funds include endowed chairs/professorships, scholarships and fellowships, new equipment and technologies, new books/journals and information databases, and construction/renovation of buildings and facilities. For further information contact David Easley, Director of Finance and Budget or Janet Carraway, Assistant Director of Finance and Budget (325-3410), or College Development Officer Elizabeth Trevathan (325-2646). XXXVII. Information Technology Services (ITS) ITS provides a variety of services including hardware and software support, telephone service, and dial-up accounts. Functional areas include: A. Information Systems Information Systems provides for the development, implementation, maintenance, and support of computer systems and software for administrative and academic units throughout the University. This includes systems analysis, design, programming, and database administration, as well as user services functions such as software site license administration, computing consultation, short course offerings, monitoring of computer labs, and the Help Desk. The Help Desk is a point of contact designed to achieve efficient resolution of computer-related problems (325-0610). If Help Desk consultants are unable to resolve a problem, they will identify and contact appropriate individuals within other ITS units. Other services available through the Help Desk include identifying and coordinating training needs and providing support for new students, faculty and staff during their transition to the MSU computing system. Problems may be reported by phone (325-0631), through the Web by e-mail (helpdesk@msstate.edu), or in person at 46 Magruder Street. In order to access the University's mainframe computer, you must establish a Ra account. This account will provide you with a login ID and a password which can be used to access electronic mail, the Internet, and software applications. Contact ITS at 325-0631 for information about how to obtain a Ra account. To establish dial-up service, contact Telecommunications at 325-2214. B. Systems and Networks This division of ITS is responsible for planning, deployment, maintenance, support, and operation of the University's computing, networking, compressed video, and information technology infrastructure. This includes the campus fiber optic backbone, departmental and building networks, wide area network connections including the Internet and the State of Mississippi's data and video backbones, and large-scale computer, server, and information resources such as the Banner system. Additionally, production support is provided for the University's major business information systems including Student Affairs, Finance and Human Resources. Contact: 325-0728. C. Telecommunications The Office of Telecommunications coordinates telephone service for MSU. Local service is provided by BellSouth and long distance service is provided by BellSouth, MCI, and AT&T. There are many services available ranging from features on telephone lines to the ability to establish personal accounts for long distance services. Information concerning such services is available in the Campus Telephone Directory or on the Web. Arrangements can be made to bill local or long distance services to contracts and grants, thereby relying on the Office of Telecommunications to provide relevant accounting services. Contacts include the following: Business Office (325-2212); Service, Repair and Training (325-2214); Director (325-2458); 24-hour Automated Account Service (325-2455); 24-hour Automated Directory Service (325-4357); and Data Service (325-2089). XXXVIII. University Relations University Relations provides assistance in the layout of publications such as newsletters, articles, brochures, etc. They also provide photographic services at reasonable costs. This office is responsible for public relations information dissemination and will assist you with news releases, articles for newspapers and the MSU Memo, and other publications. Contacts include: Becky Smith for layouts (325-7460); Photography (325-7462); and Kay Jones (325-7458). XXXIX. Physical Plant The Physical Plant is responsible for the maintenance (excluding custodial services) of all University facilities. No permanent changes to University facilities are to be made without prior approval from Physical Plant. Paint must be approved by Physical Plant; approval is based on paint quality and durability. It is imperative that you contact Physical Plant prior to any modification to any facility which has the distinction of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Any changes to such facilities must be approved first by Physical Plant and finally by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The Physical Plant is responsible for supplying and maintaining HVAC, plumbing, construction/addition/removal of facilities, and elevators. Units are financially responsible for work provided by Physical Plant excluding normal and routine maintenance. Outside contractors may be used for construction and modification of MSU facilities within the existing structure for purchasing goods and services. Each
building has a Supervisor,who is responsible for access to the building
and for reporting large-scale problems. For minor problems (e.g., leaks,
replacement of light bulbs, etc.), contact Physical Plant Service (325-2005).
For accounting issues, contact Richard Mattison (325-2052).
For general questions, call 325-2052. |
