2015

9 - 5- \.S'

oak: Mississippi 's 2-year college system rocks

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USualty Waftethub.com studies give me heanbum The popular finance webs.te Is constantly issuing studies wtuch rank states and cities on various factors ttlat affect quality of life. and Miss1ssippt is often in the bottom rew- 1f not dead last. Since I love lhls state so mueh. it huns a litUe to see lhe Magnoha State hsted at the bottom or - yet - another poll.

But news from Wallethub this week brought a smile, and ifs about something we already knew: Mississippi's iwo-year college system is, overall, the best In the nation.

Taking top honors in the 2015's States with the Best & Worst Community CoHege Systems poll !httpJt.vallethub.com/edulbest-worst-communlty-colleQes/15076/l, Mississippi s system or community and ~moor colleges shines in a study measunng various factors at 670 two-year onsbtut10ns nat10nwode 1nduding cost and finanang. dassroom expenence. education outcomes and career outcomes The study was based on pan on data colected by the University or Texas at Austin's Community COiiege Survey or Student Engagement

ltdV'rOll.at;r 11',oe M1ssiss.ppi inst1tut1ons landed in the top 100. (Taking top honors was Nonh Florida Community College.) One MisS1sS1ppi sehool Com

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:-• :-ea: college S) stem rocks

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money 'business 21

m:t::rr :er • 5 COl'lllrunrty colleges have made a real difference in the lrves of M1SS= Hs:::ry a~ ar1Jde by Ben Fatherree Is al ht!pJ/bit.ly/1N7wEu1), most of these schoos sprang from ·agnc:unurai high scnoois· es:aois.-.e: tc :>r:va! ei:lilCllOa'? ID IOc:al residents. Taking on the rote of ·1unior college." an but one later Changed their names to ·~ co!ege" to ~ no-- have not only sought lhe seMces of community colleges to prepare ll'lem •or tr>e no;p-s =" b.._ ins:::J:cr:s. =v- ':'f college to get career and technical lra1n ng °' re-aaJMl!I A~a rwoett;: ~ C'ie n:re-= 1i::cs b md themselves perfectly pos;•oned to :a•~ er. l:'.e ,_ ~

c:Dl'l 1:'.al we have a Jewel on our community college system; noted Steve Bishop, presodenl of Southwest Comrrunoty College •tt JU$1.

~•::m••'*:X'i 'I:. t::= rDW Illa we ve been recognized in this way."

i:e s :iroo.o of the recogmboo for his schoo. the trophy belongs to the system as a whole. ·11speaks volumes when an 15 of us s:a:::ie team. he noted EJllDl n 8'shop agreed. ts simple: attract quahty fllCl.llty and staff, and bring everyone around the common purpose n ~ n S5'003ry work at our community colleges," Ealon noted. •our system Is providing great service lo

--..--.,..-,,............_.....11::!1,,.,... . .,, ~ a was .::::tege e>a>el'eOOl! we can all be proud of the legacy and leadership that comes out ofour =:;;;=~~ !':!llt::;::IClr:·•::.·:• c=irx=1 ~ -.as onoeed begun the Magnolia State is leading lhe wwy