2013-2014 President's Report

T

he long-term, strategic goals of any community college must be aligned with and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves as it seeks to provide a high-quality, postsecondary education.

“A job fair was held in Neshoba County and also included Richardson Molding and Taylor Machine Works,” Williams said. “Planning for the event was a joint venture between the three companies, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s WIN Job Centers, the Neshoba County Commuity Development Partnership and the ECCC Workforce Development Center.”

Therefore, East Central Community College strives to engage business, industry, education, government, and community groups to enrich the learning experiences of students and the community. Dr. Teresa Houston, Vice President for Instruction, said, “We are always seeking partnerships with communities, businesses and industries. These partnerships are vital to student success. They not only provide exposure to our students, but access to internships and/or employment opportunities.” Lucretia Williams, Director of Workforce Development, added, “These partnerships also allow the opportunity for the college to respond with services that benefit individuals seeking to earn higher education levels and/ or qualify for employment opportunities. It also allows us to serve employers struggling to sustain a qualified workforce.” The latest partnership through the Workforce Development Center was established in October 2013 with Allied Locke, which sought to fill positions at its new facility in Union. ECCC Students Assist With Cemetery Project East Central Community College drafting and design technology instructor Chris Ryals and several of his students traveled to Carthage to map the old cemetery mentioned in the original town layout in 1876. The survey will be used to assist Carthage Main Street and the Carthage Historical Commission in rehabilitating the cemetery, where several markers were vandalized and broken through the years. Ryals said surveys were completed and information gathered pertaining to 156 graves. The final map will show all the data about the graves with a detailed list of all grave data. Ryals said about the project, “We hope our efforts will provide a chain of evidence of the persons buried in the cemetery for genealogical purposes and a plan for rehabilitation by the city.” (Submitted Photo)

East Central Community College also seeks to engage alumni and friends of the college in special cultural activities and continuing education opportunities.

Special events have included the newly-implemented “Evening With” series, which this year featured nationally-known speakers Coach Herman Boone, Astronaut Fred Haise, and Super-Bowl winning Coach Tony Dungy. ECCC also hosted a traveling Smithsonian Exhibit, “The Way We Worked,” which included photographs from the National Archives and special presentations featuring the Civil War, the Poultry Industry, and Arts and Literature. ECCC continues to cultivate partnerships with local K-12 schools through the annual Kids’ College program and through various community service projects led by student athletes, academic organizations and social clubs.

13