‘We are the bridge to a better job, a better life,’ says Hinds president

Educators air responsibilities, recommendations, concerns

CLARKSDALE – “Community colleges are booming and busting at the seams; we are not only key to progress of Mississippi but the survival of Mississippi,” Dr. Eric Clark told educators and officials here Wednesday.

Speaking at a legislative luncheon hosted by Coahoma and Mississippi Delta Community Colleges, Clark, a former legislator, former secretary of state, and current executive director of the state board for Community and Junior Colleges, talked about the tremendous value of community colleges teaching job skills to get people off welfare.

When Clark grew up in Taylorsville, he said, unskilled workers could find jobs in local garment plants. Later, he said those plants moved to Mexico, and now to China.

In the past decade enrollment at community colleges has increased more than 30 percent, and averaged 13 percent in the past year, yet community colleges receive only seven cents of every dollar spent on education, he said.

“We need to toot our horn” about the importance of community colleges to the economy of Mississippi,” Clark added. “Help us carry this message.”

Reinforcing his remarks was Dr. Clyde Muse, president of Hinds Community College, and dean of legislative recommendations for Mississippi’s 15 community colleges.

Addressing the growth of online education, Muse said, “We (community colleges) are all about access – financial and geographic.”

“We are in the day where a tuition increase of $200 makes a difference in whether a person goes to college or not,” he said.

Muse said while 72.3 percent of Mississippi’s education dollar is allocated to public schools (K-12); 20.5 percent to universities (IHL), and 7.2 percent to community colleges, 11 percent of the entire population - 299,994 Mississippians are educated at a community college.

“We are the bridge to a better job, a better life; we are in the business of helping people from dependence to independence,” Muse said.

Speaking earlier, George Walker of Clarksdale, chairman of the state Board of Community and Junior Colleges, compared today’s status of education to America’s period following World War II.

“The G. I. Bill sent people to college, and they lifted up this country,” said Walker.

He predicted increased enrollment in community colleges will bring the economy forward.

“You are the folks who will carry forward the economy of this country,” he said.

Welcoming the audience were Dr. Vivian Presley, CCC president, and Dr. Larry Bailey, president of Mississippi Delta Community College.

“Delta people know each other; we know we’re in a tough economic time, but we have to stay the course, and we have good leadership,” said Bailey

Praising local legislators, Dr. Presley said, “Our Delta legislators are always in our corner; they know our issues.”