Meridian Community College President Scott Elliott always tells entering freshmen that he has two major goals for them — to get the highest quality education possible and to enjoy a total college experience.
And Dr. Elliott truly believes there are few places better suited to accomplish those goals than MCC.
As far as the first goal is concerned, state reports have consistently demonstrated that the “average” MCC graduate is a “B” student upon transfer to major colleges and universities. Elliott says that’s not bad for an “average” graduate.
“I am very confident that our graduates in the university transfer program are well-equipped to excel at the next level,” Elliott said.
“Likewise, I’m confident that graduates from MCC’s occupational program are well-equipped for entry level positions in their field of study, ranging from nursing to construction trades to computer-oriented fields.
“MCC is blessed with a quality, caring faculty, and they take great pride in challenging their students every day to make certain each person has the opportunity to reach his or her greatest potential.”
Where the second goal is concerned — that “total college experience” — Elliott is also proud of what MCC has to offer. The college has more than 30 clubs and campus organizations. Each offers students opportunities to make new friends and to continue to develop leadership skills.
“MCC seeks to help each student develop in a holistic fashion, which means we want our students to leave here with not only higher learning or work skills, but just as important, higher life skills,” Elliott said.
The nine-year MCC president said he sees MCC as “just the right size college — big enough to offer students comprehensive, quality services, but small enough to provide each student with individual, personal attention.”
“At MCC, we’re not concerned with being the biggest — we’ll let other folks worry about that,” Elliott said, “but we are keenly concerned about being the very best college we can be.”
Elliott said MCC’s staff continually assesses what new programming can be added to the college’s curriculum to give students more diverse learning opportunities and to help in East Mississippi’s economic development.
This fall MCC will add two more new occupational programs — dental assisting and pharmacy technology, bringing to 37 the number of occupational program options available to MCC students.
Despite a lack of available state funding, MCC has in recent years added commercial truck driving, cosmetology, nail technician, emergency management technology and surgical technology to its curriculum.
“The backbone of economic development for any region is a well-trained workforce,” Elliott said. “If you don’t have that, then you have no real foundation for keeping existing industry healthy and for attracting new industry.”
Because Meridian is a regional hub for health care services with four major hospitals within the city limits, Elliott said, health occupations will always be a major emphasis for MCC. As an example, MCC is now enrolling about 400 nursing students per year in its associate degree nursing, practical nursing, and nurse assistant (or health care assistant) programs.
And, 100 percent of all MCC’s practical nursing graduates have passed their national licensure examination on first write for the past four classes in succession.
“That kind of record speaks for itself and is illustrative of the quality of programming we have at MCC,” Elliott said. “Again, that’s not at all attributable to me — rather to our exemplary faculty.”
FIND OUT MORE
For more information about Meridian Community College, call (800) MCC-THE-1 or (601) 483-8241, or visit www.meridiancc.edu.
Meridian and its Neighbors
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Discussion
July 20, 2006
Meridian Community College: Just the right size for your success
- Meridian and its Neighbors
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Meet Bruce Clopton
Bruce Clopton has lived in Meridian almost all his life, and wouldn’t want it any other way. Bruce, a partner at the Insurance Center of Meridian, lives in the same house in which he was raised, one that was designed by his father, the late architect Brad Clopton.
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Now on Sale — KATRINA: A Time to Reflect
Katrina: A Time to Reflect, a hardback, full-color pictorial review of last summer’s record-setting hurricane, is available for pickup at The Meridian Star’s office, 814 22nd Ave.
Books are available for purchase at $20.00.
The 120-page book features photographs taken by The Meridian Star staff and its readers. Sections are devoted to both East Central Mississippi and the Gulf Coast. -
THANK YOU ...
The Meridian Star thanks all the people in the community who collaborated on “Meridian and its Neighbors” by writing stories — and gratefully acknowledges help provided by the city of Meridian, the Meridian/ Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau and the East Mississippi Business Development Corp.
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A shining new star in Meridian
On Sept. 8, the doors will open on a vibrant new hub for performing arts, education and conferences in the heart of Meridian’s historic downtown.
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NAS Meridian celebrates 45th anniversary
It’s been a long journey for Naval Air Station Meridian from the once-small auxiliary air station to the major jet training air base where pilots from around the world are trained. In fact, the base celebrates its 45th anniversary this year.
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Meridian Community College: Just the right size for your success
Meridian Community College President Scott Elliott always tells entering freshmen that he has two major goals for them — to get the highest quality education possible and to enjoy a total college experience.
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Let me tell you about ...
In practically any bustling, growing city you can find an activity or community center. If it’s a really large city they’ll have a “Y” with activities for all ages.
- State Games packs ’em in For two weekends every June, it’s impossible to stay in a Meridian hotel or, for that matter, any hotel within a 60-mile radius of the city unless you thought ahead ... way ahead, like the year before.
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EMBDC: Welcoming new businesses
Meridian is in the midst of an economic revival that will continue to enhance the richness of our community for decades to come.
- Come visit a growing city The growth and expansion we’ve been experiencing continue to add to our economic vitality, and we’re delighted to share our projects and programs with our neighboring communities.
- More Meridian and its Neighbors Headlines
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