Could a state policy help Mississippi universities deal with financial planning and budget cuts? - Ellen Ciurczak, Hattiesburg American

Since 2016, Mississippi universities have been affected by more than $100 million in state cuts, with, until recently, the ever-present specter of more. In April 2017, the state College Board approved Policy 713 to guarantee that each institution operated from a position of financial strength. "This policy was developed to ensure continued financial stability despite the uncertainty that comes with changes in the higher education funding landscape," Alfred Rankins Jr., state commissioner of Higher Education, said in an email. Under Policy 713, the university's leaders, in most cases presidents, must meet with Rankins annually to get approval of their institution's budget. https://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/education/2018/11/21/policy-713-helping-mississippi-universities-financial-planning/1904677002/