By Mollie Mellon
Senior Staff Reporter

The University of Mississippi will benefit from two state funding requests in the amount of $800,000, which will be used to promote both science and law through important projects at the university.

The requests were submitted by Congressman Travis Childers (D-MS) in April and approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday, June 18.

The Justice and Science Subcommittee’s appropriation bill will encourage a skilled workforce in both of these areas in the state of Mississippi.

“Economic development in Mississippi largely depends on the existence of a skilled, well-trained workforce, and these important funds will help provide the education and training students and professionals need to succeed in today’s competitive environment,” Childers said in a press release.

When funds were analyzed ,it showed that $600,000 of the $800,000 will be used for the National Center for Justice and the Rule of Law at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

This program deals with special issues of the criminal justice system that relate to national interest concerns.

It also provides legal training for judges, lawyers and law students, as well as creates model programs and develops publications for wide distribution.

The remaining $200,000 will go to the Innovative STEM Education, which plans to create a new approach for recruiting students to careers in science and science education.

The money is also hoped to aid in creating innovative strategies to upgrade the STEM program in Mississippi, which is in high demand for recruiting and training individuals who seek careers in the science field.

“The funded projects will also promote justice and advance scientific innovation at one of our state’s top educational institutions,” Childers said. “I will continue to do everything I can to see that this funding is included in the final legislation and ensure that North Mississippi gets its fair share.”

The legislation is now awaiting approval by the U.S. Senate.