On Friday, June 14 the UM Department of Leadership and Counselor Education and Higher Education, the School of Law and the North Mississippi Education Consortium hosted its first Mississippi Law Conference at the Robert C. Khayat Law Center, Oxford, MS.
“I found the MS Law Conference to be a great resource for better understanding education law and policy,” said PhD student, Kelly Smith Marion. “One of the most valuable aspects of the conference was being able to learn and discuss legal issues with a diverse group of people. In the classroom, we often discuss education law and policy from a theoretical standpoint. This conference allowed me to better bridge the theoretical notions of law and policy with the practical, especially from the perspectives of current attorneys and K-12 administrators.”
The conference was attended by professionals across the P-20 education continuum, which provided educators with an opportunity to engage with educational leaders and attorneys on current issues facing educational institutions in Mississippi.
“The UM Ed Law Conference exceeded my expectations,” said EdD alumna, Michelle Burney. “The plenary and breakout sessions were great! I love that Ole Miss included community colleges in the mix with pre-K, K-12, and universities. Using local presenters who understand challenges specific to Mississippi institutions was also a very nice touch.”
The breakout session on college sports betting led by UM Associate Professor George McClellan and UM Professor Ron J. Rychlak proved to be an enlightening session for a diverse group of professionals.
“The College Sports Betting session was fascinating because it was a topic I had never heard of or really considered,” said EdD student, Whitney Woods. “However, it is a problem that a lot of students and student athletes face on our college campuses. This was eye-opening and gave me a chance to learn about something I knew nothing about.”
“The College Sports Betting session opened my eyes to a whole different world of college athletics,” Marion said. “Dr. George McClellan and Professor Ron Rychlak discussed the rich history of sports betting and how it impacts colleges and universities. Their passion for and knowledge of the topic enriched students, attorneys, and administrators alike and made each of us consider the role and influence of varsity athletics on college campuses.”
The feedback from the conference was overwhelmingly positive with hopes of another one next year.
“I attend education law conferences annually, and the UM Ed Law Conference had the most relevant topics for my current position as a community college administrator,” Burney said. “The conference was a great opportunity to network with other college administrators. We at Holmes Community College hope you host the event again. We will definitely be there if you do!”
By Veronica Crawford
