University of Mississippi
AC-5: Immersive Experience

In order to engage students in the discussion of how to assess and manage Mississippi’s water, the University of Mississippi’s Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College designed and organized the Mississippi Water Security Institute (WSI), a residential, two-week workshop for honors students of all majors from across the state. Using a case-based design, the WSI confronts students with the problem of ensuring water quality and quantity to meet the needs of attracting industry while supporting public health, community development and environmental stewardship. The WSI took place annually for two weeks in May of 2016, 2017 and 2018. Each cohort focused on a different geographical region in Mississippi. In 2016, 15 students from four honors colleges in Mississippi focused on water security issues in the Mississippi Delta. In 2017, 17 students focused on urban water issues in Jackson, Mississippi. In 2018, 17 students studied water security issues in the Gulf Coast region. All three cohorts experienced field trips, including a week on the Gulf Coast in 2018, and participated in tours ranging from wastewater treatment plant facilities to kayaking the Mississippi River. At the end of each two-week session, students produced a white paper that was shared with the program’s collaborators and state leadership, including the Governor’s Office.