For Immediate Release

October 1, 2014

JACKSON – Leaders of Mississippi’s 15 community colleges outlined funding priorities to members of the Legislative Budget Committee on Oct. 1, asking members to approve a $79 million state funding increase for FY 2016 to support efforts to bridge the skills gap for higher wage jobs, recruit and retain highly qualified faculty, and equip high school dropouts with job-ready credentials.

“The existence of an affordable and functional community college system is essential to the future economy of our state,” said Dr. Johnny Allen, Northeast Mississippi Community College president and leader of the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges. “It is too important to rely solely on funding from students and local governments. For this reason we implore the Mississippi Legislature to take definite steps to adequately fund this essential function of public education.”

In fall 2013, the community colleges enrolled approximately 72,000 for-credit students. Preliminary figures provided by nSPARC show that 97,858 individuals received workforce training in FY 2013. In addition, 602 businesses were served and 16,891 students were enrolled in Adult Education programs last year.

With broad missions, the 15 two-year colleges say they manage lean budgets to make the path to degrees and certificates more cost-efficient, for both students and the state.

Recently the National Strategic Planning and Analysis Research Center (nSPARC), based at Mississippi State University, analyzed data through the Mississippi LifeTracks statewide integrated data system that includes the community colleges, eight universities and other state agencies.

The report titled “What is the Value of Community Colleges to Mississippi Taxpayers,” showed the state reaps $4.86 in return to Mississippi taxpayers for every state dollar spent supporting community colleges.

The first five years starting salary for an Associate of Arts degree is $30,417 and $38,048 for an Associate of Applied Science degree. That compares to $18,127 for a high school graduate and $39,607 for a bachelor’s degree.

“This study clearly shows that community colleges in Mississippi play a critical role in meeting the demands of different educational credential pathways,” the report concluded. “Most importantly, those who gain educational credentials beyond high school are significantly better off than those who do not.”

The colleges are asking the Legislature to make progress on fulfilling the 2007 mid-level funding law that promised per FTE (full-time equivalent) for community college students at an amount that was midway between the state’s per-student funding for K-12 and regional public universities.

The Legislature is missing the mid-level funding mark by $2,130 per student, said Dr. Clyde Muse, president of Hinds Community College. The state’s per-student spending for K-12 students is $4,865 and $6,258 for public regional institutions like Delta State University and Alcorn State University. State support for community college students is only $3,432, Muse said.

Community college presidents are asking the Legislature to get their colleges halfway to the mid-level funding commitment, which will take about $70 million in FY 2016.

Mid-level funding also bolsters faculty resources at the two-year colleges. The legislative request includes a commitment to raise community college instructor salaries to a competitive level between the average university faculty salary and the K-12 public school teacher salary. It will take about $39 million to reach the mid-point salary target. Community college faculty salaries are currently $6,124 below that mid-point target.

“Our community college instructors embody what public service is all about. Each year, they help thousands of Mississippians better their lives through education. Statistics show that on average, first-time, full-time students who enroll at a community college score 4.5 points lower on the ACT than first-time, full-time students who enroll at a university. However, community college students who transfer to a university and graduate with a bachelor’s degree finish with a slightly higher GPA than those “native” university students,” said Dr. Eric Clark, executive director of the Mississippi Community College Board. “This is a direct result of the hundreds of hours our instructors invest in their students each year, and I am grateful for the outstanding job they do.”

Preparing Mississippians for living-wage jobs often starts in Adult Education classrooms, where the community colleges teach 16,000 high school dropouts. The colleges are asking the Legislature to provide $9 million to fund dropout recovery, which includes job training and basic employability skills as a part of the Adult Education program.

In a state with more than 500,000 working-age individuals without a high school diploma, “The community college plan for dropout recovery is economic development,” said Dr. Scott Elliott, president of Meridian Community College.

“To develop a viable workforce for Mississippi – one that will not only attract new industry to our state, but also keep existing industry healthy – we must be successful in engaging those tens of thousands of people who lack a high school diploma and contemporary job skills. By providing a pathway for people to earn their GED and a fast-track job skill - ranging from commercial truck driving to certified nurse assistant (CNA) to industrial maintenance training – Dropout Recovery can transition many Mississippians from dependency to advanced citizenship,” Elliott said.

Community colleges awarded 14,184 certificates and degrees last year to 13,783 college graduates. In addition, 8,833 individuals earned a GED at community colleges in 2013.

In addition to the mid-level funding request, the colleges are asking for $77 million for capital improvements, including $50 million for educational technology. An additional $9 million for a Mississippi Community College Board headquarters building is also being requested.

The Mississippi Association for Community and Junior Colleges funding requests are endorsed by the Mississippi Community College Board, as well as the statewide trustee, alumni and faculty, adult education and student organizations that represent the 15 public two-year colleges.

For more information contact:

Colleen Hartfield, V.P. Community Relations and Governmental Relations

Hinds Community College

601.857.3364 or

OR

Kell Smith, Director of Communications and Legislative Services

Mississippi Community College Board

601.432.6734 or