Cecil Jarrell Dowden

The University of Mississippi School of Law's strategic plan aims to strengthen community, advance excellence, and expand opportunities through 2030. It focuses on fostering partnerships, access, and engagement to enrich learning, enhance research, and ensure opportunities for all. Key priorities include student recruitment, employment, bar passage, academic excellence, access, research, alumni relations, and community engagement. The plan emphasizes creating an inclusive academic environment and serving diverse communities, with a special emphasis on Mississippi.

The School of Law is updating its strategic plans to align with the university's goals of fostering partnerships, access, and engagement. The plan aims to strengthen the sense of community, enrich learning and development, enhance research, and ensure opportunities for all.

The Senate meeting included the introduction of the President's cabinet and an overview of the appropriations process. Organizational presentations were given by several student groups, outlining their activities and funding requests. Elections were held for President Pro Tempore and an alternate member of the Honor Council. The meeting concluded with a review and approval of the SBA budget.

The Senate meeting covered various topics, including financial updates on membership dues and event costs, planning for upcoming events such as the Harvest Carnival, Mental Health Awareness Day, and the Halloween party, and discussions on improving communication and providing more tangible benefits to members. The yearbook process was reviewed, exploring options to improve sales and reduce losses. A book share database was proposed to connect students needing to buy or sell textbooks. Parking issues were discussed, with senators exploring potential solutions to improve parking availability for law students. The meeting concluded with scheduling the next meeting for October 28th.

The Senate meeting covered several key topics, including amendments to the elections code, updates on finances and membership, upcoming events such as the SBA Town Hall, Public Interest Law Foundation event, Mississippi Sports Law Review Spring Symposium, and the Constance Slaughter-Harvey Chapter of BLSA Annual Scholarship and Award Banquet. Discussions also included the Lexis Advance quiz bowl, SBA Barristers Ball, Dean's Distinguished Students Award, Elsie Hood Award, Barristers Court, and a Fifth Circuit visit. Senate funding and the selection of nominees for various awards were also addressed. The next Senate meeting was scheduled to address three awards: faculty, Dean's Distinguished Service, and Elsie Hood.