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Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has proposed merging the state’s three historically black universities (HBUs) into one university and merging the women’s university with another school to cope with statewide budget issues.

Barbour submitted a proposal Nov. 16 to merge Mississippi Valley State University and Alcorn State University into Jackson State University. The proposal would also merge Mississippi University for Women into Mississippi State University.

“What we’re seeing now is the full brunt of a soft economy, and state government must react accordingly,” Barbour wrote in the proposal. “This budget crisis is real, and we cannot delay making difficult, long-term budget decisions…I believe mergers are preferable to closures.”

Others think that the state legislature should make every effort to preserve higher education.

“While the state is clearly experiencing some of the most difficult times in our modern history, it is not the time to panic and undermine the very economic engine that can greatly enhance our ability to rise above the recession,” said State Representative Kelvin Buck.

Ryan Martin, the Student Government President at Alcorn State, told the Clarion-Ledger that he is not sold on the idea. “I just think it’s not a well-thought out decision.  I think [Barbour] should come up with some more innovative ways.”

Barbour said he hopes the state legislature will put consolidation plans in place before the 2011 elections, but the choice to merge Alcorn State, Valley State and Jackson State has brought up racial issues as all three are historically black institutions.

Jackson State President Ronald Mason said he believes the proposal has only a slim chance of making it through the legislature.

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