Where Tomorrows Leaders are Students Today

Campus NewsBriefs
A Weekly Update of Activities at Rust College
Vol. 43, No. 1 August 15, 2013

New student Barrius Smith (second from left) with his parents Pastor Thurman and Joyce Glasper of Nesbit, MS, participate in the first Rites of Passage ceremony of the year. Also pictured: Dr. David L. Beckley, Rust College President and Noah Moore, SGA President.

Rust College welcomed the graduating class of 2017 to campus Saturday, August 10 as New Student Orientation 2013 kicked off. New students were able to begin the registration process and move into the residence halls, while parents spoke directly to faculty, staff and administrators. We believe in you. We believe God gives each of us gifts and talents, Dr. David L. Beckley told new students on Sunday, August 11, during the first Rites of Passage ceremony of the year. When you walk through our buildings, you will see the motto, Through These Halls Walk the Future Leaders of the World: Our Students. We work hard daily to achieve that goal. We welcome you to campus and the opportunity to work with us keep your faith and all the good things in this life will come to you. Today, although students may be leaving their families, know that they are not alone. They are now a part of the Rust family, said Mr. Carllos Lassiter, Dean of Students. As of Thursday, August 15, at least 325 new students were enrolled at Rust College, with more expected to register in the coming days. Rust College staff and faculty are working with these new students as they make the transition to college life.

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BY THEIR FRUITS

Meet Your Dean of StudentsMr. Carllos Lassiter

By: Nicole LaRue

New and returning students will not only begin the 2013-14 year meeting new students, but by meeting the new Dean of Students Mr. Carllos Lassiter. Dean Lassiter, a native of Laurel, Mississippi, received his Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and a Masters degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Mississippi. He has also studied at Northeastern University in Baltimore, Maryland. He began his higher education career at Tougaloo College in Jackson. He says he learned of Rust College while growing up in Laurel. He says when he learned of the Dean of Students position at Rust College, he was eager to apply. I have always wanted to be an executive officer for a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), Lassiter said. Dean Lassiter enters Rust College with goals he hopes to bring to fruition during the year. I want to get an understanding of student culture, to meet with students so they can have a voice through this process by making sure that staff members are fully trained on policies and procedures. I also want to make sure all extracurricular activities are activities that not only staff members want students to do, but also activities the students want to do. He says his goal for incoming freshmen is to help them build pride about being a Bearcat and to make sure they understand the rich legacy and history of Rust College. He plans to meet with students and discuss what they want to bring to campus with the help of the SGA President, Noah Moore and Miss Rust College, Andrea D. Cooper. I want upperclassmen to be mentors to the new freshmen class, such as a Big Brother or Big Sister. I challenge students to live up to the potential that God has given them, by using resources and staff in helping you to develop into the person God wants you to be, Dean Lassiter said.
Mr. Carllos Lassiter, Dean of Students

Rust Listed in Forbes Magazine; Ranks High in National Financial Rating

President Beckley announced to the full faculty and staff at the Annual Pre-Planning Conference on Friday, August 9, the results of the Forbes Magazine Annual Top Colleges 2013 Report. The magazine reviewed 925 of the nations private not-for-profit colleges with an enrollment of 500 students or more. Rust College was rated number two in Mississippi receiving a grade of B. No Mississippi schools in the private, not-for-profit category received an A. Rust College was among two other Mississippi schools receiving a B. Four other Mississippi institutions received a grade of C, with one school scoring C-. Among the ten United Methodist Colleges receiving support from the Black College Fund, Rust received the highest rating based Forbes Magazines grading scale. Among the 38 colleges supported by the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), Rust College was rated #4. The magazine used data from the National Center of Educational Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDs) Data Center for fiscal years 2010 and 2011, with all schools graded on nine variables to determine financial stability and operational soundness. President Beckley expressed thanks to the Colleges fiscal office staff for their efforts in managing the Colleges resources in order to gain such recognition which follows the long-standing Rust policy of operating a sound program with limited long-term debt, while growing our support structure and endowment funds. The Trustee Committee on Finance plays a major role in the Colleges efforts, as well as supporters of Rust, the United Methodist Church, alumni and friends. This report will serve as another catalyst to enable the school to do more in adding further strength to financial operations.

...YE SHALL KNOW THEM

Academic Calendar 2013 - 2014
First Semester 2013 Second Semester

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2014

Faculty Report to Work........................................... August 8 Pre-Planning Conference (Faculty/Staff)................ August 8 Pre-Planning Conference (Academic Affairs)......... August 9 Dormitories open for New Students ..................... August 10 New Student Orientation ..August 10-20 Parents Day.......................................................... August 11 Testing and Assessment ................................. August 12-13 Registration for New Students......................... August 15-16 Residence Halls open for Returning Students ..... August 18 Registration for Returning Students ................ August 19-20 FIRST MODULE .......................... August 21 October 16 Classes Begin ...................................................... August 21 Late Registration with fines begin ........................ August 21 Last day to add classes........................................ August 26 Labor Day.........................................................September 2 Last Day to drop course (1st Module) .............September 13 Opening Convocation.....................................September 10 Dead Week no activities............................... October 9-15 Final Exams (1st Module)............................... October 16-17 Module Break ......................................................October 18 SECOND MODULE ................ October 21 December 18 Registration, 2nd Module .....................................October 18 Classes Begin .....................................................October 21 Last day to add classes.......................................October 25 Last day to Remove I Grade of previous semester ...........................................November 1 Last day to drop course (2nd Module) ................November 8 Board of Trustees Meeting.............................November 7-8 Founders Weekend .....................................November 8-10 Academic Counseling and Second Semester Registration November 11-November 29 Thanksgiving Break (After Last Class) ...........November 27 Residence Halls closing (10:00 pm) November 27 Residence Halls reopen at 12:00 noon .............December 1 Classes resume after Thanksgiving ..................December 2 Last day to apply for Spring Graduation............December 3 Christmas Dinner (all campus) ........................December 11 Dead Week no activities..........................December 12-16 Final Exams (2nd Module)...........................December 17-18 Christmas Vacation begins for students after finals................................................December 18 Residence Halls close at 5:00 p.m. December 19 Christmas Vacation Begins for faculty after Grades reported December 20

