1982-1986

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ECJC enjoyed historic year in 1986

ceremonies. Dr. Smith, an ECJC alumnus, had actually assumed the duties of the school's presidency on July 1, 1985, succeeding Dr. Cha rles V. Wright, who served for 19 years . Before coming to East Central, Dr. Smi t h se rv ed as a d – minis tra tor for 14 yea r s a t

Copiah-Lincoln Junior College in Wesson. He served as dean of in– struction at Copiah-Lincoln the five years prior to his move to ECJC. He has also been associated with the University of Southern Mississippi and the Natchez– Adams public school system. A graduate of Noxapater High School, Dr. Smith received an associate degree from ECJC, the bachelor of science and master of education degrees rom Mississippi State University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Dr. Smith said the junior col– lege completed its first five-year strategic plan, which covers all functions and aspects of the school. The purpose of the plan is "to give positive and definitive direction" to the institution over a five-year-period. Dr. Smith said all the objectives are specific. He said time frames, revenue/resource requirements, strategies, and evaluative criteria are listed for each objec– tive. The plan, he said, will be revised and extended annually for an additional year. Dr. Smith was also named Phi Theta Kappa's first presidential ambassador. The organization is a national honorary society, but the position of ambassador is a

newly created one. Dr. Smith is the first college president in the United States to be chosen for the honor. Ambassadors are to be selected by regional coordinators and will serve as liaison between Phi Theta Kappa and presidents of other two-year colleges within their region. Dr. Smith served as Theta Xi Chapter president at East Cen– tral in 1963. In other matters, Dr. Smith said ECJC applied for and received a $1.5 million low– interest loan for the renovation of four dormitories. He said ECJC is one of only 13 colleges and universities in the United States to have been approved for the funds, made possible under the College Housing Act through the Department of Education. He said the junior college also applied for and received a $279,000 Energy Conservation Measures Grant to be used for making existing buildings more energy efficient. Dr. Smith said ECJC has also initiated a two-year project for completely revising all of the school's instructional programs, to identify and measure what is being learned. Enrollmer,t at ECJC for the spring 1986 semester was 841, for the fall 946. Enrollment for the current semester is 936.

Special to the Star

The year 1986 was a historic one for East Central Junior Col– lege in Decatur, as Dr. Eddie M. Smith, the school's sixth presi– dent, was formally inducted April 30 during the school 's first presidential inauguration