2014-2015 President's Report

T eaching & L earning

The ultimate purpose of teaching is to help students make passionate connections to learning. Therefore, we will be committed to the highest standards of instructional excellence and will provide exemplary learning opportunities for our students through effective teaching, innovative programming, and the utilization of various instructional methodologies. C ompletion I nitiatives

ECCC implemented several initiatives during the academic year to help improve its completion rate, resulting in a record graduating class and unprecedented one-year increases in pre-baccalaureate degrees and all completions. Initiatives included:

• Waiving the $40 graduation fee as an incentive for more students to apply for graduation and officially complete programs of study. • Decreasing the number of hours needed for a two-year associate degree from 62 to 60. • Increasing the number of hours needed for a full-time course load from 12 to 15 hours. • Converting the number of hours needed for completion in the Associate of Applied Science technical degree and the career certificate programs to allow exit points for students at 30 hours, 45 hours, and 60 hours. • Reducing late registration from one week—or five class days—to two days. • Requiring every full-time faculty member to devote one hour per week tutoring students in the Success Center. • Increasing the number of reverse transfers by aggressively pursuing non-graduates at four-year colleges and universities and encouraging them to transfer credits back to ECCC for an associate degree. U tility L ineworker T echnology P rogram ECCC began plans to offer a new Utility Lineworker Technology Program, designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in the field of utility power transmission and distribution construction, troubleshooting and repair. The curriculum will include Climbing in Elevated Work Site, Overhead Construction, Underground Construction, System Design and Operation, National Electric Safety Code, AC and DC Circuits, and Electric Power. Mississippi Department of Employment Security Labor Market Information reports indicate that employment of utility line workers in the ECCC district is expected to grow faster than average by 2020 and that more than 70 openings would be available in the electrical power line installers and repairer trade during that same time span. A $15,000 gift from Mississippi Power Company is helping fund the program.

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