Residence Halls reopen at 12:00 noon................. January 2 THIRD MODULE ........................... January 3-February 28 Registration........................................................... January 3 Classes Begin ....................................................... January 6 Late Registration with Fines.................................. January 6 Last day to add classes ........................................ January 9 Martin Luther King Holiday.................................. January 20 Mid-Year Opening Convocation.......................... January 14 Last Day to Drop Course (3rd Module) ................ January 31 Dead Week no activities ........................... February 24-28 Final Exams (3rd Module) ............................. February 27-28 Module Break begins after Last class February 28 March 3 Module Break.................................................... February 28 FOURTH MODULE ............................... March 3 April 25 Registration..............................................................March 3 Classes Begin ..........................................................March 4 Last Day to add Classes ..........................................March 7 Last Day to submit Senior Materials ......................March 10 Last Day to Remove I Grade of Previous Semester.........................................March 21 Religious Emphasis Week ................................March 10-14 Last Day to Drop Course .......................................March 28 Academic Counseling and Fall Registration...............................................March 17-31 SGA Scholarship Banquet .........................................April 4 Academic Honors & Awards Day ...............................April 8 (Alpha Kappa Mu Induction Ceremony) Athletics Award Day ...................................................April 9 Honors and Awards (2:40 p.m.) ................................April 10 Presidents Recognition Dinner.................................April 10 Senior Exams ..................................................... April 14-15 Easter Holiday after last class ..................................April 17 Board of Trustees Meeting.................................. April 24-25 Alumni Day................................................................April 26 Senior Consecration (6:45pm) ..................................April 26 Commencement, 2:00 p.m........................................April 27 Dead Week no activities (except seniors)........ April 21-25 Final Exams (4th Module) .................................... April 24-25 Residence Halls close at 6:00 p.m............................April 26 Final Grades are Due................................................April 30 FIFTH MODULE .........................................May 1 May 30 Registration................................................................. May 1 Classes Begin ............................................................. May 2 Last day to add classes .............................................. May 5 Last day to drop course (Summer School) ................. May 8 Final Exams .............................................................. May 30 Residence Halls close at 12:00 p.m.......................... May 31 SIXTH MODULE....June 3-July 28

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Announcements

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Emergency notifications for students, faculty and staff will be handled by mass email, Channel 19, WURC 88.1 FM, RC-TV 2, and campus loud speakers. If you would like to receive emergency notifications by text message, please submit your cell phone number to Mrs. Carolyn Hymon, Dean of Students. The numbers will be used for emergencies ONLY and will not be distributed.

Emergency Numbers: Security office: 662-252-8090 Security guard on patrol: 662-216-3429

Fall Registration 2013All Students August 19-August 20, 2013, 8:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.
STEP 1: Students residing on campus must register for the Residence Hall. STEP 2: Report to your respective Academic Division and complete your registration form in consultation with your advisor (freshmen/transfer students with less than 15 hours must report to the COPE Center: McCoy Administration Building, 2nd floor. STEP 3: Report to the Divisional Secretarys Office to have your schedule entered into the Datatel Program. STEP 4: Report to the McCarty-Varnell BCS Building, Room 121 STEP 5: Students will be escorted to the Datatel Lab (BCS Building, 2nd floor) in groups of 20. STEP 6: Pick up your financial aid award from the Financial Aid Office. STEP 7: Report to cashier station to complete your registration. Present your financial aid award letter and receive your blue registration form. STEP 8: All current students must secure a student ID from the Dean of Student Affairs Office. Last day to add for the first module: Last day to drop for the first module: Last day to add for the second module: Last day to drop for the second module: August 26 September 13 October 25 November 8

Students who have received their official registration form from the Cashiers Office are required to complete a drop/add form in order to modify their schedule. The drop/add forms must be processed by the Registrars Office. Students registering for the fall semester should work with the Financial Aid Office in order to facilitate meeting their financial need for attending Rust College. All registered students are expected to attend classes beginning on August 21, 2013. Any student who decides to not return must complete the appropriate withdrawal forms.

*Late registration will begin for all students August 21, 2013. Students who registered early must make financial arrangements with the Business Office by 5:00 p.m. August 26th in order to complete registration for the fall semester. Evening & Weekend Students Conference Room 2/Registrars Office, McCoy Administration Building, second floor August 19, 2013, 6:00 p.m.8:30 p.m.

Dr. David L. Beckley, 67, President

Dr. Ishmell H. Edwards, 71, Vice President for College Relations

Ms. Adrienne F. Phillips, Public Relations Specialist