2015

WEEK OF ~J-!..- 1 _:___.!\~L_\J_\ - EC graduates largest class in college's history

life until they can come back amount considering we arc and finish the full program at considered a commuter col– a later date." lege," said Stewart. "And • Late registration was re- when they do, more than duced from one week -<>r likely they will have a full– five class days- to two days. time facultymember ready to "Every day a student regis- . assist them." ters late, after classes have • The number of Reverse begun, has a significant cor- Transfers was increast'd by relation with lower grades, aggressively pursuing non– not completing, or dropping graduates at four-year col– out," Stewart noted. "With leges and universities and only two days of late registra- encouraging them to transfer tion, our students only miss credits back to ECCC for an one Monday-Wednesday-Fri- associate degree. day class or Stewart said that increas–

Sees one-year increase of62 percent in pre-baccalaureate degree completions

60 hours. At 15 hours per se– mester, our students have an opportunity to finish their re– quirements and receive their degrees in fow· semesters, or two years," Stewart ex– plained. • The number of hours needed for a full-time course load was increased

From school reports Initiatives implemented as part of East Central Commu– nity College s 2020 Vision strategic planning process have resulted in the largest graduating class in the two– year college's history and dramatic one-year increases in the percentage of students receiving pre-baccalaureate degrees and those complet– ing all programs. ECCC awarded degrees or certificates to 568 students after the 2014-15 academic year, the largest one-year total in the Decatur college's 87-year history. The college also saw a 6'2 percent increase over the 2013-14 academic year in the number of students earning the two-year pre-baccalaure– ate associate of arts or asso– ciate of science degree, and an overall 36 percent one– year increase in students completing all programs, in– cluding pre-baccalaureate degrees, technical degrees, and certificates. The previous largest grad– uating class on record was 505 students in 2007. ECCC third-year President Billy Stewart said the historic numbers are in part a result of initiatives developed and implemented in fulfillment of the college's ongoing2020 Vi– sion strategic plan designed to shape and guide the insti-

from 12 to 15 how·s. Students success– fully completing the full load of 15 hours over four semesters have an opportunity to graduate in two years. • The number of hours needed for completion in the Associate of Ap- plied Science tech– nical degree and the career certificate programs was con– verted to allow exit points for students at 30 hours, 45 hours, and 60 hours.

one Tuesday- ing the number of students T b u r s d a y who complete programs and class. Corre- graduate also is important a.' spondingly, the the state of Mississippi con– attrition rate sidcrs moving to a perform decreased 6 ance-based funding formula percent in two in the future. years." "Many states now con.. ider Stewart said a college's or univer.,ity' that research success at graduating stu– at ECCC dents when awarding state

The success of our students is ourtop priority.

Billy Stewart, prei.ident of East Central

showed stu- funding instead of enrollment dents missing or other factors," said Stew- Communlty College three or more art. who is chairing a com-

classes during mittee of community college the first week ad.ministrators in Mississippi of a semester who are lookingat the impact most times re- of such a formula for the sulted in poor state.

performance

"So it's important that we

classroom

"Our associate of applied science and career progrruns are 60-hour programs, but by allowing exit points at 30-45- 60 we are able to provide stu– dents with a stoppingpoint il for some reason they need to exit their program," said Stewart. "At 30 or 45 or 60 hours, a student will receive certification that v. ill begin improving their career and

and/or withdrawal. continually seek improve- • Every full-time faculty ments in ow· educational pro– member al East Central grams and learning Community College is now environments that help our required to devote one hour students successfully com– perweek tutoringstudents in plete their programs of the Success Centet. - study." "Our research indicates Adopted in February 2013, that about one-third of ECCC ECCC's 2020 Vision strategic students use the Success plan includes five institu– Center on a consistent basis, tional commitments-Stu– which is a tremendous dent Succe s, Teaching and NESHOBA DEMOCRAT _________

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