FAQs

FAQs – November 18, 2024 

When will the name change to Mississippi Christian University become effective? 

The name change will go into effect to coincide with the 2026 bicentennial.

When will the academic reorganization changes become effective? 

Academic reorganization details will be finalized during the 2024-2025 academic year and will become effective in Summer 2025.

When will the athletic reorganization changes become effective? 

The 2024 season is the final season of MC football. 

When will the football players and coaches be notified? 

Players and coaches were notified on Monday, Nov. 18, following the Board of Trustees meeting and before it was released publicly. 

What support will be available to affected football players? 

Mississippi College has a plan in place to support each of our affected student-athletes. Each student athlete’s situation will be different, and we will work one-on-one to help them in the best possible way.

For students wishing to stay and continue their education at Mississippi College, staff will work individually with them to understand and apply all relevant scholarship opportunities. 

Staff will also work individually to provide support to any student-athletes wishing to transfer to another school. 

What is the impact that the discontinuation of football will have on band, cheer and dance? 

MC Band, MC Cheerleading, and the MC Dance Team will continue. 

WHAT IMPACT WILL THE ATHLETIC REORGANIZATION CHANGES HAVE ON OTHER SPORTS AT MC?

All other sports at MC will continue. The institution will further its commitment to excellence in intercollegiate Division II play across its remaining 17 sports and pursue needed facility upgrades.

How does the discontinuation of football impact MC’s athletic department structure? 

The discontinuation of the intercollegiate football program will allow the institution to further its commitment to excellence in intercollegiate Division II play across its remaining 17 sports and pursue needed facility upgrades.

MC remains a member of the Division II Gulf South Conference, which has a number of institutions that do not compete in football. Until Nov. 18, MC was the only remaining private institution with an active football program in the Gulf South Conference. 

What impacts will these changes have on the institution overall? 

The Board of Trustees approved an institutional name change to coincide with the institution’s bicentennial and strategic changes to the academic and athletic structures of the university. 

The name change better aligns with the institutional mission and vision and aligns MC with its peers by defining itself as a university. 

Implementing strategic changes to the academic and athletic structures will positively impact the institutional budget in both the near and long term.

What is the plan for academic reorganization? 

The plan for academic reorganization elevates the Department of Christian Studies to an interdisciplinary unit that underscores the institution’s commitment to Christian education. A new structure will be implemented that consolidates the School of Christian Studies and the Arts with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Education will be renamed to the School of Education and Human Science. The Provost has been charged with evaluating the potential consolidation of a limited number of academic departments on campus. This plan aims to ensure academic programs are relevant to the marketplace while also making the university more efficient and innovative. 

How will current academic programs, students, faculty, and staff be impacted by the plan for academic reorganization? 

The plan for academic reorganization is expected to have a minimal impact on current academic programs, students, faculty, and staff. While some academic majors with low enrollment will be eliminated over time, faculty members will remain in their positions, ensuring the continuity of teaching and academic support. For students, adjustments will be made to avoid disruption in their academic progress. Some staff members may be reassigned to other open positions within the campus over time. With a shift in academic structures, some academic leadership positions will no longer be needed, and in these cases, those administrators will remain employed and return to their faculty positions. Overall, the focus is on streamlining academic operations without compromising the academic experience students receive and without negatively affecting faculty and staff employment.

Why is MC making these changes, and why now?  

As a small private institution, Mississippi College is not immune to the challenges that are currently facing higher education in the U.S., particularly challenges facing small private higher education institutions.   

Similar private institutions have felt a variety of external pressures for almost 20 years, beginning with the U.S. financial crisis in 2008 and continuing through the COVID-19 era. These pressures, coupled with a projected nationwide drop of 15% in the number of potential college-age students as a result of declining birth rates in the U.S., as well as a current economic climate that has increased costs including insurance, travel, and other similar items, have required the institution to evaluate its strategic direction.  

Fortunately, MC has experienced recent enrollment growth and continues to focus on providing an excellent academic experience in a Christian environment for its students. These changes will continue to enhance the value of a Mississippi College education. 

As the institution prepares for its bicentennial in 2026, it is imperative to reinforce the institution’s vision statement – To be a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ – and to make decisive changes now to align the institution on this course of fully realizing its vision. Making these changes now will set the institution up for success for another 200 years. 

Will the university name change impact MC's accreditation?

The name change will not affect our SACSCOC accreditation or other academic accreditation requirements.