This Week’s College: Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi
One doesn’t ordinarily associate a 125 year tradition of social justice, freedom of speech, and open inquiry with Jackson, Mississippi. But that is what Millsaps has to offer. The first school in the South to accept students based on merit regardless of income, race or creed, Millsaps prides itself on being the place where you will encounter people who for the first time, will challenge your ideas, criticize your arguments, and encourage you to grow and develop into a stronger and wiser person, able to take on society’s needs because of it. There is a huge emphasis on citizenship, character, and social, cultural and economic growth in the region Millsaps finds itself in.
Millsaps is on the small side (1100 students) but it has quite a lot to offer. It’s the only liberal arts college to have its own biochemical archaeological lab solely for undergraduates. Of course it has to have one, because it owns a 4,000 acre reserve in Mexico where students can engage in Mayan archaeology. But there’s more to it than that. Students get involved in preservation, business, conservation, ethics, and more through the program and often find that they are engaged in issues which have a global and local impact.
To that end Millsaps is beginning a new Compass Curriculum which will provide all entering freshmen with a chance to explore issues and ideas, problems and solutions through a common lens, class and texts. There is a wide reading list and a breadth of topics (everything from Kanye to Jesus) where age-old questions (Does the 5 second rule really hold?) will be explored. If you’re an open-minded person, and you have to be for Millsaps (other, more serious questions include “Does religion belong in hospitals? and What does Heritage have to do with History?). If you’re someone who has always ridden with the herd and doesn’t like to be challenged, Millsaps isn’t for you.
The student/faculty ratio is 9:1 so be prepared to work closely with your professors here. An average class size is just 14 people. There is no hiding in the back in your classes at Millsaps. Your ideas will be front and center and your opinions will need to be backed up with evidence, so be prepared to put your money where your mouth is in class.
Millsaps is also closely tied to the community that surrounds it. The school plays a pivotal role locally by supporting Community Courses through a variety of institutes and lecture series that students and community members take part in. Some of these are through the Conservatory of Music or the Principal’s Institute which brings together students and educators, but the most popular one is through their Institute for Civic and Professional Engagement. Here students can find multiple ways to engage with the community through programs such as 1Campus 1Community where students participate with neighbors in Block Parties, the MLK Day of Service, or Trunk or Treat. Enjoy one of the multiple opportunities to participate in Community Engaged Learning where you will take your classroom education and put it to use in the city of Jackson. Courses like “Is Peace Possible?” or “What Does Heritage Have To Do With History?” take you into community discussions while students in environmental ethics get involved in discussions about farming, climate crisis, scarcity, and food ethics. Spanish, health policy, criminal justice, psychology, campaign finance, and education all find opportunities for research in their fields through this program as well. Finally the program partners with multiple different organizations in Jackson to allow students to volunteer in various fields as well like the Jackson Zoo, Sudanese Refugee Mission, Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi, the Mississippi Museum of Art, Midtown Partners, Inc., Mississippi Food Network, and more.
Millsaps is a DIII school but it has a lively athletics life and students play sports here with passion. For those of you who are football fans, you’ve got it and can enjoy the season for the whole season because of how much warmer it is in Mississippi. Basketball for men and women is popular and their cross country team is good. Women can play volleyball here and both genders can play both soccer and lacrosse. Cheerleading is co-ed here and you can enjoy some other activities like fencing and racquetball as well.
As much as 86% of students live on campus at Millsaps in a variety of different kinds of housing. Freshmen are required to live on campus and are housed together in specific dorms. As upperclassmen, suite style dorms are available. There are also places to live on campus for those who engage in Greek Life as well. Students who live on campus must get a meal plan, but there are options here.
Millsaps has plenty going on for you to enjoy. Located as it is in the heart of Jackson, the Fondren Arts District is a few minutes walk from campus, and there are multiple museums, historic sites, and excellent restaurants as well, not to mention some traditions like Zippity Doo Dah Weekend, the Crossroads Film Festival, and Celtic Fest. There are also many clubs to choose from like Millsaps Masla, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mock Trial, Citizens’ Climate Education, Millsaps Pride, Art Club, Psychology Club, Model UN, Jewish Cultural Organization, Enable America, Lean In Circle, or Student Senate. Plus you can easily begin a new club should you wish to. With multiple publications as well, Millsaps is a great place for budding writers whether journalism or creative writing is your jam.
Is Millsaps for you? Millsaps is definitely the school of the New South. Its pioneering work in the community, its engagement with its neighbors, and its focus on educating students to be a part of the solution to society’s issues makes it a place for people who want to get their hands dirty and get to work right now. If you’re like that then Millsaps is absolutely for you. But if you’re just looking to play for four years and escape into an extended adolescence, then it’s probably not. Millsaps is serious about making a difference in Mississippi and in helping you learn how to make positive change wherever you land in yoru future.
