March 29, 2008 10:39 pm
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SCOOBA – It’s March. The days are getting longer, trees are budding and the Mississippi State Legislature is trying to decide how best to spend the taxpayers’ money. People who believe the state’s commitment to public education – in K-12 schools, community colleges and universities – will determine its future are talking about their issues.
Among them are faculty members and students from Mississippi’s community and junior colleges, who gathered in Jackson a couple of weeks ago to hold a press conference and speak with their legislators.
Many people don’t realize the impact community colleges have on the state’s educational and economic engines. In fall 2006, the last year for which statistics are available, almost 70 percent of all college freshmen in Mississippi’s public and private institutions of higher learning were enrolled in community colleges. Over the last five years, credit enrollment in Mississippi community colleges has increased by 4.9 percent.
In fiscal year 2007, community colleges trained more than 150,000 people, saved almost 20,000 jobs, produced more than 3,000 new jobs, helped six new plants locate in Mississippi and assisted 114 existing businesses as they expanded operations.
While legislators are to be commended for initiatives over the last several years to increase funding for K-12 education and improve opportunities for university students, community colleges are left in a difficult situation.
In fiscal year 2008, K-12 schools received 72.7 percent of the funding allocated to public schools. Universities received 20.8 percent, and the state’s 15 community colleges shared 6.5 percent of the available funding.
During a joint press conference on Feb. 28, community colleges asked the Legislature to fund the second year of a three-year plan to achieve “mid-level funding” – a per-student appropriation mid-way between the state-funded amounts for a K-12 student and a regional public university student.
Thirteen students from East Mississippi Community College’s campuses at Scooba and the Golden Triangle took part in the press conference. Here’s a look at some of their comments on the day:
Suzanne Stewart of Louisville: “I chose EMCC because of its size, diversity, location, faculty and overall atmosphere. I receive more individualized attention from my professors and faculty members, and this opportunity enables me to be a high-achiever. Mid-level funding is supported by many people, and I appreciate the support community colleges received. The representatives had a chance to hear the voices of the students and hear what community colleges mean to them. I want to see EMCC go above and beyond – and with mid-level funding, nothing should be impossible.”
Kathryn Long of Mathiston: “I chose to attend East Mississippi because, most importantly, the school offered me a plethora of scholarships that has helped me greatly financially. Also, I come from a small high school, and I did not want to just leap into a huge university. I saw that at East Mississippi the teachers and staff were friendly and because of the small number of students per classroom, I would be able to get the attention I needed to help me in obtaining a better education.”
Chris Wilson of Columbus: “I chose EMCC to be in small classes and not just be a number at a large school. The experience has been great. EMCC has taught me that life is what you make it. You can try to barely get by and not study, or you can study hard, pay attention and do well in school. The same applies to life after Scooba. The more work you put into your life, the greater your harvest will be later. Community colleges are a great bargain for everyone. You get a first-class education for a great price. With an increase in funding, community colleges could make improvements to facilities and provide more learning opportunities to accommodate the growing number of community college students.”
Traci Whitehead of Louisville: “I chose EMCC because I went to Winston Academy, which is a very small high school, and I wanted to have a transition to a university. The cost of EMCC is great; one cannot beat it! EMCC has excellent scholarships, teachers that give students one-on-one attention and a great campus. The most important thing in life people have is their education. Community colleges are often overlooked, but if you ever attend one, it will be the best, most affordable experience your life.”
Thea Bankhead of Brooksville: “I grew up in the small town of Brooksville in Noxubee County. I am attending East Mississippi Community College where I am majoring in biology. I chose EMCC because of the close-knit atmosphere. At EMCC, you do not feel like you are surrounded by strangers – but by friends, family and colleagues.”
If you would like to get a first-hand view of East Mississippi Community College, you can arrange for a tour by calling Michele White at the Scooba campus, (662) 476-5346, or Michael Black at the Golden Triangle campus, (662) 243-1974.
East Mississippi Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Submitted by East Mississippi Community College
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