This is shaping up to be an exciting year at East Mississippi Community College.

In January, the new 76,000-square-foot student union and multipurpose building opened on the Golden Triangle campus. The roughly $16 million building features a full-service cafeteria, 12 multi-purpose classrooms, a large lecture hall and a computer lab with about 100 work stations.

Chaise lounges and study nooks are scattered throughout the spacious building, which has quickly become a favorite with students looking for a place to relax or study between classes.

Site work has begun on EMCC’s large-scale workforce training center, or “Communiversity,” located between PACCAR Engine Co. and the Golden Triangle campus. Once complete, the $42-million facility will accommodate credit and non-credit courses related to training workers for careers in advanced manufacturing.

This year, work continues to formalize plans for new student housing at our Scooba campus, where for years demand has exceeded available units.

We have also initiated a five-year plan to assign advisors, or “navigators,” to help first-year students plot their educational pathway and identify and overcome any obstacles they may encounter.

Recently, EMCC entered into articulation agreements with Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi State University-Meridian campus and Blue Mountain College that chart specific pathways for students seeking to transfer to one of the four-year institutions.

The growth of our athletic facilities has been outmatched only by the continued success of our diverse athletic programs, which collectively have claimed an impressive number of regional, divisional and national titles over the past few years thanks to top-notch coaching staff and student-athletes.

EMCC’s Sullivan-Windham Field, Keyes T. Currie Coliseum, Gerald Poole Field baseball complex and softball field are among the finest such facilities in the state. Recently, a covered batting cage for women’s softball was built and future plans call for the construction of a state-of-the-art athletic operations building and a new baseball locker room and training facility. This fall, we will launch a women’s soccer team, which will operate from the Golden Triangle campus. Until facilities have been built, the program will utilize area fields for practice and games.

In our classrooms, we are continually reviewing course offerings and teaching methods to keep pace with technological advances, industry innovations and job market trends.

EMCC is in a constant state of flux as we grow, change and adapt to meet the needs of our students, who are at the heart of all we do. At our core, we are in the business of providing an opportunity for people to better their lives.

EMCC’s doors are open to everyone from high school dropouts seeking a GED to displaced workers looking to retool their skills, as well as traditional students planning to transfer to four-year colleges or universities. Our victories are defined by their successes.

We are truly a “community” college whose stakeholders include not only our students but all members of the counties we serve. An educated workforce provides the skills needed to attract and retain industry and business. An employed populace supports area businesses and funds the services provided by local governments. We are proud to be a part of the hub that helps our community thrive.

We could not accomplish our mission without our partnerships with industry leaders, economic development organizations and elected officials at the local, state and federal levels. Ours is truly a team effort.

Come be a part of the Lions’ team!

Dr. Thomas Huebner Jr. is president of East Mississippi Community College. He can be reached by email at thuebner@eastms.edu.