Pros:
Cons:
One doesn’t ordinarily associate a 125 year tradition of social justice, freedom of speech, and open inquiry with Jackson, Mississippi. But that is what Millsaps has to offer. The first school in the South to accept students based on merit regardless of income, race or creed, Millsaps prides itself on being the place where you will encounter people who for the first time, will challenge your ideas, criticize your arguments, and encourage you to grow and develop into a stronger and wiser person, able to take on society’s needs because of it. There is a huge emphasis on citizenship, character, and social, cultural and economic growth in the region Millsaps finds itself in.
Millsaps is on the small side (1100 students) but it has quite a lot to offer. It’s the only liberal arts college to have its own biochemical archaeological lab solely for undergraduates. Of course it has to have one, because it owns a 4,000 acre reserve in Mexico where students can engage in Mayan archaeology. But there’s more to it than that. Students get involved in preservation, business, conservation, ethics, and more through the program and often find that they are engaged in issues which have a global and local impact.
To that end Millsaps is beginning a new Compass Curriculum which will provide all entering freshmen with a chance to explore issues and ideas, problems and solutions through a common lens, class and texts. There is a wide reading list and a breadth of topics (everything from Kanye to Jesus) where age-old questions (Does the 5 second rule really hold?) will be explored. If you’re an open-minded person, and you have to be for Millsaps (other, more serious questions include “Does religion belong in hospitals? and What does Heritage have to do with History?). If you’re someone who has always ridden with the herd and doesn’t like to be challenged, Millsaps isn’t for you.
The student/faculty ratio is 9:1 so be prepared to work closely with your professors here. An average class size is just 14 people. There is no hiding in the back in your classes at Millsaps. Your ideas will be front and center and your opinions will need to be backed up with evidence, so be prepared to put your money where your mouth is in class.
Millsaps is also closely tied to the community that surrounds it. The school plays a pivotal role locally by supporting Community Courses through a variety of institutes and lecture series that students and community members take part in. Some of these are through the Conservatory of Music or the Principal’s Institute which brings together students and educators, but the most popular one is through their Institute for Civic and Professional Engagement. Here students can find multiple ways to engage with the community through programs such as 1Campus 1Community where students participate with neighbors in Block Parties, the MLK Day of Service, or Trunk or Treat. Enjoy one of the multiple opportunities to participate in Community Engaged Learning where you will take your classroom education and put it to use in the city of Jackson. Courses like “Is Peace Possible?” or “What Does Heritage Have To Do With History?” take you into community discussions while students in environmental ethics get involved in discussions about farming, climate crisis, scarcity, and food ethics. Spanish, health policy, criminal justice, psychology, campaign finance, and education all find opportunities for research in their fields through this program as well. Finally the program partners with multiple different organizations in Jackson to allow students to volunteer in various fields as well like the Jackson Zoo, Sudanese Refugee Mission, Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi, the Mississippi Museum of Art, Midtown Partners, Inc., Mississippi Food Network, and more.
Millsaps is a DIII school but it has a lively athletics life and students play sports here with passion. For those of you who are football fans, you’ve got it and can enjoy the season for the whole season because of how much warmer it is in Mississippi. Basketball for men and women is popular and their cross country team is good. Women can play volleyball here and both genders can play both soccer and lacrosse. Cheerleading is co-ed here and you can enjoy some other activities like fencing and racquetball as well.
As much as 86% of students live on campus at Millsaps in a variety of different kinds of housing. Freshmen are required to live on campus and are housed together in specific dorms. As upperclassmen, suite style dorms are available. There are also places to live on campus for those who engage in Greek Life as well. Students who live on campus must get a meal plan, but there are options here.
Millsaps has plenty going on for you to enjoy. Located as it is in the heart of Jackson, the Fondren Arts District is a few minutes walk from campus, and there are multiple museums, historic sites, and excellent restaurants as well, not to mention some traditions like Zippity Doo Dah Weekend, the Crossroads Film Festival, and Celtic Fest. There are also many clubs to choose from like Millsaps Masla, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mock Trial, Citizens’ Climate Education, Millsaps Pride, Art Club, Psychology Club, Model UN, Jewish Cultural Organization, Enable America, Lean In Circle, or Student Senate. Plus you can easily begin a new club should you wish to. With multiple publications as well, Millsaps is a great place for budding writers whether journalism or creative writing is your jam.
Is Millsaps for you? Millsaps is definitely the school of the New South. Its pioneering work in the community, its engagement with its neighbors, and its focus on educating students to be a part of the solution to society’s issues makes it a place for people who want to get their hands dirty and get to work right now. If you’re like that then Millsaps is absolutely for you. But if you’re just looking to play for four years and escape into an extended adolescence, then it’s probably not. Millsaps is serious about making a difference in Mississippi and in helping you learn how to make positive change wherever you land in yoru future.
Pros:
- Strong, engaged faculty and students who work together
- Small class sizes
- Strong pre-professional programs (optional 5th year MBA or Accounting degree)
- Deep connections to the community and to community engagement
Cons:
- Small means fewer choices
- In Jackson which means it’s urban
- Religion is a thing here. There are a lot of people of faith who come here and while it’s not a “religious school” it’s an important aspect of the school.
- This isn’t a school for people who want to just hang out or party all the time