2012

Watching students succeed a- from school reports

Cafeteria; return of the old ~ational Guard Armory Building to ECC and named in mem01·y of longtime physical plant director, Clinton F. Russell; completion of campus beautification project including Day Family Arboretum and landscaping; pavingof the walking trail around the college lake for college and community use; vari– ous improvements to ath– letic facilities; and con– struction of new parking lots, street and sidewalk projects and installation of new street lamps at various campus locations. The most recent addi– tion to the campus includes completion of the Aaron R Davis Scienee Building, which opened for lab instruction at the beginning of the 2012 spring term. Renovation of Cross Hall - where science classes continue to be held - is scheduled to begin in June 2012. Sutphin also initiated the Founders' Gym Renovation Project, which is cun·ently under way. Plans are to modern– ize the structure to include administrative offices while maintaining the historic significance of the beloved facility, where many of the col– lege's most outstanding– bru ketball players made their mark at EC. Enrollment increa.c;cd during Sutphin's tenure and reached a record 3,223 students in the 2011 fall semester. Increased _ scholarships and endow– ments are also noted accomplishments. Community service has also been a part of Sutphin's agenda, as evi– denced by his participa– tion with Habitat for Humanity and the Decatur Planning Board,

Of all the accomplish– ment during Dr. Phil A Sutphin's 12-year tenure as East Central Community College's sev– enth president, his fond– est memory is a simple one: watching students graduate. "Whether it is a com– mencement in May, a OED graduation ceremo– ny or a bealthcare pin– ning, the joy and sense of accomplishment is evi– dent on all faces - stu– dents, families and facul– ty,'' said Sutphin. "After all, is that not the col– lege's mis ion?'' Sutphin, who announced his retirement plans in November, will have completed 42 years in education when be offi– cially steps down June 30. After a rewarding career, Sutphin said it's time for change. ul have been employed in education since 1970 and have had a wonderful career," said the Mathiston native. "However, 42 years is enough. Significant change has occulTed dur– ing my time in education and I have been fortunate to be a part of that change. Now it is time to do some of the things I have not been able to do becauS{I of tl lack of time and resources." In reflecting on his accomplishments as pres– ident, Sutphin said two things come immediately to mind: "The college is finan– cially sound and the phys– ical appearance of the campus bas changed," he said. "Financially, the col– lege has weathered the worst financial environ– ment since the Great Depression and yet EC

Dr. Phll SutphJn

has continued to grow and provide quality serv– ice." "Phy ically. new facili– ties and additions to the grounds ha,·e made the campus more aesthetical– ly pleasing and student friendly." Sutphin's accomplish– ments as EC's leader are numerous. In the area of instruc– tion, new computer/tech– nology upgrades were implemented; online instruction was made available through lhEf Mississippi Virtual Community College; and new healthcare education

programs a well as Hotel and Restaurant Man~mcnt Technology and Culinary Arts Technology Wl!rc added to the rurriculum. Culinary classes recently moved from the maintenance facility to its new location in the Rives Building on South cam– pus. Campus additions and improvements include completion of Phase 2 of the Eddie M. Smith Student Union Building; renovation and landscap– ing of the area known as the "East Mall," near Mabry Memorial

AP

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