Mississippi State’s College of Arts and Sciences marks its 70th anniversary this month alongside the 250th anniversary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. One of the university’s largest academic colleges will mark the occasion with the nation’s oldest academic honor society by holding a panel discussion exploring the enduring value and future of a liberal arts education.

Mississippi State University student journalists earned 28 awards at the 2026 Southeast Journalism Conference earlier this semester, securing high-ranking placements in more than two dozen categories and demonstrating excellence across student media platforms.

For 40 years, Mississippi State has helped students earn an education without having to put their careers, families or other responsibilities on hold. What began in 1986 as distance education has evolved alongside technology and the changing needs of students. Now, MS State Online serves approximately 3,200 students through more than 180 programs, connecting learners across Mississippi, the nation and beyond with MSU educational opportunities and degrees.